PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA
PIONEERS
JUAN ACUNA, AN
ARIZONAN 99 YEARS OLD.
Claims That His Father Commanded Troops Against the Apaches Hear Tucson.
PH0ENIX, Feb. 12; - Elmer Morris and Jim Gibson have just returned from
a trip out through the cattle country. While in camp on the banks
of the Verde canal they had a most interesting experience. Late
one evening just as supper was being prepared an aged Mexican
accompanied by his two dogs meandered into the
camp. He was very feeble and apparently very much in need of
food. With true Western hospitality the cattlemen fed and warmed
him, but were touched to see he would not satisfy his own hunger
until he had fed his two dogs.
They were not blooded animals nor were they beautiful, being just plain
dog, but they were the only friends the old man had. One of them
answered to the name of Pinto and seemed to understand everything his
master said. After a hearty supper the Mexican, who gave his name
as Juan Acuna, said he was 99 years old having been born in the spring
of 1810. He was, he averred, on his way to Cave Creek from Fort
McDowell. He grew reminiscent as the warm food commenced to stimulate
and told of many incidents of the early border days of Arizona. He said
he distinctly remembered in 1828 when his uncle, who was colonel in the
Mexican army, led a band of 3000 troops into what is now Tucson on a
raid against the Apache Indians who were on the rampage. The old man
stayed a day or so at the camp then started on his journey, well
provided, this time, however, with good food and his sustenance.
Source: transcribed from
documents
found at http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/
Tucson
1847
( Reminiscences of Judge F. Adams--Description of the Fort,
Etc. From the Arizona Daily Citizen, June 13,1889)
Judge F. Adams, of. "San Louis
Obispo, Cal. , a partner of Mr. Frank Proctor, is in the city.
Judge Adams is an old pioneer, the oldest in fact in Arizona
today, He was first here in 1847 when Tucson was a Mexican
garrison. A command
of sixty men under Lieut. Schoonmaker left for Fort Bliss, Texas, as
bearer of dispatches to General Kearney, then in California They
reached Tucson in November and attempted to take the fort, but having
neither cannon to knock it down
nor ladders to scale the walls they were obliged to content themselves
with holding the town, which consisted of about 25
families attached to the Mexican garrison stationed here.
One walled square constituted the town proper. This square was
about 300 yards in extent and was walled solidly about. The rear
end or side of every house was built into and against the
wall, with the doors, windows there were none—opening into the interior
plaza. The mode of ingress rand egress was through two immense
doors made of heavy timber put solidly together. The rear of the
houses adjoining the wall were built four or five feet higher than the
front or sides and thus afforded an effective breast work to shoot from
in case of attack. The ____fort was also a walled square about
250 feet in diameter. It was situated about 300 yards from the
town square. It was built of adobe. The walls were about 12
feet high and commanded by two bastions situated at opposite corners
and so constructed as to enfilade the walls from the
point of each angle. They were supplied with one small cannon,
which, however, did no damage. The attacking party could do
nothing but ride around the walls, as the garrison refused to come
out. In this class of maneuvering they had a mule killed and that
made up the sum total of casualties on both sides. The Americans
pitched their camp by one of the big gates of the town and to guard
against surprise, stationed pickets both inside and out. On the
fourth day they were joined by a detail of five men from Fort Bliss,
who had been sent after them to order their recall. On the fifth
day they began their return march up the Santa Cruz, followed by
the Mexican garrison. "When between Tucson and San Xavier
they surprised a camp of three Apaches and killed them. They killed
another near San Xavier, and still another at or near Canoa. The
Mexican garrison made a great show of pursuing them, but whenever the
Americans faced about they would scamper back in the direction of the
town at a great rate ,
Judge Adams said that he subsequently learned that the garrison claimed
to have won a great victory, but if they did it consisted largely in
keeping out of the way. In April, 1849, in company with the party of
Texans under Capt. Schoonmaker, they camped one night on the Mimbres
River, in New Mexico, when they were attacked by a party of Apaches and
part of their stock stolen. They followed the Apaches into the
Mimbres mountains , where ill luck still waited on them. In the
fight which followed Captain Schoonmaker and six men were killed and
the balance of their stock taken. They then cached their provisions and
footed it back to Fort Bliss.
