Arizona silver belt., 1891-02-21
TRAGIC DEATH OF wM. MinsLET0s.

'
 The terrors of the flood and destruc
 ton of property sink into insigniticanct
 in comparison to the supreme misfor
 tune visited upon the Middleton family
 in the tragic death of the senior, Will | liam Middleton Mr. Middleton, al Though he had reached the advanced
 age of G4 years, was as robust and ac
 tive us most men twenty years younger,
 and thought nothing of exposure and F hardship.
 The old gentleman was returning Thursday evening, about 6 o'clock, to
 his home, in order to reach which Ii was necessary to follow the high bluff which skirts pinal creek on the west. Instead of taking the upper trail on the ridge of the hill, Mir. Middleton fol' lowed an indistinet path which passes over the face of the cliff about two thirds of the distance to the summit, ut all times an unsafe trail, and which had been rendered slippery and treacher- ous by the rain, When he had reached point about 100 feet south of the cabin built on the hill, Mir. Middleton was seen to slip from the trail and plunge headlong down the precipitous cliff, striking the rock in his descent to the creek, seventy-fye feet below.
 A. G. Pendleton witnessed the fall from the rear of his residence, and is convinced that MT. Middleton was killed by the fall, aud this belief is now generally concurred in. The body fell into the stream and was carried away by the swift current, The people on the banks of the creek below were hor- Titied upon seeing the body and recog- nizing the features of Mir Middleton as he was swept down by the turbulent flood All efforts to recover the body were futile until Thursday when Q thorough search was made of the valley below, by Eugesce Middleton and q party of friends, and the corpse WAS found hy Chas, Rogers, about six miles below Globe, in J, W. Horrells field, partially buried in the sand and en- tIrely denuded of clothing, It afforded some consolation to the family and friends of the deceased to learn that his body had been recovered.
 William Middleton was born in Ken tucky, April 27, 1927, and moved with hs parents to Illinois when he was six years old. Sharing in the excitement oecasioned by the discovery of gold in California, he crossed the plains in l8l9 Three years later he returned to Illinois, making the passage from San Francisco, around the Horn to New York. He was married in Illinois the same year and in 1858, moved with his family to Oregon, residing there until 1855, when they removed to California, remaining in that State and Nevada till 1772, in which year they cume to Arizona
 The funeral took place from the Methodist church on Friday afternoon and almost the entire population at- tended, to pay a last tribute of respect to the deceased, who was held in high esteem by all who knew him. The scene at the church was an affecting one, nearly everybody being IF tears during the delivery of Rev J. H. Gill's feeling discourse. The remains were followed to the grave by long train of scrroHing friends, and all that was mortal of Wm Middleton was con signed to the earth. This is the first time that death has invaded the Mid bleton household, and the bereavement is not only q greyious one for the fam fly to bear, but is keenly felt by their many friends.