The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-10
DROPPED DEAD
James Hayes Suddenly Expired in His
Own Dooryard-Funeral Today.

James Hayes Suddenly Expired in His
Own Dooryard-Funeral Today.
James Hayes, resident of Benton
county for more than 40 years,
wealthy and well known citizen,
Indian war veteran, Oregon pion-
eer and original discoverer of the
famous Gold Hill mine in Jackson
county, passed quickly from active
life into the silence of death, Thurs
day morning. His transition from
this world to another was wholly
unexpected, and occurred in the
twinkling of an eye, There had
| been no ai1ment, no complaint,
and his family and friends supposed
Mr. Hayes to be in the best of
health, and good for another score
of years. But, in an unforeseen
moment, the brittle life thread
snapped, and Mr. Hayes took his
place in the halls of the silent dead.
Death occurred in the door yard
at the Hayes home, a mile west of
Corvallis. Mr. Hayes had planned
to kill a7couple of hogs during the
forenoon. His assistants were
his son Clyde Hayes and John
Wells, They had caught one of
the hogs, and had attempted to
knock it in the head, but while the
process was on, the pig escaped,
and ran a short distance out into
the pasture. Mr. Hayes procured a
rifle at the house. followed the pig,
and at the third shot brought the
animal down. Then Mr. Hayes
walked back to the house, left the
gun, and with his assistants, re-
turned with a team and sled to
bring in the pig.
Mr. Hayes death occurred while
the party was returning to the
house. Clyde Hayes was
driving the team, and his father
walked behind the sled watching
progress. AS the party approached
the house Mr. Hayes suddenly call
| ed out to Clyde to, "Be sure and
not run against that stump ahead"
Hardly had he spoken. when Mr.
Hayes rel1 forward. dropping at
first on one knee, and then falling
PROSTATE. He uttered no word,
then or thereafter. His directions
about the stump were his last words
Mrs Hayes stood but a short dis
tance away when he fell, and saw
his every movement. She hurried
to his side, calling for assistance,
Mr. Hayes was carried into the
house, but the assistance rendered
was futile. Life was extinct, and
the only sonnd that was heard was
his last Efforts at breathing and the
death rattle in his throat. A mes
senger was dispatched posthaste to
town for medical assistance. and
DIR Cathey responded. It was too
late however, when he arrived.
Heart failure was assigned by DR.
Cathey as the cause of death.
The funeral is to occur from the
family home at 10 o'clock this
morning. The service is to be
conducted by Rev. F. L. Moore.
The interment is to be at the Arm
strong cemetery, about one mile
north of Oak Ridge. A child and
other relatives of the family are
buried there.
James Hayes was aged 6S years,
eight months and 20 days. Hel
was born in Albany, New York,
and while but a child, went with
his parents to Cook county, illinois,
where the family settled, and where
numerous relatives still reside. In
1852 he crossed the plains to Ore
gon, settling in the autumn of that |
year In Jackson county. In the |
Indian wars of 1855 he served in
the company of which Major Bruce
was captain. In 1857, he went to
the Fraser river mines, but after an
unsuccessful experience there, re-
turned to Jackson county, where
he discovered the Gold Hill mines
the story of which, as told by Mr.
Hayes himself, is to be found on
the fourth page of this paper. Early
in the sixties, Mr. Hayes was mar
ried to Miss Caroline Henk1e, /
daughter of Mr. and Mrs William
Henk1e. then of Jackson county,
and shortly afterward he moved to
Benton county. where he resided
until death. The surviving men,
bers of the family are the widow,
two sons, John and Clyde Hayes of
Corvallis, and three daughters,
Mrs Thomas Bell and Mrs Philips
Of Corvallis, and Mrs Hunter of
Waterville, Washington.