Galiuro Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Galiuro Wilderness is a 76317 acres (309 km²) wilderness area encompassing the mid to upper slopes of the Galiuro Mountains
. It is located within the Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest
in the U.S.
state of Arizona
. It is bordered on the south by the Redfield Canyon Wilderness.
Elevations in the Galiuro Wilderness range from 4000 feet (1,219 m) to 7671 feet (2,338 m) at the summit of Bassett Peak. The Galiuro Mountain Range is a very rough and brushy block fault range characterized by block-like uplifts rising abruptly from relatively level plains that are characteristic of southern Arizona. Erosion has produced many rugged cliffs and steep slopes which have brightly colored exposed soils and rocks. The mountain is a double range bisected by two main canyons, Rattlesnake and Redfield. The wilderness boundary generally follows the forest boundary on the west and approximately one mile east of Trail 287 on the east. The most prominent peaks and high points in the Wilderness include Bassett Peak at 7671 feet (2,338 m), Kennedy Peak at 7540 feet (2,298 m), and Sunset Peak at 7094 feet (2,162 m) along the east divide. Those along the west divide include Rhodes Peak at 7116 feet (2,169 m), Maverick Mountain at 6990 feet (2,131 m), and Kielberg Peak at6880 feet (2,097 m).
, live oak
, mahogany
and other brush species. The higher slopes and ridgetops have moderate to dense stands of juniper
, pinon pine, and oak
trees. Along the canyon bottoms and on the northern slopes of the higher elevations grow Arizona cypress, Ponderosa pine
, Chihuahua pine
, Mexican white pine, Douglas fir, and smaller stands of white fir
. Deciduous trees such as sycamore
, alder
, maple
, ash, walnut
, and aspen
grow in the riparian areas where springs supply water almost year-round, including Power's Garden, Mud Spring, Corral Spring, Juniper Spring, South Field Spring, Kielberg Dam, Walnut Spring, Cedar Spring, and Holdout Spring.
, Pronghorn
, Bighorn Sheep
, White-tailed deer
, Collared Peccary
, Coyote
, American Black Bear
, and Cougar. Smaller mammal species include Cottontail rabbit
s, Ground squirrel
s, Racoon
, White-nosed Coati, Fox
es, Skunk
s, and Bobcat
. Birds include quail
, dove
s, and the Band-tailed Pigeon
.
Original native inhabitants
of the area are believed to be the Jacome Indians, a little-known group possibly related to the Apaches.
White settlers began arriving in the mid-19th century, taking up prospecting and later mining and ranching in the 1890s. In 1909 Jeff Power and his family homesteaded in Rattlesnake Canyon and began mining nearby. When two of Power's sons, Tom and John Power, failed to report when drafted into World War I
, Sheriff Robert F. McBride of Graham County
delivered a letter to the Powers asking them to come in for prosecution, but it was ignored. Several weeks later, on the night of February 9, 1918, Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank Haynes, Sheriff McBride, and Deputy Sheriffs Martin Kempton and T.K. Wooten arrived at the Powers' cabin near the Powers Mine. They carried arrest warrants for Tom and John Power for draft evasion, and warrants for Jeff Power and his hired man, Tom Sisson, for an unrelated charge. Just before dawn on February 10, as the Power camp was preparing breakfast, they heard two of their horses gallop by their dogs began barking. When Jeff Power stepped outside with his rifle Deputy Sheriff Wooten yelled, "Throw up your hands! Throw up your hands!" A furious gunfight ensued, leaving Sheriff McBride, Deputy Sheriffs Kempton and Wooten, and Jeff Power dead. Marshal Haynes escaped to nearby Klondyke, Arizona, while the Power boys and Tom Sisson fled south to Redington
on the San Pedro River
, leading to the biggest manhunt in Arizona's history. They entered Mexico
south of Hachita, New Mexico, where on March 8 they surrendered to a U.S. Army patrol that had picked up their trail and crossed the border in pursuit. At their trial, all three men were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Sisson died in prison at the age of 86, but the Power brothers were paroled in 1960, forty-two years after their conviction. They were pardoned by Governor Jack Richard Williams
nine years later.
