PHOENIX (AP) - Sunday, April 29
On this date in 1871, six Americans, 48 Mexicans and 92 Papago Indians killed 118 Apaches, mostly women and children, in the Camp Grant Massacre. Twenty-seven Apache children were kidnapped and sold into slavery in Mexico.
On this date in 1898, the first contingent of Arizona Volunteers headed for Cuba by way of El Paso.
On this date in 1904, the first meeting of the Arizona Automobile Association opened in Tucson with a parade and a visit to the San Xavier Mission.
On this date in 1913, most of the town of Maricopa was destroyed by an early morning fire.
On this date in 1922, the Globe-Miami-Superior highway opened.
On this date in 1926, Yuma County Sheriff’s deputies raided a dairy farm and found more moonshine than milk. The haul included 200 gallons (757 liters) of liquor, 750 gallons (2,839 liters) of mash, 75 gallons (284 liters) of wine and a 100-gallon (378-liter) still.
Monday, April 30
On this date in 1913, the first vodka in sample lots was received in Tucson by a local “collector of curios.”
On this date in 1920, the Grand Canyon National Park was dedicated.
On this date in 1922, the Phoenix-Miami-Globe railroad, connecting the Salt River Valley with the Gila Valley was opened at a celebration attended by hundreds in Miami.
On this date in 1927, Mrs. William Henry Brophy gave $250,000 and 25 acres (10 hectares) of land to endow and build the Jesuit College in Phoenix.
Tuesday, May 1
On this date in 1859, Father Joseph P. Machebeuf was named the first American Catholic priest in Arizona.
On this date in 1880, The Tombstone Epitaph was established by publisher John P. Clum, who said, “every tombstone needs an epitaph.”
On this date in 1914, the University of Arizona was the site for a demonstration of the new “four-wheel drive” truck which had been successfully tested by the National Guard.
On this date in 1914, the funeral of Mrs. Sara Sorin took place. Sorin was the first woman to be admitted to the Arizona Bar Association and she had practiced before the U.S. Supreme Court. She specialized in mining law.
On this date in 1930, major copper companies throughout Arizona announced a 5 percent cut in wages because of a four-cent per pound reduction in copper prices.
Wednesday, May 2
On this date in 1872, two earthquake shocks were felt in Yuma at 5:45 p.m.
On this date in 1873, the first legal hanging in the state is said to have taken place across the street from a school in Yuma. The teacher, not wanting her students to witness the hanging, dismissed classes for the day.
On this date in 1878, the first issue of the Arizona Silver Belt was published at Globe City which contained an editorial suggesting the word “city” be dropped from the town’s name.
On this date in 1913, a gold nugget weighing 29 ounces and worth over $500 was brought in to Tucson by a man who had found it on the ground after a hard rain.
On this date in 1932, John Clum, Apache Indian agent, Mayor of Tombstone and editor of the Tombstone Epitaph, died at age 80.
Thursday, May 3
On this date in 1882, President Chester A. Arthur warned Arizona that he would place it under martial law unless it showed more respect for law and order. The warning was directed chiefly at Cochise County.
On this date in 1910, Harold Steinfeld, born and educated in Tucson, was made assistant general manager of Macy’s Department Store in New York.
On this date in 1913, two motorcycles set a speed record for the Tucson-Nogales run. Their total time was three hours and five minutes.
Friday, May 4
On this date in 1887, a heavy earthquake hit most of the state at 2:12 p.m. In Tucson the few two-story buildings swayed threateningly, clocks were stopped and entire mountain sides in the Catalinas gave way with great clouds of dust visible for days afterward. Volcanoes were reported in the Dragoon Mountains and other mountain ranges.
On this date in 1897, the Tucson chief of police asked the city council for a horse and saddle or a buggy for patrolling the town, but his request was refused because it would cost $12 a month to feed the horse.
On this date in 1898, the Arizona Column of the Rough Riders left Prescott for Cuba amid the greatest demonstration in that city’s history.
On this date in 1919, Tucson soldiers with the 158th Infantry came home from France.
On this date in 1929, the largest single land deal in the history of Yuma County to that date was consummated with the sale of 30,000 acres of land in the San Christobal Valley to a California syndicate for the purpose of growing dates, citrus fruits and pecans.
Saturday May 5
On this date in 1910, Tucson citizens celebrated the opening of the Tucson-West Coast of Mexico Railroad.
On this date in 1917, the state legislature appropriated funds to purchase the old governor’s mansion at Prescott with the provision that the property should be used as a museum.
On this date in 1929, a company with main offices is Tulsa, Oklahoma, took over 79 mining claims in Chloride, Arizona. The combined mining claims had a shipping record of over $1 million in copper, silver, lead and gold.
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