Bisbee daily review., 1912-01-31
HISTORY 0F STRIKE
 AT COPPER BASIN
 TOLD BY RESIDENT
Pioneer Tells of History of District far Back
 in the Sixties
EARLY DAYS OF PERIL

Referring to the big copper strike that has been made by the Commer- cial Mining company in Copper Basin and the point where it occurred, which is known as Garbarino Hill, w. N. Kelley, a pioneer resident. yesterday gave an interesting review of that particular locality. which ranged back to early day mining operations. To the Journal Miner, Mir. Kelly says:
 Some time in 1864 Indian Agent Lehigh. in charge of the Colorado River agency at LaPaz, in the course of his official duties in the InGan country in his jurisdiction, passed into Copper Basin and located mine on what is known as Garbarino Hill. The surface near that mound was sprinkled with native copper, and the outcroppings also contained nearly pure copper. Float of pure copper was picked up at several places in that locality, but after limited devel- opment that character of the ore pass ed out, hence Mir. Lehigh abandoned the location.
 The news of the discovery of the red metal travelled over the country however, but in that primitive day of mining, but little attention was mani tested over following that class of mining work. However, in 1866, Ed Bowers, later the sheriff of this coun- ty. and myself, went into the basin and made locations from one end to the other including Garbarino Hill.
 While it was not our purpose to engage in mining for copper. the gClches scanning that section were at tractiye for placer mining, hence we worked for a short time the aurifer- ous beds, but were unsuccessful Cop per did not appeal to us, and natural F. we left the place. Many years afterward, and as I remember the date, sometime in the '70's Joe Gar barino. at present located on Willow Creek, near this city and a farmer went into the basin and made several locations, and in deference 10 his acti- witty in mining operations, the hill that bears his name to this day, was christened Garbarino Hill Mir. Gar barino disposed of his interests later to Col. C. C. Bean, the latter thinking so well of the group that he had eighteen claims patented in 1882 or about that time, after complying with the land laws in force which in that distant day were somewhat crUdely obeyed. Later the Commercial Mining company purchased the group, and erected a smelter in 1885 or 1Sse, which was burned down, after an un successful run, owing to the lack of transp pOrtation facilities and the fux question being Q serious one to solve Since that time. or until resumption was ordered about two years ago Copper Basin enjoyed only a good name, and without any practical deep work being done.
 MT. Lehigh is practically the fath- CT of Copper basin from a mining and undoubtedly was the first white man to become aware O its mineral possibilities, and it vii b. interesting to those of this genera tion to learn of the horrible fate that overlook him in later years while fir the performance Of his duties as fn- dian agent.
 While returning from the mine to LapaZ, on the Colorado river with his clerk. young man named Evans, they were attacked and killed in Bells Canyon, near Kirkland valley. ! by Apache-Mohave Indians. Mir Le- nigh supposed that he enjoyed the gratitude Of the Indians, and was not ed for treating them with kindness and generosity. but he was shot down without warning and his body fright fully mutilated, as was that of his companion. All members of his body were cut away and his head mashed to a jelly Later the body was par tially burned by the inhUman mur- derers alongside Of a big boulder, and to this day the blackened rock may L. seen along the old road. The head Of Mir Evans was decapitated and never found.
 The news of the death and mutil- sting of the body of MT. Lehigh was received in Prescott in the early '70s with sincere expressions of sor- TOW. He had the good will of all the residents and it was a mystery why the Indians murdered him ss he was always firm and kind friend to them He refused to travel over the country with any arms saying that no harm would ever overtake him from the red men. He was a victim of misplaced confidence in the Apache and this vas not the only time the white man was trapped under the same fiimsy belief"