Beckham County, OK - Deaths: Charles Willis Martin, 1930
16 August 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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MARTIN, CHARLES WILLIS
(17 Jul 1930, Elk City Newspaper, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
Final rites were read at 3 o'clock this afternoon in the First Christian
church by Rev. Carl V. Covey for Charles Willis Martin, 19, who drowned at
6 o'clock last evening in the Knox Price pond seven miles northwest of the
city.
Mr. Martin is the son of Mrs. Rosa Martin of this city, who lives on West
Third street, and Henry Martin, who lives on East Second street.  The
youth, who has been working for J. J. Robinson, three miles northwest of
the city, for sometime, went with his employer's son, Joe Robinson, to the
Price farm after a load of sand.  The sand pit is about a quarter of a
mile from the pond.  Although Mr. Martin could swim very little or not at
all and the Robinson boy was a very poor swimmer they proposed to go to
the pond.
Steps Into Hole.
Venturing out into the water Mr. Martin stepped off into a hole and went
under.  He became frightened and efforts of Mr. Robinson to save him
brought frenzied clutchings at his rescuer.  Finally the Robinson youth,
seeing that his friend would probably drown them both, was forced to free
himself, leave Martin and run to the Price home for help.
When George Price returned Mr. Martin had been in the water for about 30
minutes.  Successful in his first dive, Mr. Price brought the body to the
surface where resuscitation was attempted.  The men worked frantically
trying to revive the boy while an ambulance was coming.  The body was
rushed to a city hospital where physicians said it had been lifeless for
sometime.
Nearly Drowns Before.
The young Mr. Martin nearly drowned a year ago at the old city reservoir,
it was recalled today.  At that time his brother rescued him and he was
cautioned about going in deep water then.  His fear of drowning added to
the danger of his venturing in pools.  He always became frightened and was
exceedingly hard to handle.
Mr. Martin was born Jan. 26, 1911 near Elk City.  He attended public
schools here.  He began working when quite young, and had been with Mr.
Robinson for several months.
Surviving Mr. Martin are his mother and father and two brothers, all of
this city.  His brothers are Roy Martin, 17, and George Martin, 14.  He
has numerous other relatives living in this city.  An aunt, Mrs. Nellie
Lusk, of Beaver, came to attend the services today.
Interment was made in the East Fairlawn cemetery with Killough-Hullum
funeral directors in charge.

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