Arizona republican., 1916-05-22
Dramatic Tale of Strategic Move By First American Copper Miner; Ajo Oldest Copper Mine on American Soil
Special Correspondence

miles west of Tucson and 43 miles south of Gila Bend. The Little Ajo mountains rise d few hundred feet above wide desert valleys. The camp lies in a small basin on the east side Of the range, separated from the open desert by low hills.
 The Ajo district is said to be the first copper deposit in the southwest to be worked by Americans, The writ CT is indebted to H. w. Brady, son of Hon. P. E. Brady, also to the Arizona Blade Tribune for the following story regarding the early history of the Ajo i district.
 "The Ajo mines wre first worked ir | the year 1858 by the Hon. Peter k | Brady, last sheriff Of Pima county | prior to it's division to Pinal county i and first sheriff of Pinal county, Hon. i Granville H. Oury, first congressman i from Arizona, Hill De Armitt. Vim. i Dodson and eight other Americans | They mined the ore. packed it to Yuma | landing and shipped it thence by water 10 Swansea Wales. Afterward they erected adobe furnaces and smelted the ore, using charcoal for fuel. 'TEe ruins of the old adobe furnaces car still be seen. The men above men, tioneG began working the Ajo mines when all that part of Arizona, lying south of the Gila river still belonged 10 Mexico. At that time Americans were considered undesirable citizens in Soncra. and .he governor of that state sent three hundred troops to drive the Americans across the inter national line. When these troops ar { rived at Sonoita. where there resided ] two wealthy old Mexican ranchers, l Patarino Orosco and Rafael Ortega, who were friendly with the Americans and sold them beef and other supplies, | the officer in command made inquiries of them about the Americans, partic- ularlv as to their number, arms. am munition, etc. Not desiring to lose Their customers and friends, the old rarchers told the general there were over three hundred of the Americans all armed with long range rifles, and reVolvers, and that they were all dead shots and perfect devils to fight. They also stated that these 900 dare devils were well fortified and could kill all  themselves.
 Tt was about 3 miles from Sonoita 10 AjG and no watering places between out tke Mexican commander decided to push forward and find out for him self the situation at the Ajo mines, and So informed the old ranchers. The latter quickly wrote message in Sparish-knowing that both Brady and Oury were good Spanish scholars, and directed vaqueroa to mount the best horse oE the ranch. as soon as th' day vanished into night, and nevel stop until he had delivered the mes sage to Oury and Brady.
 "The messenger reached Ajo th' next day at noon and delivered th' message. Oury and Brady were re sourcefu.. They had built an adob' corral on top of a Conical shaped hill at the base of which was the caml spring and leading direct therefron out onto the desert, was the road oVe which the Mexican troops from Son oita must come. In the middle Of tn corral stood the camp house. whlcl was also constructed of adobe, all tn kegs barrels, tubs and buckets abou the camp were carried into the hous and filled with water The saddle an pack animals were gathered and tie up in the corral Then all the old hat that could be found around the cam were put on sticks and stuck in tn ground just behind the wall of tn corral facing the spring and the roa and the tops of the hats were elevate just high enough above the wall { be seen plainly from the road. the black sticks about the size and lengt of rifle barrels were placed on th wall in front of each hat and at distance of i50 yards. these dImmlt looked like men sighting over riff barrels.
 Wood was brought into the hou' for cooking purposes and long befol the Mexican soldiers arrived the can was prepared for a fight to the finls if it should become necessary to flgf When the Mexican column final came in sight, the F men in the corr begin to pass out of the rear opel ing, in squads of ?, and 6. marc around the ends of the corral to u front where they could be seen by u approaching Mexican troops as tn disappeared through the front entran to the corral. They kept repeati this performance, each time changi hats and coats till the Mexican troo got within about 250 yards of t corral
 Then Granville Oury. man W stood about six feet in his stocki feet, and had voice that could
 heard for miles, stepped out or front entrance to the corral with
 Sharp's rifle in his hand, advanced
 the rim Of the hill, just above
 spring and shouted to the MeXic
 commander in pure Spanish. to h
 his men and then come forward W
 his orderly, for a conference, and
 quick about it or he would order
 men in the fort to open fire. The a
 inspiring voice of Oury and the bel
 on the part of the Mexican comma
 der that he had seen several hund
 men pass into that fort. had the
 sired effect, the Mexican colu
 halted instantly and the comman
 and one man dismounted and
 preached Oury on foot, when t
 reached the latter he cooly deman
 of the general an explanation or
 appearance at Ajo with such Ia
 body of soldiers at the same time
 forming him If he came with nos
 intent, the Americans were ready