At this post Colonel Marcy was- outfitting to survey the boundary line
between the United States and Mexico. Mr. Adams joined his
command as a private and was at once assigned to the division of
topographical engineers. The company to which he belonged
consisted of thirty-two men, there being less than a hundred men in the
entire force. They broke camp June 1, 1849, and headed for Cow
Springs; thence they marched to the head waters of the Gila, where they
established the initiatory monument. From this point their course
lay down the which they followed to its confluence with the
Colorado. From the beginning to the end it was nothing but one
continual wage of war. The Apaches had l6ft the higher ground and were
camped along the river bottom. At the big bend of the Gila, some 50 or
60 miles above Solomonville, they lost 14 men; another was lost a short
distance above where Soloraonville now stands; another at the mouth of
the San Pedro; still another at Cienega; another at Gila Bend, and
another near where Tacna station now is; and so they dwindled down
until at the crossing of the Colorado but six men remained out of the
company which had started out with such joyous hopes from Fort Bliss,
thirty-one strong but a couple of months before. The missing 25,
including Lieut, Henry, commanding the company, brave frontiersmen, had
died at the hands of the Indians. Some had fallen in battle; others had
been killed while hunting a short distance from the troop. The
other divisions of the command suffered proportionately.At the crossing
of the Colorado the Yuma's disputed the passage with great obstinacy
and held the troop 13 days, running off whatever stock they had
left. The Indians also suffered severely, losing, as one of them
afterwards told Mr. Adams, 47 men; and for a long time subsequently
others continued to die of the wounds received in attempting to resist
the white man's crossing.
At Antelope Peak, on the Gila near Tacna, they found the body of a
white woman. She was lying on the brush on the river bank. She
had evidently been dead some time as the body was considerably dried.
The wolves had torn the clothing from the body and mangled it some, but
her wealth of rich golden hair betokened her nationality. They dug a
grave and reverently wrapped a blanket about her wasted form and buried
what undoubtedly was the remains of the first white woman that
ever trod the desert sands of Arizona. Her lonely resting
place was marked by a mound of stones, a portion of which is yet to be
seen.
Arizona Historical Review, January 1929, Page 83
Source: transcribed from
documents
found at http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/
ANTONIO AZULA
A century ago the Pimas were often at war with the Apaches to the east
and the Tumas and Mohaves to the vest. Sotoyea, Chief of the
Pimas, had distinguished himself in numerous battles and attended with
unusual good fortune in every engagement he was considered quite
invulnerable by his tribesmen and by his enemies as well. As the head
of Pimas and Papagoes he once saved Tucson from an Apache attack that
threatened its total annihilation.. In a hard fought battle with the
Apaches near the newly constructed diversion dam on the Gila. Sotoyea
received his first bullet wound which proved his last as well. The
Apaches on learning that the Pima Chief was shot, turned his horses to
the east and beat a hasty retreat. Sotoyea was cremated on the field of
battle and his warriors returned to their villages now known as Casa
Blanca.
The good chief had no son to take the leadership and after the
customary disposition of his cattle, horses, camp and other belongings,
his worthy lieutenant. Cula Azule, was chosen leader.
The customary ceremonial smoke with the sub-chiefs confirmed the
selection. The new chief grew in favor as new problems
arose, surrounded with enemies of his race and with white soldiers and
emigrants passing up and down the Gila at all seasons of the year,
diplomacy as well as bravery was a requisite for leader ship
Witness and party to the selection of Cula Azule for chief was a son
and man of his own heart. Antonio Azule who was born in the year 1817
or 1818. Where the father went the son accompanied. What
the father did the son supported. They fought the Yumas and Mohaves,
depleting the enemy and strengthening their union with the
Maricopas. To the white soldiers or emigrants they gave
food, lodging or escort, as conditions required. As Cula Azule
bowed to old age, tribal leadership was assumed by the well trained
son, Antonio.
