One of the most distressing accidents known to the history of Pima county occurred yesterday, when the life of Mrs. Thomas Hughes was crushed out as suddenly and unexpectedly as a faint current of air extinguishes the unsteady flame of a candle. A fallen adobe wall down on Main street, near the residence of Hon. Thomas Hughes, tells the story ; an excavation in the pile of debris shows where the limp and lifeless form of Mrs. Hughes, mangled and bleeding, was taken out.
About 5 o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Hughes went to the corral, a short way from the house, to see to some milking being done by the hired girl. Part of the enclosure is formed by an adobe wall about fourteen feet in height and a foot in thickness. The entrance to the corral is a large aperture in the wall. Mrs. Hughes took down the bars, passed through the opening and walked up close to the adobe wall.
She had stood there scarcely a moment, when a noise was heard, and looking about, the hired girl, who was in the center of the enclosure, saw that the wall directly behind Mrs. Hughes was falling. She screamed, but too late. In a second t he heavy mass of adobe had pinned the unfortunate woman to the ground.
The girl's cries for help soon brought to her assistance several men living in a house near the corral. Mr. Hughes, who was in bed and asleep, was suddenly awakened by one of his little daughters, who broke the sad news to him. In a short while he and the men whom the hired girl's screams had attracted, succeeded in removing the adobes lying on Mrs. Hughes body, but when the form was lifted, two gasps were heard and the spark of life faded out.
The remains were borne into the house and Doctor Spencer was immediately summoned. A hasty examination showed that the spine had been fractured. Blood was oozing from the ears and nose, which fact indicated that the unfortunate woman had also sustained internal injuries. The left thigh bone was broken, as were the pelvis bones.
The supposition is that the recent rains were directly the cause of the wall falling. It is possible that some of the cows in the corral may have run against the structure in the course of the night and placed it in such a condition that all necessary was for some one to remove the bars at the gate to make it fall.
The old saying "Life is but a game of chance" seems to hold good in this case. A woman like Mrs. Hughes, who with her husband experienced so many hair-breadth escapes from blood-thirsty Apaches in early days, to be taken off in so unexpected a manner is remarkable. During the days the redskins were so bad, a few years ago and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were living near Crittenden, many times, when Mr. Hughes was called away from home and returned, he expected to find his whole family massacred; but his wife was too brave to accede to his wishes to move to Tucson.
Deceased was a native of Santa Cruz, Mex., and forty years old. Her maiden name was Elena Martinez. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes occurred September 30, 1875. There are nine children in the family, the oldest aged 16 years. The funeral services were held in the-afternoon at 5 o'clock in the Catholic church. The floral offerings were many and beautiful. Lodges No. 1 and No. 8, A. O. TJ. W. of which order Mr. Hughes is a member, attended the services. The funeral procession was quite long. "In the midst of life we are in death." No greater eulogy can be pronounced on any woman than can truly be said of the deceased a true wife and a devoted mother. A sorrowing husband and nine motherless children mourn the loss of one whose place can never be filled. It has been well said, that we weep for the loved and lost because "we know that our tears are in vain." We can only acknowledge that the affliction is God's will, and that in the golden summer of another life, children, mother and father will gather again in a sweet reunion. where partings are unknown.
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona
25 Aug 1893, Fri • Page 4
Contributor: Don Stowell (46794548)
About 5 o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Hughes went to the corral, a short way from the house, to see to some milking being done by the hired girl. Part of the enclosure is formed by an adobe wall about fourteen feet in height and a foot in thickness. The entrance to the corral is a large aperture in the wall. Mrs. Hughes took down the bars, passed through the opening and walked up close to the adobe wall.
She had stood there scarcely a moment, when a noise was heard, and looking about, the hired girl, who was in the center of the enclosure, saw that the wall directly behind Mrs. Hughes was falling. She screamed, but too late. In a second t he heavy mass of adobe had pinned the unfortunate woman to the ground.
The girl's cries for help soon brought to her assistance several men living in a house near the corral. Mr. Hughes, who was in bed and asleep, was suddenly awakened by one of his little daughters, who broke the sad news to him. In a short while he and the men whom the hired girl's screams had attracted, succeeded in removing the adobes lying on Mrs. Hughes body, but when the form was lifted, two gasps were heard and the spark of life faded out.
