Justice George S. Irwin, who returned from Goldfield last
Sunday afternoon, where he was summoned for the purpose of
holding an inquest over the body of Robert Skiller, who fell
down a prospect hole there on Saturday evening, says that
Skiller, accompanied by another man, arrived at Government
Wells that evening and made application for lodging that
night. They were told that it was impossible to accommodate
them as there was no room and , the strangers were instructed
to continue on to the bunk house at the Mammoth Mine, where
it was believed they could secure accommodations. They were
also cautioned to keep on the car tracks en route to the bunk
house, as that district was covered with prospect holes of
varying depths.
The men started out as they were directed and proceeded along
the tracks until they saw a light shining from one of the
windows in the lodging house and Skiller thinking he could
shorten the distance by going across left his companion and
walked in the direction of the light. He was warned as he did
so to be careful about the holes, but hardly had the words
left the man's lips when he saw by the reflection of the light
that Skiller had disappeared. The man hurried to the bunk house
and informed the inmates there of what happened.
The funeral of Skiller occurred at Goldfield on Sunday morning
and the remains were buried beside two other unfortunates who
had lost their lives in a similar manner. Little is known of
Skiller.
G.O. SCOTT
January 14, 1909
G.O. Scott, an old resident of the Tonto country, was drowned
yesterday in Tonto Creek about twenty miles above Roosevelt.
He was crossing the creek in a rig with Harry Howell. Midway
they encountered quicksand and the horses and rig began to
sink. In the struggle Scott was drowned.
The news of the drowning was received here in the evening from
Mr. Farmer, in the forestry service at Roosevelt, who asked the
sheriff's office to inform the family of Mr. Scott, who live in
the east part of the city and to send word to his son, who is
employed on the railroad near Wickenburg.
Later a message was received from George Felton, a son-in-law
of Mr. Scott at Roosevelt, saying that he would leave at once
for the place of the drowning and return to Roosevelt with the
body today.
Mr. Scott has been well known about Phoenix for at least twenty
years. He came here from Denver, where it is said he occupied a
position of prominence. He engaged in the cattle business in
the Tonto country and for a long time was live stock inspector
for that district.
FRANK SHOTWELL
January 12, 1909
The many friends of Frank Shotwell will be much surprised
to hear of his most sudden and untimely death on Sunday
evening at 6 o'clock at his temporary home on West Jefferson
Street, as he was seen about town by many of them on Saturday
afternoon. He came here for the benefit of his health in
January 1907, being a sufferer of stomach trouble. Since
then he has spent his summers in Wenatchee, Wash., coming
back again in the fall. Mr. Shotwell was 32 years old and
was loved and respected by all who knew him. Death was
caused by heart failure. His father is expected to arrive
here on Friday to take the body to Washington for interment.
MRS. ANNA SIMMONS
January 8, 1909
The grim messenger again visited one of Mesa's homes at an
early hour yesterday morning taking a beloved and respected
resident away. Mrs. Anna Simmons died at 5 o'clock at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary Switzler, on MacDonald street
and 2nd Avenue. She was born in Hart County Virginia in 1823
and at the time of her death was 85 years of age. She was one
of the pioneer settlers of Oregon, where she went in 1861.
She came to Mesa some two years ago.
Mrs. Simmons is survived by two children, a son, Charles
Kickendall whose home is in Oregon and Mrs. Mary Switzler,
with whom she was staying at the time of her death. The
funeral will be from the house at 10 o'clock, Rev. A.L.
Hawley will perform the services with interment in Mesa
Cemetery.
Dr. R.S. SLUSHER
January 22, 1909
Dr. R.S. Slusher for some time a practicing physician of this
city died at Denver on January 3. The Rocky Mountain News
prints the following account of his death:
Dr. R.S. Slusher, who died yesterday at the home of his mother,
1807 South Clarkson Street, of tuberculosis was a victim of duty
to humanity and his profession.
Of three interns working in the St. Louis City Hosital in 1900,
all have died of consumption, Mr. Slusher being the last and all
three contracted the disease while at work in that hospital.
Dr. Slusher was born on a farm in Huntington County, Indiana,
Feb. 12, 1877, taught school when he was 16 years old in Hayes
City, Kansas and graduated from Barnes Medical college, St.
Louis when he was 22 years old.
As soon as Dr. Slusher discovered that he was a victim he
resigned and went to Phoenix where he practiced medicine for
two years and was surgeon for the Santa Fe, Prescott and
Phoenix, but his health broke down again and he went to
California and came to Denver in 1905 and since then had
resided with his mother. He was well known in the medical
profession in Denver, Arizona and in St., Louis.
Dr. Slusher was unmarried and he is survived by his mother, a
sister and three brothers.
EDGAR T. SMITH
April 6, 1909
Edgar T. Smith, a sheep owner of Seilgman, Arizona died in Los
Angeles after an operation for an ulcer of the stomach.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow.
MRS. ELLEN SMITH
May 5, 1909
The funeral services of Mrs. Ellen Smith of Hot Springs, Ark.
was held at Tanner Chapel, A.M.E. church, yesterday at 2:30,
Rev. H. Franklin Bray officiating. The deceased came here
some months ago for her health being followed later by her
husband who tenderly cared for her until her death which
took place Sunday at 12 o'clock.
GEORGE A. SMITH
August 22, 1909
George a. Smith, a gunsmith and proprietor of a bycycle repair
shop at 19 South Second Street was found dead in his shop,
early yesterday morning. The body was found by S. Acuna, a
tailor whose shop adjoins the gunsmith shop. Acting Coroner
Parker was notified and an inquest was held, the jury finding
that death had resulted from natural causes; that is, it had
not been the result of violence.
It was brought out that the dead man had been drinking hard
for several days and Acuna said he saw him as late as 10
o'clock the night before and he was then deeply under the
influence of liquor. There was a contusion on the side of
the head from which there had been a profuse flow of blood.
He had on his person $17.65 and also a letter of dispossession
of the rooms which he held from E. Pascoe and Company. One of
the rooms had been sublet by him to Acuna.
Not a great deal was known of the dead man. It was learned
that he was a native of New York and that he was 57 years
of age. He has a wife and daughter, who left about two
months ago for the east, but after his death it was found
that htey had stopped in Prescott. The authorities soon
succeeded in opening communicaitons with them and it is
thought that they will arrive in town today.
GEORGE B. SMITH
Feb. 12, 1909
The inquest on the body of George B. Smith, who was fond dead
in the southern part of the city on Wednesday afternoon was
concluded before Coroner Johnstone yesterday and it was found
that Smith had come to his death of natural causes. He had for
a long time been a sufferer of consumption. He was found by
A.J. McCune of the Singer Sewing Machine Co. The day before
a woman who said that she was the wife of Smith called at
the office of the company saying that she wanted to buy a
machine. Mr. McCune went down the following afternoon.
Looking through the glass he was horrified to see a man
lying in bed covered with blood. He was so still that Mr.
McCune believed that he was dead and reported his find to
the authorities. It was later learned that the woman had
left the evening before for Los Angeles. It was also learned
that since their living in Phoenix she had frequently gone
away and left Smith for days at a time. There is doubt
whether she is his wife. Smith was born in New York. He
had been connected with the Chicago post office for
sixteen years. He came to Phoenix about three months ago.