During the Mexican war the Pimas were neutral. General Kearney in the
early fall of 1846 passed down the Gila and his chronicles speak In
high praises of the Pima and of their good leader. In
December, 1846, Colonel Cooke, with a Mormon Battallion of about three
hundred fifty men readied the Pimas desert following the Kearney
Brigade. On the eighteenth day they camped on the Gila where the Pimas,
advised of their coming through General Kearney, supplied the hungry
battalion with corn, beans and flour. A few Army
mules, Indian goods, and letters left by the Kearney expedition were
delivered to Colonel Cooke. The Mexican garrison at Tucson learned of
the military cache with the Pimas and contrived to take the mules and
letters but the decisive word and prompt action of action of Antonio
Azule short-circuited their plans and their enthusiasm waned. Like all
leaders of record, Azule cherished an ideal for which he was always
servant. He wanted peace with the white race with the firm conviction
that it promised the betterment of his people. In support of this ideal
he often took chances of making himself unpopular with his own people.
His experience and environment gave him background for good judgment
and once on the trail he never lost it, nor permitted his people in the
majority to do so.
Colonel Cooke and his battalion appreciated the reception and relief
extended to them by Azule and his people. Five days were spent with
these desert people and their hospitality did not weaken with their
diminishing stores. On December
twenty-third march was resumed and at the home of Antonio Azule where a
season before Kearney had spoken, Colonel Cooke, in the presence of his
battalion and a host of Indians, pronounced the Pimas as the happiest
and most prosperous 0f the many tribes he had seen, and predicted
their happiness and prosperity as continuous with their adherence to
the principles of industry, honesty and cheerfulness which they
manifested. Their love of peace, he said could be but half
insurance for their safety- the other half lay in their preparation and
united front in resisting aggression. With best wishes for this home
loving people at this Gate head of Pimaland, and confirming their
mutual faith and confidence, Colonel Cooke extended three ewes and
lambs to the chief as the one practical donation he could give to a
worthy people.
Ten years later, 1857, Antonio Azule, at forty, headed the united
forces of Pimas and Maricopas in a decisive battle against the Yumas
and Mohaves at Maricopa wells, in which it is said but three of two
hundred warriors escaped to tell the story of the battle. Not a
few Indians among the victors and vanquished attribute the out come to
the favoritism of Montezuma, through Nature's profile of him so near,
whose silent tongue, closed eye, and deaf ear could no longer permit
tribal antipathies that cost many lives. Just what part the clear cut
gigantic profile seen against the azure sky had on the warring hordes,
is conjectional, but this much we know. Antonio Azule, the victorious
tribes, and union with the Maricopas, was again strengthened.
Tribal disputes were greater problems with Azule than war with, the
enemy. Dissection between two brothers, at one time threatened tribal
dissolution. As master of the situation the wise leader slipped between
the contending brothers and said "Men of the same blood must not bring
disgrace upon themselves and their tribe. Better die defeated at the
hands of the Apache than take the life of a brother tribesmen."
The Apaches continued their depredations and the Pimas, the settlers,
and emigrants were victims to daily atrocities. Civil War in the East
was hardly reflected in Arizona, save in a general uneasiness, high
prices and depleted stores, increasing idleness and greater frequency
of raids of the Apaches and the Mexican desperadoes as well.
When a son in his early twenties, John D. Walker crossed the Arizona
desert, meeting the Pimas and observing their stores of corn, beans and
wheat in hie course. Later, as a wagon master in the Fifth Regiment of
the California Infantry, he returned to the Pima Villages for their
surplus grain which was invaluable relief end support to the California
Volunteers on the border. After his discharge Walker returned to the
Gila Valley and in 1866 as Captain, enlisted and organized a company of
Pima Indiana with Antonio AzuIa as his first lieutenant. Under
date of April fifth, 1866, report was made of an engagement with the
Apaches, in which two hundred sixty volunteer Pimas and forty enlisted
men of Company B. First Infantry, Arizona Volunteers, killed
twenty-five Apaches, captured sixteen prisoners and eight horses.
Burdened legislators and conflicting legislation defeated support of
the Arizona Volunteers and the company was soon abandoned with little
thanks and less pay, leaving Arizona again unprotected from Indians and
Mexicans.
Walker was a friend to the Pimas, Repeated campfire stories to this day
vouch for his common sense, patriotism and generosity, Character is
contageous and if Walker contracted some tribal traits his associate
Indians, which included Antonio Azule, profited by the association.
In the early eighties when Apaches, Mohaves and other southwestern
Indians were yielding to a general movement to revive customs,
practices and delinquencies which contact with civilization had forced
them to discontinue, there was a general uneasiness in the territory.
