J.R. HAIGLER Oct 5, 1905 Az Silver Belt Tragedy and pathos are combined in the story brought from Pleasant Valley by Cy Byrne on Monday. J.R. Haigler, a pioneer of that county, well known in this section of Arizona for many years was thrown from a mule he was riding on Sept. 26 or 27, the precise time not being known, sustaining injuries from which, together with exposure and loss of blood, resulted in his death on Sept 29, interment taking place on the 30th. Deceased was a single man and his comings and goings were so erratic that no notice was taken by Mr. Young, his nearest neighbor, of his absence until the mule he had ridden away returned to the ranch, riderless. He left home to repair a water gap and was advised not to ride the animal on account of its vicious tricks, being but half broken, but he insisted. He was warned that the mule would shy at a certain spot and near this same place he was found unconscious by Mr. Young and a companion. They ascertained that he had repaired the water gap and was on his way home when he was thrown from the tricky mule. A sharp edged jagged rock, matted blood and gray hairs, gave mute evidence of the manner of his wounds. He revived a few moments after they found him and told at odd moments how he had lain there for nearly two days being unable to make anyone hear his appeals for help. When he became conscious he experienced awful thirst and dragged himself to a pool a few yards away. In his efforts to get there he fell into the water nearly up to his arm pits. With despairing energy he grasped the bank and drew himself partially from certain death and had dug his hands into the earth, his legs being still immersed to the knees. The horrors of mental and physical agony endured by this feeble old man during the awful hours can only be imagined. But he must have died a dozen deaths if, indeed, he was more than semi-conscious. He was lifted on a horse and carefully brought to his ranch where medical aid was quickly summoned and everything done that was possible to restore his lost vitality but his advanced age, the great loss of blood and dreadful experience had rendered their attempts abortive. J.R. Haigler was a native of Missouri, aged 68 years and had long lived in the Pleasant Valley country. It is known that he was quite wealthy when he came to that region and invested heavily in cattle. He was a prominent figure in the Indian fighting which took place in that section of Arizona when the few hardy ranchers and cattlemen were constantly on the alert to ward off attacks. October 26, 1905 J.W. Haigler, of Mound City Missouri, nephew of J.T. Haigler, is in the city looking after matters connected with the estate of the deceased who had no relatives living except the family of J.W. Haigler, his brother. USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain express written permission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. submitted by burns@asu.edu