Arizona Rangers

-


In 1901, because of all the gambling, prostitution, cattle rustling, copper and silver mining in the Arizona Territory, the Arizona Rangers were formed to keep things under control.  The territory was known as one of the last Wild West places, with many outlaws and lawmen drawn to the allure the desert had to give.  The densely populated towns, especially near the Mexico border, were inhabited with outlaws and the territory became inundated with corruption.

The Arizona Rangers were a group of skilled horsemen, trackers, marksmen, which consisted of a Captain, one Sergeant, and 12 Rangers.  Patterned after the Texas Rangers, these accomplished men were armed with the best horse and weapons to round up the unruly outlaws.

After 7 ½ years in operation, and after 107 men served with the rangers, the Arizona Rangers were broken up.  “On February 15, 1909, the Arizona legislature repealed the act establishing the Arizona Rangers. The vote to disband was vetoed by the Territorial Governor, but was overridden by assembly because of political pressure from county sheriffs and district attorneys in northern Arizona.”

In 1957, a group formed as a non-profit corporation was called the Arizona Rangers.  Today the Arizona Rangers are unpaid volunteers, and work with law enforcement officials and officers.  They also offer community service and work with the youth.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

26 Bar Ranch (John Wayne Ranch)

-
Image
Immersed in the Hereford’s history in Eagar, AZ, sits the 26 Bar Ranch.   It was first known as the Milky Way Ranch in the 1940’s with its big white show barn which housed many Hereford cattle.   The barn is now a local landmark.   In 1964 the ranch became the 26 Bar Ranch or John Wayne’s Ranch, who was one of the owners.   Wayne, along with Ken Reafsnyder and Louis Johnson, his business partners, kept the ranch until John Wayne’s death in 1979 from lung and stomach cancer.   Lately, I have heard rumors that Bigfoot has been seen near the ranch.   I don’t know if that is true or not, but it would be worth checking out.  John Wayne and Louis Johnson
Read more

The Haunted Strip Mall

-
Image
This unassuming strip mall, on 19th Avenue & Northern in Phoenix, has an Albertsons, Starbucks, Einstein’s Bagels and other shops or offices, and would never thought to be haunted, but it is. Many years before the strip mall existed on this site, there used to be several eroded buildings standing there. These structures were murky and eerie and abandoned for many years. There was much speculation that the buildings were haunted and ghosts have been reported wandering around the grounds. Between the deteriorating walls of these dark dwellings, apparitions and other strange occurrences had been seen and heard by eyewitnesses. Young kids and teens would dare each other to investigate the buildings at night using only a flashlight for protection. They would find an open hole in the fence to gain access and slowly, as a group, would enter a building. They never lasted the night claiming to hear crying, and whimpering sounds coming from the long dark passage. Only a few brave souls wou
Read more

Cowboy Mummy Found in Desert

-
Image
  There are many strange stories in the Arizona files. One that is told is about the mummy found in the desert near Gila Bend nicknamed “Sylvester”. Many believe that he once was a 19th century cowboy, a con that loved to play cards. Stories are told that he finally got caught cheating and was shot in the stomach. He made a hasty exit while bleeding profusely from his wound. He got as far as Arizona’s Gila Bend desert when he fell off his horse and died face down in the sweltering heat. Shortly afterwards, he was covered by the blowing sands, which appeared to have dried his body overnight. This apparently preserved his body resulting in the mummified form he was found in. The more believable story was that he was found shortly after death and preserved in a high level of arsenic. Arsenic was used to stop the physical occurrences of a corpse rotting by killing bacteria and insects that invaded it. This custom of using arsenic was found to be poisonous by the 1900’s and never used
Read more