The Apaches led in the movement and unfortunately there were Pimas who
would follow the craze. On one occasion a number of Indians with
painted faces appeared before Agent Wheeler and defied molestation in
their tribal rites, Through an interpreter the Agent
directed the Indians to wash the paint from their faces if they wanted
a conference on any subject. Cent ending Indians who had guns attempted
to use them in forcing their issues. At that Antonio Azule rose and,
after three bows to the sun In the heavens, with hand to his heart he
said in a strong voice: "God, my Father, You alone can prevent trouble.
Please prevent it." and to the Indians he said "You do not good
in this way. You know how Crow Head killed the White Robes,
how the soldiers trailed him and his people to the Estrella Mountains,
and how the defeated chief offered his life that his children and
people might not starve. Quiet down, use reason, and talk together or
the soldiers, will pour down on us like beans from a bag," The
emergency had its master and our records give too few of the many such
instances where divergent parties of the tribe yielded to his common
sense arguments. The usefulness of Antonio Azale grew with his years
and his influence was not confined to Pimaland. His Indian name,
"ER-VAH-AH-TOE-KA" interpreted "Spreads out" is significant of
the character and influence of the chief, He consistently supported,
the Government policies, asked for schools for his people, urged
enlistment in industrial pursuits and favored the trail of Jesus for
his tribe. He died October 1st, 1909, exceeding four score and ten
years in age.
Source: transcribed from
documents
found at http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/
RAMIREZ, ROGUE
Rogue
Ramirez was born at Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico, 1831; enrolled August 3
at Tubac and mustered in at Calabasas, Pima County, A. T., November 2,
1865, to serve one year against Indians as Private, Captain H.S.
Washburn's Company E 1st Battalion Arizona Infantry; age 33; occupation
when enlisted, Miner; stationed at Fort Mason near Calabasas, until
December 4 when he marched with the Company via Tucson, Maricopa Wells
and Date Creek
to Fort Whipple arriving December 29;
left there early in January, 1866, and reached Camp Lincoln on the
Verde River on the 16th; the report of Ms
death states that on February 26th
1866.
Private Boque Ramirez had permission
to go hunting and, after his return at roll call went fishing and next
morning was found dead about one mile below the Post, He
was killed by Indians and his arms, clothing and ammunition all taken.
Judge Ed. W. Wells has recorded what
a settler in the Verde Valley told him who also decided to go fishing
that same Saturday evening. He followed "Sergeant* Ramirez down
the river but discovered several armed Indians as they were wading the
stream so hurried back to the Post and gave the alarm of an expected
attack; the substance of the account is as follows: The Indians did not
appear nor did the Sergeant return. The next morning, as he
still failed to appear, I guided five of the soldiers in search of him.
We discovered his tracks (overlapped by moccasin tracks) showing that
he had been fishing in the frequent small eddies of deep
water. We came upon his dead body lying partly under water
He had been surprised and though
apparently attempting to escape was killed in what appeared to have
been a sharp struggle, when the Indians probably made an effort to
capture him alive. He had evidently been cut in several places with his
own hunting knife, his throat and neck cut to the bone to make sure
life was extinct. The body was stripped of all clothing
which, with his firearms, were carried away by the Indians.
Preparing a litter of ash and willow
boughs, we bore the body to the soldiers' camp and buried it on an
elevated point overlooking the cabins and valley he had so faithfully
guarded From the moccasin tracks
and an arrow left by them Pauline
Weaver identified the Indians as Pinal Apaches. Buried at Camp Lincoln
(afterwards called Camp Verde), Yavapai County, A. T.; the records show
that his widow has since married Private Sorto Hernandez; twenty years
later his remains were moved to the National Cemetery at the Presidio
of San Francisco, California, and reinterred in Grave No. 1173, West
Side.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Parish, T.E. - History of
Arizona, Vol. 4, p. 104.
The Adjutant General of the Army -
Military service records.
Office of the quartermaster General,
Memorial Branch - Burial records.
Wells, B.W. - Argonaut Tales, 1927,
pp. 393-396.
