JOHN SWAN
Arizona Republican Newspaper
October 7, 1903
John Swan, an old soldier who for years had been a pensioner
upon Governor Brody's bounty, died at the Sisters Hospital
at a late hour Monday night. The immediate cause of his death
was a hemorrhage from the chest but an autopsy will be held
today to determine the exact reason for the hemorrhage. The
old veteran was admitted to the hospital last Friday, having
been brought down from the Crown Point Mine in Yavapai County
by direction of the Governor. He was taken with asthma two
weeks ago and his suffering becoming worse he was brought to
Phoenix under the idea that he would soon recover and Dr.
Duffield who attended him said last night that while the old
man was very feeble he had not expected dissolution so soon
at any rate. The doctor said that in all probability it
would be found that death resulted from an aneurysm of the
chest.
John Swan had an honorable record as a soldier. Nearly thirty
years ago he was a trooper in Lt. Brodie's command in the
Yellowstone and when he wondered into Arizona three years
ago he hunted up his old commander. Col. Brodie gave him
some pottering employment around the Crown Point Mine at a
salary which would give him a living and the old soldier
led a happy life raising chickens.
THOMAS SWEEM
Arizona Republican Newspaper
December 26, 1903
Thomas Sweem, who has been employed for a long time as
clerk and bartender at the Central Hotel and Saloon, fell
to the floor yesterday morning about fifteen minutes after
3 o'clock and expired without uttering a word, being dead
before any assistance could be given him though there were
two men in his immediate presence at the time and others
within call. Mr. Sweem resided at No. 315 South Fourth
Avenue with his family, and went on duty at 3 o'clock
seemingly in his usual health. A few minutes later a
man who frequents the barroom entered and bought a drink,
exchanging Christmas greetings. Mr. Sweem then asked him
to have another in recognition of the good cheer of the
occasion. Directly afterward he walked around to the
stove in front of one end of the bar and sat down. A
moment later he fell to the floor, breathing heavily
and before those around him could appreciate the
situation dissolution had occurred.
The police were notified at once, and Dr. Dodsworth was
hurriedly called, but there was nothing to do other than
to examine the body sufficiently to determine that no
resuscitation was possible. Coroner Burnett was summoned
and notification was sent to members of the Eagles Lodge
who were available and of which order Mr. Sweem was a
member. An officer also notified his family at the
earliest moment that he was very ill and probably fatally
stricken. His son, Will, dressed and came up as soon as
possible only to learn that the saddest of bereavements
had been visited on the family, Christmas morning. The
body was then taken to the parlors of Easterling and Whitney.
The coroner emplane led a jury and took the testimony of
those who witnessed the death and adjourned the inquest
till 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The jury yesterday
afternoon listened to added testimony of Dr. Dodsworth and
returned a verdict of death from natural causes, the heart,
liver and kidneys having been affected for a long time.
The body will be taken to Stockton California for burial,
probably leaving on Sunday night's train.
Mr. Sweem was 43 years old, a native of California and has
lived in Phoenix for many years and had a wide circle of
friends who have only good words to offer in comment upon
his personal characteristics. He has been employed by Mr.
Thalheimer of the Central Hotel the greater part of the
time for a number of years, though on one occasion he had
to take vacation by reason of ill health.
Mr. Sweem's family consisted of a wife, one son,
two daughters at home and one daughter who was married
about a year ago to Frank Morris, formerly a telegraph
operator here. They now live in San Francisco.
Dr. FREDERICK ARNOLD SWEET
April 16, 1903,
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Dr. Frederick Arnold Sweet of Bisbee died suddenly yesterday
morning of heart failure. A telegram announcing his death
was received by his most intimate friend, Honorable B.A.
Packard who happened to be in the city. Later in the day,
Mr. Packard received a telegram from his secretary saying
that the day before Dr. Sweet had been in his usual health.
There was no man in all Arizona better known than Dr.