In 1975, the Powers Cabin
was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1932, Congress set aside 52717 acres (213 km²) in the Galiuro Mountains as the Galiuro Primitive Area within the Crook National Forest. It was renamed the Galiuro Wild Area in 1940, with administration shifting to the Coronado National Forest in 1953. With the passage of the Wilderness Act
in 1964, the area was redesignated the Galiuro Wilderness. A last addition in 1983 incorporated the floor of Rattlesnake Valley into the wilderness, bringing it to a total of 76317 acres (309 km²).
In January 1943, a World War II B-24 bomber on a training run crashed near the summit of Bassett Peak, killing all eleven men on board. A plaque mounted on one of the wings commemorates their final resting place.
, was born Thomas Joseph W. Sisson, June 9, 1869 in Livonia, Sherburne County, MN. He was the youngest child of Russell and Mary (Hagebone) Sisson. Tom's father, Russell Sisson, was a Union
veteran of the Civil War
, having served as a Private
in Co. H of the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry. Russell's name appears on Special Census of Veterans 1890, Big Lake, Sherburne Co., MN and the Minnesota State Census of 1895, Ward 12, Minneapolis, MN
, age 80. He died sometime after 1895, but probably before 1900, as he does not appear in the Census of 1900.
Tom was the youngest in the family. His next oldest sibling, sister Lucretia, was born nearly ten years before him. By 1880, Tom, age 11, was motherless. The federal census of that year indicates just he and his 65 year old father living in the household. Five years later, the Minnesota State Census of 1885 indicates that it's still just he and his elderly father,indicating that Tom spent much of his childhood alone.
In March 1890, Tom enlisted as a Private
in Troop
E, 1st United States Cavalry in St. Paul, MN
. He was sent to Fort Custer
(1877–1897) located near Hardin, MT
. These were the dying days of the Indian Wars. The U.S. Cavalry was primarily engaged in controlling small bands of renegades. One exception, The Apache Kid in Arizona
and New Mexico
in the early 1890s. The Apache Kid, whose real Apache
name was Haskay-bay-nay-natyl, which means "the tall man destined to come to a mysterious end," was a U.S. Army Scout accused of desertion and attempted murder. In October 1889, the Kid, along with three other Apaches was convicted of attempted murder. While being transported to the Yuma Territorial Prison
, they overpowered their guards, killing one in the process, and escaped. In response, the Army sent the entire 1st Cavalry to Fort Grant
(1872–1905), near Safford, AZ, but The Kid was never captured. This explains how Tom Sisson came to Arizona. Fort Grant
, located just west of the Hospital Flat Recreation Area, is barely 20 miles from the Powers Cabin.
On June 16, 1895, Tom Sisson was discharged from the U.S. Army
at Fort Grant
. His discharge indicated he was an "Excellent" soldier. Tom remained in Arizona as indicated by his next documented appearance in the U.S. Census of 1900. Tom, now 30 years old, is boarding with two other young men in the home of Bud Snow in Cochise, AZ, south of Willcox, AZ, near present day U.S. Route 191
and Interstate-10
. In 1910, 40 year old Tom, was once again recorded as a resident of the Arizona Territory
. He was living in his own rented house and lists his occupation as 'Plumber'.
Although the U.S. Marshal's
WANTED poster indicates that Tom is a "paroled convict", there is currently no documentation regarding his involvement in any criminal activity prior to the gunfight at the Powers Cabin
in February 1918.
After being convicted, Tom was sentenced to life in prison. He escaped briefly in 1923, by walking away from a work detail. He was quickly recaptured. As incredible as it may seem, in 1932 Tom, who had then been in prison for 14 years, received a pension for his military service from the United States Government.
Tom Sisson died on January 23, 1957 after spending 39 years in prison, a record at the time. His grave is located in the Florence Cemetery, Florence, AZ.
Galiuro Mountains
The Galiuro Mountains are a large sky island mountain range of southeast Arizona, USA. It is a northerly mountain range in the Madrean Sky Islands region of southeast Arizona, northern Sonora, Northern Mexico, and extreme southwest, bootheel New Mexico....
. It is located within the Safford Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest
Coronado National Forest
The Coronado National Forest includes an area of about 1.78 million acres spread throughout mountain ranges in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico....
