Territorial News www.territorialnews.com www.facebook.com/TerritorialNews Vol. 31, No. 5 Your Connection to the Old West October 3, 2018

Next Issue Cryptic Message Wednesday October 17 on Rock Reveals Play Fate of Gold Seekers Arizona Trivia See Page 2 for Details By Richard W. Kimball

n 1887, Louis Thoen This Week’s and his brother Ivan Iwere cutting sandstone Question: on Lookout Mountain near the town of Spearfish in the Black Hills area of South What Arizonan Dakota. The brothers, who Grat, Emmett and Bob Dalton was the first woman were both stonecutters, were to serve on the extracting flat blocks of flag- U.S. Supreme Court? stone to use for the basement (16 Letters) of a new house under con- struction. As they worked, Louis uncovered a small stone tablet that seemed to about ten inches long, eight Ezra Kind, said: “Came to If true, the mysterious have writing on it. When he inches wide and three inches these hills in 1833. Seven of tablet would prove that gold Index wiped the dirt off with his thick, indeed contained more us—DeLacompt, Ezra Kind, prospectors were in the Black sleeve, he could make out a writing. Once the piece of G.W. Wood, T. Brown, R. Hills nearly 40 years before Arizona Kid...... 12 few words: “Indians hunting sandstone was cleaned, the Kent, Wm. King, Indian General George A. Custer Arizona Trivia...... 2 me.” When they finished for Thoen brothers were amazed Crow. All ded but me, Ezra visited there in 1874. When Business Directory...... 14 the day, Louis Thoen took when they saw that words Kind, killed by Indians be- the story of the stone tablet Classifieds...... 14 the rock tablet home, so he had been inscribed on both yond the high hill. Got our was first made public, many Jim Harvey...... 2 could clean it better to see if sides of the tablet. gold. June 1834.” The story people believed the message there were any other words. The message on its continues on the back: “Got on the tablet was an elaborate The stone tablet, which was front, apparently written by all the gold we could carry. hoax, especially when it was Our ponys all got by the In- revealed that the Thoen broth- In Their Own Words dians. I hav lost my gun and ers were both experienced nothing to eat. Indians hunt- The Wild Bunch Rob ing me.” (See Message on Page 4) the Union Pacific Spanish Missions obert Le- As soon as we In California roy Parker, came to a standstill, AKA Butch Conductor Storey hen Franciscan uted to Indian population R missionary Ju- decline is certainly true. Cassidy, teamed went forward to see with fellow outlaw what was the mat- Wnipero Serra es- When compared, however, Harry Longabaugh, ter and saw several tablished a mission at San with the disastrous eighty- the , men with guns, one Diego in 1769, an estimat- percent collapse during and formed a loose of whom shouted ed 300,000 Native Ameri- the decade of collection of ban- that they were go- cans lived within the area the 1850s—from about dits known as the ing to blow up the of present day California. 150,000 to 30,000—the “Wild Bunch.” They train with dyna- Half a century later, in 1821, impact of the missions is were sometimes also mite. The conduc- when declared put in perspective. called the “Hole in the Wall” Lawson was a mail clerk on tor understood the situation its independence from While the Francis- gang after their hideout in the Union Pacific. Here he at once and, before meet- Spain, 200,000 survived. cans’ sincerity was rarely north-central Wyoming. A describes the day Butch and ing the bandits, turned and That the eventual twenty- in doubt, their methods of favorite target of the gang Sundance robbed the train one California missions, conversion intentionally was the Union Pacific Rail- near Wilcox, Wyoming. through disease, overwork, (See Franciscans on Page 8) road. Eyewitness Robert (See Wilcox on Page 6) and other causes, contrib- Page 2 Territorial News October 3, 2018

