Watson.Edgar.1934.Hopkins.OBIT Edgar Watson Aug 1934 E. WATSON DIES IN GREEN RIVER Madisonville Man Suffers Heart Attack While Fishing Sunday Madisonville, Ky., Aug. 20 (1934) - Edgar Watson, 40 (sic) years old, former Madisonville policeman and Hopkins county patrolman was seized with a heart attack late Sunday afternoon, while fishing from a boat in Green River near Ashbyburg. He fell from the boat into Green River. The body was recovered this afternoon and returned to Madisonville. His companion, F.M. Curtis, of Madisonville, former coal operator, attempted to grab Watson before he disappeared under the water almost capsized he boat in the attempt. Watson had accompanied Mr. Curtis to the Curtis camp, on Green River on a fishing trip for the day. Watson was born and reared in Springfield, Tenn., coming to Madisonville about 12 years ago. Surviving are the widow and two children. A brother, Bob Watson, former Madisonville chief of police, and another brother residing at Sparta, Tenn., also survive. TO DYNAMITE FOR WATSON BODY THOUGHT HELD IN TREE 35 FEET DOWN Former Patrolman Falls in Green River During Heart Attack FAIL TO LOCATE BODY WITH HOOKS One hundred pounds of dynamite was brought to Madisonville this afternoon to be used in a last resort to locate the body of Edgar Watson, 30, who, during a heart attack at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, fell from a boat and drowned in Green River, near Curtis camp, a mile north of Ashbyburg. Decision to use explosive was reached after Shellie Watson, Sparta, Tenn., and Mrs. Catherine Morse (sic), Springfield, Tenn., brother and sister of Watson, reached Madisonville at noon Monday. Efforts of the Madisonville fire department to locate the body with grab hooks had failed. It is believed the body has become tangled in a tree top thirty-five feet below the surface. Fire Chief Basil Toombs, Shellie Watson and Earl Smith were to discharge the dynamite during the afternoon. The river where Watson fell from the boat is thought to be eighty feet deep. Crews worked throughout Sunday night trying to reach the body with hooks. Guest At Camp Watson was a guest of F. M. Curtis at the latter's popular outing spot. The two were fishing from a boat, Watson occupying the stern. Without warning of any kind, Watson groaned and fell into the water. He did not reappear above he surface, but cam so close that his open mouth and extended arms were visible to his companion, whose frantic efforts to reach him almost capsized the craft. Watson had been subject to heart spells recently, friends say. On July 4 he became ill at Brown Meadow Lake and fainted. On a later date he fell in front of the West Kentucky store in Earlington. He was a former Madisonville patrolman, had served frequently as extra policeman and was an able automobile mechanic. Brother Was Chief Ten years ago Watson came from Springfield while his brother, R. B. Watson, Jr., now living in Detroit, was chief of police here. He married Miss Marie Jones, and two children, Shellie Frank, 3, and Mary Frances, 5, were born. They all live in South Main street. Besides his widow and children and the brother in Detroit, he is survived by his father, R. B. Watson, Sr., Cedar Hill, Tenn., mother, Mrs. Sarah Frances Watson, Springfield, Tenn., Shellie Watson, Huland (sic) Watson, Springfield, Tenn., brothers, and Mrs. Ruth Masters, Cedar Hill, Tenn., Mrs. James Weaver, and Mrs. Catherine Morris, both of Springfield, sisters. Body of Drowned Hopkins Man Found Former County Patrolman Sank to Death in 15 Feet of Water While Fishing Special to The Courier-Journal Madisonville, Ky., Aug. 20 (1934) - The body of Edgar Watson, 30 years old, former county patrolman, who was drowned in Green River near Ashbyburg yesterday afternoon while fishing, was recovered late today by the Madisonville Fire Department with grab hooks near where he sank in fifteen feet of water. Funeral services and burial will be at Springfield, Tenn., his former home. WATSON RITES AT 4:30 TODAY Funeral services for Edgar Watson, 30, former county patrolman, who was drowned in Green River, near Ashbyburg, Sunday afternoon and whose body was recovered at 3:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon, were to be conducted at the Barnett funeral home, South Main street, at 4:30 o'clock, this afternoon. The Rev. A. C. Johnson, of Henderson, former pastor of the Madisonville First Methodist church, was to officiate at the service, following which burial was to be in Odd Fellows cemetery. All relatives were here except R. B. Watson, Sr., of near Springfield, Tenn., the father, and R. B. Watson, Jr., of Detroit, a brother, and former Madisonville chief of police. Mother Prostrated Mrs. Watson, the mother, was prostrated after arrival at the funeral home this morning and Dr. A. F. Finley applied restoratives. Watson's body was found in fifteen feet of water on a sandbar at the spot where he drowned. A few feet away, the river bed took a precipitous drop to seventy-five feet. Dynamite had been brought to the riverside in preparation for blasting. Elbert Love, Ashbyburg, while using Madisonville fire department grab hooks, brought the body to the surface when the hooks caught in a shoe. Nanzie Wilson, another Ashbyburg resident, removed the body from the water. Others in the party recovering the body were Harvey Wilson, 12, and Davis Riggs, 8, Ashbyburg section. Madisonville residents and others of Jewel City amd Ashbyburg had aided in the search. After recovery and an inquest at the river the body was conveyed to the Barnett funeral home, where it was prepared for burial. Contributed by: Michael Ragsdale