RAMIREZ, Rogue Private, Co. E, let
Battalion Arizona Infantry Rogue Ramirez was enrolled August 3 1865 at
Tubac. .A. T. and was mustered into service November 2, 1865 at
Calabasas, A. T. as a private in Company E, 1st Battalion Arizona
Infantry to serve one year (against the Indians). He was killed
February 26, 1866 by the Indians near Camp Lincoln. He was born at
Magdalina, Mexico, was 33 years old at date of enlistment, and by
occupation a miner.
The records show that his widow has
since married private Sorto Hernandez.
No record of pension
Source: transcribed from
documents
found at http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/
APPEL, NATHAN BENJAMIN
APPEL, NATHAN BENJAMIN.
Born April 14, 1828, in Eochstadt, am Main, Germany, He was well
educated, spoke English, German and Spanish fluently and had an
understanding of French, Scandinavian, and other romance languages.
He came to America when a lad of 16 or 18, landing in New York with
scarcely a dollar in his pocket. After a short stay in New
York City and vicinity, he drifted to St. Louis, Mo., where the United
States troops were outfitting for the Mexican war. He had
an opportunity to enlist in the United States cavalry, but being unable
to procure a good horse, he gave up the idea. Instead, he scoured a job
as a teamster for Tully & Ochoa, army contractors. His duties
took him far into Mexico, where the fighting was going on.
After the war, Tully & Ochoa put him in charge of one of their
trading posts in New Mexico. Years later, he went into business for
himself, locating in Las Cruces, New Mexico, In 1654, he
moved to Tubac, Arizona, where he engaged in freighting and
merchandising for many years. He freighted between Sonora and Arizona,
and later extended his operations to Yuma. He formed a business
partnership with Oscar Buckalew for a time. His trains suffered from
Apache Indian raids and at the time of his death he had a claim for
$17,000 for Indian depredations pending in Washington.
He acquired an interest in the Patagonia mine, became superintendent
and subsequently the owner, but lost it.
He was elected to the First Territorial Legislative Assembly as a
member of the House of Representatives fron Tubac; served as chief of
police of Tucson, "in the palmy days of that mining town;" and as
deputy sheriff in 1884.
After suffering business reverses, Appel, in September, 1887, went to
Los Angeles, at the suggestion of Judge W. F. Fitzgerald, who scoured
for him a position in the police force of Los Angeles. The first two
years Officer Appel was assigned patrol duty and stationed most of the
time at the Southern Pacific Railway. In 1890 he was bailiff of the Los
Angeles police court and did most of the interpreting for the court.
Although seventy-three years old, he discharged is official duties
efficiently and diligently up to the time of his last illness, On
December 29, 1900. He was afflicted with erysipelas of the face,
and rheumatism. He died January 5,1901, in St. Agnes Hospital, Los
Angeles, California
He was survived, by four sons three of them, Horace, Samuel and
William were residing in Los Angeles at the time of his death, and
three daughters, Mrs. Soto of Wilcox, Arizona; Mrs. Sara A, Carr,
Schenectady, N.Y. ;Mrs. Chas. M. Renaud, Pearce, Arizona.
He became a member of the Arizona Pioneers' Historical Society on
February 9, 1884. Mr. Appel "left no heritage except a good name
to his children.
Sources:
Arizona. Daily Citizen, January 7, 1901, p. 1, co 1s. 4 and 5 (carried
over).
Appel, H. H., letter to Wm. J, Osborne, dated Los Angeles,
California, May 21, 1901, Ariz. Pioneers' Historical Society file,
Tucson.
Carr, Mrs, Sara A. Letter to Carlos Tully, dated Pittsburgh, Pa.,
May 4, 1922, Pioneers' Society file under Sara Appel (Carr).
Pioneers Society Minutes, Jan, 13, 1901.
Pioneers Society Memorial Resolution, Arizona Pioneers' Historical
Society, April 6, 1901
Weekly Arizonian, January 31, 1869; July 3, 1
Arizona Weekly Citlien, November 29, 1873.
Acts of First Legislative Assembly, 1865, Prescott, Office of Arizona
Miner,
Kelly, Geo. H,, Legislative History, Arizona 1864 -1912, The
Manufacturing Stationers, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, 1926.
Farish, Thomas Edwin, History of Arizona, Vol 3, p. 90.
N.B. Appel an old Pioneer of Mew Mexico and Arizona now 65 years of age
I arrived at Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1847, my first experience was
asking a Mexican how far is to the next town, well sir if you have a
good horse you will get there about sun down, if you have a no good
horse it will be long In the night.
