Tag: Cochise County

Cochise County, located in the southeastern corner of Arizona, is renowned for its rugged desert landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. Named after the legendary Chiricahua Apache leader Cochise, the county is a blend of natural beauty and historical significance. Its terrain ranges from high desert plains to dramatic mountain ranges, including the Huachuca and Chiricahua Mountains, offering outdoor enthusiasts opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and exploring unique desert flora and fauna. Historically, the region played a pivotal role in the Old West era, with Tombstone, known for the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, as one of its iconic towns. Today, the county maintains a balance between its Wild West heritage and modern amenities, attracting visitors with its scenic vistas, archaeological sites, and warm southwestern hospitality.

Millville Arizona

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Millville, Arizona, is a ghost town in Cochise County, located along the San Pedro River, approximately nine miles southwest of Tombstone. Established in the late 1870s during the Arizona Territory’s silver mining boom, Millville served as a milling hub for processing silver ore from Tombstone’s mines. Closely tied to the nearby town of Charleston, Millville’s history reflects the rapid rise and fall of mining communities in the American West. This report explores Millville’s origins, economic significance, social dynamics, decline, and current status, drawing on historical accounts and archaeological insights.

Millville, sister town to Charleston located just across the San Pedro River, circa 1880
Millville, sister town to Charleston located just across the San Pedro River, circa 1880

Origins and Establishment

Ed Schieffelin
Ed Schieffelin

Millville emerged in 1878 following Ed Schieffelin’s discovery of silver in the Tombstone area. Schieffelin, along with his brother Al and partner Richard Gird, recognized the need for a milling operation to process the raw silver ore into bullion. The San Pedro River’s water supply made it an ideal location, as water was essential for ore refinement, unlike the water-scarce Tombstone. Gird selected a site on the east bank of the San Pedro River, where two stamp mills—the Gird Mill and the Corbin Mill—were constructed to crush and process ore. Millville was formally established as the industrial heart of the region, with Charleston, on the west bank, serving as the residential and commercial settlement for mill workers and their families.

The town’s layout was functional, centered around the milling operations. By May 1879, Millville had a post office, though it closed less than a year later on May 3, 1880, as Charleston became the primary residential hub. The mills relied on surface water corralled by Gird’s dam, which powered six mills at peak production, operating day and night from Millville to Contention City.

Economic Significance

Millville’s economy was driven by its role in silver processing. At its peak between April 1881 and April 1882, the mills produced $1,380,336.97 in bullion, a staggering amount for the time, equivalent to tens of millions in today’s dollars. The Gird Mill alone processed 15 to 20 tons of ore daily, with mule teams hauling 40,000 to 50,000 pounds of ore from Tombstone. This output fueled the regional economy, attracting workers, merchants, and opportunists to the San Pedro Valley.

The mills’ success depended on infrastructure like Gird’s dam, which controlled water flow from the San Pedro River. However, the dam sparked controversies with local ranchers, who contested the mills’ water usage. Floods occasionally breached the dam, causing disruptions, such as in 1881 when a man nearly drowned crossing the swollen river. Despite these challenges, Millville’s mills were a cornerstone of the Tombstone silver boom, processing ore that enriched investors and sustained the region’s growth.

Social Dynamics and Reputation

Millville’s social fabric was shaped by its industrial focus and proximity to Charleston, which had a rowdier reputation. Millville itself was strictly controlled by Richard Gird, who prohibited alcohol to maintain order among workers, a contrast to Charleston’s liberal leasing laws and saloons. The mills were dangerous workplaces, with accounts of violent incidents, such as a worker allegedly killing another and disposing of the body in a furnace.

Charleston, home to about 400 residents at its peak, housed mill workers and their families, as well as notorious figures like Frank Stilwell, a saloon owner and deputy sheriff suspected of murdering Morgan Earp, and the Clanton Gang, whose ranch was five miles south. Despite Charleston’s reputation as “tougher and livelier than Tombstone,” fueled by Eastern newspapers, the Tombstone Epitaph in May 1882 described it as “well regulated and free from turmoil.” Millville, by contrast, was quieter, focused on industry rather than social life. No successful robberies of silver or payroll were recorded, though a failed attempt in Millville on March 25, 1882, resulted in the murder of mining engineer M. R. Peel.

