Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-31
FOOT
AND CASH GONE,
CAMPBELL dies

Tragedy wrote the final chapter of
the life story of Edward Campbell, a
prospector, at Yuma last week, accord
ing to story carried by the Yuma
Sun. But for that unfortunate end
ing, Campbells life had been colorful
and romantic, and the climax had been
attained in the final acquisition of a
fortune Of reasonable proportions,
one that would have made it easily
possible for the old prospector to have
lived in comfort for his remaining
years. But fate is hard ruler and
lived up to that record with Campbell
Here is the story substantially as told
in the Yuma paper:
Death closed the life story of Ed
ward Campbell here last Monday when
he died as the result of 20-mile stalk
through the frost-bitten desert after
he had been the victim of a holdup by
two bandits and robbed of all the ready
cash and everything in personal ef-
fectS that he possessed. The body was
shipped to his sister, Mrs. John Nc
Carthy at Pawtucket, r. I.
"The story of the tragic end to
C3mpbell'S career did not come to light
until the body had been sent away.
Then it was revealed that Campbell,
in the last days passed at the hospital,
had told some of those with whom ne
talked Of his experiences. According
to this story, he had finally made his
stake after 40 years of varied expert
ences throughout the gold and silver
producing areas and had laid out his
program to return to his former home
and take life easy until the end.
1.-TWO weeks ago he had transferred
a large sum, supposedly $4,000, from
a Los Angeles bank to an eastern bank
ing institution and with $3.50 in his
pocket, he had set out to visit his
sister to spend the remainder Sof his
life in her snug harbor home at Paw
tucket where he had seen boyhood
days.
"And then tragedy Stalked against
the old-timer, tragedy that had often
baked his way while in quest of the
yellow metal, down in South America
or up in the northland.
Campbell had claimed to be i'm
mune from fatal accidents. His long
life in the wilds and the outdoor had
backed up his faith Almost on the
threshold of the Biblical age, now he
still stood over six feet tall, hale and
hearty. And fortune had smiled upon
him. Now he was going home and
take things easy.
"At Los Angeles he met two strang-
ers in hotel They were going east,
to Phoenix, to Tucson, yes, to Texas,
even. Would he come along and share
Campbell, all his life alone among
the sandhills and the low hanging
stars of the desert at night, craved
company. He aSsented and they set
out
"In Yuma the strangers played a
trick on him. They turned roundabout
ways and sneaked across the border
into California again while the Old
man was doing in the back seat OF
the car.
"But perhaps his old time luck as
serted itself once more. According to
the story he suddenly wakened and
demanded to inspect the lay OF the
land. To his keen prospector's eye
this wasn't Arizona any longer. There
were old home grounds, desert pano-
ramas which he had known in younger
years.
'They were near Ogilby, Calf.
"Let me out. you fellows demand
ed the old desert rat. You amt head
in her right. You're travelling north
west instead of east
"Then the muzzle of two revolvers
stared the old timer in the face.
"'Hand over all you've got and
pronto!' came husky commands.
"They took all he had. $3.50 Let
ters and even his matches.