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. It is bordered on the south by the Redfield Canyon Wilderness.
Topography
Vegetation
The vegetation growing in Galiuro Wilderness varies from species of the semi-desert grassland type to those of the mixed conifer type. The majority of the south and west-facing slopes of the Galiuro Range are covered with dense stands of manzanitaManzanita
Manzanita is a common name for many species of the genus Arctostaphylos. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from southern British Columbia, Washington to California, Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and...
, live oak
Live oak
Live oak , also known as the southern live oak, is a normally evergreen oak tree native to the southeastern United States...
, mahogany
Mahogany
The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-colored hardwood. It is a native American word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany....
and other brush species. The higher slopes and ridgetops have moderate to dense stands of juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
, pinon pine, and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees. Along the canyon bottoms and on the northern slopes of the higher elevations grow Arizona cypress, Ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
, Chihuahua pine
Chihuahua Pine
The Chihuahua Pine is a tree, in Mexico is also called Tlacocote and ocote chino with a range primarily in Mexico with a small extension into the United States in southeast Arizona and southwest New Mexico. The Mexican range extends along the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre del Sur from...
, Mexican white pine, Douglas fir, and smaller stands of white fir
White Fir
White Fir is a fir native to the mountains of western North America, occurring at altitudes of 900-3,400 m. It is a medium to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 25–60 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m . It is popular as an ornamental landscaping tree and as a Christmas Tree...
. Deciduous trees such as sycamore
Sycamore
Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....
, alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
, maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
, ash, walnut
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
, and aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
grow in the riparian areas where springs supply water almost year-round, including Power's Garden, Mud Spring, Corral Spring, Juniper Spring, South Field Spring, Kielberg Dam, Walnut Spring, Cedar Spring, and Holdout Spring.
Wildlife
A variety of wildlife can be found Galiuro Wilderness, including large mammals such as Mule deerMule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, Pronghorn
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
, Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, White-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, Collared Peccary
Collared Peccary
The collared peccary is a species of mammal in the family Tayassuidae that is found in North, Central, and South America. They are commonly referred to as javelina, saíno or báquiro, although these terms are also used to describe other species in the family...
, Coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, American Black Bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, and Cougar. Smaller mammal species include Cottontail rabbit
Cottontail rabbit
The cottontail rabbits are among the 16 lagomorph species in the genus Sylvilagus, found in the Americas.In appearance, most cottontail rabbits closely resemble the wild European Rabbit...
s, Ground squirrel
Ground squirrel
The ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known as marmots or prairie dogs, while the smaller and less...
s, Racoon
Racoon
Racoon is a Dutch rock band, formed in 1997. Their first big appearance was at the 1999 Noorderslagfestival. First album Till Monkeys Fly appeared in January 2000, produced by Michael Schoots . The first single, Feel Like Flying, became a hit and got a lot of airplay on the Dutch radiostation 3FM...
, White-nosed Coati, Fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es, Skunk
Skunk
Skunks are mammals best known for their ability to secrete a liquid with a strong, foul odor. General appearance varies from species to species, from black-and-white to brown or cream colored. Skunks belong to the family Mephitidae and to the order Carnivora...
s, and Bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
. Birds include quail
Quail
Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...
, dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
s, and the Band-tailed Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
The Band-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata, is a medium-sized bird of the Americas. Its closest relatives are the Chilean Pigeon and the Ring-tailed Pigeon, which form a clade of Patagioenas with a terminal tail band and iridescent plumage on their necks.It ranges from British Columbia, Utah, and...
.
History
-
- See also: Graham County Sheriff's OfficeGraham County Sheriff's OfficeThe Graham County Sheriff's Office is a local law enforcement agency that serves Graham County, Arizona. It provides general-service law enforcement to unincorporated areas of Graham County, serving as the equivalent of the police for unincorporated areas of the county. It also operates the county...
- See also: Graham County Sheriff's Office
Original native inhabitants
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the area are believed to be the Jacome Indians, a little-known group possibly related to the Apaches.