The region’s cultural landscape was enriched by pre-Columbian petroglyphs near the river, which attracted visitors and added historical depth. Informational signs along trails today highlight this heritage, connecting Millville’s brief existence to the area’s longer human history.

Decline and Abandonment

Millville’s decline began in 1886 when Tombstone’s silver mines flooded, halting ore production. The discovery of water beneath Tombstone allowed milling to shift closer to the mines, reducing the need for Millville’s riverside operations. A miners’ strike in 1885–1886 and the 1887 earthquake further weakened the region’s economy. By 1889, both Millville and Charleston were largely abandoned, earning their status as ghost towns. Small-scale smelting continued in Millville until 1892, and ore dumps were revisited after 1900 with improved technology, but the town never recovered.

Charleston’s infrastructure was dismantled by Mexican residents who used materials for firewood, while Millville’s stone embankments and adobe foundations eroded. The Arizona and Southeastern Railroad’s construction altered local drainage, further threatening the sites’ preservation. By the early 20th century, Millville was a relic, its mills reduced to crumbling ruins.

Current Status and Preservation

Today, Millville is part of the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The site is accessible via a 1.8-mile loop trail, the Millville Historic Townsite and Rock Art Discovery Trail, which features interpretive signs about the area’s history and petroglyphs. The trail, rated as easy, takes about 38 minutes to complete and offers views of the San Pedro River, ghost town ruins, and natural features. Visitors report informative signage but note the lack of shade and occasional hazards like rattlesnakes.

The BLM and organizations like the Friends of the San Pedro River work to preserve the sites, though no official signage marks Millville along Charleston Road. The ruins consist of stone walls, adobe foundations, and remnants of the Gird and Corbin Mills, visible from the trail. The nearby Clanton Ranch, Fairbanks ghost town, and Presidio Santa Cruz de Terranate add to the region’s historical attractions.

Conclusion

Millville, Arizona, encapsulates the fleeting prosperity of the Wild West’s mining boom. From its founding in 1878 to its abandonment by 1889, the town played a critical role in processing Tombstone’s silver, driving economic growth in the San Pedro Valley. Its industrial focus, contrasted with Charleston’s lively social scene, highlights the diverse dynamics of frontier life. Though reduced to ruins, Millville’s legacy endures through preserved trails and historical narratives, offering a glimpse into Arizona’s rugged past. The San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area ensures that Millville’s story, alongside its natural and cultural surroundings, remains accessible to future generations.

Millville Town Summary

NameMillville, Arizona
LocationCochise County, Arizona
Latitude, Longitude31.6350, -110.1737
Elevation1216 meters / 3990 feet
GNIS
Post OfficeMay 26, 1879 – May 3, 1880

Millville Trail Map

Millville is located about 9 miles southwest of Tombstone, Arizona. Charleston and Millville are not accessible by car and can only be reached by hiking up the San Pedro River. The Bureau of Land Management has begun maintaining trails to and from the area. 

Refereces

  • GhostTowns.com
  • AllTrails. Millville Historic Townsite and Rock Art Discovery Trail.
  • Archaeology Southwest. Charleston and Millville Sites.
  • Wyatt Earp Explorers. Charleston & Millville, A.T. by John D. Rose.
  • Natural Atlas. Millville Historic Townsite.
  • Roadtrippers. Charleston & Millville Historic Townsite.
  • Michael Kleen. The Ruins of Millville and Charleston, Arizona.
  • Ghost Towns of Arizona. Millville Ghost Town.
  • Southern Arizona Guide. Exploring the Millville Ruins with the FSPR.

