Skeleton Canyon massacres

These events should not be confused with the Skeleton Canyon Shootout in 1896.

The Skeleton Canyon massacres refer to two separate attacks on Mexican citizens in 1879 and 1881. Skeleton Canyon is located in the Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County), which straddles the modern Arizona and New Mexico state line border. This canyon connects the Animas Valley of New Mexico with the San Simon Valley of Arizona.

1879 Skeleton Canyon Massacre

The first Skeleton Canyon Massacre occurred in 1879 when a group of Mexican Rurales were ambushed by cattle rustlers. In July 1879, several rustlers attacked a rancho in northern Sonora, killing several of the inhabitants. After the attack on the rancho, the survivors reported the attacks to Commandant Francisco Neri, who sent out a detachment of Rurales, including Captain Alfredo Carrillo. The Rurales illegally crossed the border into Arizona. As they entered Skeleton Canyon, shots were fired against them. Three of the Rurales survived the initial onslaught. The posse leader was killed by execution.

No action was taken by the Mexican Government, but it protested the killings to President Chester Arthur, although acknowledging the Mexican policemen had crossed illegally into the United States, where they had no jurisdiction. Johnny Ringo, considered to be one of an outlaw group known as the Cowboys, who were cattle rustlers and bandits, claimed to have been at the ambush. He said others there, who participated in the murders, were Old Man Clanton, brothers Ike and Billy Clanton, "Curly Bill" Brocius, Florentino Cruz, brothers Frank and Tom McLaury, Jim Hughes, Rattlesnake Bill; Joe Hill; Charlie Snow; Jake Guage; and Charlie Thomas.^[1]

1881 Skeleton Canyon Massacre

In July 1881, "Curly Bill" Brocius learned that several Mexican smugglers carrying silver were heading to the United States through Skeleton Canyon.^[2] Curly Bill and several other men including Johnny Ringo, Newman Haynes Clanton, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Billy Grounds, and Zwing Hunt hid in the rocks high above the trail. As the smugglers rode through the canyon, the Cowboys opened fire, killing six of the fifteen. The Americans followed up, killing the remaining eleven smugglers before they could escape. Some reports said the men were tortured before being killed.^[2]

Aftermath

Main article: Guadalupe Canyon Massacre

In August 1881, while driving a herd of cattle through Guadalupe Canyon, a group of rustlers led by Old Man Clanton were ambushed while they slept. At dawn several men opened fire on them, killing five; only two men escaped the ambush. This attack was later known as the Guadalupe Canyon Massacre. Although who shot the rustlers is not certain, researchers believe the attack may have been led by Captain Alfredo Carrillo and several Rurales from Fronteras, Mexico, in revenge for the First Skeleton Canyon Massacre.

In popular culture

In 1958 an episode of the TV series Tombstone Territory portrayed the 1881 attack.^[3]

References

↑ Traywick, Ben (December 11, 2009). "Showdown: Wyatt Earp vs. Curly Bill". Western Outlaw website. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
1 2 "William "Curly Bill" Brocius". Eagle Free Enterprises. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
↑ "Skeleton Canyon Massacre". Tombstone Territory. Season 1. Episode 25. 1958-04-02. ABC.

Gunfights and feuds in the Old West

Gunfights	Gunfight at Hide Park Goingsnake Massacre Battle of Bates Point Gunfight at Blazer's Mill Battle of Lincoln (1878) Variety Hall Shootout Mussel Slough Tragedy Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight Guadalupe Canyon Massacre Battle of the Plaza Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Trinidad Gunfight Vaudeville Theater Ambush Hunnewell Gunfight Frisco Shootout Battle of Cimarron Battle of Stone Corral Battle of Tres Jacales Battle of Ingalls Gunfight at Morenci Blackwell Gunfight Shootout on Juneau Wharf Hot Springs Gunfight Shootout at Wilson Ranch Gunfight in Moab Battleground Gunfight Chinese Massacre Cove Big Fight at the Jenkins Saloon Thibodaux massacre Gunfight at Spokogee Canyon Diablo Shootout Shootout in Benson Naco Gunfight Battle of Eufaula Shootout in Sonoratown Gleeson Gunfight Power's Cabin Shootout Skeleton Canyon shootout

Duels and Showdowns	Sandbar Fight Hickok–Tutt Shootout Duels of Jim Levy Duels of Tom Carberry Short–Courtright Shootout Bull–Peel Duel Mart Duggan Duel Long Branch Saloon Gunfight South Pass Shootout Walker-Graham Duel Anderson-McCluskie Duel Burton Mossman Duel Silks-Fulton Duel Murder of Charles S. Gunn Western Code Duello

Feuds	Railroad Wars County seat war Tutt–Everett War Regulator–Moderator War Lincoln County War Lee–Peacock feud Sutton–Taylor feud Horrell–Higgins feud Brooks–Baxter War Colorado Railroad War Earp Vendetta Ride Dodge City War Las Cuevas War Flynn–Doran feud Gray County War Jaybird–Woodpecker War Enid–Pond Creek Railroad War Brooks–McFarland Feud Reese–Townsend feud McIntosh County Seat War Deschutes Railroad War Boyce–Sneed Feud Placer County Railroad War Bellevue War Colorado Labor Wars Idaho labor strike

Range wars	Johnson County War Mason County War Pleasant Valley War Castaic Range War Colorado Range War Colfax County War San Elizario Salt War Bandit War Fence Cutting Wars Sheep Wars Sheepshooters' War Stuart's Stranglers Hashknife Outfit Deep Creek Murders Spring Creek Raid

Robberies	Jonathan R. Davis Gunfight Northfield Bank Robbery Skeleton Canyon massacres Battle of Coffeyville Canyon Diablo Train Robbery Wham Paymaster Robbery Black Bart Robberies Fairbank Train Robbery Gage Train Robbery Big Springs Robbery Overland Flyer Train Robbery Baxter's Curve Train Robbery Jarbidge Stage Robbery

See also	Gunfighter Cowboy Lexington murders Bisbee massacre Hay Meadow massacre Rock Springs massacre Morewood massacre

Further information: List of Old West gunfights, List of Old West gunfighters, and List of Old West lawmen

Cochise County in the Old West

Rural outlaw cowboys and allies vs. business owners, townspeople, and the law

Supporting rural interests

Lawmen	Johnny Behan Billy Breakenridge Phin Clanton Johnny Ringo Frank Stilwell

Cowboys, smugglers, ranchers	Frederick Bode William "Curly Bill" Brocius Billy Claiborne Billy Clanton Ike Clanton Newman "Old Man" Clanton Phin Clanton Jim Crane "Indian Charlie" Cruz Pony Diehl Harry "The Kid" Head Bill Hicks Milt Hicks Bill Johnson Luther King Bill Leonard Ed Lyle Johnny Lyle Frank McLaury Tom McLaury Frank Patterson Johnny Ringo Pete Spence Frank Stilwell

Supporting town interests

Lawmen	John Clum Crawley Dake Wyatt Earp Warren Earp Morgan Earp Virgil Earp George McKelvey Bob Paul Charles A. Shibell Ben Sippy John Slaughter Fred White

Gamblers, businessmen, cowboys, ranchers	Fred Dodge James Earp Jack "Turkey Creek" Johnson Doc Holliday Henry Hooker Buckskin Frank Leslie Sherman McMaster George W. Parsons Charles "Hairlip Charlie" Smith John "Texas Jack" Vermillion Daniel "Tip" Tipton Marshall Williams C. S. Fly

Conflicts and events

Locations

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