The next there was a Navajo Indian, in the guard house, for some crime.
One day he was outside sitting on a bench, he was called among the
soldiers a pat, but before long he stabbed the soldier on guard, and
made his escape was
overtaken Sergeant and killed on the spot. Next I took some merchandise
. to a little town above Santa Fe about 25 miles distance. I was doing
well and sold goods at very high price. Bleach & Brown & Calico
were worth 50 cents a yard, and Grocery's in proportion. This was in
1848, In 52 I went to Socorro. There I met some emigrants, who
remained, which were in company with Oatman family, who were all killed
by Tonto Apaches on the Gila River and called Oatman flat by the
Company which run the Mail Line to S.F. called the Butterfield route.
Coming back to the story, I left Socorro and started with stock, of
goods to Dons Aria, N. M.; there some others who was to wait for me now
called Fort Craig, so we be strong enough to go through the Desert,
called Jornada del Muerto the distance from Ft. Craig to up the
river about 80 miles,. When I reached now called fort formerly Craig
the party gone",
Trai Cristobal and there I was all alone, with my men teams &
merchandise. Had not gone fore I found that the people met with
the Mescalero Apaches and several killed and wounded at a place called
Mal-pais. I had to bury the dead and take care of the wounded before I
started. I returned to Fort Conrad, 6 miles above Craig and reported it
to the Commanding Officer, Major Hard, who at once furnished me with a
Escort of U.S. Troops. I arrived at Dons Ana on or about June 20th 52
and remained for one month and then went to Las Cruces, and started my
business again, and remained for 2 years and when Gadsden Treaty
between the U.S. & Mexico was completed, I moved to Mesilla and
remained, until I went to Tucson, this, was in 56, and opened business
again. I think In 1858, was the first mining done, where Col. Chas. D.
Poston was Superintendent for the Sonora Exploring & Mining Co. at
what is called now the Cerra, Colorado Mines. I also opened a business
place In Tubac, which is from said mines about 20 miles, and done
considerable business with said Co. I saw also Major Heintzelman of
U.S.A. in the mines, and through him I transacted business when Col. S.
H. Lathrop was Superintendent. I had advanced to the Co. considerable
money & goods, but they failed in paying. All I got was
$1000.00 through the firm, Rogers, Meyers & Co.
S.F. Had it not been for the Rebellion, I think I
would got paid in full.
Next was the break out of the Rebellion. Coming back, I have forgotten
to state about the different murders committed by the
Apaches. At the time, when the war broke out, the Salera or
Santa Rita Mining Co. was to quit the operations of the mines. As I had
my business in Tubac, only from 12 to 15 miles from them, I was called
to move their mining materials and other articles to Tubac. After I
hauled away from the mines about 3 loads, and on the last one, the
Apaches attacked us, and got away with my 60 mules, in number and a
Bell mare, that ended the Teaming. Fort Buchanan was abandoned by the
U. S. Troops, and the inhabitants were left to the mercy of the Apaches
and other robbers.
By the way I have already given you the capture of Mrs. Pago formerly
of the Pennington family and the little girl Mercedes Saiz, afterwards
the wife of Chas, Shibell, since died and him now resides in Tucson.
The Pennington family was in very bad luck; first was killed the son,
Jim, next the father & younger son, all whom were killed by the
Apaches. Also the husband of Mrs. Page was killed, and then her became
a Mrs. Scott, now at Tucson.
During the Confederates were in Tucson there was a few men left at
Cerro Colorado Mines, which were murdered by some Mexicans who
names were one of them was the Brother of Col. Chas. D. Poston and the
other man was a German by the name Miller.
58- The Sutton family had a station on the Gila river at the Agua
Caliente for overland mail route. One morning, there was only at home
the mother and one of the boys. As he
stepped out to the door he saw an Indian leaning over
the picket fence. He went back for his shot gun and killed the Apache,
and went In to the house and told his mother that he got some fresh
beef for breakfast. No more Apache came afterwards, near
64- Legislator, Tael Road, Goldberg Tucson to San Xavier
Divorces =
63- for the Gold Diggins, had several Yaqui Indians with me, which I
brought from Sonora, were good gold hunters but on a/c of no water they
dry washers. I brought a 8 mule wagon loaded with provision to furnish
them and half of the gold
was to be for them and other half for myself. It did not pay after
several weeks of experience. I then discharged them and sold my balance
of provision to the Co. of the rich claim, which was on the big hill
near Weaver, called the Antelope
Creek. I made more money out of provision, then hunting for gold.
