USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Volume I > Part 22
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"I cleaned the wound out the best way I could, stopped it up with his handkerchief that he had
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round his neck, then bound it up as tight as I could with another big black handkerchief.
"We got together as soon as it was dark and concluded we would cut our way out and go as far as we could before daylight. There was a cattle trail leading up the bank, and as soon as we got on to the level, we would shoot at any- thing we saw moving. The result was the rest of us all got out without being hurt. We then started on the back track as near as we could see, leaving the town of Piticuito to our right.
"Our man Hart from Texas said that he had never been lost in his life, and we believed that he could lead us through the woods, which were very dense, making it almost an impossibility to have anything to guide us by. We travelled all night, and as the day began to break we heard the roosters crowing and found that we were only about a half mile from the town of Piti- cuito. Here we found that the whole of our party was not with us. It seems as we charged up the bank some of them became separated from us-three men with Oury in one party, eight men with Mr. Reed and two boys in the other, leaving sixteen with us. But they had made no mistake in the woods, and were all ahead of us.
"There was a gap in the hills at which we had stopped to get water as we went down. This we could see from the plains and knew they were some place ahead of us on their way to the water.
"About two o'clock we were hurrying along to the best of our ability. Fifty-two of the Na- tional Lancers of Sonora overtook us. They came up first on our right, halted, front-faced, and the order of charge was given. They came
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on to within three or four hundred yards of us when, with five of our longest shotted guns, we picked off two or three of their number. This made them a little sick, and they retreated, then came around as they supposed to get out of the arroyos on the other side of us, or rather in front of us, and made another charge, repeating the same tactics, hallooing and yelling and shooting with their old muskets.
"They did not get very close to us, but one of the balls struck me on the right arm about six inches above the wrist. The wound bled very freely, and when Wilkinson saw me stumbling along covered with blood, he nabbed the horse which Forbes was on and which I had taken from a tree as we charged out of the woods, and said : 'You get off, Capron is badly wounded.' He brought the horse to where I was and threw me on, putting little Foulke up behind me to keep me from falling off. He did well for a little time, but at last I fainted from loss of blood and he dropped me. They looked at me and con- cluded I was dead, so that they took my six- shooter and gun on with them, leaving me with no weapons. Of course, as soon as I fainted, the blood stopped flowing, and I came to. I got to my feet and ran into a little flat ravine away from the track as far as I could, when the blood started and I fainted again. How long I lay there, I do not know, but the first thing I heard was the sound of a galloping horse coming toward me. You can rest assured that I hugged the ground very close. It was a wounded man, returning and seemingly looking neither to the right nor to the left.
22
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"I again got under way and went on some little distance when I fell down into an arroyo about three feet deep. I lay there until I got thoroughly rested, and found that this arroyo led directly to the pass in the hills where I wished to go. I hurried on as fast as I possibly could, suffering very much from thirst. As I neared the pass, I saw the dust of the Lancers returning homeward. I felt much relieved at this, as I knew the way was open to the water. As I en- tered the pass, I saw someone moving upon the first rise of the ground, and I soon found it was some of our party. I pushed on. Some of them saw me and hastened down the side of the hill and helped me up, as they saw I was wounded.
"There is growing all over that country a cactus called a vianaga. We took our butcher knives and cut the thorns from the outside. The plant grows in ridges and we cut the ridges in strips and sucked the water from them. No one can ever perish from thirst in that country who knows this fact.
"After resting for some little time, we started on, not knowing what had become of the party I had been with. Two of the men, finding me so weak, helped me along, one on either side of me, and by taking a slow and easy pace, we got to the water about sunrise. The first thing we saw as we reached the water was the dead body of Woods who was with Granville Oury when he came from Tucson. Our party soon made a hole in the sand and buried him, covering him with all the stones we could find in the immediate vicinity.
"We found a wounded horse, took the meat from the neck and roasted it. I could eat and
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drink very little. We stayed here until the rest of the party came up, when we counted them and found two missing-the old carpenter, Mr. Chambers, and Mr. Thomas. I accounted for their loss from the fact that Thomas had talked with me two or three times and asked me to leave the party and go with him; he said he knew the people would not injure us. I told him point- blank 'no'; that they would kill us in a minute. And sure enough we found afterwards that that was their fate.
