Jim Watts

 
The Cartersville Express
Cartersville, Georgia
March 7, 1871, page 3
 
Transcribed by:  
 

We are pained to learn that E. G. Nelson, of Euharlee, with his two little boys met with a very fatal accident, on Sunday last, while crossing the bridge over Euharlee Creek, at Tumlin’s Mills.  The particulars as we learned them are as follows:

Mr. Nelson and his little boys, were crossing the bridge, in a two-horse spring buggy, drawn by a horse and a mule, and when near the end of the bridge it gave way, and the vehicle, animals Mr. Nelson and sons were tumbled into the stream beneath, killing one of the animals, smashing up the buggy and so seriously injuring Mr. Nelson that he has since died, but strange to say, the little boys escaped uninjured.

A negro man, whose name was Jim Watts, after Mr. Nelson and sons had been taken from the buggy, in an effort to get it out of the creek, was drowned.  It appears that they had tied a rope to the buggy, by which to pull, and Jim was pushing, and getting into swift and deep water, lost control of himself, and caught hold of the wheel which turned with him, thereby rendering him no assistance, and his fate was inevitable.  At last accounts his body had not been found.

This sad accident should teach the parties whose duty it is to look into these things, the great importance of having bridges perfectly secure—human lives are at stake, and are hazarded every time a person crosses one which is not secure.

Mr. Nelson was buried at Euharlee yesterday with Masonic honors.  To his bereaved family, we tender our heartfelt condolence and deepest sympathy.

We deeply deplore this whole sad and shocking affair, which has cast a deep gloom over our town and county, and trust that the parties whose lives God, in his wisdom, saw proper to take, were prepared to go, and are now numbered among those who surround the Great White Throne, ascribing praise to Him who sitteth thereon.  [A tribute of Respect to E. G. Nelson by the Stilesboro Lodge No. 260, F. A. M., can be found on page 2 of the March 17, 1871 issue.]

 

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