By the way when I started for the Diggins we had to go across the
Desert from Salt river to the Hassayampa, a distance of 54 miles
without water. There was a tank half way in the Mountains about a mile
& half from the road called by the Mexicans the Tina ja Basin which
caught water In rainy season but at the time that was in the month of
October but none could be found. Several wagons & Mex carts
were abandoned and goods & provisions left In the
Desert. One of the carts was loaded with liquor called
Mescal, which was cached by the owner named Don Juan Fernandez, a
Spaniard. A lot of Maricopa Indians came along and
discovered the Mescal and commenced drinking very freely. They
came very intoxicated, and filled the vases with the liquor &
started back for Salt River for water. They had got within
four miles of the River, but the liquor gave out so they started back
again to the place to get more of the fire water, a distance of thirty
miles. There they all perished for want of water.
Continued
1863 to 64 4 Women & baby killed Mules 4
horses taken Products destroyed Sonora Line Employees on Overland Mail
Route, Dragoons Spring killed by Apaches amongs the
1859 - 1860 Uncle of Buckly Superintendent of Route Teamsters 15 men
killed by Mexicans at Apache Pass amongs the owner of a large train
loaded with flour for New Mexico
1864 A German & Family killed and robbed by Apaches between what is
called now Pantano & Tucson $14000 money lost & a lot of
merchandise belonging to Antonio Perez.
At Blue Water near Tucson a family killed consisting of Mr. Baker &
wife and a small boy having a station For Overland Mail Route by
Mexicans.
I first came to Tucson in 1856, but my stay then was short, as I
concluded to settle in Mesilla, New Mexico, where I opened a
store. I returned to Arizona, however, in 1858. At that
time I had ¦with me several wagons of merchandise, and traveled
a long way without any water. Near Stein's Pass there were
some small holes containing the precious fluid and these were called
"Little Springs." At Stein's Pass I met an Indian Agent
named Dr. Steck who had concluded a treaty with a band of 700 Apaches
camped near the water holes. These Indians refused to allow me to take
water for my mules. I appealed to the Agent who had a company of
mounted soldiers at his disposal, but the Doctor declined to assist me
and said that I must take my chances.
This I forthwith proceeded to do. I made my teamsters and the herder
take their guns and go to the Little Springs where they stood
guard. Then I took my mules one by one to the water
and let them slake their thirst. The Apaches looked on savagely, but
made no further demonstrations.
When I reached Tucson, where I had already opened a store I divided my
goods and took a part of the merchandise and proceeded to Tubac where I
dealt with the Sonera and Exploring and Mining Company and also with
the Santa Rita Mining Company which was then exploiting the Salera
Mines, When the rebellion broke out I went to these mines to haul away
to Tubac some of the property of the Santa Rita Mining Company. While
making my last trip the Apaches attacked my outfit at night, some five
miles away from Tubac and got away with all my stock consisting of 60
mules and one horse, leaving me unable to move my wagons for lack of
animals.
In 1861 Fort Buchanan w»s abandoned and the troops removed to New
Mexico; consequently, the Apaches grew very bold and a great number of
people were killed by them right in the vicinity of the fort, I
recollect that a couple of Sonorans were murdered by the Indians within
two or three miles of it. At that time I was for some time with the
owner of the Mowry Silver Mines, who was Sylvester Mowry.
The graveyard was located between the mines and the smelting
works. At the time of my departure this cemetery had
already twenty silent occupants, eighteen of which had been
assassinated by the Apaches right wear the Patagonia and Mowry Mines,
Upon another occasion, the date of which has escaped me, Tully and
Ochoa's ox teams and my mule teams were engaged hauling government
freight to Port Goodwin. When in the vicinity of the place now called
Pantano, where the road turns off toward Tres Alamos, the Apaches ran
off nearly all our stock in the night time. Snow had fallen in the
night which aided us to track and recover a few of the
cattle, I was short only six mules.
