Watkins Mangled By a Line Shaft

The Daily Telegram., March 13, 1909
The Clarksburg Telegram., March 18, 1909, page 3

Well Known Pattern Maker is Suddenly Killed in Factory.

WINDS AROUND SHAFT

In the Pattern Department of Foundry and Casting Plant in Glen Elk

Horrible was the accidental death of James B. Watkins in the pattern department of the Clarksburg Foundry & Casting Company’s plant in Glen Elk at 7:30 o’clock Saturday morning.

Mr. Watkins was standing on a ladder about 10 feet high oiling a bearing on a line shaft near a large pulley in the pattern house, detached from the foundry proper, when his clothing appears to have caught on a set screw on the pulley, and the shaft running at the rate of 200 revolutions a minute wound him completely around it, mangling his body in a most frightful manner Death must have come within five or ten seconds.

Coroner W. P. Camp was called. He made a thorough examination and pronounced Watkin’s death the result of an accident as herein stated. The body was removed to the Clifford-Osborn undertaking establishment.

The Rev. J. E. Bird of Goff Methodist Church went to the home of Mr. Watkins and informed his family of the sad accident.

Mr. Watkins was a well known carpenter and pattern maker and a member of the Clarksburg Carpenters and Joiners union, and had a great many personal friends, to whom the news of his death came as a great shock.

Family

The wife, one son and four daughters survive of his immediate family. Two brothers also survive. The son is Brooks Watkins and the daughters are Misses Mary B., Margaret and Hattie and Mrs. B. H. Potts, all of the city. The brothers are David G. Watkins, of Buckhannon; and John Watkins, of this city. The widow is a sister of Mayor Edward J. and Fred B. Wood. His age was 52 years.

Mr. Watkins resided in Point Comfort. He attended the Goff Methodist church. He recently joined the Woodmen of the World and for a number of years he was secretary and treasurer of the carpenter’s union.

A most excellent citizen, an exemplary man in his relations with the public, a splendid mechanic and a person of lofty ideals, his death removes from the earth one held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.

LARGE ATTENDANCE

The Daily Telegram., March 15, 1909

There is at Funeral of James B. Watkins and Many Floral Tributes

With a large attendance of grieving friends, the funeral of James B. Watkins, who met a violent death in the Clarksburg Foundry & Casting Company’s plant in Glen Elk Saturday morning was held Monday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock. Services were held at the late residence in Point Comfort, led by the Rev. J. E. Bird, pastor of Goff Methodist Episcopal Church. The burial was in the Odd Fellows’cemetery. A profusion of beautiful floral tributes from many friends bore silent evidence of the high esteem in which Mr. Watkins was held. The carpenters and joiners’ union, of which he was a member, attended in a body.

RESOLUTIONS

The Daily Telegram., March 15, 1909, Page 8

At a special meeting of Clarksburg Local No. 236 United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, the following resolution was passed in memory of our brother, James B. Watkins:

Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God in His wisdom to remove from our midst a fellow workman and brother in the person of James B. Watkins, our treasurer, and 

Whereas, The deceased was a member in good standing in our brotherhood, and a charter member,

Resolved, That in his death, we do indeed sustain a loss that will be felt keenly; and be if further

Resolved, That we extend to the bereaved family our heartfelt sympathy in this their hour of sorrow, and that they be presented with a copy of these resolutions. And be it further

Resolved, That our charter be draped in mourning for a period of thirty days, that a copy of these resolutions be spread on the minutes and a copy published in our daily papers, the Telegram and the News.

Signed, 

G. S. WINE, President,
J. W. STITZER, Secretary, pro tem.,
W. R. TALKINGTON,
E. W. P. WALDECK,
JAMES R. ANDERSON,
Committee

CHECK RECEIVED

The Daily Telegram., March 30, 1909

For Funeral Benefit of Mr. Watkins by Carpenters and Joiners.

Financial Secretary J. W. Stealey, of Local Union No. 236, Carpenters and Joiners of America, informed that body in regular session that he was in possession of a $200 check in payment of the funeral benefit of James B. Watkins, deceased.

Secretary Stealey received the check in four days after sending the voucher and other necessary paper to headquarters at Indianapolis..

Mr. Watkins was a charter member 20 years ago, and never was in arrears with his dues, hence the promptness of returns in such cases. This proves to all the consistency in keeping dues paid up and being in good standing.