Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1922-05-12
(By One Who Knew Them)

(By One Who Knew Them)
 In 1886 John Francis was sheriff o1 Yavapai county. He was appointed and elected so many times since Sheriff of Yavapai and the neighbor. ing county of Coconino that I have lost count. He is now retired and is living at Flagstaff Arizona. Sheriff Francis was terror to evildoers. One incident will illustrate the character of the man.
 In 1894 two desperate characters had stolen some horses in the San Francisco mountains and were on their way cross country to Utah with the animals. Meeting a cowboy by chance, they told him in spirit of bravado what they were doing and added that if he saw anything of "that little sheriff" to tell him to come and see them.
 This message was duly reported to Francis who happened to be in a town not far off. Tho it was after dark when he received the news the sheriff lost no time and mounting his horse, alone, saying nothing to any one, by daylight he was on the trail of the thieves which led through the forested San Franciscos out on the edge of the Painted desert where he caught up with them and battle fol- lowed. Francis was not hurt and on arriving at the county seat the next day he despatched the coroner to take care of the thieves. .u
 In 1888 the 'Tonto Basin war, a deadly frontiersmans' feud, was rag ing which threatened to and eventual ly did almost depopulate the Basin in Central Arizona where then even strangers life was in peril. Concern ed in this war was the Blivins fam fly who lived in the Basin on East Verde creek. The family was old Man Blivins, Mother Bivins and two sons about grown, named John and 'Kid". A warrant for the arrest of John Blivins had been placed in Francis hands and with two deputies the sheriff started for the Blivins ranch.
 The mounted officers traversed a hundred miles of rough country and arrived at the Tonto rim where the precipitous slopes of the Mogollon mountains fall away 5000 feet into the Basin, and descending the rim by ~t trail they knew they were soon at the Blivins ranch. old Man Blivins re- ceived the officers civilly in the ranch house and answering their inquiries said his son John was not at home and that he had no idea when he would be and that while John had shot some men he had done SO in self defense. The posse sensed that for the time the man-hunt was over as the fugitive could hide out in the rough country of the Basin and elude cap ture for months.
 Meanwhile 'Kid' Blivins, wearing two six shooters scowling face and evil eye was silent listener to these conversations and Mother Blivins having prepared dinner the sheriffs partook of her hospitality. During the meal the officers casually men, tioned that they would return the way they came, whereupon Kid Blivins disappeared.
 AS the officers were mounting their horses old Man Blivins inquired which way they had come into the Ba- sin and Francis told him. "Wall now" drawled the old frontiersman," thets mighty bad trail and if yell take up the point two miles to the west ye'H find a better one".
 Thinking the old man knew the country better than they the posse took his advice but they found an ex- ceedingly rough trail. After great exertion scrambling through thick brush and up steep mountain slopes meanwhile roundly cursing Old Man Blivins they reached the top of the ~ rim.
 Two weeks later, Francis who was at Prescott, received letter scrawled on soiled white wrapping paper and . signed 'Kid', which read:
 "Mr. Francis: mex time will watch d the rite trail"
 About this time Commodore Owens was sheriff of Navajo county at Win slow. Owens was picturesque charac- ter with dropping mustache and long hair which swept his shoulders. Tho like his New England forebears he was mild eyed and soft spoken, he was fearless and was marvelously quick in handling the brace of Colts 45s on which hung on his belt.
 Andy Cooper, another desperate character of the Basin, with 'Kid' Bliv- - ins and two kindred spirits .'shot up'