davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
FORTY YEARS AGO MATHEW MOSSH|T
 FOR GOLDEN WEST

Forty years ago Mathew Moss pulled stakes at his eastern home and headed for the Golden Vest 9 The end of his journey landed him at the old Silver King mine in Ari- zona and he has been a resident of the state almost continuously since. Although getting along in years. Mir. Moss retains much Of his youthful enthusiasm. The wife, Malsietta E. Moss, came to Arizona in 1888.
 Soon after coming to Arizona. MT. Moss took employment with John T. Dennis as driver of the stage between Phoenix and Fort McDoWen Fort Mcdowell was then a large military post, maintained to keep peace among the many warning Indian tribes. It was during his employment as stage driver that Captain Chaffee went into Mexico and brought out band of Apache Indians.
 Later, MT. Moss was at Bowie when General Crook, and later, General Miles, was after the notorious Apache Indian chieftain, Geronimo, one of the most lawless of Indian raiders.
 From 1890 to 1895 he was on the Phoenix experimental farm as fore man and in this capacity did much to further agricultural activities in the Salt River valley.
 T am truly sorry that will be un- able to attend the reunion. but please give my regards to all the old cot ton beads" MT. Moss concluded.
 He is now a resident of Miami
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13

god deal of sagebrush and mesquite though In those days anyone that could look out upon the broad ex- panse of termain and predict any thing very encouraging for the city or valley was indeed an optimist- or probably it would be better to say that he was a dreamer, a builder of air castles. The only thing of the old Phoenix that still remains is the spirit to do things, the spirit to make Phoenix a bigger and better place to live in
 MT. Wiley came to Arizona as a boy, making the trip overland with his parents. The old family home was in Kansas. but the possibilities of the west, with it's rich farming lands and mineral belts, prompted the parents to pull stakes and start overland for Arizona.
 The trip from Kansas was made with OK teams, there being several other members of the party. The identity of the other members is not now known to MT. Willy.
 MT and Mrs. Wiley. with their little son, first located in Prescott, where they remained for a year. They then came to Phoenix, and the son, o. s. | Wiley, has been a resident of this | city ever since
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13

fit l helped to stake out the town of Nogales and then I went back tc Guaymas. 1 worked about 10 years on that railroad.
 In 1887, I was section boss at the Torres station. On May 8, that year, we felt two severe earthquake shocKs and a large peak of the Chevato mountains toppled over and we al thought 1t was a volcano from the cloud of dust which arose and which was plainly visible, although 1t was 15 miles away. That same year the Sonora railroad had it's first, ana guess its only train robbery. per petrated by a band of four or five men. The robbers killed the con ductor and fireman and wounded the express messenger and one passenger and only got 26 Mexican dollars. J. J. Taylor was the chief of the robbers. Everyone except one Mexican boy paid for the crime with his life. Taylor, who was we'll known In No gales, lost his hat at the scene O the robbery, which was perpetrated at night at Agua Sarca, 12 miles be- low Nogales. The hat was found and identified and he was taken before the wounded men at the hospita in Nogales and recognized by one oi the patients as the man who had shot him. He was turned over to the Mexican authorities and was shot later at Guaymas.
 Captain Mix of Douglas, I believe was on the train that was held up Mix was agent for the Trinidad Min ing company Of Sonora, and had an office at Torres and had boohkeep- CT by the name of Tom Hughes work ing for him there
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13