William Brocius

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William "Curly Bill" Brocius
William “Curly Bill” Brocius

William Brocius, better known as “Curly Bill” Brocius, was a notorious outlaw of the American Old Old West, born around 1845, though some sources suggest 1840 or 1858. His birthplace remains uncertain, with speculation pointing to Crawfordsville, Indiana, Texas, or Missouri. His birth name is equally elusive, with possible names including William Graham, William Bresnaham, or William Brosius. Some accounts suggest he was born William Graham in Indiana, where he reportedly worked as a struggling farmer with a wife and three children—Jacob, Lizzie, and Ellie—before the Civil War. According to family lore, Brocius accepted $500 to serve as a substitute for a wealthy man drafted into the Union Army, leaving his family behind. After the war, he did not return home, possibly spending time in the South before resurfacing in the Arizona Territory by the late 1870s.

Criminal Beginnings

Brocius’s criminal career began to take shape in the late 1870s. He may have been linked to William “Curly Bill” Bresnaham, who, along with Robert “Dutch” Martin, was convicted of an attempted robbery of an Army wagon in Texas in 1878. The pair was sentenced to five years in Huntsville prison but escaped, possibly fleeing to the Arizona Territory. Brocius was also associated with the Jesse Evans gang in New Mexico during the Lincoln County War, a conflict that involved Billy the Kid. By 1878, Brocius had settled in Arizona, initially delivering cattle to the San Carlos Reservation before gravitating to the boomtown of Tombstone.

Life in Tombstone and the Clanton Gang

Tombstone, Arizona, was a wild, silver-rich town in the late 1870s, described as the “toughest town on earth.” Brocius, a heavy-set man over six feet tall with dark curly hair, dark eyes, and a reputation for unpredictability, quickly became a central figure in the Cochise County Cowboys, a loose-knit gang of rustlers and outlaws led by the Clanton family. Known for his quick draw and trick shooting—able to hit running jackrabbits or shoot quarters from volunteers’ fingers—Brocius was both feared and charismatic. His “Jekyll-and-Hyde” personality made him a volatile leader, respected by the likes of “Old Man” Clanton and his sons, particularly the reckless Billy Clanton.

Brocius’s criminal activities included cattle rustling, stagecoach robbery, and murder. After Old Man Clanton’s death in an ambush in 1881, Brocius assumed leadership of the Cowboys, which grew to over 400 members and became the largest rustling operation in American history, operating across Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. His most infamous act was the Skeleton Canyon Massacre in July 1881, where he and his gang ambushed a Mexican trail herd, killed six vaqueros, and reportedly tortured and murdered others, netting over $75,000 in loot. This massacre, which left bleached bones scattered in the canyon, drew the ire of President James Garfield, who demanded the gang’s dissolution.

The Shooting of Fred White

Fred White
Fred White

Brocius’s notoriety peaked on October 27, 1880, when he shot Tombstone’s first marshal, Fred White, during a chaotic night of gunfire on Allen Street. The Clanton gang, including Brocius, was recklessly shooting up the town. When White confronted Brocius near the Birdcage Theater and attempted to disarm him, Brocius’s .45 discharged, fatally wounding White in the abdomen. Wyatt Earp, then a deputy sheriff, pistol-whipped and arrested Brocius. White, before dying two days later, testified that he believed the shooting was accidental, a claim supported by Wyatt Earp and a demonstration that Brocius’s pistol could fire from half-cock. Brocius was acquitted in November 1880, but the incident fueled his enmity with the Earp family, marking the start of the Earp-Cowboy feud.

Escalating Conflicts and the Earp Vendetta

Brocius’s vendetta against the Earps intensified after the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881, where Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers were killed. Brocius was absent during the gunfight, possibly recovering from a gunshot wound to the face sustained earlier that year. He was implicated in the ambush of Virgil Earp in December 1881 and the assassination of Morgan Earp in March 1882, though evidence of his direct involvement is inconclusive. Some reports suggest he left Arizona in December 1881 to avoid a larceny charge, casting doubt on his presence during these events.

