WILLIAM RILEY
February 8, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
William Riley, better known as "One Eyed Riley" was lying
at the Sisters hospital last night, believed to be dying
of injuries received in a fall from a horse the evening
before. He was trying to rope a cow on a ranch where he
was employed about eight miles west of town. Just as he
had fastened his rope on the animal, his horse fell, and
Riley was thrown so hard that his skull was crushed. He
was picked up senseless and brought to the hospital. He
has never been conscious for an instant since the
accident. There appeared to be a slight improvement
in his condition yesterday afternoon, but at 8 o'clock
last night a turn for the worse set in and he was
believed to be sinking. Physicians who examined him
when he was brought to town said it would be impossible
for him to recover. From the nature of his injury death
might be expected at any moment, or he might linger for
two or three days.
Riley came here from California several years ago. He
was an expert cowboy and bronco buster. He was known
everywhere as "one-eyed Riley". Whenever he was asked
how he lost his eye he replied that he had worn it out
looking for work in California.
Death of William Riley
February 10, 1902
William Riley, the cowboy who was injured last Thursday
night by being thrown from a falling horse, died at the
Sisters Hospital at 10 o'clock yesterday morning. From
the time of the accident there was never any hope of
recovery. He has never been conscious and it is believed
that all the time he was slowly dying. His funeral will
take place from Merryman and Holley's at 4 o'clock this
afternoon.
When it became evident yesterday morning that Riley was
near death inquiry began to be made about his relatives
when a curious thing was discovered, something that
could not have happened except in such a cosmopolitan
community as this is. Though he had lived here a great
many years and was known by half the people in the town
and most of the cowboys in Arizona, not a man could be
found who knew anything about his antecedents or what
part of the country he had come from. It was remembered
for the first time, by even those who knew him intimately
that though he was a great talker he had never said
anything about himself. Riley was an expert cowboy and
a man of marvelous physique. He will be remembered by
those who attended the late steer tying tournament as
one of the participants.
Death resulted from a fracture of the base of the skull,
the spine having been jammed against it in the fall.
Funeral
February 11, 1902
The funeral of William Riley, the cowboy who died on Sunday
morning took place yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock. It
was a typical funeral of a cowboy and those eastern tourists
who are always on the lookout for something different from
the things they see in the streets of Boston who missed it,
missed one of the most picturesque incidents of Arizona
life.
The procession was largely made up of mounted cowboys and
cattlemen, for they all liked Riley. He was rough and at
the same time he was tender. He never hesitated to fight,
but he never fought without cause or what he believed to
be a good cause, and there is no record that he ever fought
a weaker man than himself or that he ever made use of an
advantage over an adversary or that he was ever whipped.
Neither was he much of a gun fighter he had too much muscle
and skill and too much confidence in them for that.
Riley got thirsty sometimes and not being allied with any
temperance organization he frequently slaked his thirst
with strong drink. Then he was often seen at his worst,
but that was not so bad as the best, of some who were
more pretentious than Riley.
Almost everybody who knew him is sorry that Riley is
dead. In the similar situation of a very large majority
of men, many of their acquaintances would not care one
way or another about it. So if a mans worth is measured
by the estimation in which he is held, Riley was far above
the average of men.
His funeral was not by any means wholly a cowboy funeral.
There were citizens in carriages, as well as those on
horseback for there were many who cannot ride, but
nevertheless loved Riley, the expert cowboy, the
skilled bronco buster and always a friend worth having.
Dr. W.C. ROBBINS
July 1, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Word was received in the city yesterday of the death at
Santa Paula Cal. of Dr. W.C. Robbins of this city of
consumption. He left here about two months ago, hardly
expecting that he would ever return to his home. He came
to phoenix five years ago, then in what appeared to be an
advanced stage of the disease but his decline though
steady, was very slow. Six months ago it became more
rapid and it was doubtful if he would live through the
winter. Last spring he believed he had discovered a
herbal remedy for consumption an infusion of a solution
of formaldehyde. It was with considerable difficulty
that he could persuade a brother physician to administer
it, but upon his representation that he was dying anyhow,
and that there was a possibility of the discovery of a
great specific for tuberculosis, the solution was
administered. There was an instant and marked
improvement in his condition and he believed that he
might recover. The remedy, or rather, the experiment,
was widely heralded and the New York Tribune
distinguished as it is for a conservative journal,
devoted two columns of its editorial page to it.
The effect of the infusion was not lasting and a few days
later a second and stronger solution was applied with
almost disastrous affect. The doctor believed that the
discovery was a valuable one but he conceded that he
could hope for nothing from it. It had come too late.
There was not enough of his system left to build upon.
There was not enough blood to take up the solution and
carry it on its germ destroying course nor could it be
eliminated after it had performed its office.
Dr. Robbins was a native of Indiana and was thirty two
years old. He was a nephew of Professor Creager,
formerly superintendent of the city schools. He was
married about two years ago and his wife is also a physician.
JAMES ROBERTSON
September 15, 1902
Jack Lynch is of the opinion that James Robertson, the man
found dead about 25 miles west of this city, was formerly
town marshal of Wilcox. The inquest yesterday resulted in
a verdict in accordance with the facts first published.
MRS. J.H. ROBERTSON
Alta M. Robertson, wife of J.H. Robertson of this city,
died at her mother's home in Beverly Texas, July 27. Mrs.
Robertson will be remembered as the bright young business
woman who was connected with the Arizona Democrat up to
the time of the change of ownership last February. About
that time she suffered an attack of the grippe.
Dr. Hughes suggested to her a course of treatment but she
was in belief a health reformer and was fearful of strong
medicines so took a milder treatment instead, till it
became too late and her malady developed into quick
consumption. All effort to restore her to health was
without success and on June 6 she left here for Texas
hoping the change of climate would do her good but it
was unavailing.
Mrs. Robertson came to Phoenix December 4, 1890. Her
maiden name was Alta May Parker and she was born
January 22, 1870. She leaves five children, two boys
and three girls, ranging in age from six to thirteen
years. They are with their father on a ranch near
this city. Mrs. Robertson was energetic, popular and
well known in Phoenix. She was a very conscientious
woman, of a devout Christian character and devoted to
her family, dying with a prayer in their behalf on her
lips.
