Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1902-08-29
Two DoLLAKs PER YEAR



, Tombstone, Arizona. known from
one side Of the union to the other
because OF the fables which have
been told about il has risen fr, q
the dump plies Of its former great
meas aud determined 10 be great
again. This 10 in large measure
tho work Of the Tombstone con-
solidated Mines company. now pre-
pairing to reopen the famous old
workings on an immense scale. but
the mining camp at storied wicked
ness is no more. aud only . thriv-
ing town IL left to mark the spot.
A resident oi Tombstone in the
early days dropped into a remiuis-
cent vein the other day and told AZ
follows Of Tombstone's noted Inv
and order club, better known as
the Old Guard, and many OF whom
are now respected citizens OF the
southwest;
"Tombstons, like many another
mining camp" he said. "sprang
Into existance almoHt In a day.
Tents and rougn houses grew like
mushrooms. Soon the camp be-
came the headquarters of the great
southwest. Northern Sonora was
too FAR away to attract tho miners,
prospectors and cowboys. no they
flocked to Tombstone. Tho streets
OF the town wee filed night and
day with a strangely mixed crowd.
Cattle kings. COW punchers, mining
kings and peDniless prospectors
rubbed elbows and helped TO furnish
the place excitement.
"There were army officers from
adjacent posta, and marshaIs and
deputy marshsls in plenty, but
mere show Of authority had no ef-
feet in Tombstone. Robbers and
ruHians played q daily game OF
murder. and IL was tho man who
was quickest on the trigger who
won out, regardless Of the question
Of right and wrong. In the early
days OF Tombstone the Apsches
were making the southwest hot for
white men. There was always
danger OF an Apache raid. aud tho
residents Of Tombstone had conse-
queDtly formed an organization ot
defense in the nature OF vigilantea
"At the sounding Of three loud
blasts Of the mine whistles this
home guard would Immediately as-
semble. A stage robbery, fire or
An Indian outbreak was sufficient
excuse for assembling tho fighters
OF the camp. and sturdy lot Of
men would thus DO gathered. all
armed TO the teeth and ready for
any desperate venturs. The re-.
markable thug sboIt this organi-
zstion Of Tombstone citizens was
the fact that il had deep rever-
ence Tor law, II not for order. II
had no use for lynch law. a. evi.
denced in the spring OF 1882. when
five men were publicly executed for
a series Of ssrooious murders. The
orimea were committed in Bisbee.
3j miles from Tombstone. in the
Mule mountains.
"Ihe Bisbes camp had no bank.
and the miners pay was distribut.
I'd by a merchant who had = large
general store. At tho tina OF the
he wonld have about 500.
900 in bis possession ss pay day
was close ~ hand
"Five soldiers swooped down on
the camp. Two Of them rushed
into the store and demanded thesum
Of tho pay roll. The merchant
protested that he did not have the
Furious with disappolnt-
Inant. the soldiers shot him dead.
and proceeded to shoot upthecamp.
Fonr women and child we're kill
I'd before the men made their way
,ut Of Bisbee. When the news 1t
he outgrags was received at Tomb
stone the viRilantss we're furious.
Tbs mine whistles blew aud the
organization quickly decided upon
! plan OF operation. Miners. COW.