Death or Disappearance

On March 24, 1882, Wyatt Earp claimed to have killed Brocius during a shootout at Iron Springs (now Mescal Springs) in the Whetstone Mountains. According to Earp, his posse stumbled upon Brocius and other Cowboys cooking a meal. In the ensuing gunfight, Earp shot Brocius in the chest with a shotgun, killing him instantly. However, no body was recovered, and Brocius’s grave has never been identified. Some accounts, including those from Cowboys’ associates, suggest his body was buried at Frank Patterson’s ranch near the Babocomari River. Others, including contemporary sources, argue Brocius had already left Arizona or fled to Mexico, and the lack of physical evidence fueled speculation that he survived. The Tombstone Nugget and Epitaph offered rewards of $1,000 and $2,000, respectively, for proof of his death, but no one claimed them.

Legacy and Controversy

Curly Bill Brocius remains an enigmatic figure, his true identity obscured by aliases and conflicting accounts. Described as crafty, conscienceless, and a born killer, he was both a feared outlaw and a charismatic leader. His supposed death at Wyatt Earp’s hands is one of the Old West’s enduring mysteries, with historians divided on whether he died in 1882 or returned to Texas, possibly living until 1909 as William Albert Brosius. His story has been immortalized in films like Tombstone (1993), where Powers Boothe portrayed him as a ruthless yet remorseful antagonist, and in books by historians like Steve Gatto, who dubbed him “Tombstone’s Most Famous Outlaw.” Brocius’s life encapsulates the lawlessness and violence of the Arizona Territory, leaving a legacy as one of the Wild West’s most infamous figures.

The Murder of Morgan Earp – March 18, 1882

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The murder of Morgan Earp on March 18, 1882, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, was a pivotal act of revenge in one of the most infamous feuds of the American Old West. It stemmed directly from escalating tensions between the Earp brothers (lawmen) and the loosely organized group of outlaws known as the Cochise County Cowboys. Morgan’s assassination triggered Wyatt Earp’s extralegal vendetta, marking a dramatic escalation in the conflict.

Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.
Morgan Earp historical photo, 1881. Probably taken by C.S. Fly.

Background and Events Leading Up to the Murder

Morgan Seth Earp was born on April 24, 1851, in Pella, Iowa, the son of Nicholas Porter Earp and Virginia Ann Cooksey. He was one of several brothers, including Virgil, Wyatt, James, and Warren, who would become central figures in frontier law enforcement and legend. Morgan worked various jobs before becoming a lawman, including roles in Dodge City, Kansas, and eventually Tombstone, Arizona.

By the late 1870s and early 1880s, Tombstone had boomed as a silver mining town, attracting prospectors, businessmen, and outlaws. The Earp brothers—Virgil (as town marshal and deputy U.S. marshal), Wyatt, and Morgan—aligned with law-and-order interests, often clashing with the Cochise County Cowboys. This group, including figures like Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, “Curly Bill” Brocius, Johnny Ringo, Frank Stilwell, and others, engaged in cattle rustling, stagecoach robbery, and smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Cowboys resented the Earps’ interference in their operations, and death threats against the brothers became common.

Tensions peaked in 1881. On October 26, 1881, Virgil Earp, as town marshal, decided to enforce a city ordinance banning firearms in town. He deputized his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, along with Wyatt’s friend Doc Holliday, to disarm a group of Cowboys gathering near the O.K. Corral. The confrontation erupted into the famous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (actually in a vacant lot on Fremont Street). In about 30 seconds, around 30 shots were fired. Billy Clanton and brothers Tom and Frank McLaury were killed. Virgil was wounded in the leg, Morgan was shot through the shoulder (crossing both shoulder blades), and Doc Holliday was grazed. Wyatt emerged unscathed. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled.

Ike Clanton pressed murder charges against the Earps and Holliday. A month-long preliminary hearing followed, presided over by Judge Wells Spicer. Witnesses testified on both sides, but Spicer ruled the lawmen acted within their duties, exonerating them.