that I remember crossed the serue .earixs in the sos. killed several peo- pIe in Pleasant valley and were frightened out of that section by the government soldiers l do not res member of any warning Indians com ing west of the. Verde river after that. he said. "Of course, we goi them in the southern part of the state Down there they had the pro- lection of the Mexican line whenever they were too closely pursued by the government troops"
 Settling in Phoenix in 1889, MT Holmes went first into the cattle business and then into a partnership with B. Heyman, conducting the first furniture store in this city. It occu- pied an entire building located where the Berryhill book store now standf, About 20 years ago he became cc-~ uected with the Wakelin Grocery company, the first Phoenix firm to deal exclusively in wholesale gro ceries It was later taken over by the present firm of Haas & Baruch for whom MT. Holmes now travels
 Touching upon the methods Of war fare pioneers used to defend them selves from the Indians. Mir. Holmes traced the evolution of the modern HG UT kiAdL6iC AOo1ttc -t4 extensive use here for many years, were replaced by Sharpe's rifles, known as the Old Buffalo gun. They were cumbersome affairs. weighing from 12 to 16 pounds. They were fol- lowed by the Henry rifle, a small bore and a short range gun which then gave way in popularity to the Kings Improved rifle which used rim fire cartridge About this time the Colts six shooter. using cart ridges. appeared on the market Dn- til these two guns arrived the old cap and ball was the only ammu- milton used. A near approach to the modern long range rife was the Model 73 Winchester. A caliber center fire gun which attained great popularity.
 "Springfield rifles were issued to the Indians by the government, to- gether with limited amount of am munition for the purpose of hunt ing game" Mir. Holmes said. and told how the Indians would substitute their arrows for the cartridges in hunting game. ''They would save their rations of cartridges through out the winter and then use them to raid settlements of white people in the spring" Mir. Holmes said.
 R J. Holmes is the son of R. J. Holmes ST. who came to Arizona in 1S47.
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
PHOENIX GROW FROM GROSS ROADS
 ID CITY 0F 30,000

O. $. Wiley, 43 years an Arizonian and 42 years a resident of Phoenix, has watched the Arizona metropolis grow from a desert crossroads to a city of 30,000 population" as he ex- plained recently.
 Mir Wiley is one Arizona pioneer who failed to come in for any of the thrills of pioneer life on the western frontier.
 Watching Phoenix grow has been my greatest kick he said Possibly I did not absorb more of the spirit of the wild and woplly' because I was too young to fully appreciate and realize the dangers surrunding us on all sides" he explained.
 "But I have got my full share of thrills in watching Phoenix spring up, as if by magic. Forty years ago, not the most optimistic thought that Phoenix would ever grow to be such a city, nor did anyone expect that it would become the capitol of the state.
 "No, there wasn't much here when I first saw Phoenix, possibly a cou- pie of buildings, few shacks and a couple of roads. There was a
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
MANY ENCOUNTERS
 WITH INDIANS IN
 DRIVE ID ARIZONA

Apache Indians were merely bush wackers, and banditry was the ex- ception that proved the rule of peace and quietude in the early days of Arizona history, George Ramiin. a veteran of 53 winters and summers said recently in his "reminiscences Of pioneer days. Mir. Hamlin, an Ari- zonian since 1867, now lives at 1139 East Monroe street; Phoenix
 It took MT. Hamlin and his party more than year to make the cross continent trip from New York state to Arizona with their teams. They left their native haunts soon after the close of the civil war and started overland for the new lands' The party, or what was left of the party, reached Prescott in 1867.
 "Our greatest thrills of pioneer life were encountered in our trip west ward" Mir Hamlin said. First of all, the Navajos slipped up on us one night while We were camped by the Little Colorado and stole practically all of our stock, including our horses. We were obliged to finish our trip to Prescott as best we could, and thus the journey became burdensome. es- pecially to the women
 The biggest thrill of al1.'' he said. was our encounter with a band of murderous Apache Indians-probably one of the Geronimo tribes. Before We had worked our way through the Apache infested district we had left F members of our party dead or the skirmish fields. Among those killed were Ed. Wonders and Steve Shimp.
 But the pioneer seldom worried through fear of an attack by the Apache He was not that kind of an Indian. He was a bushwacker. He got behind a tree or under brush and waylaid the traveller. He didn't fight in the open and he didn't fight unless things were 90 per cent in his favor.
 His favorite pastirue was ambush ing. But he was a poor fighter at best, his chief forte being his abil- ity to take to his heels whenever he began to lose his grasp.
 "The Apache was a great menace when travelling in the open country, especially to the individual traveller He was bloodthirsty, but not suffi- ciently bloodthirsty to risk his own neck to achieve his aims
 "On one occasion we came across the bodies of seven white men on the | trail between Camp Verde and Pres icott. Every time the Indians killed
  munition and gradually they replaced
 he bow and arrow as the Indians weapon,
 At first their efforts with rifles and revolvers were Imaginable. But they finally became excellent marks men and highly proficient in the use of all kinds of firearms.
 "Following a series of atrocious crimes by the Indians, a party of Prescott men organized and went Apache hunting.' I was a member of the party. For Is weeks we re- | mained in the field. but we never got close enough to an Apache to do him any harm.'
 In 1878, news of the big silver strikes in the Tombstone district reached Prescott and many of the pioneers started for the new field among them Mir Hamlin.
 But when reached the Salt River valley and found things so green and nice and honey looking, I de
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
Thrilling Experience Moving
 From Phoenix to Globe in 1883

