W.A. Fox of Argentine died recently at the Santa Fe Railway
Hospital at Topeka directly from the effects of his foot
"going to sleep" on last election day. Absolutely no possible
explanation can be given by the surgeons and the physicians in
charge of it. Nothing in medical science throws any light
upon it. Fox was 46 years of age and had been an engineer
on the Santa Fe Railway for several years, running out of
Argentine.
MICHAEL GANNON
Aug 11, 1896
Sunday afternoon two men observed the prostrate form of a man
lying in the doorway at the foot of the stairs in the McNamara
house, corner of Washington and Second Streets. The man was
not dead but his face was purple and he was hardly breathing. He
was in a delirious condition and he was taken upstairs and a
physician sent for. He recovered later in the day and said that
he was passing the doorway and feeling faint entered but fell
to the floor in a swoon.
About 11 o'clock in the night he went downstairs into the saloon
after a pitcher of water and said that he was feeling all right.
At 4 o'clock yesterday morning Mr. McNamara entered the man's
room to see if he required anything and found the man lying
on the floor dead and from the appearance of the corpse he
must have died shortly after he got the pitcher of ice water.
Yesterday morning Justice Johnstone impanneled a coroner's
jury and that body returned a verdict that deceased came to
his death from overheating and heart failure. The man's name
was Michael Gannon, a blacksmith who came here from Congress
about a week ago. He was 50 years of age and has a sister
living in Los Angeles.
HENRY GARFIAS
May 9, 1896
Henry Garfias is dead and from Arizona has gone one of the men
who held its peace in days gone by when the pistol was the mode
of argument.
He died yesterday morning about 2 o'clock at his home on Adams
and Eighth Avenue. The cause was mainly injuries received in
being thrown from a horse several weeks ago, though Garfias for
several years has been far from well. He was a widower and leaves
two children, on a girl 12 years old and the other a boy about 9.
Both have been lately living with him.
Garfias was appreciated by Arizonians as one of the bravest men
who ever was known in this region of brave men. He came here in
1874 from Anaheim, California, and was a native of the golden
state. For a while he freighted between Phoenix and Wickenburg.
In 1876 he was elected Constable of Phoenix precinct and since
that time has continued till his death to be a peace officer
in some capacity.
He was Deputy under Sheriff Thomas and during the early terms of
Sheriff Orme and for seven or eight years was City Marshall of
the city of Phoenix being finally retired by the election to the
position of Frank P. Trott. Since then he as been in the same
business continuously as a deputy sheriff or constable.
In the apprehension of criminals, there was never locally known
his superior and his close acquaintance with the Mexican
population and his familiarity with the Spanish tongue made
him wonderfully successful in his dealings with that class of
the population.
One of the famous episodes of Phoenix history was participated
in by Garfias. A Mexican who had ascended in history as "The Saber
Slasher" rode amuck down the main street one Sunday, slashing
with a great cavalry saber every American he could find. One
man died of his wounds and others were seriously wounded. The
man being well mounted escaped but was trailed by Garfias, far
down into Sonora and was found in a den of cut-throats. Garfias
marched boldly in, captured his man, brought him back across the
border and deposited him in the Phoenix jail where he was later
killed by Hi McDonald and a lawyer named Stephenson in an
attempt to escape.
Later a desperado named Ovieda was to be arrested. As he and
Garfias were personal enemies, the latter was unwilling to
undertake the arrest, but finally on the refusal of the rest
of the police force to do the work went on to do his duty. Oviedo
was a carpenter at work at the school house with a loaded shotgun
on his workbench. He had threatened to kill Garfias on sight,
but the officer walked up toward him, his hands open. Oviedo,
however snatched up his gun and fired pointblank at his enemy.
Garfias was one of the quickest of men with a revolver and
probably beat the record on this occasion for when the load of
buckshot whistled over his head he had put two bullets into
the body of the carpenter and the latter died.
Several years later while Garfias as City Marshall, several
Texas cowboys fresh from their native hearth mistook the character
of Phoenix and started to shoot it up. They were plainly not
acquainted with the reputation of the Marshall. As the joyful
yell came to his ears and the sounds of pistol shots opened ,
Henry was on his horse. The four cowboys were gayly curvetting
down Washington Street. They opened fire on the Marshall. He
was unharmed, despite the very hail of lead and in his response
was fortunate enough to wing two of the cow punchers, one of
them fatally. Then he rounded up the others and put them in
jail.
Another time he started to trail a horse thief across the
plain between Mesa nad Florence. He came up with his man as
the latter was taking a noonday rest. The thief recognized the
approaching officer and starting fire with a rifle at long
range. He was a good shot. One bullet grazed the side of the
head of Garfias' horse and another was embedded in the animal's
neck. But the deputy sheriff dashed toward the man with revolver
firing and the thief lay dead.
May 10, 1896
The funeral of the late Henry Garfias will take place this
afternon at 2 o'clock from the Catholic Church on East Monroe
Street. The paull bearers are requested to meet at an earlier
time at the undertaking house of Randal and Davis, Jefferson
Street.
GATKE child
Dec 2 ,1896
The four year old child of Mrs. F.W. Gatke died yestreday
morning. The burial will occur today.
MRS. SAMUEL GENTRY
Nov 7, 1896
Mrs. Samuel Gentry died yesterday morning at her home six miles
west of Pheonix. The funeral will take place this afternoon at
3 o'clock from the undertaking parlors of Randal and Davis.
BEN GEORGE
July 14, 1896
Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock J.B. George passed peacefully away,
death being at the residence of his brother, Supervisor W.L. George,
with whom he has had his home for years. The funeral was held
yesterday morning under the auspices of the local Society of
Confederate Veterans. The service was that of the Universalist
Church at the request of the deceased, made months ago and was
read by A.A. Long
Uncle Ben as he was ever known was 49 years of age and a native
of Shelby County, Kentucky. He served gallantly in the
Confederate Army in the last years of the war.
About fifteen years ago came upon him the disease from which he
died, consumption, but not till the last three years has its
progress been rapid.
Uncle Ben was loved by many. His was a simple, kindly nature
that had broad charity for every offender and it is believed
that not on earth is left a man who ever called himself an
enemy of he who is gone.
He was unmarried, devoting himself to the family of his brother.
He knew well that his time was near, but never complained.
JAMES REED GILMORE
Feb 4, 1896
James Reed Gilmore, 35 years of age, died yesterday morning at
the Hotel Ford of consumption. The remains will be shipped to
Pittsburgh, Pa. today accompanied by the mother of the deceased.
Feb 5, 1896
The remains of James Reed Gilmore the young man who died
at the Ford Hotel were yesterday morning shipped over
the Santa Fe Road to Pittsburgh for interment.
JOSE GONZALES
Aug 9, 1896
A ten year old boy at Solomonville named Jose Gonzales who was
kicked on the leg by a horse some time ago died a few days ago from
the wound.
