R.L. Campbell
Arizona Silver Belt
July 9, 1896

J.R. Haigler arrived from Pleasant Valley last Thursday 
bringing news of the murder of R.L. Campbell (better known as 
Bud Campbell) by Indians on Sunday afternoon, July 5, near 
the Voris cabin six miles south of J.W. Ellison's ranch and 
not far from the reservation.

It seems that Bud Campbell and John Pool wee out horse hunting 
and just after sundown on the day named had gone into camp.  
Campbell had uncinched his horse and was about to removed the 
saddle when a shot was fired, the bullet passing close to 
Campbell's face. His horse took fright and ran a short distance 
to where Pool was, who caught the animal and, Campbell coming 
up, they both mounted (Campbell, bareback, having lost his saddle) 
and started their horses on a run to escape from their unseen 
foe.  They had not gone far when several shots were fired, on 
of which struck Campbell and passed through his body.  After 
being shot, Campbell rode 100 yards on farther before falling 
from his horse.  Pool continued his flight and reached Ellison's 
place after nightfall.

Early on the following morning a party headed by Pool went to 
the scene of the murder and found Campbell's body where it had 
fallen and lain undisturbed.  The body was taken to Ellison's 
ranch and buried.

Messrs. Kemp and Bass returned from Pleasant Valley on Saturday 
bringing a letter from J.W. Elliosn to sheriff Thompson, 
requesting him to notify the authorities at San Carlos and 
Apache of the killing and also the mother of the deceased, 
Mrs. N.F. Campbell, who resides at Weatherford, Texas.  Captain 
Myer, acting Indian agent at San Carlos, telegraphed the sheriff 
that Lt. Rivers and troops left immediately on receipt of the 
news to investigate the trouble.

Campbell is supposed to have bene murdered by Cibicu Indians, 
who had sworn to be revenged for the killing of Chief Nan-tan-
go-tayz in the fight with Deputy Sheriff Benbrook's possee on 
the 5th of December last.

R.L. Campbell had been a resident of Northern Gila County for 
a number of years and was a man of excellent character, 
respected by all who knew him.  He married a daughter of J.W. 
Ellison, who died in Florence, Ariz. in December 1894. Two 
children survive them.


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