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Robert Howard

Posted 2026-01-03 by Jo Brown
LIGHTNING STRIKES AND KILLS A BOY
Robert Howard of Date Creek Falls a Victim to The Deadly Electric Bolt

News reached Prescott last night that Robert Howard, the 15-year-old son of J. O. Howard, was
killed at an early hour yesterday by lightning while riding from the home of his parents on Date
creek to Congress. It seems that while en route he met with the storm that struck Prescott at
about the noon hour, and that when a few miles from Congress a stroke of lightning killed the
horse and boy also.
Inquiry about town among those who are well acquainted with the residents on Date creek
developed that Mr. Howard is a resident there, but nothing definite was to be learned as to the
sudden death of the young boy. All the reports agreed that the bodies of the boy and the animal
he had ridden were found after the storm by a traveler.
As nearly as can be ascertained from the scant information available the son of J. O. Howard
had left the ranch for an errand to Congress, and that at the time there was no sign of a storm.
He had been seen by one or more travelers going the other way, and before the storm broke
was making his way to Congress.
Nothing is to be learned as to how the stroke caused the death of the boy nor as to the
condition of the remains when found. Repeated statements as to the accidental death of young
Howard among those who were certain of the facts led to the belief that the rumor was based
upon fact, but no direct information was obtainable. Information received at midnight confirms
the report of the untimely demise of the unfortunate lad.

Weekly Arizona Journal Miner
August 30, 1905




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