On March 7, 1939 Samuel Irvin Watson was killed in a tragic accident on his farm near Ray City, GA. Watson served on the State Board of Education (see Sam I. Watson and the State Board of Education ) and route 64 out of Ray City was named in his honor (see The Samuel Irvin Watson Highway) The March 8, 1939 Atlanta Constitution reported on Watson’s death with front page headline:
STATE SCHOOL OFFICIAL DIES IN EXPLOSION
2 Farm Tenants of Sam I. Watson Are Also Killed
Another Tenant Escapes But Is Prevented by Flames From Attempting to Make Rescue
Bucket Brigade Conquers Fire
Lakeland Blast Occurs While Chemically Treating Corn for Weevil
Special to The Constitution.
LAKELAND, Ga., March 7. Trapped by an explosion and flames which spread quickly through a barn on his plantation near here, Sam I. Watson, member of the Georgia Board of Education, perished early this afternoon with two farm tenants.
The other victims were J. I. Parrish and Edmond Jones.
Riley Stone, another tenant on the Watson farm, six miles from here, was standing near a door and fled to safety, prevented by roaring flames from attempting to rescue the others.
Bodies of the three victims huddled in one of the sheds which surrounded the big structure, were found after the flames had been extinguished by a bucket brigade.
Lint Miller’s Brother-in-Law.Watson, a brother-in-law of Lint Miller, chairman of the State Highway Board, was directing the treatment of corn for weevil infestation when the explosion occurred, Stone said. The four men had treated several thousand bushels with a chemical preparation, and were leaving the barn when the blast came, apparently set off by a spark made by a nail as the door was opened.
Neighbors reported the explosion was heard a few minutes after 2 o’clock, and that the barn was enveloped in flames almost immediately. Volunteer fire fighters rushed to the scene and formed a bucket brigade to prevent further spread of the flames and to avert threatened cremation of the three trapped men.Well-known Farm.
The main section of the barn was 100 feet long and 60 feet wide, with small sheds on all sides. Contents of the structure included several head of livestock and between 4,000 and 5,000 bushels of corn.
Watson’s farm, which includes more than 2,000 acres, is one of the best known in south Georgia, largely because of the progressive farming methods the owner had inaugurated and followed in its development.
Mr. Watson was the second member of the present State Board of Education to meet violent death within the last year.
Several months ago, Lee Branch, of Quitman, vice chairman of the board, was shot and killed by a deranged member of his family. Mrs. Branch also was slain.
In Atlanta, Governor Rivers expressed deep sorrow over the death of Mr. Watson, who was an old and personal friend.
“The death of Mr. Watson and his two friends is a great shock to me,” the Governor said. “I have had few friends closer to me than Mr. Watson. In addition he was an excellent public servant and an outstanding member of the board of education. The school children of the state and the state itself have lost a fine public official, and I have lost a warm friend. I am deeply grieved.”
Miss Levond Watson, an employee of the State Department of Public Welfare is a daughter of Mr. Watson. Mrs. Rivers informed her of the tragedy and she left for home immediately accompanied by Mrs. Rivers.
Chairman Miller, of the highway board, will leave Atlanta tomorrow morning to attend the Watson funeral.
Ray City History Blog 