"We stayed there all that day and night and the next day until it got cool in the evening, when we started on our way back across the country.
"Before starting we took the entrails of the horse, tied the ends with horsehair, and threw them across the back of a mule we had found there-unhurt as we supposed, as we could see no wound. In the panniers of the saddle we found some pinole, two panoches and some tal- low. They gave me one of the panoches and the pinole to eat, but I could not swallow. I carried it on with me.
"That night was dark but stars were visible. We had travelled about three hours when I gave out. They put me on the mule with the water bags and held me there. We went on about one hour, when the mule laid down and died as a re- sult of a bullet wound he had received. The water all leaked out of our bags by hitting against the cactus and oozing out.
"We travelled for some little time, when I lay down seemingly exhausted. Soon after our man Hart came back to where I was lying and gave me a terrible kicking which angered me so much that I jumped to my feet and hunted for my six-
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shooter; but, lo, I had none. After that I had no trouble travelling along with the rest.
"About three o'clock in the morning we arrived at the River Altar, just below the Town of Tubutama. We built a fire and roasted some of the old horse. I ate some, finished my pinole and felt much relieved. We stayed there prob- ably an hour, and moved on up the river to a place called Estanque. As we came to this place, we found a large fire with a large bed of coals and women and children asleep in some open sheds. The men had left their guns standing around some chairs. We took the guns and threw them into the river. They had killed a beef, which was cut up and piled on the hide. We immediately threw some on to the coals and commenced as fast as we could to cook and eat it, the women giving us salt and a few tortillas.
"The nights in the month of March are quite chilly and I, having torn the sleeve from my wounded arm and burned off one of the legs of my pantaloons from hugging the fire, was in a very dilapidated condition. One of the women got up and gave me a blanket to wrap myself in. I thanked her, of course. We took what meat we could and started on our way.
"Several times during the day, we would see horsemen on the hills, and one of our sharpshoot- ers would drop a ball very close to them. They got cautious about showing themselves after a few shots had been fired. We got along very well until we were nearly up to the Euzne Ranch, going through a cut that had been made through a ridge of land going down to the river. Here we were fired upon, and one of our men by the
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name of Hughes was killed. We went on past the ranch into a very dense monte with only a trail through it, and camped. We there killed a beef and cooked it in some large copper kettles which we found at the ranch. We stayed there a day and a night, then proceeded on our way. We found that beef without seasoning did not satisfy hunger very long.
"During the shooting when Hughes was killed, a man by the name of Slater was shot through the leg in the muscle under the knee, and it was, no doubt, very sore. I had taken a prickly pear, thrown it on the coals, heated it thoroughly, cut it in two, and bound it on my wound. Every time we stopped, I would have a fresh one put on. Of course, as the plaster got dry, it would stick very tight, and pulling it off would neces- sarily hurt some. They did the same with Sla- ter's leg, using two prickly pears, putting one on each side of the limb. The second time he was to be dressed, he shouted for me to come and take off the plaster as I knew how it hurt. I said to Slater: 'Why not jerk it off yourself ?' He said : 'Oh, I can't.' I went over to where he was lying on the ground, took hold of the plasters- one in each hand-gave a quick jerk, and with a yell from Slater, it was all over.
"As we were going along, we spied a man leading a mule and riding one. We soon saw that it was Dodson, and never was a man more welcome than he. Oury, who was ahead of us, had told him we were on the way, probably not far behind. We quickly unsaddled the mule carrying the provisions, and at once made coffee, and what a feast we had. We stayed there and
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all went to sleep while Dodson kept guard for us at least three hours; then went on and that even- ing, about dark, arrived at his ranch. We passed two days there, and had a good deal of pleasure rolling one another over in the sand and picking out the cactus. Our feet were in a very pitiable condition, mine especially.
"Here our party scattered, Tozier, Woods and several others going down the Santa Cruz River to Tucson; others, including myself, going up the river to Calabasas. About a mile below the post was a store kept by Hayden, and a good friend of mine he proved.
