Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-04-01

| Of the early settlers of Arizona who
 have lately come to Tucson for the pur- pose of deposing evidence of Indian l depredations with the Special United States Attorney, there is no more inter esting or romantic character thar Bill 1 Kirkland of Palomas on the Gla. Forty years ago Bill had the reputation at the l age of 2l of being the best six-horse stage driver on the Pacific slope and to- day hale, hearty and powerful, a mag nifcent specimen of physical manhood, at the age of 61 he IS engaged in freight ing ore for Hubbard & Bowers big Bo- nanza mine in the Harqua Halas. He knew Arizona when as the Gadsder Purchase it was inhabited by the merest handful of venturesome whites. He has not only witnessed its growth to the pressnt statehood-demanding impor- tance, but has taken no inconsiderable part in its settlement and rebuilding.
 Of the first little party of five Ameri- cans who, coming overland from Cali fornia, settled in Tucson in January 1856, Kirkland was one. They found at Tucson proesidio, garrisoned by Mexi- can soldiers and commanded by Den Elario Gsrcilla. One of the party V. $. Shelby, pushed on to Santa Fe. The others remained. Kirkland purchased land of the Mexican soldiers paying 520 for 8 ranch of 20 acres. He was the first of the Arizona pioneers who married white woman in this country having met his wife, the daughter of William Bacon of Arkansas, when as one of 8 company of emigrants she arrived at Tucson in 1859. His daughter Lizzie, now Mrs. Thomas Steele of Croton Springs, was born Feb. 2S, 1861; the first white child ln the Territory. He also participated at the glorious occasion when for the first time the stars and stripes were hoisted over the adobe huts of the primitive settlem. nt of Tucson.
 Having settled here he engaged at once iu the lumber business. He built the first road fir m this city to the Santa Rita mountains and began to haul logs into the settlement for which he re- ceivej from Sl25 to S2j0 a thousand
 He has not been in Tucson until last month for seven years, but said then there were many houses in the city built of timber of his hauling of those early days.
 During these trips to the mountains he had frequent encounters with the Apaches and on one memorable occasion had the first barley with these red mounted maurauders from which any white man had so far escaped unscathed. Accompanied by two others, McCracken and Lews in a heavy wagon, with plenty of provisions and six yok7 of oxen, he had penetrated well into the tree country when suddenly a party Of 2 Apaches came upon them. The lives of all three were that day saved by the boldness of the stand taken by Kirkland. Realizing ID an instant the perilOusness of the position he seized his loaded revolver and holding 1t calmly walked into the presence of the chief aud asked him what was wanted. The Indian asked first for the weapon, winch K Krkland re- fused to surrender, believing that death would most likely enSue anyhow, and determined to shoot she chief at the first intImation of hostility. After a short interview, the conversation hay ing been carried on through little captive Mexican boy who was with the party of Indians, the latter were ap- peased by a pair of oxen for beef; not the best pair, however, which they had de- manded. and a portion of the provender. An old One-eyed savage upon being vigorously repuised in an effort to secure Kirklana's shirt lanced bim in the back causing the blood to flow freely. This Bill deemed 1t wise not to notice but re- tiring to the wagon proceeded upon the journey as if not at al dismayed by the encounter. Several years after he re- cOgniZed at Fort Mcdowell the one-eyed
 Indian who had thrust the lance into him. The Apache addressed him as "brave captain" in Spanish, related the circumstances of the meeting and wished to present him with his son about dozen years of age. 1t was not conven- lent for Kirkland to accept the offer at the time which was unfortunate for the youngster at least as within a month, he with his cyclOpian parent and number of other offending Apacbes were indis- crimiuately slaughtered by the soldiers.
 In those days Bill was as yet dead shot. He relates with great gusto how upon certain day, entering the old pueblo, the ruins. of which are still