The remains were borne into the house and Doctor Spencer was immediately summoned. A hasty examination showed that the spine had been fractured. Blood was oozing from the ears and nose, which fact indicated that the unfortunate woman had also sustained internal injuries. The left thigh bone was broken, as were the pelvis bones.
The supposition is that the recent rains were directly the cause of the wall falling. It is possible that some of the cows in the corral may have run against the structure in the course of the night and placed it in such a condition that all necessary was for some one to remove the bars at the gate to make it fall.
The old saying "Life is but a game of chance" seems to hold good in this case. A woman like Mrs. Hughes, who with her husband experienced so many hair-breadth escapes from blood-thirsty Apaches in early days, to be taken off in so unexpected a manner is remarkable. During the days the redskins were so bad, a few years ago and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were living near Crittenden, many times, when Mr. Hughes was called away from home and returned, he expected to find his whole family massacred; but his wife was too brave to accede to his wishes to move to Tucson.
Deceased was a native of Santa Cruz, Mex., and forty years old. Her maiden name was Elena Martinez. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes occurred September 30, 1875. There are nine children in the family, the oldest aged 16 years. The funeral services were held in the-afternoon at 5 o'clock in the Catholic church. The floral offerings were many and beautiful. Lodges No. 1 and No. 8, A. O. TJ. W. of which order Mr. Hughes is a member, attended the services. The funeral procession was quite long. "In the midst of life we are in death." No greater eulogy can be pronounced on any woman than can truly be said of the deceased a true wife and a devoted mother. A sorrowing husband and nine motherless children mourn the loss of one whose place can never be filled. It has been well said, that we weep for the loved and lost because "we know that our tears are in vain." We can only acknowledge that the affliction is God's will, and that in the golden summer of another life, children, mother and father will gather again in a sweet reunion. where partings are unknown.
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona
25 Aug 1893, Fri • Page 4
Contributor: Don Stowell (46794548)
One of the most distressing accidents known to the history of Pima county occurred yesterday, when the life of Mrs. Thomas Hughes was crushed out as suddenly and unexpectedly as a faint current of air extinguishes the unsteady flame of a candle. A fallen adobe wall down on Main street, near the residence of Hon. Thomas Hughes, tells the story ; an excavation in the pile of debris shows where the limp and lifeless form of Mrs. Hughes, mangled and bleeding, was taken out.
About 5 o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Hughes went to the corral, a short way from the house, to see to some milking being done by the hired girl. Part of the enclosure is formed by an adobe wall about fourteen feet in height and a foot in thickness. The entrance to the corral is a large aperture in the wall. Mrs. Hughes took down the bars, passed through the opening and walked up close to the adobe wall.
She had stood there scarcely a moment, when a noise was heard, and looking about, the hired girl, who was in the center of the enclosure, saw that the wall directly behind Mrs. Hughes was falling. She screamed, but too late. In a second t he heavy mass of adobe had pinned the unfortunate woman to the ground.
The girl's cries for help soon brought to her assistance several men living in a house near the corral. Mr. Hughes, who was in bed and asleep, was suddenly awakened by one of his little daughters, who broke the sad news to him. In a short while he and the men whom the hired girl's screams had attracted, succeeded in removing the adobes lying on Mrs. Hughes body, but when the form was lifted, two gasps were heard and the spark of life faded out.
The remains were borne into the house and Doctor Spencer was immediately summoned. A hasty examination showed that the spine had been fractured. Blood was oozing from the ears and nose, which fact indicated that the unfortunate woman had also sustained internal injuries. The left thigh bone was broken, as were the pelvis bones.
The supposition is that the recent rains were directly the cause of the wall falling. It is possible that some of the cows in the corral may have run against the structure in the course of the night and placed it in such a condition that all necessary was for some one to remove the bars at the gate to make it fall.