The Cowboys sought further revenge. On December 28, 1881, Virgil Earp was ambushed in Tombstone while walking home—shot in the arm and left permanently crippled (his arm was later amputated). Wyatt was appointed a deputy U.S. marshal by U.S. Marshal Crawley Dake to pursue the attackers, with Morgan serving as a deputized posse member.

Threats continued, and on March 18, 1882—about five months after the O.K. Corral—revenge culminated against Morgan.

The Murder of Morgan Earp

On the evening of March 18, 1882, Morgan, then 30 years old, had attended a musical performance at Schieffelin Hall in Tombstone. He later went to Campbell & Hatch’s Billiard Parlor on Allen Street to play pool (billiards) against owner Bob Hatch. Wyatt was present, seated nearby watching, along with friends like Dan Tipton and Sherman McMaster. The group had received warnings of threats that day.

Around 10:50 p.m., an assassin (or assassins) fired at least two shots from outside through the upper pane of a four-pane glass door at the rear of the parlor (the lower panes were painted over). The first bullet struck Morgan in the back, just left of the spine near the left kidney, passed through his body, shattered his spinal column, and exited near the gall bladder region before lodging in the thigh of bystander George A.B. Berry. A second shot missed Wyatt Earp, who was nearby, and embedded in the wall.

Morgan collapsed instantly onto the billiard table, paralyzed and in severe pain. Friends and companions—including Wyatt Earp, Dan Tipton, and Sherman McMaster—rushed to his side. They attempted to help him stand or move, but Morgan protested, reportedly saying, “Don’t, I can’t stand it. This is the last game of pool I’ll ever play.” They carefully lifted and dragged him a short distance to the floor near the card room door, away from potential further gunfire through the window, in an effort to shield him and make him more comfortable.

Dr. George E. Goodfellow, also known as the "Gunfighter's Surgeon"
Dr. George E. Goodfellow, also known as the “Gunfighter’s Surgeon”

Medical help arrived quickly in the small mining town. Dr. William Miller was the first physician on the scene, followed shortly by Drs. Matthews (or Millar) and George E. Goodfellow. Goodfellow, widely regarded as one of the leading experts in the United States on treating abdominal and gunshot wounds (having gained extensive experience in Tombstone’s violent environment), conducted a thorough examination. He determined the wound was mortal almost immediately. The bullet had caused massive internal hemorrhage by damaging major blood vessels, passed through the left kidney and loins, and severely injured the spinal column, leading to paralysis and rapid collapse.

Despite the doctors’ best efforts to assess and stabilize him—likely including attempts to control bleeding, provide pain relief (common with morphine or similar in the era), and monitor his condition—there was little that could be done. Medical knowledge and technology in 1882 lacked the means to repair such catastrophic spinal and vascular damage. Morgan lingered in agony for less than an hour, dying around midnight or shortly after. In his final moments, he whispered to Wyatt (accounts vary on the exact words, but they reflected resignation, a plea for caution, or a charge to seek justice).

The physicians could only confirm the inevitability of death. Goodfellow later described the wound in detail during the coroner’s inquest: a gunshot entering near the left spinal column, exiting on the right near the gall bladder, involving the spinal column and great vessels, causing fatal hemorrhage. No surgical intervention—such as exploratory surgery or transfusion—was feasible or attempted under the circumstances, as the injury was deemed unsurvivable.

Morgan’s body was moved to the Cosmopolitan Hotel, embalmed, dressed (reportedly in a suit borrowed from Doc Holliday), and laid out for viewing. His death ignited Wyatt Earp’s famous Vendetta Ride, a vigilante pursuit of those suspected in the killing. But in the frantic minutes after the shots rang out, the desperate attempts by friends to move and protect him, combined with the rapid response of Tombstone’s doctors—including the skilled but ultimately helpless Dr. Goodfellow—represented the only real efforts to save Morgan Earp’s life. They bought him moments of comfort in his dying hour, but the assassin’s bullet had already sealed his fate.

