The Arizona Miner
Prescott, Arizona Territory
June 22nd, 1872
On the morning in question Joe and M. Goldwater (brothers) and
Dr. W.W. Jones parted from friends here and took the road leading
to Ehrenberg, Dr. Jones and M. Goldwater, in one buggy, and Jos.
Goldwater, in another. They had reached the “divide” of Granite
Mountain: had, indeed, proceeded nearly one-half mile beyond that
dangerous place, and, were, no doubt, feeling that they had
passed the Rubicon, when, horror of horrors, bullet after bullet
flew at them, from guns in the hands of treacherous Apaches.
Doctor Jones and M. Goldwater were ahead, and had a very narrow
escape, as one bullet passed through the Doctor’s shirt sleeve,
and another through M. Goldwater’s hat. But poor Joe got the
worst of it, having received two dangerous wounds from bullets,
in the back. The savages were on every side of the little party,
hid in the brush, so that their escape is almost miraculous. One
of the horses was shot in the neck. Open ground was soon reached,
and better still, white friends, in the persons of L.R.
Stephenson, George Jackson and Jas. O’Leary, of Walnut Grove, who
were coming to Prescott in a wagon. Upon meeting them the
Goldwater party had to come to a halt, as the frightened horses
could not pass their wagon, and it-’ was then it was discovered
that Jos. Goldwater was dangerously wounded. But the hellish
Indians were advancing, and the whites must either fight them or
get away from them. Jones, Stephenson and others were for staying
and fighting the savages, whom numbered about forty. But, upon
reflecting how Jos. Goldwater was suffering, retreat was the
word, and retreat they did, followed by the Indians. Skull Valley
was soon reached. The party stopped at E.F. Bowers’ place, which
gentleman got two soldiers of the mail escort to ride to town and
Fort Whipple, over the trail, which feat was very quickly
performed. Dr. Bailey, Medical Director of the Department, sent
down surgical instruments as per request of Dr. Jones; the
balls were probed for; the wounded man was relieved, and is now,
we believe, in the hospital at Camp Date Creek, where, it is
hoped, he will speedily recover.
Stephenson and party came to town the next day, when Steve
informed us that, to the best of his knowledge and belief, the
attacking savages were Indians belonging to Camp Date Creek, as
they were partly clad in soldiers’ clothing- had soldiers’ guns
and fired soldiers’ cartridges. He thinks Dr. Jones killed one
savage, and we sincerely hope he did.