reacer Reno pass next morning. As we halted an gaZed downward We re- alized that the road below, leading along the mountainside was a steep and narrow bed of loose rocks and great boulders obstructing passage. We plunged down a precipitous in- cline, the horses scrambling for a foothold and all three wagons lurch- ing, jerking and numbering along be- hind them. As our light wagon pitch ed forward it gave such a violent lurch that some cups and saucers in the lunch box at our feet jumped over the dashboard and broke into smithereens on the rocks below. A rocking chair lashed to the rear of the wagon. tore loose and also land ed on the rocks
 After this we halted to ascertain the damage. Making another start we had progressed but few feet when something broke Another stop and start and he fore wheels were jammed between two boulders. The men worked and pried until we were free but we would only proceed a few feet until boulders would again clog our way. The children and and try to walk. Scrambling and stumbling we made our way down, but it soon proved toe much for me. could not go on. By this time our light wagon had been so badly dam aged that the swamper and my hus- band were bringing it down by hand, Finding me so exhausted they put the little ones and myself into it and drew us along.
 All day long the men fought their way down that awful road and at sundown came to a place where the canon widened out, the rocks grew scarcer and We found room to camp We had journeyed all day and had come about two and one-half miles
 Next day we finished our descen, of the pass and were plodding peace fully along the Salt River valley when we met some parties who told us that the San Carlos Apaches were out on the warpath and we were ir danger of being murdered before we got to Globe This proved to be a false alarm and we finally got tc Globe. as Windy Bill had predicted all safe and sound.
 Tt was noon when we pulled into town We went to a restaurant foi dinner. A slender young man wait ed on us. Though we did not know il at that time, this young man was destined to play an important part in our affairs of state- His name was George w. P. Hunt
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13

Moving from Phoenix to Globe in the year 1883 was a thrilling experi- ence for Mrs. R. A. Windes of Tempe, who gives the following interesting account:
 Tn the spring of 1883 the nature of our work required that we move from Phoenix to Globe. Inquiry brought the information that there were two ways to get to Globe-one around by Florence and the other by way of Mc- Dowell and Reno pass.
 "As we had to move our household goods we had engaged freighter with two wagons and eight strong horses as means of transportation, and after consultation with him we de- cided upon the Reno route-
 "I do not remember the name of this man. He said he was called Windy Bill because of the many un- believable yarns he told. He was a professional freighter. and on this basis we were disposed to credit his assertion that he knew all about the road and would see us safely over it.
 .FWe departed from Phoenix on a beautiful April morning, with our household effects slowed in the first and second wagons. and the family. consisting of my husband. three chill dren and myself, together with our camping outfit, in a light spring wagon coupled onto the rear of the freight wagon. All eight horses were hitched to the front. Windy Bill led the procession on his wheeler, the swamper sat in the second wagon. and we serenely brought up the rear.
 "The second morning out we reach ed the Verde river near Fort McDow- ell. The stream seemed full, but we trusted the freighter's Judgment and were not alarmed when we plunged in. Part way over we realized the water was rising rapidly, and that we must cross quickly or suffer something worse than a wetting. Be ing Raptists, we didn't mind getting wet, but being swept down the river and possibly drowned was quite an other thing. To add to our alarm, the horses stopped in midstream and re- fused to go. But Windy Bill was equal to the occasion. He had pre- viously told us that his horses would not pull their best unless he swore at them. Now he began to apply the whip and to shout the most terrible paths imaginable. The horses, recog nizing this as the proper signal. got down to business and pulled us safely through.
 All that day we journeyed through beautiful hills and canons, camped that night under a cloudless sky, and
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13