A coroner’s inquest identified suspects including Pete Spence, Frank Stilwell, Frederick Bode, and “Indian Charlie” (Florentino Cruz), based on circumstantial evidence and threats. However, charges were dropped due to lack of evidence, alibis, or legal technicalities—mirroring frustrations after prior incidents.

Events Following the Murder

Morgan’s murder convinced Wyatt that the legal system in Cochise County was corrupt or ineffective against the Cowboys. He refused to wait for justice through the courts.

Morgan’s body was transported by train (escorted by Wyatt and others) to Colton, California, for burial at Hermosa Cemetery, where his grave marker reads “Assassinated.”

Wyatt, now acting as a federal deputy marshal with a posse including Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, “Turkey Creek” Jack Johnson, Sherman McMasters, Texas Jack Vermillion, and others, launched what became known as the Earp Vendetta Ride (or Earp Vendetta Posse). From March 20 to mid-April 1882, they hunted suspects in southeast Arizona.

Key events:

  • March 20, 1882: While escorting the wounded Virgil and his wife Allie to a train in Tucson for safety in California, Wyatt spotted Frank Stilwell (a prime suspect) at the depot. Stilwell was found the next day riddled with bullets on the tracks—widely attributed to Wyatt.
  • The posse continued pursuing others: Florentino Cruz (“Indian Charlie”) was killed after confessing involvement; “Curly Bill” Brocius was reportedly shot by Wyatt in a confrontation at Iron Springs; Johnny Barnes died of wounds; others were targeted.
  • The ride involved skirmishes across the desert, with the posse evading Cowboy ambushes and local law enforcement (including Sheriff John Behan, who opposed the Earps).

The vendetta ended by April 1882 when the posse disbanded, and Wyatt left Arizona for Colorado to avoid prosecution (he faced warrants for the killings). Some accounts suggest Wyatt and Doc may have later returned to kill Johnny Ringo (found dead in July 1882), though this remains disputed.

The events solidified the Earps’ legend in Western lore, portrayed in countless books, films (like Tombstone and Wyatt Earp), and histories as a tale of frontier justice, revenge, and the blurred line between lawmen and vigilantes. Morgan’s death remains a tragic footnote in the larger saga of the O.K. Corral and the Tombstone feud.

Bisbee Daily Review Newspaper

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Bisbee Daily Review Newspaper
Bisbee Daily Review Newspaper

The Bisbee Daily Review, a cornerstone of Arizonas journalistic history, emerged in 1901 and served the mining community of Bisbee until 1971. This paper traces its evolution from its origins as the Weekly Orb in 1896 through multiple title changes, political
shifts, and corporate influences, particularly the Phelps-Dodge Corporations control. By examining its role in reporting mining news, shaping public opinion, and navigating labor conflicts, this study highlights the newspapers significance in reflecting Bisbees
socio-economic dynamics. Drawing on archival records and secondary sources, the analysis underscores the Reviews transformation into a weekly publication and its eventual merger into modern periodicals, illustrating its enduring legacy in Cochise Countys media
landscape.

Introduction

Introducing the historical context and significance of the Bisbee Daily Review In the rugged mining town of Bisbee, Arizona, the Bisbee Daily Review emerged as a vital institution, chronicling the pulse of a community driven by copper extraction. Founded in 1901, the newspaper evolved from earlier publications, navigating a turbulent landscape of editorial changes, political affiliations, and corporate dominance. Its pages captured the aspirations and struggles of a mining hub, from labor disputes to community events, making it a primary source for understanding Arizona’s early 20th-century history. This paper explores the Review’s origins, its role under the Phelps-Dodge Corporation’s influence, its coverage of significant events like the 1917 Bisbee Deportation, and its eventual transition into contemporary publications, arguing that it was both a product and shaper of Bisbee’s socio-economic identity.