When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; Arizona - Web of Time when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage. of American manhood. So long as mists envelope you, be still; Jim Harvey Writers of stories and be still until the sunlight pours through and then movie scripts began to dispels the mists— as it surely will. The Arizona Trail rehabilitate the make-believe Then act with courage. outlaw image and made ad- The cowboy continues of cowboys as ruthless land ditions to the code of con- Ponca Chief White Eagle to attract the interest of peo- pirates outside the law. They duct the cowboy already ple all over the world. That’s believed the balderdash had because of the nature of because he’s the connection, written by eastern book and his work which required an Captain’s Bar Presents along with the Indians, to a magazine authors whose uncommon amount of trust- time when the West was an sensationalized fiction was worthiness if he was to do it ARIZONA TRIVIA untamed land of opportu- soaked in blood, crime and right. This Week’s Question: What Arizonan nity and adventure for those whiskey. The old code was found- was the first woman to serve on the strong and daring enough to Over time, though, as the ed on common sense and the U.S. Supreme Court? (16 Letters) risk their lives and fortunes frontier was settled, public need for teamwork: Earn far from civilization. perception began to change. your pay, obey the boss, keep Last Issue’s Question: What former Arizona In 1881, when the little The entire nation, as one his- your word, pay your debts, governor broadcast the Easter Sunrise Service at the Grand Canyon for 25 years? town of Williams, Arizona, torian put it, made cowboys keep your hands off another Answer: John Howard Pyle where I am, was founded, the heroes of their country’s man’s property, stay sober on nearly all Americans thought boldest legends and the ideal the job, never turn a hungry Congratulations! You got the right answer! man away, and be depend- Kenneth Buttgen, Larry Damer, Doyle Ekey, Kevin Gartley, able, because cowboys had Pamela Johnson, Valerie Klasser, Robert Lidgett, Roger Ringer, to count on each other in an Bill Riordan, Marilyn Smith, William Smith. often dangerous business. How to Play movies before Letters are hidden in the advertisements. Find the letters to spell the an- the end of the 1920s were swer. Submit your answer with your name, address & phone number on a presenting the cowboy as a postcard for the current issue’s question to Territorial Publishing, P.O. Box knight in denim armor por- 1690, Junction, AZ 85217. Look for the answer in the next issue. trayed for years to come by To have your name listed in the next issue, cards must be received no later actors like Tom Mix, Gene than 10 days past the current issue of the Territorial News. For example: submitted answers to the 10/03/18 question, deadline is 10/13/18. Limit one Autry, Ken Maynard, and postcard per household per issue. Must be at least 18 years old. Remember Roy Rogers. to put your name on your entry! The new code required the motion picture cowboy hero to be purer than the driven snow and recreated him as a defender of jus- tice, the weak and helpless. He always respected family and religion, never drew his gun first, and loved his horse more than any woman other than his mother. And at the end of the movie he rode off into the sunset, the symbol of true grit, gallantry and loyalty.