but when they met the Kid was just a trifle too slow on the draw. Six shots penetrated the Kids abdomen and silver dollar would have cov- cred all six wounds, it was said.
 Buckskin served as chief of scouts when Geronimo was captured, and still later was chief of custom in spectors and a line rider.
 When sober, Buckskin was a dap per, inoffensive fellow, but a dead shot, and held in constant fear by those who had occasion to be un- friendly toward him. Later in life, Buckskin shot and killed his wife and shot cowboy in his employ dur ing drunken orgy on his ranch. He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Yuma prison.
 After serving four or five years, a strange woman appeared at the pris- on, sought an interview with the war den, and later was admitted to Les- lies cell. She then proceeded to Phoenix and succeeded in obtaining a full pardon for Leslie from Governor Myron McCord.
 Only few years ago Leslie was seen in San Francisco, where he was a member of the Union League club. He was special bodyguard to Spreck- els and Francis Heney during the trial of Abe Ruff and Mayor Schmidt on charges of graft and corruption.
 Another prominent character dur ing ithe early days at Tombstone was Johnny Dean, who also had repu- tation for being a dead shot. Dean later became a newspaper man and at one time prepared special edition for The Arizona Republican. He was partner with Leslie in the ranching business.
 During the war. Dean, then 62 years for overseas service. After trying for several months, he was finally granted an audience by the secretary of war, who later commissioned him captain of cavalry. He went to camp in Florida and has never been heard from since. It is believed that he either was killed overseas or died of disease.
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13

Civilization, so-called. brought crime to the Salt River valley Twen tieth century ideas were merely the vanguard of debauchery. Only pio neers of Arizona lived in quiet, peace ful surroundings, unmindful of the strangers moves, unfearful of life or property.
 These are the views of one of the valleys oldest pioneers, Mrs. c. H. Gray. 52 years an AriZonian. All throughout this period Mrs. Gray has lived on the same ranch, where her husband, the late Col. c. H. Gray, first settled, August IS, 1868. The ranch. now comprising 10 acres of an original 160 acre tract, is located on South Seventh avenue near the river.
 'The spirit of the great outdoors prevailed in pioneer days" Mrs. Gray said Fear was unknown to the hardy men and women who came from their eastern or southern homes to settle in the new land-it was un- known because there was nothing to fear.
 There were no human objects slouching in the darkness those days, ready to bounce upon the unsuspect- ing victim. Our homes were as open as the great outdoors: the stranger was aRwelcomed guest Murder and plunder were the exception.
 ''Women, unafraid, were left alone nights, while the husbands journeyed for provisions They slept with their doors unlocked. confident that no bodily rm would be done them.
 Its not like that nowadays. When we leave our homes for even few minutes, we must carefully lock our <lx ant under lock and key and secret every thing of value. To do otherwise would be an open invitation to the robber.''
 Mrs. Gray comes from a family of pioneers. Her father, the late James M. Norris, was one of the first set tiers of Arkansas, reaching this state in 1s42. His father. James Norris, was also a pioneer settler of Georgia some years previous
 Four years after her father settled in Arkansas, Mrs. Gray first saw the light of day. That was May IT, ter of great excitement in. Arkansas, due to a recent oil strike.
 Twenty-two years later. MT. and Mrs. c. lH- Gray, Mir. Gray's brother, J. H. Gray, his wife and one child, Capt. D. c. Howard. a Confederate veteran, his wife, and B. F. Patter- son, his wife and two children, set out from their Arkansas homes for California Locomotion for the trip was provided by several Arkansas mules
 Reaching Texas, the party was obliged to wait several days unrIl scouts could report more favorable conditions along the trail. Numerous murders by Indians had been report ed and all overland travellers were warned against travel until conditions became more settled.
 After a stay of nearly month in Collin county, Texas, the Arkansas party, supplemented by several Tex ans, proceeds westward. Although rumors of Indian activities were cur rent during the entire trip. the party did not see sign of an Indian unti after they left Maricopa station ant passed through settlements of Mari copa and Pima Indians. both tribe. being very friendly to the whites. 1 "The Texas people wanted Us te sell our mules and buy oxen for tn, trip" Mrs. Gray said T never heard of such foolishness-attemp to make such a hard trip with oxer
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
Fear Was Unknown to Brave Men
 And Women Pioneers of Arizona

