Revisiting Arizona's Old West - Latest Comments

Re: Webb, Wham, and Stouthearted Soldiers

Dave T. — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:13:32 -0000

If you can cite a book then the readers of the blogsite can read further. "Amush at Bloody Run-The Wham Paymaster Robbery of 1889" by Larry Ball 260 pp. ISBN 0-9100037-40-X $34.95 Hardcover Arizona Historical Society Press.

Re: Webb, Wham, and Stouthearted Soldiers

John_Scott1 — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:38:07 -0000

Not all the robbers were Mormon. There are books on just about everything I have written about. Whether or not a writer chooses to cite a book is their prerogative.

Re: Webb, Wham, and Stouthearted Soldiers

Dave T. — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:25:11 -0000

If I remember right the robbers were Mormon. There has been a book on this topic. You should at least cite it in your article.

Re: A Prison Has Risen

Carl Toersbijns — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:35:50 -0000

In a stark reality, there hasn't been much change since the closure of the old Yuma prison and the existing prisons statewide.. there are still the same symptomatic deficiencies present and the only thing that has changed is the escape success rate. Although the Kingman escape made up for at least a dozen escapes impact and litigation wise.
People are still dying at a high rate, disease and filth with lice and other communicable diseases present, poor physical plant upkeep and maintenance on HVAC and electrical / plumbing issues and dilapidated buildings in dire need or repairs or reconstruction just like the Yuma prison. However, this was self-inflicted as funding was focused on bed space and not upkeep of existing facilities.
I haven't even touched the other issues of poor staffing patterns, medical and mental health care, high rate of assaults on staff and low accountability methods by admin to keep the bad news out of the papers showing how badly it is being run but as usual as long as the public feels safe, just like Yuma, nobody cares what goes on inside the joint.
Prison is prison and that's how it really is. OH by the way, we still have scorpions coming inside the prison cells and recreation areas and rattlesnakes too so its really the same in 2013 as it was in 1909 when they moved to Florence.

Re: Educational Events and Explosive Entertainment

Dave T. — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:52:07 -0000

I stand corrected the soldier on the left is wearing a 5-button fatigue blouse so the stripes are proper. But he is wearing crossed sabre insignia on his hat. They did not wear them on the 1880's hat.

Re: Educational Events and Explosive Entertainment

Dave T. — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 21:49:08 -0000

I wish someone would tell the modern day Buffalo Soldiers how to dress correctly if they are to honor the 19th Century Buffalo Soldiers.
The soldier on the left is wearing a fatigue shirt with NCO stripes. Completely incorrect. he is wearing canvas leggings. Also incorrect. they wore leather boots with that uniform.
The soldier on the right is wearing an 1870's piped fatigue shirt. But he has 1880's uniform on. His suspenders are white. The real ones were a dark cream color. It is also rare to see suspenders on top of a shirt. The soldiers pants were tightened with a buckle in the back if the pants at the waist. and they were tailored to fit properly. His cartridge belt is also white. They were a tan color. Made of woven canvas from the 1880's. Thats why his 1870's shirt is wrong for the period.
When you dress properly and in an historicly correct fashion wou honor the real Buffalo Soldiers. When you dress like a third rate movie extra from a Rin Tin Tin TV Show nobody takes you seriusly.
Do your research or go home.

Re: Hard Tack and History

John_Scott1 — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:31:47 -0000

Yeah it does. Very interesting to hear that folks still use it. I read that some dipped it into their coffee to soften it up. Watch out, Dunkin' Donuts! Thanks for the comment.

Re: Hard Tack and History

Jonathan_Duhamel — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 11:18:07 -0000

Hardtack is still a favorite staple in some places. When I ran a bush camp in Alaska, we stocked up on “Pilot Bread” which is another name for hardtack. It is very versatile and good with many spreads such as salmon - and it lasts forever.

See article here: http://www.alaskadispatch.c...

Re: Hollywood Holdups and Locomotive Larceny

mikefrombisbee — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:52:03 -0000

There were quite a few train robberies in AZ during the 1880's. Why rob trains? As bank robber Willie Sutton said (or something like it), that's where the money was. As I recall there was a train holdup near Pantano and another near Stein's. After one robbery, a posse chased the bandits into Mexico and was itself arrested by local authorities. The train robbers were themselves killed.

Re: Remarkable Rangers Relish Risk

Beckerhead — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:43:16 -0000

Rangers only wear black shirts.

Re: Very Satisfied In Chloride

mikefrombisbee — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 09:26:59 -0000

The Butterfield Overland Mail did not run through Chloride. It ran through southern AZ. It is doubtful that anyone of European ancestry was mining in the Chloride area during the 1840s. U.S. military expeditions went through northern AZ in the 1850s. It this is what people who live or work in Chloride are putting out as history, it is simply not accurate. It is, however, a very interesting place to visit.

Re: Copper Clifton and Its Cave Calaboose

John_Scott1 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 08:21:42 -0000

It appears that the "insert picture" feature is down. I will upload one as soon as it is back up and working.

Re: Historic Haunts and Paranormal Pranksters

John_Scott1 — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 06:20:20 -0000

Fraser, folks do take pictures and there are photos. All over the web, if you look. Trouble is, almost every one of them can be de-bunked by non-believers.

Re: Historic Haunts and Paranormal Pranksters

Dave T. — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:12:32 -0000

With 6 billion cheap cameras and cell phones with cameras and recording devices you would think xomeone would have captured an image of ghost? And its also funny that these ghosts always seem to inhabit places that are profit motivitated facilities like hotels.

Re: Historic Haunts and Paranormal Pranksters

John_Scott1 — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 19:05:09 -0000

OK, the reason for the photo of the Copper Queen: That's where we experienced a phantom prankster.

Re: Historic Hotels and Lavish Lobbies

John_Scott1 — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 08:17:28 -0000

Hmmm....enticing. I'll have to look into that one. Thanks!

Re: Historic Hotels and Lavish Lobbies

Rassam — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:04:34 -0000

Well this one is not really old, but it's old enough. The La Posada in Winslow. Wander all the common area rooms if nothing else. It has a comfy feel to it. The landscaping all around feels like being in a garden.

Re: Historic Hotels and Lavish Lobbies

John_Scott1 — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:29:47 -0000

I'm sure that I left out some hotels of historic interest. Feel free to add. My particular favorite is the Hassayampa Inn in Prescott, but I didn't feel it belonged here due to its 1927 completion.

Re: A Dug Up Desperado In Canyon Diablo

Ado Egbdf — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:57:36 -0000

Sounds like they gave him a "stiff" drink. :+)

Re: Welcoming Wickenburg and the Hardy Hassayampa

John_Scott1 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:50:47 -0000

I just realized that in a previous entry, I mentioned Tucson didn't have a formal jail, either. Seems like a couple of towns back then didn't prioritize jails....hmmm.

Re: Contention’s Intentions and Sad Descension

John_Scott1 — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 22:57:12 -0000

Could have been.

Re: Contention’s Intentions and Sad Descension

Hardheadjarhead — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:51:51 -0000

Excellent. I wonder if the aptly named John Slaughter was an inspiration for Rooster Cogburn?

Re: Sure-Shootin’ Sheriffs and Scary Societies

John_Scott1 — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:02:26 -0000

Extra dose of respect goes out for my friend Officer Kyle Youmans, of the Sheriff's Dept.

Re: Buried Treasure and Bewildered Banditos

John_Scott1 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:20:14 -0000

I'll let you know. Thanks for the good comment!

Re: Buried Treasure and Bewildered Banditos

Hardheadjarhead — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:39:15 -0000

Good writing John. When is your book coming out?