Unsolved Mysteries:The Wickenburg Massacre, Episode #5.1, September 16, 1992. (partial transcript of television episode)

Below is a partial transcript of a segment about The Wickenburg Massacre from the television program "Unsolved Mysteries", Episode #5.1, which originally aired September 16th, 1992. Narrated by actor David Farina (DF) and featuring interview segments with Bill Smith (BS), credited as "Arizona Historian & Lecturer."  Historical recreations of events by actors and additional commentary by "Dana Burden, Wickenburg Historian, Tour Guide", and "Jeff Hammon, Old West Writer & Researcher", are omitted from this transcript.

Unsolved Mysteries: The Wickenburg Massacre

Episode #5.1

Aired September 16, 1992

David Farina (DF): Coming up, the legendary Wickenburg Massacre. Was the attack carried out by Apaches, or a ruthless con-man?

DF: On a quiet highway 60 miles from Phoenix, a small monument stands at the edge of the road. It honors the victims of a once infamous shootout and the days of the wild west. By the end of the attack, six men were dead. One had been stabbed with a lance. Another was scalped. This atrocity would become known as the Wickenburg Massacre. Somehow, two people managed to survive. Though they were injured, William Kruger and Molly Sheppard lived on to provide the official account of what happened that day.

DF: The story told by Kruger and Sheppard led the United States government to retaliate. The result was the deaths of hundreds of Native Americans. And now more than a century later, some historians believe that Kruger and Sheppard might have planned the attack themselves, hoping to steal a small fortune from the stagecoach.

DF: November 5th, 1871. William Kruger and Molly Sheppard climb aboard a stagecoach in Wickenburg. Sheppard was a well known prostitute and madam who had recently sold her brothel. Kruger was a two-time army desert who had somehow convinced the military to hire him as a civilian clerk.

The day after the attack, while Sheppard was recuperating, Kruger was questions by Capt. Charles Meinhold, who was assigned to investigate the incident.

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DF: By the time Meinhold reached the site, the victims' bodies had been returned to Wickenburg for burial. He uncovered several clues suggesting that Native Americans had been involved.

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DF: The tracks led towards a reservation 25 miles away. It was home to 750 members of the Yavapai tribe. But strangely, several miles before the tracks reached the reservation, they veered off in a different direction.

Bill Smith (BS): This to me, would indicate possibly a non-Native American group, that is heading towards Camp Date Creek to make it look like the perpetrators are heading back to reservation.

DF: The Yavapai, who were often misidentified as Apaches, were a largely peaceful people. Many worked as laborers and scouts for the settlers. To those who knew the tribe, it seemed inconceivable that they would have been involved in the attack.

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BS: If this was a Native American attack, we would have found that the ammunition and the weapons, certainly, would have been missing. And we would also found that any blankets would have been taken, but in this particular case, none of it was touched whatsoever.

DF: But the most puzzling evidence was found in the bags of mail that had been loaded onto the stagecoach at Wickenburg. After the attack, a number of letters addressed to the Army Quartermaster had been opened, and their contents carefully put back.

BS: Going through the mail. This is something that an Indian--or a Native American, would not do, is go through the mail. This certainly, you know, to me would indicate that it was a non-Indian attack.

DF: But if the Yavapai were innocent, who were the killers, and what was their motive? At the time, gold bullion was often transported by stagecoach. At least one account claims that Mexican bandits, disguised as Apaches, were responsible. Others suggest a more devious plan.

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DF: Kruger's account of escape seemed hard to believe. Researcher Jeff Hammon believes that Kruger and Sheppard hired bandits to help them with the robbery.

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DF: In his report, Capt. Meinhold acknowledged rumors that the scheme was intended to rob the mail of the bullion usually shipped around the first of every month. And yet, Meinhold never said that the gold had actually been carried on that specific stagecoach run. Still, the stories persisted.

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DF: Jeff Hannon believes that Kruger hid the loot somewhere near the massacre site where only he and Sheppard could find it.

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DF: If there was a treasure, it seems unlikely that Molly Sheppard or William Kruger ever recovered it. Sheppard disappeared soon after the incident, fueling rumors that she had died of her wounds. Kruger last surfaced 13 years after the massacre when he sued the government for money that he claimed to have lost in the attack.

DF: During the 1870s, the Wickenburg Massacre caused a national outrage. Within 18 months of the attack, the Yavapai were driven off the reservation by a government determined to punish them for their attack. Eventually hundreds of innocent men, women and children died from starvation and disease. We may never know who was responsible for the Wickenburg Massacre. However, we do know that the list of victims include many more than the six men who were killed on that violent morning more than a century ago.