when we had mules Many times during the trip we passed OK teap>sl and were obliged to stare at them to see ii they were making any prog
 less. Mules for mine, every time,
 she added.
 Just six months to the day after leaving Arkansas the party reached
 the Salt River valley.
 "We had started for California,
 but when we saw this wonderful val
 ley, so green and pretty, we decided,
 without a second thought, that we
 would start up Salt river Our jour
 ney was ended I don't believe
 ever saw prettier place in all nSy
 life. The grass was such a deeps rich green, and everything had such
 a healthy appearance; 1t sure was
 wonderful contrast to the purple
 gray of the desert that had greeted
 our eyes for so many months
 At that time there were just two white families in the immediate
 Phoenix community, Mrs. Gray said
 Jeff Adams was one of the settlers
 At that time Jeff was only a young ster.
 There were no houses in or around Phoenix at that time, although a few sheds had been constructed by the
  acre tract on what is now South
 Seventh avenue and later acquired 32o acres adjoining All of this prop erty has since been disposed of ex- cept 10 acres where the original home was constructed
 At that time, Tom Scott was mak- 1 ing arrangements to run railroad | through the valley. Under terms with the government, he was to receive every odd section for a distance of 40 miles on each side of the right-of- way as a land grant For that req son. homesteading was hazardous Mrs. Gray said. Sometime later, however, MT. Gray succeeded in get | ting clear title to the land. He Immediately constructed an adobe house, shaped in the form -of an L. Apaches stole many horses Tn
 those days so MT. Gray later formed
 out a mesquite square about his adobe home, keeping his stock with | in the square.
 Apaches seldom caused settlers any | trouble, she said. although on one oc- casion they visited a settler across the street, stealing several horses But their incursions to the valley were seldom. It was considered an extremely hazardous trip to Camel Back then, however.
 Thirty years ago, NIL 1rdy ouiii the present Gray home on the orig i inal homesite. It is large brick structure fashioned after southern architecture It is roomy in the ex- | treme and so planned as to permit the greatest air circulation | It remained for civilization to bring the first visit of crime to the doors of the Gray home, Mrs. Gray said Although horse stealing was the com mon practice in the old days. not once during MT Gray's lifetime did the family lose horse by theft
 Early in January, however, Mrs Gray's driving mare was stolen from her pasture. Just a short time prior to that burglars entered her home during her absence and transacted the house from cellar to garret
 Apache Indians were our oniy
 menace during the pioneer days and they were in the mountains. several miles away. she said. Nowadays the thieves and murderers are in our very midst. hobnobbing with us our neighbors may be plunderers- We lknow not where to look to be on the
 safe side,r she concluded
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
PIONEER REUNION FIRST SUGGESTED
 BY R. ]. HOLMES JR.

Born in Prescott in 1865, R. J. Holmes Jr continues to make his home in Arizona He has lived con tinuously in Phoenix since 1sSs-
 It was largely through the sug- gestion of R. J. Holmes Jr.. that The Republican launched its Pioneer eel ebration. He is credited with origi hating the idea of bringing all the old timers together in one big meet ing.
 Life for youngster in the early days had many disadvantages Mir Holmes was 10 years old before there was any public school in Prescott for him to attend.
 The first school in Prescott was presided over by M H. sherman. present president and large stock holder in the Phoenix Street Railway company.
 Although struggling Indian bands were making invasion in the vicinity of Prescott during the time that MT. Holmes was in his teens. he does not boast of any fights with the red skins.
 ''The last marauding Indian band
Arizona republican., 1921-04-13
PIONEERS, o PIONEERS

Oyouy youths youths So of acton o pride and friendship
 
 Pioneers!
 From Nebraska from Arkansas inter of
 PioneersI Theseare O us with
  benin
  " - Pionee
 the a the road tosome? Did discouraged noddns Vet nassina hour yield obivious,
 Pioneer O Pioneers!
 of trumpet, -har and hear wine .L LsaJ of to places, 0'''@ W Pioneers WALT WHITMAN