Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-30
THOUSANDS ATTEND |
FUNERAL THURSDAY
Of SEN. WATSON
Scores of Late Corners Wis
tied Friday the Grave of
Leader at Hickory Hill
Cemetery
BY ED III. BRADLEY
Staff Correspondent of The JOurnaI

Notdn SOIIcopOIluCHb VI AHO OVuAAAu
THOMSON, Ca, Sept. 20. - The
rays of hot September sun have
begun to wither the blossoms that
cover the last resting place of Sena.
tor Thomas E. Watson in the old
cemetery near Hickory HILL"
where the illustrious Georgian's re-
mains were consigned to earth yes
terday afternoon.
The thousands upon thousands or
his devoted friends who thronged
this little city to attend his funeral,
and pay their last tribute Of affec-
ton to their departed leader, have
scattered to their homes in various
sections of the state and nation.
Thomson once more resumes the
even trend of it's daily tasks, but for
many a long day and year the,
events of yesterday will be recalled
in McDuffie county. *
Scores Of visitors continue to wan
der through the cemetery, stopping
at the new grave with it's mountain
of floral offerings sent by hundreds
of his friends and admirers in many
states. These are the late Corners,
whose misfortune it was to arrive
too late to attend the funeral, hut
spot where their dead chieftain
sleeps.
Perhaps Largest in State History
Senator Watsons funeral, in the
opinion of many persons who have
attended similar events, was per.
haps the largest in the history of
Georgia. Certainly the assemblage
was one of the most cosmopolitan
hi 1n
of the state.
The simple but impressive service
at Hickory HILL" where DR.. E. j.
Forester, Of Sparta; DIR. J. T. Fakes
| of Thomson, and DIR. J. w. Porter,
of Athens, officiated, combined with
| the grave side ritual and eulogy by
Samuel l.. Olive, former president Of
the state senate, to make the occa.
sion one of peculiar significance.
The presence of scores of national
and state officials added dignity to
the scene, while the great influx OF
Mr.. Watson's followers and friends
from the mountains to the sea, testi-
fed to the depth Of the devotion felt
for the departed statesman.
| Then Woodlawn council, No. 20,
Junior Order Of United American
Mechanics, of Augusta, of which
Senator Watson was a member, rem
dered their ritualistic burial service.
The brief grave-side ritual was
soon over, and the remains Of the
distinguished Georgian were lowered
to their last resting place. Beside
him sleep his father and mother.
passed to the great beyond many
years ago. While in another part Of
the cemetery not far distant rest his
three children to whose loss Mr..
Watson never became reconciled.
Many Public Men
Men in public life from all sec.
tions of the state were among those
who gathered around the bier of the
departed statesman to pay their
tribute to his remarkable personality
and intellect. Among them were
Judge J. J. Flynt, of Griffin; State
Senator J. H. Boykin, of Lincolnton;
Charles H. Kittrell, of Dublin; Fred
Kelly, Of Lawrenceville; John L.
Kelly, Of Lawrenceville, former pri-
vate secretary to Senator Watson;
j. l.. Moore, of Barrow county; O..
M. Houser, of Houston; Will STAN
ford, of Lowndes; John c. Evans. Of
Warren; Thomas E. CARTRIDGE, Of
Lincoln; J. E. Hannah, of Jefferson;
Benjamin M. Blackburn, Of Fulton;
John Linn, Of Haacock; J. I. Giles,
of Washington; J. L. Sibley, Of Bald
win; lobe Daniels, of Troup; G. H.
Hopkins, Of Newton; John T. Boz
feuillet, of Bib; John N. Holder,
chairman of the state highway COM
mission; P. T. McCutcheon, state SUI
perintendent Of printing, and many
others.
1t was announced here today that
the Columbia Sentinel, the late Sem
ator Watson's paper, will continue
| publication at this place.