20161, 20162. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, March 22nd, 1873. More Blood and More Sorrow. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory March 22nd, 1873 More Blood and More Sorrow. We, last week, gave an account of the murder of two men— A.C. Swain and John McDonald— by Apaches; and it now devolves upon us to give another and fuller account of the terrible affair; also, to record the murder of another civilized being, by the same cruel wretches: Wickenburg, Yavapai Co. Arizona. March 14th, 1873. To the Editor of the Arizona Miner: On Tuesday night, March 11th, the Salt River stage with five passengers, passed a wagon by the way side, three miles south of Lambey’s station. The driver and passengers saw a man stretched out by the wagon, but feeling that the Indian question, at least, hereabouts, was at rest, they believed it to be a camp for the night. But the early break of day revealed the deadly work of the savage foe— an old pioneer, Augustine C. Swain, lay dead by the side of his muleless wagon, mutilated. By his side lay a young man, John McDonald, who, the day before, arrived at Smith’s mill, rose early and was en route to Wickenburg, and who, on arriving at the place also met the fate of his dead companion. They were found side by side. But our tale of sorrow does not end here; P.W. Smith and Geo. Taylor, son of Peter Taylor, drove from Smith’s mill to Lambey’s station same afternoon; Mr. Smith remained for the night, and young Taylor, feeling every security, at 5 o’clock started for home, some five miles distant, on foot. His not returning that night created but little uneasiness, but on the return of Mr. Smith, Wednesday morning, nothing was talked of except the sad affair of Mr. Swain and the young man, supposing young Taylor was about the camp. Soon, however, came from an anxious mother’s lips, “where is George?” The almost certainty of his fate was felt as the words came from the fond mother. A party at once started, but no success attended their efforts, until Thursday morning, the 13th, a little distance from the ill-fated spot where Swain and McDonald fell, on a hill, not distant, they came upon a scene too horrible to report, fully, in your journal. Suffice it to say that the sight caused the stout heart of the old pioneer to quiver. Here lay young Taylor. Evidently the savage foe had done all he could to put out the candle of life by procrastinating, and every invention of his hellish and barbarous ingenuity. Fifty odd arrows were taken from his naked body. One of the mules taken had been slaughtered and remains of fires were visable; and the feast had been taken, and the war dance performed. The appearances are that he fought desperately against great odds. The trail is a new one, coming from the west going east, and the number, judging from the well beaten trail, More Blood and More Sorrow- Continued. would indicate hundreds. Young Taylor was a strong, fine young man, favorite of all who knew him; and a favorite, if I may so speak, of fond and loving parents. The remains were at once sent to Vulture City for burial, arriving Thursday night at 10 o’clock. To the large number of citizens present, the solemnity of the occasion seemed to perv ade all hearts. Mr. B. Sexton committed the body to its last resting place by reading a portion of the solemn and appropriate service of the Episcopal church for the dead. It is the opinion of all, that had the mail stage been two hours later, driver and passengers would have received the same fate. S.B. It now appears that the band of butchers were travelling in an easterly direction when they fell upon and murdered our late fellow citizens. All accounts agree in stating that they numb ered between 300 and 400, but this we take to be an over estimate. Some say that the warriors- no, not warriors, but skulking murderers, had their women and children with them, and that they were a band of Apache-Yumas who have been living in the mountains near the Colorado river, and who have never lived long on any reservation. Again it is thought that they were eastern Apaches, who were returning homeward from a trading trip among the Indians of the Colorado. But, speculation aside, they were Indians, and murd erous ones at that, and it is to be hoped that Lieut. Rice’s command will find, surprise and kill the last devil of them.

20134. Prescott Yavapai Co. Arizona Octo. 4th 72. Sister Ellen, I have for sometime thought you may have forgotten me as I have not heard from you (letter)

