Arizona republican., 1920-09-30
INTEREST FELT
 IN MEMORIAL TO
 JACK SWELLING
Much Enthusiasm Apparent In Chamber of Commerce Proposal To Erect Mon ument To Man Who Built First Canal From Salt River To Present City


 adversary of Phoenix on October 20. enthusiasm is being aroused on behalf or a proposal to erect a monument to Capt. John W. SwilIing, known all over the Arizona frontier among Ameri- cans as Jack Swilling, and among his many Mexican friends Don Juan Capistrano
 The chamber of commerce has rec commended that a, celebration be held February IA, 1921, commemorating at one time the fiftieth birthday of Phoe- nix and the fiftieth birthday of Mari copa county, Governor Stafford having signed the bill creating the county on days meant Phoenix, for the popula- tion was centered here, where in 1867 Jack Ewilling started the built the first canal from the Salt river He fin ished the canal in the spring of 1868 and crops were grown that year. The community then was a scattering of ranches and public places, lying east of the present Phoenix business district. A massmeeting held on October 20, 1878, brought forth a decisive vote to build Phoenix on a section of land which now forms the center of the city.
 Is Given Credit
 To@Jack Swilling is due the credit of creating what .s now known as the Salt River valley. He saw the deve1- opment of some 4,000 acres, of irrigated area slaow in excess of 300. 900 acres. The publicity department of the cham ber of commerce has for a month been gathering information about early Phoenix and during this search has met With an enthusiastic yes to the proposal to erect a monument to the memory of the great frontiersman who with men of his type made Arizona safe. Once there was a tendency to play down. Jack Swi1ling. People coming int ifrAv~x iry lott ties and early eighties were of another race, so to speak. The law had come and they depended upon the law and through this training under the law and order, as the people today are trained, they failed to realize what it meant even to live on the frontier and how much greater was the task of being a leader in those days. Jack Swilling was leader of men, Of a type created by nature for the occa- sion of bringing Arizona out of saw agerys to peace and industry. That type was fearless. independent, kind, truthful, shooting only to kill and when killing was necessary.
 Discover New Records
 The Parish and McClintock histories have something to say of Jack Swill- ing and they speak of him in the high est terms as a frontiersman and a cit izen. But there were many sides to Swilling and some of them have not been published The publicity depart ment shas succeeded in gathering val uables information which will be sub mitted for publication between now and the towns birthday, Oct 20. Ii also has in preparation unpublished incidents of the economic and social life Of Phoenix in or about the year 1870
 At this time 1t wishes to present or behalf of the proposed monument, the received yesterday from Col. A. F. Banta. a guest at the Pioneers home Prescott. To introduce Colonel Bants to the younger readers, before giving his story of Swilling are a few facts
 Colonel Banta came to Arizona il 1863. Y He was one of the chief gov crnment guides and scouts with head quarters at Fort Whipple (Prescott) He was a member of the tenth legis latures and introduced the bill, whici passed. creating Apache county. H was district attorney for Apache fo two terms, 1S79-1SS0, and 1Se9-1S9o During his life in the early days h. served in other public offices H the chief guide of he Wheeler e< ploration expedition and also the 10Otl meridian expedition in 1873. He wa one of the pioneers in the 1ewspape business. his last position in that ca pacity being that of editor of the Ob server at St. Johns. He also was prospector. He was born in Indian; in 1S46 and enjoys good health today He was a great friend of Jack Swilifn' and loved him because Jack was real man. as the colonel says.
 Here is his letter:
 My dear Mr. Wynkoop: It gives m much pleasure to tell the truth ant facts concerning my old time friend Capt Jack w Swflling, man very un justly maligned, misrepresented an misunderstood. No truer friend man ever lived than Jack. He wa wholehearted and generous to a fault
 Jacks First Encounter
 Jack was born in North Carolins not far from a country village. On day Jack went to the village. He wa then IT years old. In the town live one oftthose despicable characters tha posedes as a respectable citizen. Tn man nwned a vicious dog. Jack wa passing along on the opposite side c the street when the dog jumped tn yard fence and attacked Jack. As 500 as Jack saw the intentions of the do he called to the owner. then standin on his front porch laughing to see hi dog Isarass the country boy The do rusheE Jack, who drew his knife an as the dog raised on his kind feet seize Jack by the throat Jack thre7 out his left arm and drove the knif into the dogs vitals, killing the anima This Incensed the big bully and owne of theadog and he snatched up piec of wood and started toward Jack Al thougn warned by Jack, the feilo' attacked with the club and was kille then and there by Jack. And he de served to be killed and all his kind de serve sthe same fate.
 After a time. Jack reached TeNa and when the Civil war began wa commissioned lieutenant in Colon' BayIor's regiment of Texan volunteer In SibIey's raid into New Mexico 1862 and during his retreat Jack wa taken prisoner by, the Union force and confined in the military guar house at Las Cruces. General We commanded. The Indians were ba All communications were cut off be tween military posts Details wit messages were killed. The countl was under martial law and one Of 1T captains served as provo marshal Jac was ironed with bal and cham Whic be wore for more than a year Durir au this time the captain had hccon