YUMA-THE TRANSITIONAL CITY

Few communities can reflect a transitional history as can Yuma, Arizona's city on the Colorado River. That California possessed and collected taxes on the settlement for years would seem a myth as would the fact it was annexed to the Territory of New Mexico. Finally, when Arizona was separated from New Mexico as a territory in its own right, Yuma settled down once and for all as an integral part of this State. Aside from its transitional ownership, it was originally named San Dionisio by Padre Kino, then Concepcion by Padre Garces, followed by Colorado City, Arizona City and finally Yuma.

From its earliest days this point proved a haven to the explorer and traveler as there were no other signs of civilization within 200 miles in any direction. In those days trails were few and difficult of passage, to say nothing of the peril of Indian depredations.

As early as 1538, two missionaries who had made their way through the rugged country from the interior of Mexico, crossed the Colorado River at this point on their way to California. They were presumably the first Europeans to have reached the junction of the Gila and Colorado rivers. During the year following, several expeditions passed here, among them the Spanish navigator of the Colorado, Hernando de Alarcon; also many missionaries desiring to establish missions among the Indian tribes nearby.

Padre Kino, traveling down the Gila in 1700, came upon this rancherio at the junction of the Colorado, established a mission and named it San Dionisio. With the expulsion of the Jesuits from all Spanish possessions, Kino was compelled to desert his mission.

Another missionary, Padre Garces of the Franciscan order, was sent from Mexico in 1775 with a few soldiers and fol lowers to establish a mission among the Indians here. They were welcomed by the Yumas, as their chief, Palma, had been to Mexico City and had seen the grandeur of the Spaniards. The Indians had visions of riches but, after a time, seeing the priests without luxury and the colonists tilling the soil, and with the soldiers both brutal and lawless, the Indians' attitude soon turned to hatred. Intensifying the situation was the arrival of a Spanish soldiery and a group of immigrants from Mexico on their way to California. They camped here for a short time before continuing on their journey. However, they left some of their number here in addition to over a thousand head of stock to feed on the green mesquite beans which was the Indians' principal food. The priests sensed the intensity of the situation and endeavored to pacify the Indians but to no avail.

In July, 1771, while Garces was saying mass at the mission, a horde of wild, yelping Yumas swooped down upon the foreigners and killed or wounded every one in sight. They plundered and destroyed the village, casting sacred vessels and images into the river.

News of the tragedy reached Sonora. The Spaniards sought revenge and the following year marched on the Yumas, killing 108 and capturing 85. The Indians, however, remained hostile under Chief Palma for several years until overpowered by troops from Sonora.

In the meantime the body of Garces, true soldier of the cross, who received his crown of martyrdom at the hands of those he sought to help, was returned to Mexico along with the remains of his unfortunate brothers.

Activity increased at this point during these days, with immigrants on their way to California and prospectors in search of wealth. A military post, established across the river on the California side in 1849, afforded greater protection against the Indians. The post was named Camp Calhoun. Later the name was changed to Camp Independence and then Camp Yuma. The post was abandoned for a year but reestablished in 1852 as Fort Yuma. A rope ferry was put into operation here, with the establishment of the military camp, which afforded improved river crossing. The fort was garrisoned with United States troops in 1856.

A great deal of prospecting was done in the late '50s northward from Yuma along the Colorado, the Indians having been somewhat subdued. Placers were worked only 15 miles above the Gila river about where the present Laguna Dam has been placed. The discovery of the Gila Gold Placers in 1858 greatly stimulated prospecting in the surrounding territory. Silver lead ore was discovered in 1860, 30 miles north, and in a short time the Silver District and Castle Dome commenced to send their silverladen lead cargoes down the ColoradoRiver to the Gulf and thence to the smelters at San Francisco and Wales.

The first stage service operated from San Diego to San Antonio via this station in 1857 and was followed by the Butterfield Lines which operated until the outbreak of the Civil War. A postoffice was established here under the name of Colorado City in 1858. Arizona was declared a territory the following year, separating it from New Mexico territory, with the approval of President Lincoln in 1863.

The big flood of 1862 practically wiped out Colorado City. The settlement was rebuilt and re-named Arizona City after the new territory. This community was made up of a straggling collection of adobe houses containing perhaps 200 inhabitants. Here and at Fort Yuma were located the United States quartermaster's depot, supply houses for all ports in Arizona. Supplies were brought up the Colorado River from the Gulf of California by boat and distributed by mule teams to the forts in southern and central Arizona. Of course, there was

The Ruins of Yuma Prison

By MARJORIE BROOKE Massive, towering prison walls Tiny cells and narrow halls A blistering hole of a dungeon cell Where now endured a living hell. Some men laughed and went insane Some men died in screaming pain, And some of those God-forgotten men Never came out of their cells again, Till carried out to the hill below A convict still, in a dead man's row A number, a name upon a cross, Sometimes even the names were lost. Some of the crosses yet do stand, Tho' once the river covered the land And carried a few from the lonely hill Those that are left are prisoners still. Massive walls against the skyEvery breeze a dead man's cry Every cell a vale of tears, And the ghosts turn back the weary years Till I hear again a clanking chain Like a deadly dream of a twisted brain, Of massive towering prison walls, Of tiny cells . . . . and narrow halls.

persuade to vote for him. After the duty had been performed, the shoes were repossessed and loaned to another. There must have been some sort of inducement to get an Indian to go to that much trouble.

Provision was made in 1867 by an act of congress for an Arizona penitentiary building. The following year the territorial legislature designated Phoenix, then in Yavapai county, as the prison site. As congress failed to act in the contribution of funds, the legislature authorized the sale of bonds to provide funds for the purchase of land for the prison and the erection of the buildings. Several towns bid for the prison as the considerable business activity though mostly of a government nature. It was often said that this was an excellent site for the establishment of a town for business, if there was any business in Arizona. True, the outlook wasn't very promising at that time.

Political corruption was not entirely unknown at this settlement in those days. Certain election officials created a strange rule that all men wearing shoes could vote. This was a polite way of insisting the Indians should be denied the privilege, as most of them were barefoot. There was a great resemblance between the Yumas and the Mexicans, though, and, on election day, candidates supplied a pair of shoes to each Indian he could previous selection of Phoenix for the site had been nullified. Yuma was selected and the promontory on which the prison was built, with the rivers forming an almost complete barrier and the vast desert wastes stretching in all directions, seems to have been a logical choice for the site, at least for that period.

The county seat of Yuma county was transferred from La Paz (now a ghost town) to Arizona City in 1870. The steamer Nina Tilden took on board all county officials and records and transferred them down river. The first newspaper, “Yuma Sentinel,” was established in 1871. Arizona City was incorporated in March of that year. The American population, in which was included all who were not Mexican, in 1872 embraced just five persons. In February of 1873, by an act of the legislature, the site's name was officially changed to Yuma from the Yuma Indian words yah-ma-yo, meaning son of the captain, which, surprisingly so, it holds to the present time. (Continued on Page 23)

WHEN THE WEST WAS YOUNG.

In the early days Whiskey Row in Prescott was famed from San Francisco to Chicago. This scene was an everyday occurence along the Row. Actually the original painting from which this illustration was made reveals a Bisbee scene. Some of the characters shown are early pioneers of Bisbee