The old saying "Life is but a game of chance" seems to hold good in this case. A woman like Mrs. Hughes, who with her husband experienced so many hair-breadth escapes from blood-thirsty Apaches in early days, to be taken off in so unexpected a manner is remarkable. During the days the redskins were so bad, a few years ago and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were living near Crittenden, many times, when Mr. Hughes was called away from home and returned, he expected to find his whole family massacred; but his wife was too brave to accede to his wishes to move to Tucson.
Deceased was a native of Santa Cruz, Mex., and forty years old. Her maiden name was Elena Martinez. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes occurred September 30, 1875. There are nine children in the family, the oldest aged 16 years. The funeral services were held in the-afternoon at 5 o'clock in the Catholic church. The floral offerings were many and beautiful. Lodges No. 1 and No. 8, A. O. TJ. W. of which order Mr. Hughes is a member, attended the services. The funeral procession was quite long. "In the midst of life we are in death." No greater eulogy can be pronounced on any woman than can truly be said of the deceased a true wife and a devoted mother. A sorrowing husband and nine motherless children mourn the loss of one whose place can never be filled. It has been well said, that we weep for the loved and lost because "we know that our tears are in vain." We can only acknowledge that the affliction is God's will, and that in the golden summer of another life, children, mother and father will gather again in a sweet reunion. where partings are unknown.
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona
25 Aug 1893, Fri • Page 4
Contributor: Don Stowell (46794548)
About 5 o'clock yesterday morning Mrs. Hughes went to the corral, a short way from the house, to see to some milking being done by the hired girl. Part of the enclosure is formed by an adobe wall about fourteen feet in height and a foot in thickness. The entrance to the corral is a large aperture in the wall. Mrs. Hughes took down the bars, passed through the opening and walked up close to the adobe wall.
She had stood there scarcely a moment, when a noise was heard, and looking about, the hired girl, who was in the center of the enclosure, saw that the wall directly behind Mrs. Hughes was falling. She screamed, but too late. In a second t he heavy mass of adobe had pinned the unfortunate woman to the ground.
The girl's cries for help soon brought to her assistance several men living in a house near the corral. Mr. Hughes, who was in bed and asleep, was suddenly awakened by one of his little daughters, who broke the sad news to him. In a short while he and the men whom the hired girl's screams had attracted, succeeded in removing the adobes lying on Mrs. Hughes body, but when the form was lifted, two gasps were heard and the spark of life faded out.
The remains were borne into the house and Doctor Spencer was immediately summoned. A hasty examination showed that the spine had been fractured. Blood was oozing from the ears and nose, which fact indicated that the unfortunate woman had also sustained internal injuries. The left thigh bone was broken, as were the pelvis bones.
The supposition is that the recent rains were directly the cause of the wall falling. It is possible that some of the cows in the corral may have run against the structure in the course of the night and placed it in such a condition that all necessary was for some one to remove the bars at the gate to make it fall.
The old saying "Life is but a game of chance" seems to hold good in this case. A woman like Mrs. Hughes, who with her husband experienced so many hair-breadth escapes from blood-thirsty Apaches in early days, to be taken off in so unexpected a manner is remarkable. During the days the redskins were so bad, a few years ago and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were living near Crittenden, many times, when Mr. Hughes was called away from home and returned, he expected to find his whole family massacred; but his wife was too brave to accede to his wishes to move to Tucson.
Deceased was a native of Santa Cruz, Mex., and forty years old. Her maiden name was Elena Martinez. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hughes occurred September 30, 1875. There are nine children in the family, the oldest aged 16 years. The funeral services were held in the-afternoon at 5 o'clock in the Catholic church. The floral offerings were many and beautiful. Lodges No. 1 and No. 8, A. O. TJ. W. of which order Mr. Hughes is a member, attended the services. The funeral procession was quite long. "In the midst of life we are in death." No greater eulogy can be pronounced on any woman than can truly be said of the deceased a true wife and a devoted mother. A sorrowing husband and nine motherless children mourn the loss of one whose place can never be filled. It has been well said, that we weep for the loved and lost because "we know that our tears are in vain." We can only acknowledge that the affliction is God's will, and that in the golden summer of another life, children, mother and father will gather again in a sweet reunion. where partings are unknown.
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona
25 Aug 1893, Fri • Page 4
Contributor: Don Stowell (46794548)
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