Territorial News P. O. Box 1690, Apache Junction, AZ 85117 Phone 480-983-5009 Fax 480-393-0695 [email protected] For All Advertising Information: Linda Rae Stewart 480-522-7728 or [email protected] Ralph Henderson - Business Manager •David Stanfel - Editor Linda Rae Stewart - Ad Sales 480-522-7728 Michael Murphy - Layout & Design Richard Kimball - Writer The Territorial News is published by Territorial News Inc. The Territorial features Old West stories, photos and art that are part of our area’s rich and interesting past. The publisher assumes no liability for the opinions contained within this publication; all statements are the sole opinions of the contributors and/or advertisers. The Territorial’s East Valley coverage area includes areas east of Gilbert Road, including East Mesa, Apache Junction, Superstition Falls, Mountain Brook, Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. Copies are distributed free at convenience and grocery stores, restaurants and bars, RV parks and subdivisions and libraries. Subscriptions are also available. Merchandise or services advertised in the Territorial News are expected to be accurately described and readily available at advertised prices. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. To find out if a contractor is licensed call the Registrar of Contractors at 602-542-1525.All classified ads must be paid in advance. Standard ad rate is $2.00 per line or $10.00 per column inch. Payment may be made by check or credit card. Mail to Territorial News, P.O. Box 1690, Apache Junction, AZ 85117 or E-mail [email protected]. The Territorial News publishes every other Wednesday. Ad deadline is one week prior to printing. October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 3 ‘The Hairy One’ Augustine Chacón D ugustine Chacón and his gang in a box can- within 50 feet of Chacón— stood on the gallows yon. Pablo Salcido, a posse and was treacherously shot Ain Solomonville, member who had known to death by the bandit. In the Arizona, smoking a cigarette Chacón, persuaded Birch- fight that followed, Chacón and sipping one last cup of field to let him parley under was severely wounded, and coffee. When he was asked a flag of truce. With a white two of his men were slain. if he had any last words, he handkerchief tied to his gun declared his innocence even barrel, Salcido walked to (See Peludo on Page 13) though he once bragged to an officer that he had killed 15 gringos and 37 Mexicans. The Arizona Republican called Chacón “one of the blackest hearted villains that ever operated in the south- west.” Chacón was tall and powerfully built, with thick black hair, and after he grew a bushy beard, he was called “Peludo” (Hairy R One). The ruggedly hand- some outlaw had no trouble attracting women. On Christmas Eve in 1895, Chacón and his gang robbed a store near the Arizona mining town of Morenci. Chacón bru- tally murdered storekeeper Paul Becker with a hunting knife. Chacón’s men loaded six packhorses with stolen merchandise and rode off. Sheriff Billy Birchfield and his posse cornered Chacón Page 4 Territorial News October 3, 2018 The Thoen Stone Message terested in the Thoen Stone. covered in his quest, he pub- He tracked down family de- lished a book in 1966 about (From Page 1) scendants of the men named the sandstone tablet. The on the tablet and confirmed book is called “The Thoen stone cutters. But as the years they really existed. Most Stone: A Saga of the Black went by, more facts about the informants told Thomson Hills.” Thomson researched doomed party of prospectors about family legends about the background of all seven emerged. ancestors who ventured into men listed on the sandstone Things changed radi- the west and ultimately were slab and double-checked it cally when the historian never heard from again. with the information at hand. Frank Thomson became in- With the information he un- For instance, he discovered that the seven men original- ly had been part of a larger group of hunters and trap- pers bound for Santa Fe. The group of mountain men left Independence, Missouri, in the spring of 1833, but with- in a few days, the seven gold hunters apparently separated themselves from the main group and veered north- ward into . Most likely they had heard rumors about rich veins of gold available for the taking in that region. Thomson determined that the seven men may have incurred the wrath of Indians who considered the Black Hills area sacred. The entire region was an unknown and dangerous land. Most white trappers going through the area took plenty of precau- tion whenever they needed to pass through the Black Hills or they would suffer the con- sequences. Apparently, when the seven prospectors were discovered by local Indians, they were “hunted, robbed and murdered.” Thomson believed Ezra Kind had somehow survived the mas- sacre of his companions long enough to scratch a message on a piece of sandstone and bury it in the ground before the natives discovered him. It is not known exactly what happened to Kind, but it is (See Message on Page 10) October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 5 Contention City

