Nogales international., 1929-02-01
President Of First National Bank Here Dies At
Crawford Street Home After Valiant
Struggle To Resist Pneumonia
BODY TO LIE IN STATE AT MASONIC TEMPLE

1
been expected momentari!y during
his final hours, DR.. A. L. Gustetter,
lifelong friend, and other physi-
clans summoned their best medi-
| cal knowledge and nurtured the
fading hope that some miracle
might stay the disease.
HOPES FADE
After having remained in q con-
dition for about "a hours in what
was announced as "holding his
own" Mr.. Curtis took a change for
the worse at 1O:3O AM. Wednesday
morning at which time he had a
sinking spell, and apparently had
lost all signs Of consciousness. At
that hour DR.. A. L. Gustetter, his
old time close friend, and princi-
! pal physician at his bedside from
the time ne became seriously IL
Sunday, stated that his condition
"was not so good. 1t was realized
the end was near.
DIR. C. w. Mills of Tucson, noted
lung specialist, who was here Mon
day night remarked that he mar
velled that Mr.. Curtis was still
alive at that time, so serious was
he i'll from the influenza and pneu-
monia, the same kind which took
such heavy toll in 1918.
from Sunday night until the
time of his death the prominent
bankes had been kept alive through
the constant use of oxygen, numer-
Gus drums of the life giving oxy-
gen having been rushed here from
Tucson and Phoenix.
Throughout the long hours of
three nights and three days, loving
friends and physicians and nurses
labored at the bedside of the be-
loved man, encouraged every hour
that life remained, but fearing
the end was near and that very,
very seldom, could a person re-
cover from the ravages of the dis
ease with which Mr.. Curtis was af-
flicted.
HEARS FIRE WHISTLE
There were times when he ap-
peared to be making headway to-
ward recovery. Those were princip-
ally Tuesday when he seemed to
recognize the voice of DR.. Gustet-
ter. Another time was when the
fire whistle blew Tuesday after
noon. The former Fire Chief, al
though near death, and fighting
a losing battle, was sleeping at the
time the big siren on the city hall
building sounded the fire alarm.
There was a twitch or two in his
face, he moved a little, and APP
peared to wish that he could again
rush to fire and assist "the boys"
as he had done so often during
the many years he was fire chief
and the time, too, after he had re-
tired two years ago from his posi-
ton as Chief.
From the minute that word was
flashed out to the world Sunday
night by press associations that
Bra ey Curtis was critically i'll,
kilograms began rolling in from all
parts of the country asking about
his condition. Locally, both the
poor and rich, men, women and
children, persons in all walks of
life, constantly inquired, all wish
ing they could do something to pro-
long the life of a man who was
their true friend, man who was
generally known as Our Fore
most Citizen.
Otto Herold, vice-president Of
the First National Bank, and party
consisting of Amos Yaeger, DR.. V.
A. Smelker, and Leslie C. Hardy,
who left here Saturday for hunt
ing trip in Mexico, arrived home
Wednesday morning, called by
telegram announcing Mr.. Curtis
critical condition.
HISTORY OF LIFE
Mr.. Curtis was born and educat
ed in Medfie!d, Massachusetts,. He
came west in 1900 and with Ly1
curgus Lindsay operated a group
of mining properties in northern
Sonora. With Headquarters in No
gales they acquired certain Cana
nea properties which were later
purchased and now are being OPP
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