Arizona silver belt., 1905-10-05
PlONEER'S TRAGIC DEATH
 NEAR PLEASANT VALLEY
Thrown From Animal lie Was Riding His Skull Fractured Help
 For Two Days


 the story brought from Pleasant Val lev by Cy Byrne on Monday. J. R. Haigler, a pioneer of tha, county, well known in this section of Arizona for many years, was thrown from a mule he was riding on September 26 or 27, the precise time not being known to anyone, sustaining injuries from which, together with exposure and loss of blood resulted in his death on Septem- Der 9, interment taking place on the SOth.
 Deceased was a single man and his comngs and goings were so cratic that no notice was taken by Mir. Young, his nearest neighbor, of his absence until the mule he had ridden away re- turned to the ranch, riderless. He left home to repair water gap and was advised not to ride the animal he be- strode on account of it's 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 companion.
 They ascertained that he had repair ed 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 m jments 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 be became conscious he exper- fenced awful thirst and dragged himself to a pool few yards away. In his eff forts to get where he might slake his thirst he fell into the water nearly up to his arm pits. With despairing ener- gy he grasped the bank and drew him self 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 enfeebled 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 horse and careful ly brought to his ranch where medical aid was quickly summoned and every thing done that was possible to restore his lost vitality, but his advanced age, the great loss of blood and dreadful ex- posture had rendered their attempts abortiye.
 J. R. Haigler was native of Mis- Souri, aged 6S years and had long lived in the Pleasant Valley country. It is said that he was quite wealthy when he came to that region and invested heav- fly in cattle. He was prominent fg- ure in the Indian fighting which took place in that section of Arizona when the few hardy ranchers and cattlemen lived constantly on the alert to ward off attacks of the red men.
 In the Tookesberry- Graham war, as 1t is termed, he espoused the cause of the former. He was very positive character and to his stubborness may be attributed his death for he wilfully rejected the advice of his friends wher he tarted on the fateful journey.
 His fortune gradually dwindled unti 1t is doubtful if, at the time of his death, he retained much of value. H' Was respected by all who knew him an' hundreds will lament the awful char aciar of his death and his terrible sui frngs in those long and agony-lader hours when no human kind was near.