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Sheriff Robert F. McBride of Graham County
Graham County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*1.8% Black*14.4% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.8% Two or more races*8.3% Other races*30.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
delivered a letter to the Powers asking them to come in for prosecution, but it was ignored. Several weeks later, on the night of February 9, 1918, Deputy U.S. Marshal Frank Haynes, Sheriff McBride, and Deputy Sheriffs Martin Kempton and T.K. Wooten arrived at the Powers' cabin near the Powers Mine. They carried arrest warrants for Tom and John Power for draft evasion, and warrants for Jeff Power and his hired man, Tom Sisson, for an unrelated charge. Just before dawn on February 10, as the Power camp was preparing breakfast, they heard two of their horses gallop by their dogs began barking. When Jeff Power stepped outside with his rifle Deputy Sheriff Wooten yelled, "Throw up your hands! Throw up your hands!" A furious gunfight ensued, leaving Sheriff McBride, Deputy Sheriffs Kempton and Wooten, and Jeff Power dead. Marshal Haynes escaped to nearby Klondyke, Arizona, while the Power boys and Tom Sisson fled south to Redington
Redington, Arizona
Redington is a ghost town in Pima County, Arizona, United States.It is located on the banks of the San Pedro River, northeast of Tucson and about 54 km north-northwest of Benson. The area was previously known as Tres Alamos....
on the San Pedro River
San Pedro River (Arizona)
San Pedro River is a northward-flowing stream originating about ten miles south of Sierra Vista, Arizona near Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. It is one of only two rivers which flow north from Mexico into the United States. The river flows north through Cochise County, Pima County, Graham County, and...
, leading to the biggest manhunt in Arizona's history. They entered Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
south of Hachita, New Mexico, where on March 8 they surrendered to a U.S. Army patrol that had picked up their trail and crossed the border in pursuit. At their trial, all three men were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Sisson died in prison at the age of 86, but the Power brothers were paroled in 1960, forty-two years after their conviction. They were pardoned by Governor Jack Richard Williams
Jack Richard Williams
John Richard Williams , a dedicated political conservative, was a radio announcer, advertising writer, mayor of Phoenix, and the 13th governor of Arizona...
nine years later.
In 1975, the Powers Cabin
National Register of Historic Places listings in Graham County, Arizona
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Graham County, Arizona. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Graham County, Arizona, United States...
was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1932, Congress set aside 52717 acres (213 km²) in the Galiuro Mountains as the Galiuro Primitive Area within the Crook National Forest. It was renamed the Galiuro Wild Area in 1940, with administration shifting to the Coronado National Forest in 1953. With the passage of the Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
in 1964, the area was redesignated the Galiuro Wilderness. A last addition in 1983 incorporated the floor of Rattlesnake Valley into the wilderness, bringing it to a total of 76317 acres (309 km²).
In January 1943, a World War II B-24 bomber on a training run crashed near the summit of Bassett Peak, killing all eleven men on board. A plaque mounted on one of the wings commemorates their final resting place.
Life of Tom Sisson
The Tom J. Sisson on the adjacent WANTED PosterWanted poster
A wanted poster is a poster distributed to let the public know of an alleged criminal whom authorities wish to apprehend. They will generally include either a picture of the alleged criminal when a photograph is available, or of a facial composite image produced by a police artist...
, was born Thomas Joseph W. Sisson, June 9, 1869 in Livonia, Sherburne County, MN. He was the youngest child of Russell and Mary (Hagebone) Sisson. Tom's father, Russell Sisson, was a Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
veteran of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, having served as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Co. H of the 57th Pennsylvania Infantry. Russell's name appears on Special Census of Veterans 1890, Big Lake, Sherburne Co., MN and the Minnesota State Census of 1895, Ward 12, Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, age 80. He died sometime after 1895, but probably before 1900, as he does not appear in the Census of 1900.
Tom was the youngest in the family. His next oldest sibling, sister Lucretia, was born nearly ten years before him. By 1880, Tom, age 11, was motherless. The federal census of that year indicates just he and his 65 year old father living in the household. Five years later, the Minnesota State Census of 1885 indicates that it's still just he and his elderly father,indicating that Tom spent much of his childhood alone.
