Letter 7: Dr. J.T. Alsap to Porter Jones. Prescott, Arizona Territory

              TERRITORY OF ARIZONA
Office of the Treasurer
Prescott Nov 5 1866
Porter Jones Esq
Dear Sir and Bro
Your letter Sept 6 1866 came duly to this hand this day and I hasten to
reply. I and your son Wm P Jones arrived in this country at nearly the same time
in the fall of 1863 and as there few persons here I soon became acquainted
with him quite intimately especially as we soon found we were brotheren. He
was a very adventurous prospector and he with his comerades [named Joseph
Lennon, John A, Boggs and Theodore Boggs]were travelling over the country
nearly all the time. On the Indian troubles commencing your son in comnay with
some eighty more among them myself enrolled himself under Col. Woolsey to
chastise the redskins and we made one expedition of 20 days together – This
was in the monthof April ’64. In May Col. Woolsey issued another call for men to
meet at his ranch on the first day of June 64 to go on another expedition. And
over one hundred men met in response to the call among them was y our son,
with his comerades. An arrangement was made by which yur son was not to go
on the expedition and another oneof the Company [Theo Boggs] went with it.
Your son was to stay and conduct the business of the Co. I went with expedition
as I was the only Surgeon of the Country- I could not get off very well and the
Company started on the first of June. Col Woolsey & myself did not start until the
2nd and overtook the party about thirty miles from the ranch. your son stayed all
night of the first of June at the ranch the next day just before the Colonel and
myself started- he started for his camp on the Big Bug Creek about six miles from
the ranch. He never reached it when about 4 miles from the ranch he was
attacked by a party of Indians numbering some 30 or 40.
he being alone and was killed after having apparently made a desperate
defence. The signs were that he had been ambushed by then and wounded at
the first fire and thus rendered unable to escape although he had retreated a half
mile or so from where he was first attacked. His body was found about two days
after by a party who were out looking for him. He was shot full of arrows and his
skull was fractured with
rocks as is the barbarous custom of the savages The party who found him
buried him at the spot where he was found as there was at that time no burial
ground in this country. everything was of course carried off by the Indians. He
had I understand some money with him at the time [which of course was lost] a
mule &shotgun &pistol. None of these things were ever recovered. I did not
hear of his death until some six weeks afterwards at Ft. Goodwin where we had
come in for provisions. The expedition was out 87 days before returning. After
we returned I learned the particulars I have written and soon after we obtained a
dispensation from California and opened a lodge of F&A Masons at this place of
which I had the honor to appointed Master. soonsfter the lodge was opened a
Gentleman by the name of Robinson who had come into possession of his
papers( they having been left at Robinson’s cabin by your son) brought
them to me as Master of the lodge deeming me the proper person to take charge
of them he [Robinson not being a Mason. Upon examination I found no papers
of any real value they consisting of a few old letters, most of which were from
friends in Nevada and some from Miss Kate Duval. There was no clue to any
relations in the letters and believing that the young lady would probably know his
friends and that any rate she ought to have her letters returned I wrote to her and
returned her her letters. There was some other person in Missouri to whom I
wrote [a gentleman] whose name I have forgotten having found a letter from him
to your son. Such is the history of the meloncholy event.
I do not think your son left any property here except it might be some mines. I
know that located some mines and have seen his name upon the records, but I
supposed they have been “jumped” as the phrase is before this as he was not
here to represent them and keep his title good
Your son still lies where buried, The fact is that until the last few months
things have been so unstable and uncertain that it was not deemed worth while
to “raise his body for more decent interment” Now however we have a properly
laid out Burial ground and a certainty that this country will remain inhabited and
that this place be a town. Some 2 months ago we sent our dispensation for a
lodge under which we had been working to the Grand lodge of California from
which it emanated with petition for a charter, Which has been granted to us but
has not yet arrived here. as soon as it does arrive I will move in this matter and I
have no doubt but we will bring the body of our Brother and your son to this place
and bury him with the honors due to a deceased Mason. The brethern here
have frequently talked about it & it would have been done before this but for the
reasons given above
I believe I have stated all the facts in relation to his untimely and cruel
death. It created a profound sensation here at the time as he was among the
first victims of savage cruelty in this part of the country and it was one of the
causes of the unrelenting hostility of the people of this part of the country to the
Indians. and of the no quarter system that is pursued by all citizens. No quarter
is given or asked on either side- it is war to the death whenever citizens &
Indians meet
Wm Jones was my friend and was so far as I know the friend of every
other man in this region of country. I have seen many lip compressed & eye
flash when his murder has been spoken of. I most cordially sympathize with you
in your bereavement and with your sorrow I greet you as Mason greets Mason
whether soever dispersed around the globe and subscribe myself
Yours Fraternally
J.T Alsap