Graham guardian., 1902-03-07
* port That He viii soon Retire to Be-
come "a Lobby list at Washington.

4
for Arizonans. Here is what il
says:
"Governor N. O. Murphy, a
Arizona is to give up his Office and
remove to Washington TO take up
the practice of law and to act us
claim agent and lobbyist. His
successor in the Territorial guber
material chair is to be Col. Alex
Brodie, who was second in com
mand of Roosevelt's Rough Riders.
The resignation Of Governor
Murphy will likely go to the Presi-
dent early in the spring, and when
the change is made it will mark
the most interesting political
event in the history of Arizona.
In all the scramble Of Rough
Riders for Office, upon the acces
sion of Mr.. Roosevelt, Col. Brodie
was the only one to be honored
with position of any considerable
note. And in the selection Of
Brodie there is most interesting
story heretofore untold. 1t was
currently believed that Governor
Murphy's term would expire dur
ing the past autumn, when would
have ended the service Of Col. NJ,
Fl. McCord, whose place Murphy
had taken, when McCord left the
Governors Office to head Il rogi-
ment in the war with Spain.
Mr.. Ro sevelt was anxious TO
reward Col. Brodie for his magni-
ficent work with the Rough Riders,
and it was suggested to the Presi-
dent by frio dis Of Brodie, that the
latter be offered the goycrnorShip
Of Arizona The President readily
acquiesced, and in the presence Of
several Arizona politicians, invited
3rodie to accept the place.
Col. Brodie at first declined, aud
then, at the earnest solicitation Of
ais friends, accepted
"You intend, 1 believe, to leave
N a few days for Arizona" said
the President; "tomo row you may
como here and get your commits
sion to take u est with you"
Two days later Brodie started
t,r Arizona, but with no commits
sion. The President on the pre-,
vious day had discussed the matter
With bis Cabinet, and had been
advised by them that il was Gus
tomary, in such case rs that otI
Governor Murphy, to allow the
incumbent to finish ont his iuil
term, instead OF completing
only the term Of his predecessor
81 will do rs l promise" Col.
onel," sa d the PresId" ot later to
Brodie, "and yo' ~ have vonr
'oi''',l'SS''p ' even though the ae-
'V' ~ " contrary to custom"
,olonel Brod did not consent
10 accept the papers, !. d returned
10 the management of his Arizona
mines, to await the eud Of Muir
phys term, or his resignation.
Col. Brodie has Il very interest
ing history. He was gradu u'ted
rom West Point in 1870, and pro-
noted to second Lieutcnancy in
the same year. He served on
frontier duty up until 1877, when
nc resigned from the service. In
1871 he was especially commend
ed for gallantry in action with the
Apaches and was recommended for
brcvet by General Crook Tor his
services against the same tribe in
the winter Of 1928. When the
Spanish-American war began, he
organized the Arizona quota of the
First United States Cavalry, famil-
iarly known as the Rough Riders
He organized, drilled and equip
ped the first squadron of the regl'
ment at San Antonio, eX., in Nay
1898. lie was wounded iii the ac-
ton at Las Guasimas, Cuba, on
June "a, his forearm being shatter-
ed by Mauser bullet In this en-
gagement he was in command OF
If the left flank. In August he
was made Lieutenant-Colonel OF
his regiment. He was emphatical
ly commended by General Shafter,
Wheeler, Young and wood and
Colonel Roosevelt.
After Brodie left the regular
army, he worked for time as day
laborer in the mines Of Arizona
His climb to the top, however, was
rapid, and few years later was
put in charge Of the great Walnut
Grove Dam, on the HasSayampa
River, north Of Wickenburg. In
1884 when the dam was about com
pleted, an immense flood washed
it out, causing the loss of 80 lives
aud damaging property worth
millions Of dollars in the valley
below. Brodie's promised wife
was the sole survivor of her family
who were camped below the dam.
She escaped by climbing steep
cliff, and few months later be-
came Mrs. Brodie.
The story of Brodie's retirement
from the Regular Army never
told, but his resignation is be-
1