Weekly journal-miner., 1912-03-06

No factor of the pioneer days was more potent in the development of Ari. zona than the stage coach, rendering easily accessible region hitherto reached only by the expenditure of much time, money, and at a very great risk of life replcte with incl dents in which hcroism, fortitude and endurance were unexcelled in any other department of frontier life.
 Tn several volumes of contempor. aneous history, regarded as standard, palpable errors have crept into their text, relative to the initiation of this service, which it may not be in oportunc to correct.
 Messrs IIurton, Hodge, Hamilton and others have come under the writ CTS observation. Credit is given Co the Butterfield' as the pioneer line, when the Birch preceded it one year. The Butterfield contract is noted as extending from Marshall Texas. to san Diego, California, while its eastern termini were St. Louis, Missouri. and Memphis, Tenn, con verging at Ft. smith, Ark, and the western terminus was San Francisco, California.
 Mir. II. K. Buttcrworth of New York City, who had mining interests in Arizona, is noted as president of the company instead of Mr. John Butter field of Utica, x. Y These with many other statements are historically incorrect as to individuals and events, forming the incentive for this mem oranda that ruture writers may have correct data upon this chapter of Ari- zons's period of incubation.
 The initial contract was for n semi monthly service between San Diego, Cal. and san Antonio, Texas, via Fl Paso. Mir. Jas. F.. Birch, presi- dent of the California Stage Co.,, took it ns n personal venture for the sum of sl49OOO.O0 year. Mir. Isaiah C.. Woods, previously at the head of Adams & Co.'S Express in California, was superintendent and manager of tho line. The first mail east bound was started from San Diego, Cal, on November 18th, 1857. Although the advertisement in the San Francisco papers noted four.horse Concord coach es, if was really carried in saddle bags until some months later when stations were established and stock strung along the line.
 Charley Youmans was the first rider, leaving San Diego at l2 midday sharp, amid booming of one cannon and fusilade of guns and pistols. He had two remounts, reached Cariso Creek via warner's ranch at r. m. Here the mail was taken by Silas St. John, accompanied by Charles Nason Co the next station, Jaeger's Ferry at Ft. Yuma, in 32 hours, without re- mount. Fairly good time for no miles, only one water hole open, Cooks Well, at the time.
 From Yuma, Capt. Wallace (Big Foot) rode to the next station. Mari copa Wells to Tucson, John q. Capron and two relief horses From Mari eopa Wells to Tucson, John Capron and Jim Mccoy were the riders, the initial trip.
 A herd of stock was taken during November. 1857, from Yuma to Mari. copa Wells for use upon the central section, silas St. John in charge as. sisted by James Laing of Kentucky and wm. Cunningham of Iowa. When they reached a point on the Gila river where the road from the Ajo mines comes in, they met Postens trains en route to Yuma with ore, Edward F.. Dunbar in charge who reported a large band of Tontos just above upon the river, and advised St. John to take the trail south of Antelope Peak to avoid a meeting that might defeat reaching their destination with the htTu Nh'f i'' lowed, although it involved being without water for 36 hours, but 1t | enabled them to escape contact with the savages. A portion of the drive was made in the night, it was quite dark. The pack mule managed to rid himself of his load unseen. For three days ensuing, until Maricopa Wells was reached the party lasted. The foregoing incident is noted as tho advent in this section nf three of tho victims of the Dragoon tragedy the following year.
 On November 9sth, 1851, three roach loads of passengers, the first rom California, bound East, IS per. ions in all, reached Tucson. The Old Pueblo then consisted of twenty odd ,dobes enclosed in an adobe wall.