The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-03
THE TRAGEDY Of KINGS WELL,
A Bit of History of Early Ari-
iona Days.
How q Cowardly Murder Was Quick
~ Avenged.
An EXCITING Episode in the Neighbor
Ing Territory Some Typical
Events of Early
Times.


lation, with certain of the hardy ad-
venturers in the early days of Arisona's
history, was weIl-digging. In those days
raw elsd roads were few, and on all OF
them the watering places were far be-
tween. The lucky man who succeeded
in sinking q shaft to water on one OF
those desert roads had property that
was better than q gold mine, for the re-
turns commenced to flow in the moment
the water commenced flowing in his
well.
Then, too, it was frequently accom-
papied with danger, this we'll digging,
for Indians might swoop down on the
lonely worker at unsupported moments.
and, isolated as they were, with 70 to %
miles OF lonely desert between them and
the nearest human habitation, they had
but their own vigilance and pluck 10 de-
pend on in case of any accident. Indeed,
the history of the desert wells OF Ari-
coma, should it ever be written, would
prove deeply interesting one, for there
are but few of them to which the history
of some dark tragedy does not attach. In
conversation with an old freighter, who
used to drive his teams on the La Psz
road 30 years ago, recently uneartned
the history of these wells, from an al
most forgotten past. The place Is still
marked on the map OF Arizona az Kings
Well, but it was abandoned on the occa-
sion l am about to relate, and ia now
nothing but half covered shalt with
lonely grave beside it.
THE BEGINNING OF KINGS WELL.
In December, 1865, Dave King and
Dan -, surname unknown-started
out for the prosperous mining camp OF
Wickenburg, on the Hassayampa river.
to try their luck digging well on the
La Paz road. By this road the distance
was I25 miles from Wickenburg to La
Paz. and in all that distance there were
onlv two wells. Could they succeed in
striking water at come point thirty or
FORTY miles from Wicksnburg, there
would be busy times ahead. They Sc
lected a point some thirty-hve miles out
on the deasert as favorable location tor
q water station, and when the wagon
that had brought them unloaded their
tools and camp outfit, and turning back,
left them there alone, they never stopped
to think whether there was anything
romantic or heroic in their situation,
but lust went to work and cleared away
a good place on which to spread
their blankets and build their camp fire.
A six-shooter apiece, few blankets.
two picks and shovels, frying pan and
ceffee pot and some -four, bacon and
beans, was the extent OF their capital,
but they knew the future would turn
out all right, and they went to WORK per-
fectly contented and happy.
One day nearly two months later they
stopped work for dinner, when the sun
had climbed straight overhead. They
had sunk their shaft over 100 feet by
this time, and they were beginning to
think that they ought to be getting
pretty close to water. On that day in
particular many and bright were the
plans they laid out for the future, WREN,
with the water in the we'll, corral and
adobe house built, they could commence
to live easy and save money. WhHe
Shey were eating and planning, Two
sulky looking Mexicsns approached
from the road and, without ceremony,
we're invited to sit down on the ground
and help themselves. The boys noticed
that these strangers were evidently de-
serters from the company OF Mexican
soldiers. stationed at the time near
Prescott, for they wore government uni
forms and carried army muskets. No
questions were asked, however, Tor
these are occasions when inattention to
guest is the highest form OF clvillty,
and Dave and his pard, having finished
their meal, went Oft to their WORE, tell
ing their guests to help themselves and
eat all they wished.
A word about this company OF Next
can soldiers-for this is all true history,
mind you-and every man IN 1T actually
lived, though some oil them died. In
1855 two companies of Mexicans and
one company Of friendly Pima Indians
were enlisted by Governor Goodwin, the
first governor of Arizona, for the pur-
pose OF fighting Indians and protecting
the miners, though it Is not recorded
that the former did anything beyond
drawing their pay. 1t seems that the
whites were all too busy hunting for gold
to bother with Indians unless they the
Indians) came around; in that case, oil
course. they we're perfectly willing to
kill a few OF them. One of the Mexican
companies was stationed at Skull valley
some so miles northeast of Kings we'll
and it was from that company That the
two Mexicane referred to deserted
These enlisted Mexicsns were, OF course
the lowest and most depraved Of border
rufians, and the pretty pair who have
come into our history were lair sam
pie of the class.
THE ASSASSINATION.
After these two brown-fsced, uni
formed gentlemen had finished their re-
past they took their muskets and ad
vanced cautiously toward the shat
where their two benefactors were hare
at work. It was about 100 yards iron
the camp. No one saw them now, tol
Dave King was down at the bottom OF tht
shalt getting ready 10 fill the bucket
and Dan WAS on top looking down anc
ready to let it down by the windlas
whenever Dave should call out that he
was ready. The MeGicsns halted abou
midway, as WAS proved sfterward by al
examination OF their tracks, and one
them, taking aim with his musket. pu
bullet through poor Dams back. Dsl
Just threw up his hands and fell head
long into the shaft. 1t will be seen b
this circumstance that Mexicans OF TIL
class do not practice the Arab virtues
nor any other virtues for that matter.
These two pretty fellows, returning tt
camp, rihed it of what provisions the
could carry; not much, indeed, for the,
were on foot and had desert to cross
They also took the tw o revolvers belong
iEg 10 their victims and couple of can
teens full of water, Then they went t
the well and peered over the edge AN
listened for sound OF life; but all wa