Santa Visits a Gold Camp

SNOW WAS FALLING GENTLY THE EVENING George H. Smalley rode into Big Bug, a mining camp in the wooded hills along Big Bug Creek in central Arizona. It was December 22, 1899.

Smalley was a mining writer for The Arizona Republican, a Phoenix newspaper. He was making the rounds of several gold mining communities then thriving in the Bradshaw Mountains between Phoenix and Prescott.

He found Big Bug holding its community Christmas celebration early. Perhaps it's best to let Smalley explain it in the flowery writing of the times:

Big Bug

"Santa Claus arranged his dates so as to arrive at Big Bug Creek two days ahead of time. He did this purposely, and to accommodate the schoolteacher of TEXT BY JAMES E. COOK the camp, Miss Clay Henshaw, a young Phoenix lady. Miss Henshaw had previously won all the miners in the camp, and it is not strange that Santa Claus has succumbed to her charms and slid down off the Bradshaws a couple of days before the scheduled time. He really could not wait for Christmas Eve to come, and besides, Miss Henshaw wished to leave the camp in time to spend Christmas with her parents in Phoenix."

Smalley described miners and their families coming down all the hillside trails that led from their homes to the schoolhouse. “On the road were miners dressed in their best togs, who formed a portion of the procession. The lanterns which they carried threw gigantic shadows across the gulch and my horse was in a constant state of terror. It was with difficulty that I ever reached the camp at all. Everywhere were figures moving in the dark and my bronco tried to recognize each shadow with a toss of his body that would be called bucking in some countries.

“The gulch rang out with joyous echoes as the young rushed toward the schoolhouse yelling their ovation to Santa Claus. 'Hurrah for Santa Claus!' yelled the kids, and each one tried to make as much noise as he could so that Santa Claus would have no trouble in locating Big Bug Creek. The little fellows ran up and down the street of the camp, scaring the horses and making the dogs bark. Santa was due at 8 o'clock, and there were a number of trails that might take him past the schoolhouse. The kids were determined that he should not escape . . . Smalley said the snow, the cold, and the wind whistling through the pines made it seem like it was really Christmas Eve. He thought to have a bite to eat, but he was turned away at Big Bug's only cafe. The proprietors, getting dressed to go to the schoolhouse, told him to come back after the Christmas celebration.

"I tried to bribe the cook, but she was true to her Santa Claus. The corral man [at the livery stable] was finishing his night's work early, but he kindly made room for my horse and directed me to a store where I might get a lunch of sardines and crackers. The storekeeper's wife was a kind lady and she made me a pot of tea to go with the meal and take away the chill.

While he was eating, Smalley heard new, excited shouts outside. Was it Santa Claus? No, the figure riding into camp was merely a deputy sheriff named Johns, his hat and moustache dusted with snow during his ride over from Prescott.

"He came just in time and we enjoyed the 'store' meal together. I asked the deputy sheriff where he was going to sleep and he said that was the least of his troubles for he knew where there was a stack of hay. I found that there was not a bed in the camp

CHRISTMAS AT BIG BUG

that was not taken, and I made up my mind to follow Deputy Sheriff Johns to the haystack he had located." Readers are free to draw whatever paralllels they wish between the lack of room at the inns in Bethlehem and in Big Bug. Smalley's dispatch went on to describe the scene at the school: "The big schoolhouse was filled with miners and their families, and the wooden benches were crowded soon after the doors were thrown open. The little ones who were to take part in the entertainment were seated on the front benches. As the door opened, everyone turned to see who the newcomer was for Santa was expected at any moment, and there was a great deal of suppressed excitement." But the newcomers were just more miners and their families arriving for the celebration. A "precocious boy" made an alarm clock go off, causing a great deal of hilarity. "One of the well-known characters of the camp, 'Judge' Crawford, entered as the alarm was sounding, as though he had just awakened from a long sleep. A little dog that was resting near the stove jumped to his feet and turned to look at the clock, and during the disturbance made by the clock, Santa Claus entered. "The young folk jumped to their feet and greeted him, and old Santa danced down the aisle with the most approved ragtime step." The tree, a large spruce from a nearby mountainside, was laden with presents. Before they could be handed out, however, Miss Henshaw put the children through their paces, singing, reciting, and presenting "a pantomiming performance which was entertaining." Then, finally, Santa handed out the gifts with Miss Henshaw's help. "There was something for everyone in camp. Some of the more popular ones received a dozen gifts. After the tree was unloaded, the house was cleared for dancing. This pleasure was enjoyed by a large number until after midnight. The Christmas festivities in Big Bug will long be remembered." Smalley didn't say, but we can hope that he slept well in the haystack recommended by Deputy Sheriff Johns.