The Coconino sun., 1927-04-22

late IN May, 1876, the exact date for
gotten by the pioneer here. AS he
CROPPED for the date, he recalled an
other humorous incident.
"After we six fellows had left the
remainder of the party to look for
the best route, there was preacher,
Taplan by name, who decided to follow
and join u.s. the pioneer chuckled.
.He must have been 20 years old
then, but he started out after as
through the wilds with only five
doughnuts for provisions. Well, he
made it through, eating berries and
wild game, and beat us into Pres
colt. We found him there when we
arrived.
"Taplan said he had laid down be-
hind an old log one night to sleep.
When he awoke next morning, he
noticed that the other end of the log
looked different from the rest.
Suddenly the end of the log arose and
stretched. 1t was a big bear
"The preacher and the bear looked
at each other. Taplan had two loads
in his old carbine, but said that he
thought to himself, If the Lord will
let him go, I'll let him go, tool The
bear was not interested and went
about his business"
The party took up land and sur
veyed a townsite of what is now
Flagstaff, but then decided to con-
tinue on to Prescott. There the life
was taken out of most of the mem
bers of the colonization plan when
heavy frost fell on the morning of
July a. The party broke UP, most of
them going to California and re-
turning to New England in the fall.
An element of tragedy touched the
old mans memory as he recalled the
story of brick mason in the party,
who left the party at Flagstaff to go
to Prescott to earn the then high
wages Of $6ia day. The mason took
the wrong turn in the road and be-
came lost. Crazed by thirst, he blew
his brains out with his revolver. The
body was later found by his COM
panions.
The colonizers scattered to all cor
ners and, their plans shattered, Mann
took up his trade as carpenter in
Prescott. He worked on the first
good school building there. Later he
made living through, prospecting
and hunting.
In one trip he killed 28 deer and
one antelope, and on another occasion
killed IA antelope, sold them, and re-
turned to kill ID more. He journeyed
to Tombstone in 1882, after spending
some time in Globe. He established
a horse ranch in the Hauchucas.
In the year 1888, Mann shot an
antelope on a spot that would now
be in the center of Douglas. He was
tracing a race horse which had been
stolen from him and the trail led
him into this section. There then
was not single house standing there.
In 1888 he left the ranch to settle
in Bisbee. He worked there until
1907, being prominent in the work of
the Elks lodge. He was one of the
party that came here to install the
local Elks lodge.
After living in Parker, the pioneer
went to Phoenix. He was crushed by
an automobile there on November IL,
1919. Little more than year later
ne was struck down by speeding
bus and sent to hospital for 10
months. A bone in his leg was i'm
properly set at this time and has
caused him trouble ever since. He has
been at his present location for two
years, re-silvering mirrors.
"No, never married" he said, In
answer to question. There was
girl back in Boston. She waited for
me eight years and then married an
other man. I never married"
In answer to another question, he
recalled an incident in which his
kindness to an Indian probably saved
his life in the district north of Globe.
Myself and my partner had camp
ed near the salt bluffs up there. An
old Indian, who must have been all
of 90, and his squaw, were camped
several yards away. We had good
provisions and cooked a bang-up
meal. We invited Mr.. and Mrs. Indian
over for dinner. She sat behind him
and he would hand her whatever he
wanted to.
at was after we had finished that
| the old buck pointed off in the dis
tance and made motions. We didn't
understand him. A short time later
a large party Of Apaches rode in and
surrounded us. We thought it was
the end. The old buck that we had
fed ran over and they harangued for
an hour. We couldn't understand
him, but knew that he was pleading
| for our lives. The party rode away
as suddenly as it had arrived.
"On that same day and just short
time later they murdered George Tur-
ner and a man named Moody short
distance below. The girl that Moody
was to marry was with him at the
time. They shot him down, his blood
spattering over her dress. She was
| not harmed"
/ Mann believes he is the sole sur
vivior in the state Of the party of 100
men who started out from Boston on
that day more than so years ago.
Another formerly lived in Phoenix,
but now is gone. Mann has received
q request from the chamber Of COM
merce Of Prescott to furnish the story
Of the flag-raising TO be used in the
yearly celebration in Flagstaff. The
celebration was held in February this
year.--Douglas Dispatch.
DR.. ANDERSON OPENING
CHIROPRACTIC OFFICES