Prescott Yavapai Co. Arizona Octo. 4” 72. Sister Ellen I have for sometime thought you may have forgotten me as I have not heard from you: well I dont know but that the fault may lie at my door but be it as it may I shall write you and thus remove the responsibility to some one else. My health is good and location the same as before. This part of the country affords nothing that would probably interest you but still what there is I’ll try and tell as you will see, in the papers before this comes to hand: the indians have been treated to that which they dont often get via, good sound threshings during the last ten days (57) fifty seven have been killed in two fights and possibly as many more wounded. They have had control of the territory long enough in fact they were very busy killing and stealing just as often an such so am pleased these Loring’s murderers have been brought to light they were Camp Date Creek indians as we supposed some of these are in the guard house and some were killed while trying to arrest them they drew their rations at the above named camp it was a free fight indians commenced first Gen’l. Crook got knocked down during the fracas. The war has actively commenced. The diamond business I think is a humbug gotten for speculation mining and prospecting is dull farmers have gathered their crops in and I think they are better than last year, and still are not extra good shooting affairs take place as usual, one man buried to day and one lynching done. Esther in fact you would pronounce the morals of Prescott below par. I hear that there has been a new arrival is it so I guess it is Miss Helen allows me to rest in ignorance as to what transpires at Snag maybe some one else so occupies her thoughts to my exclusion give my respects to, well young ladies in general Tom sr. and Tom junior and the rest. Respectfully from your brother Jesse A. Park I am in the Dry Store yet

20008. Death In His Saddlebags, Charles Baldwin Genung, Arizona Pioneer, by Dan B. Genung, page 103, Camp Date Creek, 1871 (article)

DEATH IN HIS SADDLEBAGS Charles Baldwin Genung, Arizona Pioneer by Dan B. Genung page 103 CAMP DATE CREEK, 1871 In late afternoon, discovering that one of their horses was lame, Charley and the two Yavapai decided to remain overnight. After supper, all except those on guard duty gathered around a campfire. Pete, the large Mastiff Carl Smith had given Ida, had made the trip to Camp Date Creek at Ida’s insistence. Pete had been getting restless and needed the exercise, she said. She would be airight with the other guard dogs and the number of workmen at the ranch. “Wait’ll you see the fun we have,” the soldiers told Charley. The fun was a nightly visit from two coyotes who crept near the circle of fire. When the coyotes came too close, the soldiers’ dogs would attack. The coyotes would retreat to what seemed to be a set distance, then turn and chase the dogs back to the campfire. These seesaw races took place nightly until the coyotes became bored and trotted away. Pete leaped up, when the coyotes approached. “Wait. boy,” Charley commanded when the camp dogs began their pursuit, Charley said, “Now.” Pete took off after the others. “Wait’ll they turn. Watch him howl when the coyotes turn,” the soldiers told one another. Pete did not understand the game at all. He charged at the coyotes, grabbed the nearest one by the back, threw him in the air, and went after the other. Seeing no chance to catch the fleet animal, he soon stopped, sniffed at the one he killed and trotted back to the fire. He didn’t realize that he had spoiled the soldiers’ fun.

10244. Chief of the Yavapai at Camp Date Creek, A.T. - Ahoochy Kahmah. Charles Gentile Photography, 1870 (photograph)

Chief of the Yavapai at Camp Date Creek, A. T. — Ahoochy Kahmah. Also known as — A—wha—dja—ka—ma, A—wha—cha—ka—ma, Ochocoma , Ochocama, Ochicama, and O—hat—che—coma . Charles Gentile Photograph, 1870 Library of Congress Transparency #LC—USZC4—5674 Library of Congress B/W Neg. #LC—USZ62—117901

10121. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, July 11th, 1868. Local News. La Paz and Prescott Road.

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory July 11th, 1868 LOCAL NEWS. LA PAZ AND PRESCOTT ROAD.- On the last trip of Werninger and Jones trains from La Paz to Prescott they stopped at several points on the road between this place and Date Creek, when all hands turned out and worked upon the road. Mr. Werninger informed us that most of the labor performed was done in Bell t s Canyon and on the Mesa this side of Camp McPherson, both of which places had become almost impassable. In addition to the work performed by the men in the employ of Jones and Werninger, these two gentle— men, have subscribed liberally for the purpose of having the road shortened and repaired. Other freighters have done likewise, and we are told that the merchants of this town are acting in the matter. Yuma County has, we are informed had a Road Superinten— dent, some men and a team employed for some time past in repair— ing bad spots of the road within her boundaries, and it has been suggested that Yavapai might do something similar. With the expenditure of very little money , the present road could be shortened considerably, and a better route obtained. Hope our people and the County will move in the matter: the teamsters it appears to us, are doing their best to lighten our burdens, for they have reduced the price of freight from La Paz to this place from 8 to 6 cents per pound, and say they are prepared to reduce it still lower as soon as possible. Our true policy is to meet them half way and aid them all we can, to accomplish this necessary and desirable end. We want a cheap freight tariff and cheap goods.