"Foulke, Green and Wilson of my party got there one day ahead of me, and had made camp in a deserted jacal built against a long leaning willow tree. The long sacaton grass placed on poles leaning against this tree made a very com- fortable house. Mr. Hayden told me I could have anything in that store I needed. No man could be poorer than I was at that time, for I had not one whole garment left; but I was soon relieved of all my trouble with the exception of my sore feet.
"There was considerable travel coming and going to the post, and I made arrangements to entertain anyone who might wish for food or shelter. Little Foulke was a first class cook, and Major Stein, commander of the post, was very kind to us, as were all of the officials. We soon had provisions in abundance, with fresh meat whenever I sent for it.
"Some months after I returned to Arizona, I met two Mexicans who were present at the kill- ing of Crabb and party. They said Crabb had
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surrendered on the day that we were there, and the following morning all were taken out to the cemetery, placed against the wall and shot. Only one small Mexican boy who had come with them was spared.
"When they were being arranged for the shooting, an ex-sheriff-from Tuolumne county, I think-who had opposed the idea of their giving up their arms, said: 'Now, Governor,' (meaning Crabb) 'see what your faith in Mexi- can officials has cost us all. Good-bye.'"
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CHAPTER XXI.
EARLY DAYS IN ARIZONA.
TUCSON -- POPULATION-LAWLESSNESS-CHARLES D. POSTON-GRANVILLE H. OURY-WILLIAM S. OURY-ESTEVAN OCHOA - PENNINGTON FAMILY-GENERAL STONE-DR. C. H. LORD -W. W. WILLIAMS-PETER R. BRADY- WILLIAM KIRKLAND - HIRAM STEVENS - SAMUEL HUGHES - SYLVESTER MOWRY - JOHN G. CAPRON-SOLOMON WARNER-GEN- ERAL WADSWORTH-COLONEL ED. CROSS- C. H. MEYER-FIRST AMERICAN STORE IN TUCSON- FIRST FLOURING MILL- TUCSON ONLY WALLED CITY IN UNITED STATES- "TUCSON A CENTURY AGO"-ANOTHER AC- COUNT OF SURVEY AND LOCATION OF YUMA.
At this time Tucson was the leading town or settlement of Arizona. It had a population of perhaps a thousand, mostly Mexicans. The American flag had been raised there by a com- pany of United States Dragoons, but its citizen- ship was not of a class to inspire confidence in peaceful, law-abiding Americans. In the ab- sence of civil law, the nearest courts being in New Mexico, every man was a law unto himself, and the consequence was that its graveyards were largely filled with the victims of private quarrels, but there were, among its citizenship, many of that class of Americans who marked the trail of civilization across the continent, many of whom inscribed their names in the early history of our State. Among these may be mentioned
W. H. KIRKLAND AND WIFE.
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Charles D. Poston whom many of us remember in later years. He was one of the first arrivals, coming here in 1856 for the purpose of opening up and operating rich silver mines. Others were Granville (or Grant) H. Oury; William S. Oury, one of the participators in the Camp Grant Massacre in 1871; Estevan Ochoa, for whom Ochoa Street in Tucson is named; the Penning- ton family, in whose honor Pennington Street in Tucson is named; General Stone, whose name is perpetuated in Stone Avenue in Tucson; Dr. C. H. Lord and W. W. Williams, both of whom engaged in the first banking business in Tucson ; Peter R. Brady associated in later years in the Pima County Bank with the Jacobs Brothers, and who became well known as a politician ; Wil- liam Kirkland, who, it is said, first raised the American flag in Tucson, and who, it is also said, was the first white man to marry a white woman in the State of Arizona; Hon. Hiram Stevens, who was sent to Congress in 1875, and served two terms; Samuel Hughes, still living, and affectionately known to everyone in Tucson, and to many others throughout the State as "Uncle Sammy Hughes"; Sylvester Mowry, who owned and worked the Mowry Mine; John G. Capron, who was one of the members of the party organized in Tucson to join Henry A. Crabb and his party ; Solomon Warner, General Wadsworth, Col. Ed. Cross, editor and duelist, and C. H. Meyer, after whom Meyer Street in Tucson is named. Men they were, men of dar- ing and courage, men who distinguished them- selves in many different ways, in public life, as honored citizens, taking part in many desperate fights with the Indians.