Origins and Early Evolution (1896–1901)

Tracing the newspaper’s roots and initial transformations The Bisbee Daily Review’s lineage began in 1896 with the Weekly Orb, an independent paper serving Bisbee’s burgeoning mining community. Under editors Alvan W. Howe and G.M. Porter, it transitioned into the Arizona Daily Orb in 1898, reflecting the town’s growing economic ambitions. The publication underwent rapid masthead changes, becoming the Cochise Review and Arizona Daily Orb in 1900, adopting a Republican stance, and later the Cochise Review and Bisbee Daily Herald. These shifts mirrored Bisbee’s dynamic political and economic landscape, as mining interests vied for influence.

By August 1901, the Cochise Review briefly aligned with Democratic principles, but stability arrived when William Kelly purchased it in November 1901. Kelly’s acquisition marked a pivotal moment, as the paper transitioned from a weekly to a daily format by mid-1902, renaming itself the Bisbee Daily Review. Promising “mining news from every county in Arizona” and billing itself as published in “the best mining city on earth,” the Review positioned itself as an authoritative voice for the region’s copper industry.

Corporate Influence and the Phelps-Dodge Era (1903–1971)


Analyzing the impact of Phelps-Dodge’s control on editorial content In 1903, William Kelly and his father, “Major” George Kelly, formed the Consolidated Printing Company, acquiring all dailies in Arizona’s southeastern mining districts. Their partnership with Walter Douglas of the Phelps-Dodge Corporation, a dominant force in Bisbee’s Copper Queen mine, tied the Review to corporate interests. By 1909, Phelps-Dodge began purchasing these newspapers, and by 1925, it owned the Review outright. Historian James Byrkit argues that Phelps-Dodge’s control “intimidated editors” and stifled criticism, ensuring “nothing reflecting unfavorably on the company would appear in newsprint”.

This corporate grip shaped the Review’s coverage, particularly during labor conflicts. The 1917 Bisbee Deportation, where Phelps-Dodge orchestrated the forced removal of striking miners, saw the Review praising citizen actions against strikers, reflecting its alignment with corporate interests \citep{uarizona}. Despite this bias, the newspaper remained a vital source of local news, offering insights into community life, from social events to economic developments.

Cultural and Editorial Features

Exploring the newspaper’s content and community role The Bisbee Daily Review was more than a corporate mouthpiece; it was a cultural institution. From 1940 to 1955, its Sunday editions featured black-and-white comic sections, transitioning to color from 1955 to 1959. Published as the Bisbee Sunday Review from 1925 to 1933, these editions fostered community engagement. The paper’s focus on mining news, alongside coverage of births, marriages, and obituaries, made it a repository of Bisbee’s social history.

Its archives, spanning 1901 to 1922 with over 54,617 searchable pages, reveal a commitment to documenting local life. Advertisements, such as those for the Bank of Bisbee in 1913, highlight economic aspirations, while notices for fraternal organizations like the Order of Eastern Star underscore community ties.

Transition and Legacy (1971–Present)

Detailing the Review’s decline and merger into modern publications The Review’s daily publication ended in 1971 when William Epler purchased it from Phelps-Dodge, reverting it to a weekly format. In 1974, the Wick family acquired the paper, merging it with the Daily Herald Dispatch in 1976. This consolidation birthed two enduring periodicals: the Sierra Vista Herald and Bisbee Daily Review, published in Sierra Vista, and the Bisbee Daily Review and Sierra Vista Herald, published in Bisbee. These publications continue to serve Cochise County, maintaining the Review’s legacy of community-focused journalism.

The Wick family’s stewardship, under Wick Communications, emphasized adaptability, with expansions in Sierra Vista’s facilities reflecting the evolving media landscape. The Review’s archives, available through the Library of Congress and Newspapers.com, remain invaluable for researchers, offering digitized access to Bisbee’s past.

Conclusion

Summarizing the Review’s historical significance The Bisbee Daily Review encapsulates the interplay of journalism, corporate power, and community identity in Arizona’s mining heartland. From its roots as the Weekly Orb to its role as a Phelps-Dodge-controlled daily, it mirrored Bisbee’s economic and social evolution. Its coverage of events like the Bisbee Deportation reveals the tensions between labor and capital, while its comic sections and local notices highlight its role as a community anchor. Though no longer a standalone daily, its legacy endures in the Sierra Vista Herald and Bisbee Daily Review, preserving Bisbee’s story for future generations. This historical analysis affirms the Review’s dual role as a reflection of and influence on the town’s complex history.

