The copper era., 1903-08-13
BARBECUE ON THE BLUE
Well Attended by Clifton People
 Plenty of Water.


 Sunday night there was a grand bar0e- cue. given by W. H. Carpenter on his ranch. twenty miles up the san Fran cisco river. just at the point where the Blue river empties into the Frisco in honor Of the arrival home of his son . Harry. who recently met with an . accident in Clifton. which cost him his right foot. Harry spent a couple Of . months in the Clifton hospital. and il . was thought that he would get along ! better at home on the Blue, heuce the . change was made. He is now getting . along very well, and is looking a shade better than was expected.
 The barbecue was well patronized !! by the cattlemcn and other citizens living in the vicinity of Carpenters . ranch, all of whom expressed them- ! selves a. having ''way-up" time, but more so by the Clifton people who turned out in numbers, despite the high waters iu the Frisco. There were rigs from every direction and for a little while it seemed doubtful if Carpenters big pasture, which covers twenty acres or more, would hold the horses.
 The barbecued meat was the best the writer has struck since he landed in Arizona, and reminded him Of those Texas barbecues. which generally take place about election time. Mir. Hays, who lives about two miles below Car , penter's ranch, barbecued the meat and it is useless to say that he is an expert at the business. The writer will venture to say that he has few equals and no superiOrs. In this con- nection it might be said that it is quite necessary to have good beef, as well as d good man to cook it, and this was attended to by Mr. Carpenter, who selected stock from his own herd. The old school house, which is sur rounded by grove Of beautiful cot tonwood and willow trees, was turned ' into dancing hall. and was crowded to it's utmost from early Saturday night until late Sunday evening. At differ ent times recess was announced, and dancing would sIop long enough for the people to lunch.
 The Clifton party left town before dark Saturday night and were divided ! up into five stage loads, accompanied : by Messrs. King, Moreno and Todd, 5 who were on horseback and acted as guides. The trip was full of excite , ment, and several times it was thought : that the. party would have to strike T camp. The first stage to leave town was occupied by Messrs Doudna, Wat son, McWilliams, Clingensmith and
 Danenhauer. They got off at o'clock sharp and progressed very rapidly
 until about q mile above Ira Harper's
 ranch, when darkness and big flood struck them at the same time and in ] the middle of the river. At this cross ing the river Is deep- and -With.t t'et" 5 esting for while. The water reach ed the dashboard and submerged the seats, as well as the occupants of the rig, the driftwood beat against the horses and wagon with great force, and at last, just a. the horses reached
 
 struck the back end of the wagon and pushed it around about five feet, at which time the log swung around and the rig was cleared, much to the sat isfactiOn of the occupants. After the top of the hill was reached one Of the boys was heard to say: That hole was deep" At the next crossing of the river it was decided to select a guide, who went ahead of the rig and took sOundiDgs and located the landing places. From this time on the water receded and good time was made. the party arriving at the ranch a little shy Of To o'clock
 Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly and daugh- ters and Mir. and Mrs. Degner com posed the second party and left town rapid rate and made good time until darkness overlook them. In the mean time they were Overtaken by Messrs. Todd, King and Moreno, who informed them that three other rigs were in the rear and persuaded them to tie-up until they caught up At this time the first flood in the river reached l them, and after Kelly forded the river l a couple Of times, the hCrses going out of sight both times. he was willing to l wait indefinitely. The boys, who had 1 taken it upon their shoulders to act as | l guides, now went back to inform the | three parties in the rear that a flood | was coming. The first of these three | rigs was occupied by Mir. and Mrs. A. | 1 B. Capt and son and Tom Edwards; | the second was occupied by Mr. Archi- | ! bald and sister and Mrs. Boyiugton | and daughter; and the third by Mir. | and Mrs. Laine and Mr. and Mrs. | Iakey. The boys had no more than | reached them when the flood made its | appearance. but the river being shal- | i low at most of the crossings. it was not ! 1 long until the Kelly stage was reached. After this the four stages journeyed ! ! together and in a little while the flood | ! had passed and the river was back to its normal stage, but after they had gone several miles a second flood met | them, which was worse than the first. | They proceeded slowly and made cross