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In 1856 Solomon Warner, above mentioned, established the first American store in the "Old Pueblo," which event was speedily followed by other American stores. His stock of goods was brought in from California upon the hurri- cane decks of a mule train, which was, in that time, the favorite (and only) method of freight- ing. He also established the first flouring mill in the Territory, the ruins of which now stand on the west bank of the Santa Cruz river, where, at that time, the village was located in what is now the southwestern part of the city, from time immemorial "Old Tucson," and within the old walls erected by Padre Garces for the protection of the inhabitants against the incursions of the Apaches. Life in this far country was not ideal ; lurking foes lay in wait to ambush the traveller at every turn of the trail. The murderous Apache, and the Mexican outlaw, rivalled each other in their deeds of pillage, robbery and slaughter.
The exact date of the founding of the village or city of Tucson is somewhat uncertain. Some writers claim that it was first located about the year 1555, and that it is the oldest city in the United States. Others, however, claim that it was not a settlement until the latter part of the seventeenth century, when the missions along the Santa Cruz were established by Father Kino, and that Tucson was a visitation attached to San Xavier del Bac. Of one thing, however, there seems to be no doubt, and that is that Tucson, whatever the exact date of its founding may have been, was the first and only walled city ever existing in the United States. The descriptions
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of this wall differ in some details, but the fact remains that the town was walled for many years, probably not less than one hundred and fifty, and was built in the form of a square, the wall rising about five feet above the flat roofs of the houses, affording fine breastworks for the de- fense of the Pueblo; the rear ends of the houses were built into and against the heavy wall sur- rounding the little settlement. The only door allowed was the one opening into the open square in front. The flat roofs, in the summer time, furnished fine family sleeping rooms. The little fort was also built in the form of a square, with a tower at each corner, fitted with loopholes or small windows for outlooks, and for firing on raiding Indians or other enemies, and these tow- ers or bastions were so constructed as to enfilade the walls, as well as to intimidate the approach- ing enemy. Artillery was suggested by two small cannon, which one writer naively says, "were more dangerous, however, to the garrison than to the enemy."
The enclosure formed by this wall occupied space bounded as follows: Beginning at Wash- ington Street, thence south to Pennington; up Pennington to about the middle of the court- house ; thence north to Washington Street, along Washington Street to the place of beginning. A map, herewith shown, was made by Major Ferguson of the California Column, in 1861 or 1862, which shows the boundaries of the wall practically as above set forth. There were two entrances by immense doors made of heavy tim- ber put solidly together, and these were invari- ably closed at night. One of these entrances,
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stood where Alameda Street enters Main, and some of the old wall has been used in the con- struction of modern buildings.
It might be pertinent here to insert an article printed in the Tucson Citizen under date of June 21st, 1873, which is headed : "TUCSON A CEN- TURY AGO," and which is as follows:
"We met an old lady this week, who is sup- posed to be over one hundred years old, and was born in Tucson. Her name is Mariana Dias, and from her we obtained several historical items relating to old times, which were very in- teresting to us. She says as long ago as she can remember, Tucson consisted of a military post, surrounded by a corral, and that there were but two or three houses outside of it. The coun- try was covered with horses and cattle, and on many of the trails they were so plentiful that it was quite inconvenient to get through the im- mense herds. They were valuable only for the hides and tallow, and a good sized steer was worth only three dollars. This country then belonged to Spain and the troops were paid in silver coin, and on all the coin the name of Fer- dinand I., was engraved, and money was plenti- ful. Goods, such as they were, were brought from Sonora on pack animals. They had in those days no carts or wagons. The fields in front and below Tucson were cultivated and con- siderable grain was also raised upon the San Pedro. With an abundance of beef and the grain they raised, they always had an ample food supply. They had no communication with Cali- fornia and she never knew there was such a coun- try until she had become an old woman. San
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Xavier was built as long ago as she can remem- ber, and the church in the valley in front of the town, and there was also a church in Court House square, which has gone to ruin and no trace is left of it. The priests were generally in good circumstances, and were supported by re- ceiving a portion of the annual products, but for marriages, burials, baptisms and other church duties, they did not ask or receive any pay.
