CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1907-06-13

Elton T. Beckwith, former state SEN
ator from Custer county, warm per-
sonal friend during his lifetime OF the
late United States Senator Edward o.
Wolcott, died Friday at DR.. Works
private sanitarium in Pueblo.
Mr. Beckwith had for months been a
sufferer from paresis, and eventually
would have died of that disease, but
his death was hastened by injuries re-
ceiyed last Tuesday, when he evaded
his nurse and jumped from a second
story window. The fall was respon-
sible for several fractures. and 1t is
believed that internal injuries were
also received.
News OF the death Of Mr.. Beckwtth
was withheld until Saturday from his
only child, Mrs. Elsie velma Wilcox.
because OF Mrs. Wilcox's nervous con-
dition. She had been visiting friends
in eastern cities for several weeks and
was notified in Chicago his injuries
wou;d probably prove fatal. She start
ed for Denver. arriving Friday morn
ing. n few hours after her father had
died.
The journey took much OF her
strength, and on her arrival In Denver
she was In a condition bordering on
total collapse. To make matters worse
came an order OF court to give depo-
sition in the Helen A. Low case in
the district court. 1t was in opposition
to her physicians orders that she gave
her testimony to attorneys Friday
evening.
Friends who have known the young
woman from the time she was lassie
In short skirts, remained with her FRI
day, Friday night. all day Saturday and
Saturday night II was finally decided
to break the news to her late Satur-
day afternoon.
There were many callers to extend
sympathy, and scores OF telegrams. as
well. for Elton T Beckwith was an
, empire builder who did his best work
in Colorado, says the Denver Post.
The way in which Elton T. Beckwith
died WAS a sad ending to career OF
brilliance. Intimate friends had known
for six weeks that the end was not far
distant Mr.. Beckwith had been con-
fined to a room at his Wet Mountain
country home for several months.
guarded night and day by nurses who
never for a minute left him. Two
months ago he began to grow violent
The day of his escape from the
nurses and his fall from the second
story window. It was decided to re-
move him to DR.. Works sanitarium in
Pueblo.
1t was necessary to use force in con-
trolling him on the trip to Pueblo.
Sheriff Hendershot OF Pueblo and two
deputies, with DIR. Baldwin. the Beck
with family physician, and other as
sistants. acted as escort
Experts we're summoned from Dem
yer and the plan was to secure the
best medical talent in Chicago and
New York To consult In the case. but
DR.. Baldwin and other physicians in
formed relatives and friends that there
was no earthly power to extend the
patients life. -a
The only thing to do. they said, and
the only thing that could be done. WINS
to sit calmly by and wait for death.
which could not be far away. When.
death finally took the patient by the
hand, there was no sign OF violence:
sleep had come and death simply
pushed away sleep without disturbing
the sufferer.
The funeral was held Tuesday In
westcllff and the body was laid at
rest in tho Beckwith family burying.
ground at Ula. in the Wet Mountain
valley, which Senator Beckwith loved
10 we'll. Rev. John d. Blake, chaplain
at the state penitentiary In Canon City.
An old personal friend Of the Beckwith
family, conducted the services.
Senator Beckwith owned one OF the
finest ranch houses In Colorado. Six
months ASo he sold his ranch to Baker
4 BiGgsS OF Canon City. much to
the surpriAe OF intimate friends. for he
had often said that never would he
part with a foot Of ground init In life.
He retained the old Beckwith home
and right to the use of . certain
amount OF ground.
Senator Beckwith and his brother.
Edward. were aInong the nrst settlers
in the Wet Mountain valley. They
came from Chicago In the late '70s.
Their father was aswealthy land own
or in and near Chicago, and when the
brothers came to Colorado to seek for
tune In raising hne stock they had con-
siderable money. ~
They selectea q ranch withia six
miles from whore lasss. aftsr the dis
covery Of silver, the town OF silver
CliR was built. Boon after eomlug to
Colorado. Senator Bsckwith married
. Mrs. Davis. wealthy widow, . agt-
eriniAw Of Joseph A. Davis. foruAyr
sGAAs snditOr. Her maiden name ~
CAaDan. ~
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