MOHAVE COUNTY, ARIZONA
Research Solves Mystery of Grave
By Loren Wilson Local Historian
Kingman Daily Miner 3/2/2006
Several years ago,
members of the Mohave Archaeological Society were asked if they would
like to help Victor Richter to place a marker on a grave that he had
found on some of his property on the slopes of the Black Mountains. Victor had been
in WWII and had been assigned the job of placing markers on graves of
WWII soldiers in Europe. He felt it only proper he should also do the
same on this unknown grave.
We decided that we
would help him on this project. When we arrived at his house, he had
several gallons of water, a bag of cement and a wheelbarrow in his
pickup to take to the place to do the job. He said that we could get
the gravel and sand at the site.
We drove as close
as we could, but we still had to use the wheelbarrow to take the heavy
items to the exact spot. It resembled a depression in the soil about 15
feet in diameter. There were pieces of burned wood and not much else to
mark the spot. Victor told us that he had picked up pieces of metal
along with wagon wheels, which he presently kept at his home. I had
noticed the old wagon wheels at his place but had no idea where they
originated.
He told us that he
kicked the dirt around, several years ago, and found some human bones.
He contacted the Kingman sheriff, Floyd Cisney, who in turn brought
along the medical examiner and a few of his deputies. They determined
that the bones had been there for many years. They also speculated that
they belong to two women. They could give no further conclusion at that
time with the technology available in the 1970s.
We decided on a
place to build up a form for the cement. We also had some steel posts
and wire to fence off the area to keep cattle out of it. After getting
the sand and gravel from the wash, we mixed the cement and built a
mound and marked symbols to represent two females.
When we got back
to the museum, Ed Edwards and I decided that we should try to find out
the story behind the two bodies. After several days of researching, we
came across information in an 1875 newspaper telling of a man and a
lady with her mother who had commenced on a wagon journey to Pioche,
Nev. Their water barrels had not been used for some time and began to
leak. By the time that they got to the edge of the Black Mountains, the
water was gone. The man took one of the horses and headed for the
Colorado River to get more water. It was during the heat of the summer,
and the period of time elapsed until his return was far too long. The
women were dead from dehydration. The man buried the women’s bodies,
burned the wagon and went on to Pioche.
The couple was
from Cerbat, where the town had recently experienced a rare “high life”
in that quiet community, by helping the couple celebrate their wedding.
The man was a colored man who was known as Negro George, and his new
bride was known as Fan Cum Sha. The Mohave Miner of July 23, 1875,
quoted her as being a “Celestial Beauty.” Her mother was to accompany
them to their new home in Pioche.
The mystery had
been solved.
Arizona Miner July 9, 1875
On Sunday eve, there was a "wedding
in high Life" here in Cerbat. A Mr. George (colored) was united in the
holy bans of wedlock with Miss Fan Cum Sha (a Celestial beauty). the
blushing bride being asked if she loved the dashing groom, replied,
"You bet, heap lik-ee George." Score one for Cerbat
Prescott Weekly Arizona Miner July
30, 1875
The hymenial career of the Negro man
and China woman came to a sad end. They in company with the woman's
mother, started for Pioche, in a wagon; through carelessness the water
leaked out of their canteens, and the two woman perished for water
within four miles of the river. The team giving out, the Negro man
started on foot for water, but before his return both women were dead.
July 23, 1875
Two China women, a team and a dog
perished for want of water, on the road between Cerbat and Stone's
ferry oN the Colorado, the other day. A Negro who had recently been
married to one of the women reached the ferry nearly dead.