The Assassination Attempt of Virgil Earp – December 28, 1881

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Virgil Earp 1843 -1905
Virgil Earp 1843 -1905

The assassination attempt on Virgil Earp, a key figure in the law enforcement of the Old West, occurred on December 28, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. This event was part of the larger conflict known as the Earp-Cowboy feud, which culminated in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Background

Virgil Earp, along with his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, was heavily involved in law enforcement in Tombstone. The town, at the time, was a hotbed of tension between the Earps and the Cowboys, a loosely organized group of outlaws and rustlers. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, where Virgil played a leading role as Tombstone’s town marshal, escalated these tensions. In this shootout, three Cowboys—Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, and Billy Clanton—were killed, while Virgil and his brothers emerged relatively unscathed. This event intensified the animosity between the Earps and their enemies.

The Assassination Attempt

On the night of December 28, 1881, Virgil Earp was ambushed while walking down Allen Street in Tombstone. He was on his way from the Oriental Saloon to the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where he and his wife were staying. As Virgil passed by the intersection of Fifth and Allen streets, he was shot from behind with a shotgun. Three assailants, concealed in an unfinished building (likely on the second story, diagonally across Allen Street), fired three loads of buckshot from double-barreled shotguns at a distance of about 60 feet.

Virgil was struck by multiple pellets from the blasts. The primary wounds were:

  • A devastating injury to his left upper arm, where the buckshot shattered the humerus bone longitudinally and caused extensive damage around the elbow area.
  • A wound to his back above the left hip, with buckshot pellets penetrating deeply and lodging near the hip bone above the groin.

He did not immediately collapse. Critically wounded and bleeding heavily, Virgil staggered back into the Oriental Saloon (or nearby area) before being assisted—likely by his brother Wyatt Earp—the short distance to the safety of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where the Earp families had relocated for mutual protection after the O.K. Corral gunfight.

Dr. George E. Goodfellow, also known as the "Gunfighter's Surgeon"
Dr. George E. Goodfellow, also known as the “Gunfighter’s Surgeon”

Dr. George E. Goodfellow, Tombstone’s renowned “gunshot physician” (who had previously treated wounds from the O.K. Corral incident and was an expert in such trauma), was summoned along with other physicians. Goodfellow performed emergency surgery on Virgil’s injuries.

  • For the arm: He removed approximately 4 inches (about 10 cm) of shattered humerus bone, including parts near the elbow joint. This extensive debridement saved the limb from immediate amputation but left it permanently crippled and nearly immobile. Virgil would carry it in a sling for the rest of his life.
  • For the back/hip wound: Goodfellow extracted around 20 buckshot pellets that had lodged in the soft tissue near the hip and groin area.

The wounds were life-threatening; contemporary newspaper reports (such as from the Los Angeles Daily Herald) quoted doctors giving Virgil only a one-in-five chance of survival, citing fears of fatal infection, blood loss, or complications from the deep penetrations. Despite the grim prognosis, Virgil remained conscious enough during initial treatment to reassure his wife, Allie, with the famous line: “Never mind, I’ve got one arm left to hug you with.”

Aftermath

The attack on Virgil Earp further inflamed the feud between the Earps and the Cowboys. Just a few months later, on March 18, 1882, Morgan Earp, another of Virgil’s brothers, was shot and killed in another ambush. This event prompted Wyatt Earp to lead a vendetta ride against the Cowboys, resulting in a series of violent encounters and killings.

Virgil Earp, despite his injury, continued to serve as a lawman. He left Tombstone in 1882 and eventually settled in California, where he served as a law enforcement officer in Colton and other areas. He lived until 1905, passing away at the age of 62.

The assassination attempt on Virgil Earp remains a significant event in the history of the American West, symbolizing the violent and often lawless nature of frontier life during that era.