Tully & Ochoa's wagon master and some of the teamsters
concluded to pursue the Indians. I lent them some mules and they
started. At noon they returned unsuccessful and minus two of the men
whom the Indians had slain and two wounded. Their losses would still
have been heavier had I not proceeded to a little round hill with some
of my men, close to a canon where the fighting was going on. The
Apaches perceived us and they ceased firing and withdrew.
I was returning from Sonora after a business trip in 1863, in company
with Tully & Ochoa's wagons, loaded with Mexican products. At a
place called El Sibuto or El Sillero, a band of about sixty Apaches
attacked us about four o'clock in the
afternoon. We fought them until our ammunition gave out.
The Indians captured four Mexican women who were traveling with us as
passengers and soon afterward put them to death. A small
baby belonging to one of the unfortunate females was also barbarously
butchered by one of the fiends who took it by the legs and swinging
against a wagon wheel dashed its brains out. A boy about 12 years old
was captured and a year afterwards he returned to Fort Goodwin and
cared for by Capt. Pollack, U.S.A.
On that occasion I was shot in one of my fingers and received a lance
thrust in my left wrist. Two of the teamsters were killed and a
third wounded. Nearly all of Tully &, Ochoa's mules were
carried off by the Indians,
I had, like nearly every man who freighted or mined in Arizona In those
days, several more adventures with the Apaches but the dates of those
occurrences have escaped me. To show, however, that in those perilous
days of the Savage-beridden. Territory a man who traveled abroad
carried his life in his hand, I will mention the names of some of my
old time friends and acquaintances who met with death at the hands of
the Apaches, and the places where they met with an untimely fate.
Doc Titus, between the Patagonia Mine and Santa Cruz
American Indian Joe, Forest, at the Mowry Mine
Mills, near La Noria
Stevens, near La Noria
John Garvin, near the Mowry Mine
Tom Venable, near Davidson Spring
Curley, 6 miles this side of the Patagonia Mine
Lieutenant Stewart, near Davidson Spring
Maj. Wrightsen, Supt. of Salera Mines, within 11/2 miles of Ft.
Buchanan
One Teamster, within 11/2 miles of Ft. Buchanan
Sergt. Baker, near Davidson Spring
Three Mexican laborers, "
Pope, between Rillito and Tucson
John Donaldson, "
A Mexican boy, "
Private Irvin, 21st Infantry, as escort with me to Camp Apache
George Todenworth, in the Chiricahuas
Two unknown men, "
Lucero, mall carrier, at Apache Pass
Page, Canada del Oro
Tarbox, at La Canoa
Col. Stone, Dragoon Summit
Nick Rogers, Sulphur Spring Station
Wells , Sulphur Spring Station
Five Americans and a Mexican Teamster at the Salera Mines (one of them
was Grovenor)
Gabriel Seavedra, near Tubac
Old Pennington, at Sonoita
Jim Pennington, at Cerritos
Green Pennington, at Sonoita
Seven Mexicans, between Mowry Mines and Santa Cruz.
J. B. Wooster at Talo Tarada near the Mission of Tumacacori
One woman and her baby
One West Indian negro cook, near Patagonia Vines
Mrs. Jaramilla and baby between Tubac and the line
Two Mexican teamsters, between Tubac and the line
and also two Mexicans, between Calabazas & Agua Frio
Antonio Ja ram ilia, Canada del Oro
Seven Mexican teamsters del Oro
In the same place a number of Tully & Ochoa's, men & mules were
slaughtered by the Apaches.
Although. I was not personally present at the time I have a
recollection of another massacre by the Indlans the winter of 1860.
Jose Antonio Montoya had started from Sonora for the Rio Grande with
ten wagon load of flour. My wagons in charge of my brother-in-law Don
Romualdo Torres had started one day before Montoya, also with flour for
the Rio Grande. He camped one night at Bear Springs on the other side
of Old Fort Bowie. Although Cochise's band was in the neighborhood, the
Indians did not molest my brother-in-law.
But the next day Montoya's train was attacked by Cochise in the heart
of Apache Pass and he and twelve men, of whom three were Americans,
were killed. The whole train was then burned by the Indians
and all the mules carried off.
Source: transcribed from
documents
found at http://www.asu.edu/lib/archives/