"Among the leading and wealthier men who lived here at that time, she mentioned the names of Epumusema Loreles, Santa Cruz, Ygnacio Pacheco, Rita Soso, Padre Pedro, and Juan Diaz. On inquiry about the Apaches she spoke with considerable feeling and said that many efforts had been made for peace with them, but every attempt had resulted in failure; that what- ever promises they made, but a few days would pass before they proved treacherous and com- menced murder and robbery again; that they murdered her husband in the field about two miles below Tucson and that most of her rela- tives had gone in the same way; that she was now left alone and would be in want but for such men as Samuel Hughes.
"She related the circumstances of one peace that was made about ninety years ago. It seems that the Apaches got the worst of a fight on the Arivaca Ranch; several were killed and the son of a chief was taken prisoner and brought to Tucson, and the Indians at once opened negotia- tions to obtain this boy. Colonel Carbon, in command of the Spanish forces, agreed with them that on a certain day the Indians should all collect here, and to prevent treachery and
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being overpowered, he brought in at night, and concealed within the walls of the fort, all the men he could get from all the towns within one hun- dred and fifty miles. On the day appointed, the Indians came in vast numbers; all the plains around were black with them. The colonel then told them if they had come on a mission of peace they must lay down their arms and meet him as friends. They complied with his request, and then all the people inside the walls came out and went among them unarmed. The colonel gave them one hundred head of cattle and the boy prisoner was produced and turned over to his father, and they embraced each other and cried, and an era of reconciliation and peace seemed to have arrived. The boy told his father that he liked his captors so well that he desired to live with them, and in spite of the persuasions of the old man, he still insisted upon remaining, and the Indians were compelled to return to their mountain home without him. The boy was a great favorite with the people. Sometime afterwards he went to visit his people, but be- fore leaving he saw everyone in the village and bade them goodbye, promising to return, which he did in fifteen days. A few days after his re- turn, he took the small-pox and died. Very soon after his death, the Apaches commenced to murder and rob the same as before.
"The aged lady then remarked with appar- ently much feeling, that since her earliest recol- lection she had heard it said many times, 'We are going to have peace with the Apaches,' but every hope had been broken and she did not think we would have any peace as long as an Apache lived.
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When she was a girl, the Apaches made two at- tempts to capture Tucson. The first time nearly all the soldiers and men were away. The Apaches learning of this, took advantage of the absence of the defenders and attacked the town, and would have taken it and murdered every one in it, but for the timely assistance of the Pima and Papago Indians, who came to the rescue in large numbers, attacking the Apaches on two sides, driving them off and killing many. The next time the sentinel on the hill west of town discovered them coming; he gave the alarm, and after a severe fight, the Indians were driven off. The Apaches had no firearms in those days, and were armed with spears, bows and arrows.
"She referred to the pleasant times they used to have when their wants were few and easily supplied, and told how they danced and played and enjoyed themselves. We asked her if she thought the people were happier than now; she did not seem inclined to draw comparisons, but remarked that if it had not been for the Apaches, they would hardly have known what trouble was. Crime was almost unknown and she never knew anyone to be punished more severely than being confined for a few days. The law required all strangers, unless they were of established repu- tation, to engage in some labor or business, within three days after their arrival, or leave the town, and to this regulation she attributes the exemption from crime. On inquiry as to whether they had liquor in those days, she said that she never knew a time when there was not plenty of mescal, but it was only on rare occa-
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sions that anyone drank to excess, and then they acted to each other as brothers."
In Tubac was printed the first paper ever pub- lished in Arizona, its editor being the Colonel Ed. Cross before mentioned, who fought a blood- less duel with Lieut. Sylvester Mowry. This paper was called the "Arizonian" and was printed on the first printing press brought into the territory. This printing press was brought around the Horn and transported overland through California to Tubac. It was after- wards used in publishing the "Tombstone Nug- get" and is now preserved among the curiosities of the Pioneer's Historical Society in Tucson.
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