ontention City was lunged ahead nearly out ing the reins. The robbers a tough town lo- of control. The driver, Bob escaped. Ccated northwest of Paul, squeezed off a des- It was later rumored Tombstone on the San Pe- perate shot at his attackers that the would-be robbers dro River, midway between and hit one, Bill Leonard, were not robbers at all, but Fairbank and St. David in in the groin. The other two were out to kill Paul, who County. Today bandits, believed to be Har- was a special agent sent to crumbling adobe marks the ry “The Kid” Head and Jim the area by Wells, Fargo site, which sprung up with Crane, opened fire, killing to investigate the discovery of silver in a passenger, Pete Roerig, robberies. At Contention the area and the construc- who had been riding on City he had changed seats tion of a nearby stamping top. Bob Paul finally got with the driver to give him mill in 1879. It is said that the team under control by a rest. It was also rumored the town got its name from leaping on the tongue Hol- a disputed mining claim. lywood style and retriev- (See Ghost Town on Page 11) On March 15, 1881, the night stage pulled out of Tombstone, headed to Tucson carrying $26,000 in bullion and eight pas- sengers. Three masked gunmen staked out an area on a steep grade just north of town and waited to am- bush the stage. As the stage climbed the grade, the three men stepped out of the darkness and brought the driver to a halt. Then, for no apparent reason, they shot the man rid- ing shotgun, Wells, Fargo agent Bud Philpot. Philpot fell forward, frightening the horses, and the coach Page 6 Territorial News October 3, 2018 Wild Bunch Robs a Train Wilcox their guns, claiming that he They evidently thought didn’t move fast enough, and Clerk Sherman was aboard (From Page 1) marched them back over to and were calling him to our car. come out with the crew. started back to warn the sec- In a few moments we Burt Bruce, clerk in charge, ond section. The robbers heard voices outside our car refused to open the door, mounted the engine and at calling for Sherman, and and ordered all lights extin- the point of their guns forced looking out saw Engineer guished. There was much the engineer and fireman to Jones and his fireman ac- loud talk and threats to blow dismount, after beating the companied by three masked up the car were made, but engineer over the head with men with guns. the doors were kept shut. In about 15 minutes two shots were fired into the car, one of the balls passing through the water tank and on through the stanchions. Following close upon You know you’re getting old when bending over is a one-way trip. the shooting came a ter- rific explosion, and one of the doors was completely wrecked and most of the car windows broken. The ban- dits then threatened to blow up the whole car if we didn’t get out, so Bruce gave the word and we jumped down, and were immediately lined up and searched for weap- ons. They said it would not do us no good to make trou- ble, that they didn’t want the mail--that they wanted what was in the express car and was going to have it, and that they had powder enough to blow the whole train off the track. After searching us they started us back and we saw up the track the headlight of the second section. They asked what was on the train, and somebody said there were two cars of soldiers on the train. This scared them and they hastened back to the engine, driving us ahead. They forced us on the engine, (See Wilcox on Page ?) October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 7 Levi Strauss orn in Butten- lor who worked in the min- Strauss and his partners heim, Bavaria, in ing town of Reno, Nevada. agreed to undertake the O B 1829, the young Davis reported that he had necessary legal work for Levi Strauss emigrated to discovered canvas pants the patent and begin large- the United States in 1847. could be improved if the scale production of the Strauss initially went pants. Davis’ inven- into business sell- tion was patented in ing dry goods along 1873. In exchange for the East Coast, but his idea, Strauss made in 1852, his brother- Davis his production in-law encouraged manager. Eventual- him to relocate to ly, Strauss switched the booming city of from using canvas . He to heavyweight blue arrived in San Fran- denim, and the mod- cisco in 1853 with a ern “blue jeans” were load of merchandise born. that he hoped to sell Since then, Levi in the California min- Strauss & Company ing camps. Unable to has sold more than sell a large supply of 200 million pairs of canvas, Strauss hit copper-riveted jeans. on the idea of using By the turn of the cen- the durable material tury, people outside of to make work pants the mining and ranch- for miners. Strauss’ ing communities had canvas pants were an im- pocket seams and other discovered that “Levi’s” mediate success among weak points that tended were both comfortable and hardworking miners who to tear were strengthened durable. Eventually, the had long complained that by copper rivets. Davis’ jeans lost most of their as- conventional pants wore riveted pants had proven sociation with the West and out too quickly. popular in Reno, but he came to be simply a stan- In 1872, Strauss re- needed a patent to protect dard element of the casual ceived a letter from Jacob his invention. Intrigued by American wardrobe. Davis, a customer and tai- the copper-riveted pants,

A Page 8 Territorial News October 3, 2018 California’s Missions Franciscans ly and segregated—members of peoples from numerous of a Spanish colonial society. tribes, unfamiliar and un- (From Page 1) Mission runaways, alleged healthy living conditions, shamans, and native leaders and the upsetting of tra- disrupted Native American accused of conspiring to re- ditional male and female life. Spanish soldiers routine- volt faced whipping or time roles. On occasion, Span- ly rounded up families from in shackles. ish soldiers raped Indian scattered Native villages and European diseases— women. Yet some natives, relocated them at or near a measles, smallpox, influ- especially those favored by mission. The friars sought enza, syphilis, and others— individual friars, adapted to to teach their “neophytes,” accounted for numerous life in the missions, came to or new converts, to speak deaths. Infant mortality was admire Catholic ceremoni- Spanish; gave them Catholic especially high. Psychologi- alism while practicing some instruction; and taught them cal stress also resulted form of their customs in secret, farming and trades as ways of the suppression of native and endured. Others protest- making them useful—if low- religious practices, mixing ed passively, dragging their feet at work, ignoring or- ders, and making fun of the missionaries behind their backs. Fewer joined open rebellions. Late in 1775, some 800 Indians rose up in arms, burned the mission buildings at , and put to death fray Luis Jayme. Another plot a decade later, involving a woman shaman, Toypurina, centered on Mission San Gabriel. When Spanish soldiers found out, they arrested the leaders and put them on trial. Eight men suffered public flogging, while Toypurina, after bap- tism, was deported to anoth- er mission. Sporadic resistance continued under Mexican rule. When a large scale armed revolt among the Chumash Indians of Santa Ines, La Purisima, and San- ta Barbara ultimately failed in 1824, a native official led 435 Indians into California’s interior, where they set up a www.territorialnews.com community that embraced ways from both native and We’re On The Hispanic cultures. A What disease and the Internet! mission system left intact of the Indians’ traditional ways, Check us out! the Gold Rush and California www.facebook.com/TerritorialNews statehood all but obliterated. October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 9 Wild Bunch Robs a Train

