In 2007, on our roundabout journey from Phoenix to Nogales, we took the road less traveled, exiting off of I-19 and eventually onto a dirt road adventure. Nestled below Montana Peak, rich minerals were discovered here by the Spaniards who came through in the 1700s. However, they were not rich enough for their tastes, so they performed only limited placer mining before moving on. The area remained undisturbed for nearly a century until two mining engineers, Charles Poston and Henry Ehrenberg, revived the old Spanish placers in Montana Gulch in 1854. Other prospectors followed, discovering rich veins of gold and silver, but mining remained limited primarily due to the hostile Apache inhabiting the area.
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I've met several Apaches at different times. To a man, they all were fervent in talking of making war on the white man. One so raised my hackles that I thought I was next. Especially when he drew his large Bowie to show how fine an edge he keeps. I had a mexican girlfriend who was with me. She did some fast talking, mentioning the old ways. I think that kept him calmed enough.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that this story mentions the Apache, murders, and so on. But no account is given of bloodshed by the Apache. Oh sure, it has happened; in fact, is typical (A Navajo told me they don't like the Apache for they give all indians a bad name.)
Its the mexicans you gotta watch out for. Barbaric murders all the while lying about it. Was true then, is true today. Even our own government has declared the lands adjacent the border a no man's land.
I just don't understand how one can ranch along the border. I can see an easterner buying a tall tale, but anyone knowing any bettter ... it must be desperation or something. Trying a cow calf operation in the waterless scrub, thats plum right foolish. Yet there they are even today.
The writer here seems quite intent on conjuring ghosts. To generate interest? To make a name for herself? Writings of the old West seems to bring out those kind.
Kathy doesn't need to generate interest or make a name for herself. She's been running that website for years and years and has a large following of people interested in western history. They've got a newsletter that comes out every couple months if you're interested.
DeleteLegends of America is amazing. You could literally follow links and read stories for years without running out of interesting reading material. More than once I realized I was reading something and had to stop and think 'How did I get here?'
DeleteAlrighty. I'm off to the Bose Ikard link now. I know I've read it before but that's okay too.
And BTW, most of the border ranchers are multi-generational owners. A tougher bunch of people you'll never meet.
R.I.P. Robert Krentz
I lose an hour or two out of my day every time I get one of their newsletters.
DeleteI've actually fished the ponds there and will attest to bass being in them.
ReplyDelete