Arizona weekly citizen., 1893-04-01

standing southwest of the city and
 which was us d as both schooi ard
 place Of worship, he was seized with a desire of shooting out the eve of statue or San Jose which stood in a riche in one of the upper galleries. He di not resist the impulse but sent two bullets 10 rapid succession through the de- voted socket. When this was shortly after discovered it was believed to hay
 been the sacreligious act of o1e Ben Tunehill who died of pneumonia short
 after, and whose sudden taking off was universally regarded, says Bill, as a visi- tation of the wrath of the Almighty upon Don Beneto as he was called. for his profane act in shooting out San Jose's left eye.
 The particulars of famous though btoodless duel at Tubac between Col Cross who had brought the first printit 2 press into the Territory from Ohio, and Lieut.. MOwry of the U. $. A. were re- called. Col. Cross who was a fire eating veteran of the Mexican war had set up his press at Tubac and instituted in the Arizona a series of verulent attacks upon the lieutenant. The l. tier sent him challenge which was promptly &C., cepted. The scene of the duel waS near Tubac. The weapons were Burn side rifles. The principals who stood 50 paces apart were seconded by Gram vile H. Oury for Mowry and John ". Donaldson for Cross. Upon the signal to lire third time, two previous ex- charges of shots having been futile, Mowry's gun failed to explode, and in accordance with the code, bis second claimed for him another shot. After some discussion it was consented to, and Nol. Cross calmly folded his arms and waited for the end. Mowry raised bis rifle took deliberate ann and suddenly elevating the barrel discharged it in the air.
 Mowry was afterwsrd honored by the settlers by representing them in Wash ington; and was associated with Col Poston in organizing this region into separate Territory and first gave it the name Arizona. The Arizonan was shortly after purchased by Eieut Mowry, removed to Tucson and edited by J. Howard Mills who was also justice of the peace and by whom Kirkland had been married. Mills after conducting the paper for some tune retired amour cing in his farewell editorial, his der ringers consequently for sale.
 Ia 1857 Kirkland located what is known as the Canova ranch the first ranch in this pert of the county stocked with cattle by white men. About the same time he was the leader of party of 20 who interviewed a horde of 800 apaches at Arivaca canon for the pur pose of effecting an exchange of priso- ners, and recovering his adopted daugh- ter Mercedes little Mexican girl who afterward become the first wife of County Recorder Shibell, and who with Mrs. Page now Judge Scott's wife of this city had been abducted by the Indians some weeks before. The latter having been abandoned by them for dead had been discovered in an extreme condition but fortunately was restored.
 Later having settled at Casa Blanca near Fort Buchanan which was aban- doned in 1861 at the out break of the rebellion but afterward regarrsoned IS Old Camp Critteden, a band of 16 or IF apaches drive off dozen of hIs mules and some horses, Alone on foot and armed only with a Spencer rife and revolver he pursued the party, came up with them, charged them in an open field and shot and killed one, they all the while riding around on their ponies displaying of their bodies not more than one limb and firing at him. He put them to rout nevertheless, but failed to recover his stock.
 Although Kirkland says that in all his losses by the Indians previous to this which WAS in 1868, amounted we'll into the thousands of dollars, it is only upon this depreciation amounting to about S1925, aud one other which took place during the San Carlos outbreak when his pro- perty at Pointof Noun am Station seven miles from Wilcox was destroyed tO the extent of $500, that he has subn itted evidence to recover.
 In spite of hs years Bill Kirkland carries his tall form erect as one of the native giant cact. Straight strong and rugged The appeares while the fire of his clean blue eye is yet uud mmed. His big rough brown hands are palpaole evidences of many a days honest toll under a semi-tropic sun. His whole bearing is that of the ideal frontiers man, the type O. man which is one of the nations boasts. That those strong brown hands may be spared to grasp the reins and guide the wheels bearing Arizona treasure for many years; and that the levelight of his useful life may be long and peaceful and happy.