Wilcox ceeded to business again ened to blow it up, but the and went to the express car boys were advised to come (From Page 6) and ordered the messenger, out, which they did. E. C. Woodcock, to open. The robbers then went driving us ahead. They He refused, and the outlaws after the safes in the express forced us on the engine, and proceeded to batter down car with dynamite and soon as Dietrick moved too slow- the doors and blew a big succeeded in getting into ly they assisted him with a hole in the side of the car. them, but not before the car few kicks. While on the en- The explosion was so ter- was torn to pieces by the gine, Dietrick, in the act of rific that the messenger was force of the charges. They closing the furnace door, stunned and had to be taken took everything from the brushed a mask off one of from the car. They then pro- safes and what they didn’t the men, endeavoring to ceeded to the other mail car, carry away they destroyed. catch a glimpse of his face. occupied by Clerks O’Brien The man quickly grasped and Skidmore and threat- (See Wilcox on Page 12) his mask and threatened to “plug” Dietrick. They then ran the train ahead across a gully and stopped. There were two extra cars on the train. They were uncoupled. Others of the gang went to the bridge, attempting to destroy it with their giant powder, or dyna- mite, which they placed on the timbers. After the ex- O plosion at the bridge they boarded the engine with the baggage, express, and mail cars, went on for about two miles, leaving the extra cars. Upon arriving at the stopping place they pro- Page 10 Territorial News October 3, 2018 The Thoen Stone Message For instance, he discovered However, some writers have that William King and the indicated that Indian Crow (From Page 4) man known as Indian Crow was instead a member of the had both come from Geor- Crow tribe and familiar with assumed he met the same gia. King’s family had set- the entire Black Hills region. fate as his companions. tled on land belonging to the If so, Indian Crow could have Thomson’s research, Cherokee nation in the Blue met up with the gold-hungry however, did bring more Ridge Mountains in 1802. white men while they were plausibility to the mysterious Indian Crow was believed all on the trail to Santa Fe. writing on the stone tablet. to be a Cherokee half-breed. He might have claimed he knew the region of the Black Hills intimately. That would have explained why they de- cided to leave the Santa Fe expedition to go north. Joseph LeCompte, a Never invite an arsonist to a housewarming. French-Canadian trapper, was probably the most expe- rienced man in the prospect- ing party. He lived with In- dians for most of his life and even married an Indian wom- an, a common practice of the mountain men in those days. Like most trappers who lived alone, he was an unabashed braggart. He enjoyed telling amazing tales of the ways he could “out-run, out-lift, and out-do any man, white or In- dian, in any and all tests of physical strength.” Since he lived with Indians for a long time, he claimed that he knew

(See Message on Page 14)

please Support Our Advertisers

N October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 11 Contention City

Ghost Town ing that they were holed deathbed, confessed to the up at the home of Robles’ crimes he had been charged (From Page 5) brother in Contention City. with. Robles got away, but When Slaughter and his was later shot and killed by that the notorious Doc Hol- posse raided the house, he Mexican authorities along liday, then residing in Tomb- found Robles and Deron with Miranda, spelling the stone, was in on the plot. In asleep. Rather than surren- end of the Jack Taylor Gang. fact, Holliday was arrested dering, the outlaws came up When the silver mines and charged with complic- shooting. Slaughter shot and in Tombstone flooded in ity in Philpot’s murder, but killed Robles’ brother while 1886, the mills were forced was later released. Deron and Robles ran for to shut down, and Conten- Contention City is also cover. Deron kept firing, and tion City went into a steep notable as the scene of a one shot clipped the lobe of decline. The population be- shootout between outlaw Slaughter’s right ear. Slaugh- gan to leave, and the post of- members of the Jack Tay- ter’s next shot mortally fice shut down on November lor Gang and lawman John wounded Deron, who on his 26, 1888. Slaughter. When Slaughter was elected sheriff of Co- chise County in 1886, four members of the Jack Tay- lor Gang—Manuel Rob- les, Miranda, Fred Federico, and Nieves Deron—were wanted by both the Mexican and Arizona law enforce- ment on charges of robbery and murder. On the run, the men returned to Tombstone to visit relatives. Slaughter heard that the wanted men were in his territory, and set out to apprehend them, but the outlaws were tipped off and fled the town. Slaugh- ter pursued them around My father always used to say, “What doesn’t kill you, the state, eventually learn- makes you stronger.” Until the accident. The Merchants of Historic Florence Welcome You! Page 12 Territorial News October 3, 2018 Wild Bunch Robs a Train

