The Arizona copper camp., 1917-09-08
PIONEER JEFF MILTON
IS STILL ON THE JOB

Jeff Milton, one of the oldest immi-
grafton officials in Arizona, has been
making Naco his headquarters for
some time doing special work, says
the Arizona Cattleman. Mr. Milton
has experienced much hard service
along the border during the years he
has served the government, and has
had many narrow escapes in the per-
formance of his duties. The upper
part of his left arm was shot in two
some years ago, yet Mr.. Milton uses
this arm with almost the facility he
does the other one. This arm was
shot in fight with train robbers,
when the Owens brothers of Sulphur
Springs valley and others held up the
train at Fairbanks. Jeff was on duty
as Wells-Fargo messenger, running at
that time between Benson and Quay
mas. AS the train pulled into Fair
banks, going south, guns were showed
at Milton and a command given to
throw out the strong box. Instead,
he seized his sawed-off shotgun and
opened fire, hitting Curley Bill in the
left side and arm. In turn Jeff was
hit in the arm and dropped his gun,
an attempt to reach his As, which
was on his desk in the corner of the
car, but the shock and loss of blood
weakened him quickly. He fell to the
floor, where he lay when two of the
outlaws entered the car, and, sticking
their guns to his head, demanded the
keys to the strong box "Shoot!" said
Milton. II threw them away when
the fight started" They didn't shoot,
however, but broke open the box and
found it empty. All they got was
about 500 in Mexican silver that lay
in a sack beside the box
They were after the government
payroll, but that had gone on the
train the day before to Fort Hua-
chuca.
The robbers then mounted and rode
away with their wounded man, who
was afterwards captured by the Co
chise county officers. He lived only
long enough to give the names of his
confederates, who were afterwards
captured and sent to the penitentiary.
Mr.. Milton is one of the picturesque
old-time peace officers of the west
and has had many thrilling adven-
lures. He was born in Louisiana, but
came to Texas when boy, and joined
the Texas rangers as soon as he was
old enough. He served several years
on the frontier with this band of noted
peace officers. Then he served as
peace officer and cattle detective in
Texas for some ;stime before coming
to Arizona.
While serving as Wells-Fargo mes
senger on the run from Benson to
Guaymas he was detailed to run down
and capture the outlaws Broncho Bill,
Red Pipkin and fellow by the name
of Johnson. Taking the late George
Scarboro and young Thacker, son of
the chief of Wells-Fargo detectives,
with him, he took up the trail in the
mountains north of Clifton, and finally
located them on the Blue, where in a
fight Milton killed Broncho Bill and
wounded Johnson, and Pipkin got
away. The outlaws were coming
down the bank of the river across
from the officers camp, and Milton
happened to be alone, the other two
having gone out to look for their
horses. AS soon as the outlaws spied
Milton, they opened fire, but never
hit him. The fight wound UP as above
related. AS soon as they reached a
point where they could send tele-
gram, Milton wired headquarters as
follows:
"Send doctor and one coffin"
Milton has had many other similar
experiences, but we haven't the space
to mention them at this time. For
several years he has been in the i'm
migration service of the United
States government and has done good
and efficient work.