The Coconino sun., 1924-10-10

(The following account of one OF
the famous TewksburyG Graham battles
during what was known as the Tonto
Basin war 81 years ago, is taken from
the files of the st. Johns Herald of
| September 20, 1887.
Hon. J. D. Houck arrived in ST.
Johns last Monday night fresh from
the bloody acts and scenes in the Ton
to basin, and from him we gather the
| following interesting account of the
stirring events that have transpired in
that hotbed of lawlessness since the
fatal affray at Newton's ranch, where
the first blood was shed.
About the 9th of August, some of
the Graham faction, who said they
were hunting for old man Blevins,
rode up to the house occupied by New
ton, and inquired if anything had been
seen of him, receiving no for an an
swer; they then asked for dinner, and
on being refused, started to leave. AS
they turned their horses ESQ they
claim fire was opened up on them
from within the house, and John Payne
and Frank Blevins were killed. Tucker,
Gillespie and Bob Darlington were
wounded.
On the 17th of August, Mr.. Houck,
who had been compelled to keep in the
brush for some time by the Grahams,
saw man whom he took to be John
Graham, riding along trail. He
waited until the horseman was abreast
of him, when he called, and the man
looked up, at the same time drawing
his pistol Mr. Houck then discovered
that it was Bill Graham, and told him
to go on, that he did not want him..
Instead of moving, however, he took
shot at Mr. Houck which was re-
turned by the latter with fatal effect
Graham succeeded in reaching his
home, but died next day.
On or about the End of September
John Tewkshury and VIM. Jacobs were
killed by the Graham party. They
were shot about half mile from the
house of John Tewksbury. His wife
found the bodies, but could get no one
to bring them in, so she covered them
up, one with blanket and the other
with a wagon sheet, in which condl-
ton they were found when Judge
Meadows arrived to hold the inquest.
Jacobs was shot three times, and the
body showed them to be shots in the
back, each one breaking the back bone.
Tewksbury was shot in the back OF
the neck and his head mashed with a
rock.
About the 18th of September, two
men named Middleton and Under
wood were wounded in an affray with
the Tewksburys. The wound of Mid
dleton proved to be fatal, and he died
in two or three days; Underwood's
wound was not serious.
On the 21st instant Sheriff Mulve-
non and posse arrived at a store
short distance from the Grahams'
ranch, between daybreak and sun-up,
secreting themselves. The sheriff had
detailed six men to take circuitous
route and approach the store SO as to
pass the houses of Graham and Rose,
with the intention of drawing the Gra-
hams to the store, which partially
succeeded. A short time after the de-
coy party had passed, signal of two
shots was fired from the house of Al
Rose, which was Immediately an
swered by three shots from the Gra-
ham house. Two men were then seen
to leave the house on horseback and
come toward the store. They were too
cautious to ride directly up to the
house, but made circuit Of the build
ing. Mulvenon and his men were in
side the wall of stone building which
was unfinished, the wall being about
five feet in height, and kept out of
sight. They finally ventured up pretty
close to the wall and raised themselves
in their stirrups to look inside. As
they did so, Mulvenon stepped out and
called on them to throw up their