Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-03
Where The People
May Have a Hearing
THE SAN FRANCISCO v.GJLANTES
Phoenix, Arizona, Tow. l, 1919.
Inc Editor. Arizona Renuhlican.

IS ldHIeS, DTOuSnI IOrIn Dy Lne recent
death of Hon. Tom Parish, state his
torlan, the writer is prompted to state,
Tor the benefit of those interested inl
one of the most romantic aid dramatic
chapters of the winning of the west
that the most realistic and forcefu.
pen pictures of those stirring DAYS is &c
De found in the story of Mr.. Stewart
Edward White, published a few years
ago The Gray Dawn" In the state
historical department of the California
state library is TO be found a wonder
full fund of material, written and
printed, photographs, autographs
Manuscript, old newspapers, ETC., from
which Mr.. White, after months of labor
CLEANED the facts-or many of the
facts-dealing with the Vigilantes and
the opposing forces, the death of King
of William by Casey, and his subse-
quent execution, etc
Many of the present old time Ari-
zonians undoubtedly knew one or more
of the victims of the Vigilantes, a
quarter of a century or more ago-who
migrated to Arizona after Yerba Buena
became too warm-and who became
good and substantial citizens of the
territory afterward. One such was old
Uncle Billie Werringer, a resident of
Yuma from the time of the exodus
from San Francisco, until his death
ABOUT ten years ago. A friend of Ned
Nc iowen, he left the city by the bay
with him. but at all times disclaim-
ing any connection with the lawless
element that resulted in the stirring
months of SIS and Sc.
The cause of the death o. Yankee
Sullivan has always been, and is to-
day moot question. He was popular
with the element with which he ran
as is most generally the case with a
pug1list of prominence-and after his
arrest it was feared that an attempt
would be made to rescue him. That
crisis was obviated on morning
shortly following his Incarceration, by
the finding of his dead body in his cell
the information given that he had
anticipated his fate by opening the
veins in his wrists with a broken
glass or cup, and bleeding to death
Yankee Sullivan was a nom de
ring" of the pugilist his real nome
being Frank Ambrose. 1t was claimed
by his friends that he was a victim
of the Vigilantes, the form of death
inflicted being considered more expe-
ditious than hanging, for obvious
reasons.
California and Californians are just
ly proud of the history of the state,
especially from '49 to so, and had it not
been for the foresight of a few men
and women, who cherished and cared
for the history of those days, in the
form of newspapers, magazines, let
tiers, manuscript, photographs, nara =
orr daal ~ he
historical department of the California
state library would not be what it is
today-a priceless treasure, a fund of
knowledge and information-for the
citizen, the student of history and the
writer, in search of facts, to weave
with fiction, that the generation OF
today and tomorrow may pass hours
of pleasure and profit, living in the
romantic past-an actor as it were, in
the Days of Old, the Days of Gold"
Arizona, too, has history, not sec
ond even to that of California; al
least loyal AriZonians will not con-
cede it. In the early fifties and for 9
quarter of a century following. mer
with the bark on from the four quar-
ters of the earth braved the dangers
of thirt and savage Indian, blazine
the trails of civilization that we may
live in peace and plenty, enabling us L
educate our children and raise eighty
cent cotton. Undoubtedly in many
out of the way corners are today hid
den souvenirs and mementos of thos'
early pioneers-letters, photographs, ole
articles of interest pertaining to som'
specific incident in the life OF the pic
neer. Many old timers of today re
call and can relate incidents of his
torical interest in the lives of the gen
GRAFTON preceding Of such as thes
was the wonderful collection of tn
historical department of the Californi;
state library builded.
Arizona has a state library, and
state historical department thereof
Nearly five years ago when the write
assumed his labors not one work per
tanning to the history of Arizona wa
in the state library; no works of bio
graphy or autobiography. Today
through the medium of exchange, pur
chase, gift and donation, nearly tire
hundred volumes pertaining to the his
tory of Arizona are accessible, anon
| them being several volumes of bio
graphies of twenty five years ago an
more.
We are now building for the future
years hence, and although a work tina
should have been commenced man
years ago, it is not yet too late. T
aid in this work, that our childre
and children's children may have
knowledge of the paths their father
have trod, it is requested that dona
tons of material such as has bee
enumerated be made to the state Ii
| brary. We have quite a little valu
able material already, and undoubtedl
| the love of the state will prompt som
few of the readers hereof to contrib
| ute material.
The historical department of tn
! state library should not be confuse
with that of the state historian. TIL
state historian wa appointed and tha
department created for a purpose-th
writing of the history of Arizona dow
to the present time-and we'll an
ably has that grand character Hol
Thomas E. Parish, so recently calle
to the great unknown, performed h
task, and dedicated to posterity
monument to his broad intellect an
clear vision. The state library is
permanent institution of state; to la!
while time registers its passage, an
the present, which truly may be elias
sified Its Infancy, is the period to bull
for the future, before material ev
dences disappear and memories fade
CON P. CRONIN,
State law and legislative i
brarian.