The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1902-01-09

| undertaking Wnlcu promised excite
ment or possible danger with a chanc,
for gain. ever found him tagging TO the
rear. He once took sub-contract from
the government to furnish beef TO the
Iudians at the San Carlos agency. anC
as beef on his range was a scarce
article. he did not know at the time
where he would get his supply, but he
rust,ed the beef and delivered them on
time. To do this he had TO make foray
| into old Mexico, but he and his gang
/ had little difficulty in doing it. except
that he had running fight with the
owners OF the cattle who followed him
across the line as far as Clover,iale,
| where they had pitched battle, which
resulted disastrousiy for the Mexican..
1t was in this scrimmage that one OF
the Clanton's was killed; how many OF
| the Mcxicans got hurt was never know n,
| 1ut they retired discomftted, aud they
| never put in any claim for damages.
I 1t was probably just -es well they did
not mako any fSs+ee, T~orst matter, as
| IL W dS ueh ClOpGu ldltE IDul luC
ants to the cattle could not read
their title clear, as plumber of the
bruies carried American brands. Bill
at one time punched cattle for Hooker
of the Sierra Bonita ranch, twenty
miles north of Wilcox. IL is said of
him, that Hooker wishing to dispense
Of Bill's valuable services, instructed
his foreman to discharge him, and the
foreman told the boss that if he wanted
Curly fired, he would have to do the
job himself. Curly quit the ranch
shortly after this episode, and he rode
away a thorough bred. It. was one time
current rumOr that the Earps had been
offered $1,000 to do Curly up, and that
they claimed the reward and got the
money, as Curly had been planted il;
the Dragon mountains, east of Tomb
stone. No credence however should
be placed in this story, as Bill WAS
seen several years subsequent to his re-
ported demise, in Fort Worth, Texas.
He told the writer informant that he
had quit his funny business, had mar
ried and settled down in the state OF
chihuahua, Mexico, and that he owned
a big bunch of cattle, and was doing
well.
John Ringold, of whom previous
mention has been made in this article,
came OF the cele brated fighting Ringold
family of Texas, and it has been said OF
him, that he feared not God. man or
devil. 1t is related of him, that upon
one occasion in Tombstone, he offered
to fight and whip the whole carp tribe,
taking them in detail. His generous
offer was refused although he was will
ing to give mis- adversaries the choice
of weapons. But little is known of
Ringold's history, as he was not very
verbose man. 1t was generally sup
posed however that he had had trouble
had killed his man. He was found
murdered in Sulphur Springs valley
while on his way home from Tombstone.
His body was leaning against tree, he
had his pistol in his hand, and there was
q bullet through his heart. 1t was given
ont that he had committed suicide,
but those who knew the man. knew
that was not so. He was murdered
while in drunken sleep. To make
the suicide theory look plausable, none
of his effects were taken. His horse,
saddled and bridled, was grazing near,
his rifle was in its scabbard, and his
watch and money were found on his
person. Had he fired the shot himself.
his clothing would have been burned.
he could not possibly have elected the
empty shell from his pistol, that was
found near by, as death must have been
instantaneous.
While the town was still in the flush
of its youthful vigOr. and the boys and
girls were having hot time together,
a plague in the form of small pox
struck the place, and among the first
to succomb, was Bud Wiles, a member
OF the San Simon gang, and moreover,
a cOld-blooded murderer. He did not
get much sympathy, but was permitted
to die an outcast, and he was buried
like dog; just chucked into shallow
hole, and covered up. No useless
prayers were said over his cowardly
nor were any tears shed over
his grave. During the prevalence of
the disease, and when it had nearly
run its course, the citizens got togeth-
er and built pest house east of town,
on the Gold Hill road. The place was
furnished with everything
deemed necessary, 4 cook aud nurses
were provided, and all cases remaining
in town we're taken to the hospital. !
4 few of them died, but the majority
recovered, and in q few weeks the
building was deserted The doors and
windows were thrown open, and every
thing was left just as it was when the |
last one deserted it. Shortly after this, |
= crowd of break-beam tourists strag-
gled along and concluded to recuperate
for few days before resuming their |
dusty journey westward. They were /
only hoboes anyhow, and they were |
told there was an empty house, well |
furnished and supplied with every
thing, just at the edge of town. They |
moved in and enjoyed themselves for q |
few days and nights. They turned up |
missing one morning, and upon investi-
CATION it was found that they had, like |