Wilcox [They] found behind necks and of the three I a snowfence, blankets and observed, one looked to (From Page 9) quilts, as well as two sacks be six foot tall, the others C of giant powder, each about being about ordinary sized After finishing their work 50 pounds in weight. men. The leader appeared they started out in a north- The men all wore to be about 50 years old and erly direction on foot. masks reaching below their spoke with a squeaky voice, pitched very high. They appeared not to want to hurt anyone and were quite sociable and asked one of the boys for a chew of tobacco. . .

The robberies of the Union Pacific infuriated the railroad’s owner, Ed- ward H. Harriman, who hired Pinkerton detec- tives to hunt for Butch and Sundance. The fugitives escaped to New York and then to South America. The Pinkertons reported that Butch and Sundance were killed in 1909, but there is evidence to suggest that they returned to the U.S. under new identities and lived well into the 1930s.

Twitter cut me back to 70 characters.

O October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 13 Augustine Chacón

Peludo got the drop on Chacón, Arizona, and no one was handcuffed him, and hus- present who could support (From Page 3) tled him across the border. Chacón’s claim that he had The arrest was made on been abducted from Mexi- After Chacón recov- foreign soil four days after co. The territorial legal sys- ered from his wounds, he Mossman’s one-year Rang- tem disregarded the tech- was tried and sentenced to er commission had expired. nicalities and set Chacón’s hang. A devoted sweetheart Knowing that controversy execution for November smuggled a hacksaw to him was inevitable, Mossman 22, 1902. in a bible. Nine nights be- reported to the governor, The gallows that had fore he was scheduled to then left by train for New been erected for Chacón hang, Chacón escaped from York City. five years earlier still stood. R the Solomonville jail and Chacón was taken to On the appointed date, at headed for Mexico, mur- Solomonville, near Saf- 1:00 p.m., Chacón stood be- dering two prospectors at ford, and the same jail from fore 100 spectators. Though Eagle Creek and looting which he had escaped years gray-haired, Chacón faced their provisions. earlier. Chacón’s lawyer his fate with youthful bra- Using a mountain base tried to get his client re- vado. Just before the trap in northern , Chacón leased on the grounds that was sprung, he looked out and his men crossed fre- Mossman had arrested him over the audience and pro- quently into Arizona to rob without authority in Mexi- claimed. “I consider this to and kill. On one foray, they co. However, Mossman had be the greatest day of my robbed a casino at Jerome no intention of returning to life!” and killed four people, and then they held up a stage- coach outside Phoenix. Chacón’s infamous exploits quickly became famous. He was blamed for almost any crime of unknown origin, and rewards were posted for his capture. At the turn of the century, Chacón was Arizona’s most feared, and most wanted outlaw. When the Arizona Rangers were organized in the fall of 1901, Captain Burt Mossman was told Y that Chacón’s arrest was a top priority. The Ranger captain devised a danger- My daughter wants to be really scary this ous plan to capture Chacón Halloween so instead of a costume she is going to in Mexico. After extensive carry a school fundraising packet to every door. detective work, Mossman found a man who had turned against the murderous ban- dit and who would escort Mossman to Chacón’s hide- out. Chacón did not know Mossman’s identity, and the Ranger was able to lure the outlaw away from his hideout. The Ranger then Page 14 Territorial News October 3, 2018 The Thoen Stone Message family recollection, Brown migrant named George had met a man named Kind. George had been a (From Page 10) Robert Kent who had con- medical doctor in Saxony vinced him to go into the He came to America with many places in the Black west. Neither man was ever three sons—Ezra, Charles Hills where there was heard from again. and George. Some fam- plenty of gold waiting for Robert Kent was born ily members still remem- someone to come and take and raised in Vermont. Fam- ber their great-grandfather it away. ily records indicate that he telling them about a grand- The family of William left the town of Pawlet and son named Ezra who had T. Brown, another member journeyed west in the early gone west to look for gold. of the prospector group, 1830s. The family received No one remembers what had moved west from North only one letter from Mr. became of him. Ezra, of Carolina to settle on a farm Kent before he vanished course, was the man who in Troy, Missouri. Since he forever. He wrote that he scratched the inscription on had a lot of mining experi- and six other men had ven- the Thoen Stone. ence, he found work at the tured into the Dakotas and One other member of La Montte Lead Mine in had found all the gold they the ill-fated gold seekers southeast Missouri. When wanted. He added that he was the man named G.W. his wife, whom he affec- would soon be home again. Wood. Except for his name, tionately called Miss Hib- That letter was the last time Thomson’s research turned bets, died during child- anyone ever heard from up nothing else about him. birth, T. Brown left his four him. Of course, the only real children with friends and Ezra Kind is a de- disappeared. According to scendant of a German im- (See Message on Page 16)

