Graham guardian., 1908-06-26
BOWIE IS HISTORICAL
The Old Town Was An Important
Shipping Point on the Southern
Pacific Years Ago

A correspondent of the Phoenix
Gazette has the following interest
ing letter concerning Bowie in u
recent issue of the paper.
This town Is one Of the historical
spots in Arizona, made so by the
fact that Geronimo, the old Apache e
chief and warrior, and his hostile
band were shipped from the terri
tory after they surrendered /"
General Miles in the ,arly part I
l8S7-twenty one years ago
Another historical incident OF
this town is recorded III the inci-
dent of troops being sent mere by
Governor l.. G. Huges, during the
second administration Of Grover
Cleveland, to prevent prize fight
which it was believed had been ar
ranged to take place on American
sol. The fight was one between
Maher and Fitzsimmons. 1t was
advertised to take place IN the vi
cinity Of El Paso, but Governor
Hughes received the information
that the fight was really to be pull
ed off somewhere on the Southern
Pacific in Arizona, A company Of
the National Guard of Arizona
was sent here from Tucson under
command of Colonel J H Martin
to prevent the fight, The soldiers
remained here until news arrived
that the prize fight had occurred
on Mexican soil near El Paso.
Haviog drank all the beer and
robbed all the chicken roosts ia
Bowie, the boys returned to Tue.
son.
This town was first known as
lewiston and that is still the name
of the postoffice here. Captain j.
H. Tevis was the first white man
to make his home here before The
Southern Pacific railroad was built
through the territory, Tcvis came
to Arizona over forty or bhy years
ago, and when mere boy was cap
tured by the Indians and made Il
peon or slave Of the tribe, remain
ing with them until the Overland
stage coach route was established
through the country Tevis then
rau away from the Indians and
was employed by the stage COM
pany as station keeper. He was
here in that capacity when the
raiIrQad was built. He was one
of the best known men in ArizQna
and served in several sessions OF
the legislature In the early days.
Before the railroad was built to
Globe all the merchandise and sup
plies for Globe and the Gila Valley
were forwarded from this point
and from Wilcox. The old firm of
Solomon & Wickersham made a
great deal of money here in tho
forwarding and wholesale business.
The firm yet has u store here in
charge of McHeinrich; who is also
the justice Of the peace-tbls, with
one saloon, owned by "Dad" Kel.
lum, the contractor on the GiIa
Valley, Globe 4 Northern railroad,
are the only business places the in
town. except the railroad hotel,
run by W. G Hindman.
Bowie has always Eecn the cen.
ter and trading point of an exten-
sive cattle industry, which has add
ed MUCH TO the commercial i'm.
portance of the place, 1t is only
a few miles tiom here to the head
quarter ranch of Oscar Roberts, the
well known aud prominent Demo
orat of northern Cocbise County.
bud Prewett, the constable of this
precinct, has been 10 the cattle
business here t0r years. Other
prominent caltlemep ip this sec
ton are tho shafer brothers and
Tom Riggs. The range 10 the San
Simon Valley is said to be falling
fast now after three years of un-
usually good feed. 1t is believed
tina, u good many cattle will die in
this end of the county and in the
south OF Graham County during
the repainde" Of the present year,
unless the summer rains come
earlier than is usual and are bouuti,
ful.