In March 1890, Tom enlisted as a Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
E, 1st United States Cavalry in St. Paul, MN
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
. He was sent to Fort Custer
Fort Custer (Montana)
Fort Custer was established during the Indian wars in the Department of Dakota by the U.S. Army to control the Sioux, Cheyenne and Crow Indians near present-day Hardin, Montana...
(1877–1897) located near Hardin, MT
Hardin, Montana
Hardin is a city in and the county seat of Big Horn County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,384 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hardin is located at ....
. These were the dying days of the Indian Wars. The U.S. Cavalry was primarily engaged in controlling small bands of renegades. One exception, The Apache Kid in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
in the early 1890s. The Apache Kid, whose real Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
name was Haskay-bay-nay-natyl, which means "the tall man destined to come to a mysterious end," was a U.S. Army Scout accused of desertion and attempted murder. In October 1889, the Kid, along with three other Apaches was convicted of attempted murder. While being transported to the Yuma Territorial Prison
Yuma Territorial Prison
The Yuma Territorial Prison was a prison in the Arizona Territory of the United States and now in present day Yuma, Arizona. The Territorial Prison is one of the Yuma Crossing and Associated Sites on the National Register of Historic Places in the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.The site is...
, they overpowered their guards, killing one in the process, and escaped. In response, the Army sent the entire 1st Cavalry to Fort Grant
Fort Grant, Arizona
Fort Grant, located in the U.S. state of Arizona, is a state prison and a former United States Army fortification. Fort Grant began its life as an Old West outpost in Arizona Territory, built in 1860 at Aravaipa Canyon originally as Camp Grant.-History:...
(1872–1905), near Safford, AZ, but The Kid was never captured. This explains how Tom Sisson came to Arizona. Fort Grant
Fort Grant, Arizona
Fort Grant, located in the U.S. state of Arizona, is a state prison and a former United States Army fortification. Fort Grant began its life as an Old West outpost in Arizona Territory, built in 1860 at Aravaipa Canyon originally as Camp Grant.-History:...
, located just west of the Hospital Flat Recreation Area, is barely 20 miles from the Powers Cabin.
On June 16, 1895, Tom Sisson was discharged from the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
at Fort Grant
Fort Grant, Arizona
Fort Grant, located in the U.S. state of Arizona, is a state prison and a former United States Army fortification. Fort Grant began its life as an Old West outpost in Arizona Territory, built in 1860 at Aravaipa Canyon originally as Camp Grant.-History:...
. His discharge indicated he was an "Excellent" soldier. Tom remained in Arizona as indicated by his next documented appearance in the U.S. Census of 1900. Tom, now 30 years old, is boarding with two other young men in the home of Bud Snow in Cochise, AZ, south of Willcox, AZ, near present day U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191
U.S. Route 191 is a spur of U.S. Route 91 that has two branches. The southern branch runs for 1,465 miles from Douglas, Arizona on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The northern branch runs for 440 miles from the northern part of Yellowstone National Park to...
and Interstate-10
Interstate 10 in Arizona
In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 10, the major east–west Interstate Highway in the southern United States, runs east from California, enters Arizona and continues through Phoenix and Tucson and exits at the border with New Mexico.-Route description:...
. In 1910, 40 year old Tom, was once again recorded as a resident of the Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
. He was living in his own rented house and lists his occupation as 'Plumber'.
Although the U.S. Marshal's
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
WANTED poster indicates that Tom is a "paroled convict", there is currently no documentation regarding his involvement in any criminal activity prior to the gunfight at the Powers Cabin
National Register of Historic Places listings in Graham County, Arizona
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Graham County, Arizona. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Graham County, Arizona, United States...
in February 1918.
After being convicted, Tom was sentenced to life in prison. He escaped briefly in 1923, by walking away from a work detail. He was quickly recaptured. As incredible as it may seem, in 1932 Tom, who had then been in prison for 14 years, received a pension for his military service from the United States Government.
Tom Sisson died on January 23, 1957 after spending 39 years in prison, a record at the time. His grave is located in the Florence Cemetery, Florence, AZ.
External links
- Galiuro Wilderness - Coronado National Forest
- Galiuro Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- Galiuro Wilderness - GORP
- Lands Exhibit: Galiuro Wilderness - Public Lands Information Center