TR on the West “It was a land of vast silent spaces, of lonely rivers, and of plains where the wild game stared at the passing horseman. It was a land of scattered ranches, of … long-horned cattle, and of reckless riders who unmoved, looked in the eyes of life or death.” — Theodore Roosevelt in An Autobiography, 1913 Business & Services October 3, 2018 Territorial News Page 15 General Winfield Scott Storms Chapultepec

he Mexican-Amer- beaches near Vera Cruz, southward below Mexico ican began in 1846 Mexico, captured the town, City, taking the towns of T when President and began to march inland Contreras and Churubusco. James Polk ordered Gen- When a final attempt at peace eral Zachary Taylor to ad- negotiations failed in Au- vance to the disputed Rio gust, Scott advanced north Grande border between the on the Mexican capital. Af- A newly-minted American ter Scott’s forces stormed the state of Texas and Mexico. fortress at Chapultepec on The Mexican government September 13, the last sig- had once controlled Texas nificant Mexican resistance and refused to recognize was eliminated. The next the American claim on the day, Scott marched his army state or the validity of the into Mexico City and raised Rio Grande as an inter- the American flag over the national border. Viewing Mexican National Palace— Taylor’s advance as an in- the “Halls of Montezuma” vasion of Mexican soil, the Gen. Winfield Scott, 1862 later celebrated in the fa- Mexican army crossed the mous Marine’s Hymn. For Rio Grande and attacked to Mexico City. Flanking the the first time in U.S. history, the U.S. forces in Texas in Mexican defenses at Cerro the Stars and Stripes flew April 1846. By mid-May Gordo Pass, Scott stabbed over a foreign capital. the two nations were for- mally at war. The Mexican army was larger than the Ameri- can army, but its leader- ship, training, and supplies were all inferior to those of the U.S. forces. Mexican gunpowder was notorious- ly weak, and cannon balls from their guns often just I just signed up for Amazon Past Your Prime. bounced slowly across bat- tlefields where the Ameri- can soldiers simply stepped out of the way. As a result, by January 1847, Gen- eral Taylor had conquered California and the north- ern Mexican territories that would later make up much of the American Southwest. But Taylor was reluctant to take the war into the heart of Mexico, and Polk instead turned to General Winfield Scott to finish the job. In March, Scott landed nearly 12,000 men on the

S Page 16 Territorial News October 3, 2018 The Thoen Stone Message bloody tragedy happened in over and continued his mes- June 1834,” Thomson wrote sage on the other side. Since (From Page 14) in his book that “when the nothing more is known inscription was made, all about him, he probably met record of what happened to but Ezra Kind were dead.” the same fate as his compan- the seven gold prospectors He surmised that the at- ions. is scratched on the surface tack probably happened at Today, the Thoen Stone of a sandstone tablet now night and, in the confusion is on display at the Adams known as the Thoen Stone. of battle, Kind had somehow Memorial Hall in Dead- Thomson said the informa- managed to make good an wood, South Dakota. The tion conveyed by the stone escape. He then took a piece artifact was willed to the tablet is that six white men of sandstone and scratched museum by members of the and one Indian were slain by details about the ordeal on Thoen family in 1965. It is hostile Indians in the Black its flat surface. Since there now an important part of the Hills. Those same Indians was not room enough on one museum’s permanent collec- also captured the horses that side of the stone to tell the tion and is viewed by thou- were laden with gold. “This entire story, Kind turned it sands of visitors every year.

N