Sweet. He was a native of Rhode Island. He went to
Bisbee sixteen years ago and became the chief physician
for the Copper Queen Consolidated Mining Company, and
held that position to the time of his death. He was a
familiar figure in the capital for being one of the
foremost men in the Territory, he naturally became a
representative at meetings which are held in Phoenix.
He was one of the leading physicians of Arizona and had
for a long time been a member of the territorial board
of medical examiners.
Sudden as his death was, his friends here said they were
not greatly surprised. He had spent a considerable part
of the winter here and it was known that he had a great
deal of trouble with his heart. There was a floridness
of complexion which it was feared was a sign of ill
health. It was remembered three years ago that he had
suffered an apoplectic attack from which it was feared
that he could not recover and he believed himself that
a recurrence of it was at any time possible.
A distressing fact in connection with his death is that
his wife was absent. Not long ago, accompanied by their
three year old son, she went to Brooklyn New York in ill
health. Dr. Sweet had arranged to join her there in
June. Dr. Sweet was forty three.
FRANCISCO TACO
Arizona Republican Newspaper
June 10, 1903
Francisco Taco, a Mexican, sent a bullet crashing through
the brain of Cowboy Mag, his mistress at Jerome at half
past four o'clock Sunday morning and then committed
suicide, says the Prescott Herald. He shot five times,
although only three bullets took effect, two in the body
and one through the head. The bullet causing death
entered under the right eye and emerged at the back of
the head. taco had been living at Jerome with the woman
for the past two or three years and had attempted to
commit suicide less than a month ago, by taking poison.
Dr. Coleman attended him at the time and pulled him
through after a hard fight. The cause of the crime
is attributed to jealousy. The revolver from which
the shots were fired is an old fashioned 45 caliber,
the bulldog pattern.
Previous to coming to Jerome both Taco and the woman
resided in the southern part of the territory. He
came to Jerome about three years ago and the woman
followed six months later. They had lived together
ever since.
EUGENE TAPIA (BLIND EUGENE)
Arizona Republican Newspaper
November 15, 1903
Eugene Tapia, better known as Blind Eugene, died on Friday
night about midnight and was buried yesterday afternoon.
He was something past twenty years of age and had been
practically blind from his birth. The most he ever saw
of the world was a glimmer. He had learned the town so
thoroughly that he could go about it as if he could see.
He was a bright boy in many ways and had the natural
talent of a musician.
W.H. THOMPSON
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 19, 1903
William H. Thompson died yesterday afternoon at his
temporary home about a mile north of Hoghe's Ranch on
the Grand Canal of consumption. His home was in Ohio
where he had been employed as a machinist by the
Westinghouse Company. He came here last October
hoping to recover his health which was then rapidly
failing. He was a young man of excellent character,
unmarried, and was a member of the B.P.O.E. under the
auspices of which order his funeral will be held this
afternoon at 3 o'clock.
JOSEPH THOMPSON
Arizona Republican Newspaper
August 7, 1903
Joe Thompson as he was known throughout Arizona and Sonora,
Mexico passed into the great beyond at his home this morning
at 5 o'clock. He had been suffering for a long time with a
cancer and could not be saved by the best medical aid. While
the Great Reaper has relieved him of his continued pain and
cares of this life, he has taken from our midst one of our
best citizens, a noble husband and a loving father.
He was born in Cumberland England, fifty five years ago and
left his native land when but a boy. He was one of the pioneers
of Arizona and was one of the men that have helped to made the
one time barren lands of Arizona the bright and beautiful country
that it is today. Many a time has he faced the dangers of the
frontier, had many a skirmish with the Apaches and had many
narrow escapes from death.
He was a man of a noble heart and of noble impulses, quiet,
mild mannered and peaceable and his friendship was of the
strong and lasting kind. He leaves behind him a loving wife,
two sons, Joseph and Carlisle and two daughters, Mrs. Van
Treese and Mrs. Healy.
