Skeleton Canyon Massacre
Encyclopedia
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.
were ambushed by 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 and a detachment of Rurales were sent out, among them Captain Alfredo Carrillo. The Rurales illegally crossed the border into Arizona and as the Rurales entered in the canyon, shots were fired. Three of the Rurales survived the initial onslaught. Then the posse leader was killed by execution. No action was taken by the Mexican Government, but they did protest the killings to President Chester Arthur despite the fact that the Mexican policemen had crossed into a foreign country where they had no jurisdiction. Johnny Ringo
reported that he was present at the ambush along with Old Man Clanton, Ike Clanton
, 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 as the murderers.
got word that several Mexican smugglers carrying silver were heading to the United States through Skeleton Canyon. 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 murderers opened fire, killing six of the nineteen. The rest were killed — some reports say tortured and killed — before they could get away.
. 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.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
citizens in 1879 and 1881. Skeleton Canyon is located in the Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)
Peloncillo Mountains (Hidalgo County)
The Peloncillo Mountains of Hidalgo County, , is a major 35-mi long mountain range of southwest New Mexico's Hidalgo County, and also part of the New Mexico Bootheel region. The range continues to the northwest into Arizona as the Peloncillo Mountains of Cochise County, Arizona...
, which straddles the modern Arizona and New Mexico state line border. This canyon connects the Animas Valley
Animas Valley
The Animas Valley is a lengthy and narrow, north-south 85 mi long, valley located in western Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua, in the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert, the large desert region of the north-central Mexican...
of New Mexico with the San Simon Valley
San Simon Valley
The San Simon Valley is a broad valley east of the Chiricahua Mountains, in the northeast corner of Cochise County, Arizona and southeastern Graham County, with a small portion near Antelope Pass in Hidalgo County of southwestern New Mexico. The valley trends generally north-south but in its...
of Arizona.
First Skeleton Canyon Massacre
The first Skeleton Canyon Massacre occurred in 1879 when a group of Mexican RuralesRurales
Rurales was the name commonly used to designate the Mexican Guardia Rural : a force of mounted police or gendarmerie that existed between 1861 and 1914...
were ambushed by rustlers. In July 1879, several rustlers attacked a rancho in northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, killing several of the inhabitants. After the attack on the rancho, the survivors reported the attacks to Commandant Francisco Neri and a detachment of Rurales were sent out, among them Captain Alfredo Carrillo. The Rurales illegally crossed the border into Arizona and as the Rurales entered in the canyon, shots were fired. Three of the Rurales survived the initial onslaught. Then the posse leader was killed by execution. No action was taken by the Mexican Government, but they did protest the killings to President Chester Arthur despite the fact that the Mexican policemen had crossed into a foreign country where they had no jurisdiction. Johnny Ringo
Johnny Ringo
John Peters "Johnny" Ringo was an outlaw Cowboy of the American Old West who was affiliated with Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell in Cochise County, Arizona Territory during 1881-1882.-Early life:...
reported that he was present at the ambush along with Old Man Clanton, Ike Clanton
Ike Clanton
Joseph Isaac Clanton was born in Callaway County, Missouri. He is best known for being a member of group of outlaw Cowboys that had ongoing conflicts with lawmen Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan Earp and Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. The Clantons repeatedly threatened the Earps because they interfered with...
, Billy Clanton, "Curly Bill" Brocius
William Brocius
William "Curly Bill" Brocius was a gunman, rustler and an outlaw Cowboy in the Cochise County area of Arizona Territory during the early 1880s. He had a number of conflicts with the lawmen of the Earp family, and he was named as one of the individuals who participated Morgan Earp's assassination....
, Florentino Cruz, brothers Frank and Tom McLaury, Jim Hughes, Rattlesnake Bill; Joe Hill; Charlie Snow; Jake Guage; and Charlie Thomas as the murderers.
Second Skeleton Canyon Massacre
In July 1881, "Curly Bill"William Brocius
William "Curly Bill" Brocius was a gunman, rustler and an outlaw Cowboy in the Cochise County area of Arizona Territory during the early 1880s. He had a number of conflicts with the lawmen of the Earp family, and he was named as one of the individuals who participated Morgan Earp's assassination....
got word that several Mexican smugglers carrying silver were heading to the United States through Skeleton Canyon. Curly Bill and several other men including Johnny Ringo
Johnny Ringo
John Peters "Johnny" Ringo was an outlaw Cowboy of the American Old West who was affiliated with Ike Clanton and Frank Stilwell in Cochise County, Arizona Territory during 1881-1882.-Early life:...
, Newman Haynes Clanton, Ike Clanton
Ike Clanton
Joseph Isaac Clanton was born in Callaway County, Missouri. He is best known for being a member of group of outlaw Cowboys that had ongoing conflicts with lawmen Wyatt, Virgil, Morgan Earp and Wyatt's friend Doc Holliday. The Clantons repeatedly threatened the Earps because they interfered with...
, 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 murderers opened fire, killing six of the nineteen. The rest were killed — some reports say tortured and killed — before they could get away.
Aftermath
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 MassacreGuadalupe Canyon Massacre
The Guadalupe Canyon Massacre was an incident that occurred on August 13, 1881 in the Guadalupe Canyon area of the southern Peloncillo Mountains – Guadalupe Mountains. The canyon straddles the modern Arizona and New Mexico state line and connects the Animas Valley of New Mexico with the San...
. 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 Movies
- In 1958 the attack was portrayed in an episode of the TV series Tombstone Territory.
- In the 1993 film TombstoneTombstone (film)Tombstone is a 1993 American action film set in the Old West directed by George P. Cosmatos, along with uncredited directorial efforts by actor Kurt Russell and writer Kevin Jarre. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Jarre....
the opening scene was supposed to be the Skeleton Canyon Massacre, but due to the injury of the character of Old Man Clanton, the scene was changed to a fictional wedding massacre.