A cowboy on his way to Tucson was struck by lightning and killed, along with his horse. This was in a time when one couldn't plan on traveling on horseback from one city to another quickly enough to avoid a storm.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Friday, July 14, 1916:
COWBOY’S HEAD IS SPLIT OPEN BY LIGHTNING BOLT
Overtaken by Storm While En Route to Tucson; Horse Also Is Killed
While driving a herd of cattle to Tucson, Manuel Bracamonte was instantly killed by a bolt of lightning yesterday morning at 9 o’clock about 31 miles southwest of Tucson. The bolt struck Bracamonte about three inches above the right eye, so death must have been instantaneous.
A horse which Bracamonte was riding was also killed.
With Bracamonte were two companions Jose Cazararo and Reyes Lovera. They were some distance from Bracamonte at the time the bolt struck and were not injured, though shocked by the lightning. In the same party was Ramon Ahumade, foreman of Kean’s ranch. The tragedy occurred about 500 yards west of the ranch.
The body was brought to the city yesterday by Ahumade, who reported the matter to Coroner Comstock. That official, after learning the circumstances, decided that an inquest was not necessary. the funeral of Bracamonte will be held today.
Bracamonte was killed during a brief ran and thunder storm that was accompanied by a vivid play of electricity.
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Four men were arrested in Tucson for discharging a firearm in public. The firearm, however, wasn't found on any of the men.
FOUR MEN ARRESTED FOR DISCHARGING FIREARM
Search of Quartet, However, Reveals 2 Pocketknives; Hearing Today
Early yesterday morning Policeman Gruber, on duty on the red light reservation, saw four men conversing in earnest tones in the shadow of a building. Presently a streak of flame lit up the semidarkness and the sound of a pistol shot was heard. The officer, covering the men, marched them to the police station where each was docketed for disturbing the peace and discharging firearms in violation of the city ordinances. The men are Julius Flynn, D. F. Stenson, Albert Santacruz and G. B. Rose.
When the four men were searched upon reaching the station, not a firearm was to be found, the only weapons in the “gang” being two pocket knives. They will be tried this afternoon at 4 o’clock on the two charges stated.
The deputy marshal who had been arrested in Mexico was released and told his story.
GERMAN PLOTTER AGAINST U.S. STILL IN CUSTODY IN MEXICO
“I Saved Mexican Government $1000,” Said Schweirz Intimating Intention to Jump Bond — U.S. Deputy Marshall Duncan Tells Story of Escape
Richard Schweiz, former German soldier and alleged agent of the Carranza government, who escaped across the international line Wednesday at Nogales from the custody of Deputy United States Marshal Brad Duncan, did not make a getaway south from Nogales on a railroad motorcar, as has been persistently reported, but was captured by Mexican soldiers and has been in custody ever since, as told exclusively in The Star news story of the affair Wednesday evening. This was confirmed by Duncan, who returned yesterday evening from Nogales by automobile.
Schweiz has been confined in the court at Nogales and was not placed in jail. Up to yesterday afternoon he was still in the custody of the Mexican authorities and if any move had been made to secure his return to the American side it was not made known. As soon as he and Duncan were captured, which was about 12:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, they were taken to the court, and afterwards separated.
Saved Mexico $1000
“I saved the Mexican government $1000 by escaping,” is what Schweirz told Deputy Marshal Duncan after they were taken to the court.
He stated that he would have jumped his body of $1000, fixed by Commissioner O’Connor at Nogales, and gone to the Mexican side of the line. He stated that his bond would have been fixed up by Los Angeles Germans and Mexicans.
The story of Schweirz’s sensational escape was told by Duncan to a reporter at his home on East Fourth street yesterday evening shortly after his return from Nogales by automobile.
“The report that I was waiting for the train to bring Schweirz back to Tucson to jail is a misapprehension,” said Duncan, “for, as a matter of fact, his hearing had not been held and I was intending to return on the train without him. I was watching him at the office of Customs Inspector Curtis during the noon hour Wednesday while other officers were away at lunch.
“He asked me when he would have lunch, and I told him as soon as the other returned. He said that it was a little close in the office and suggested that we take a walk outside, to which I consented, as this privilege had been allowed Schweirz a number of times. So we went out of the custom house and walked west towards the arroyo.”
Left Gun at Hotel.
Duncan states that he did not have his gun on him as he did not expect Schweirz to be in his custody during the forenoon, and thought he would have no use for it, having left it at the hotel.
“I kept a close watch on Schweirz and once when he started to walk towards the line I told him not to pull anything off on me. He then asked me of the arroyo were concreted and suggested that we go and see. We walked over to the bank and just then he started to turn towards the Mexican side. We were about 50 feet from the line, I think. I caught hold of Schweirz but he slipped away from me and started to run for the line. I yelled at him that I would kill him if he did not stop but evidently he did not believe that I had my gun and kept on.
“I caught Schweirz twice just after he had crossed the line, but he got away and then the Mexican soldiers swarmed about and stopped both of us. At first they thought that Schweirz had held me up and were going to shove both of us back, but instead they took up to the court, where we were detained.”
Duncan stated that the story that he had taken Schweirz to the line to talk to a Mexican lawyer on the other side was untrue, and he declared that Schweirz was fully 50 feet from the line when he started to run.
Treated Courteously
Duncan states that he was treated courteously at the jail and that he was released at 6:30 o’clock, which was as soon as word could come from General Calles. He was then taken across the line by automobile.
Duncan went to Nogales Tuesday morning to serve papers and among them was a warrant for Schweirz from Commissioner Jones, of Tucson. Duncan turned this warrant over to Deputy United States Marshal Dumbauld of Nogales, and had no further official connection with Schweirz. As the hearing had not been held he decided to return to Tucson Wednesday afternoon, having finished his business, and, not expecting to have Schweirz in custody, left his revolver at the hotel.
It is Duncan’s theory that Schweirz finding himself alone with the officer, found out in some way that Duncan did not have his gun with him, and determined to make the attempt to get across the line.
The story that Schweirz escaped on a railroad motor car south is believed to have originated in a joke. There was no foundation for such a story, Duncan states. The two were captured together and taken to the court together.
