Skeleton Canyon, called Cañon Bonita by the Mexicans,
is located northeast of the town of
Douglas, Arizona, in the
Peloncillo Mountains, which straddle the modern
Arizona and
New Mexico state line, in the
New Mexico Bootheel
The New Mexico Bootheel is a salient which comprises the southwestern corner of New Mexico. As part of the Gadsden Purchase it is bounded on the east by the Mexican state of Chihuahua along a line at extending south to latitude 31°20′0″ ...
region.
[
This canyon connects the ]Animas Valley
The Animas Valley is a lengthy and narrow, north–south long, valley located in western Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Sonora- Chihuahua, in the extreme northwest of the Chihuahuan Des ...
of New Mexico with the 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. T ...
of Arizona, and was once a main route between the United States and Mexico for both legal and illegal traffic. While originally known as Guadalupe Canyon, the area became called Skeleton Canyon, as a result of the bones of cows and humans left behind from cattle drives from Mexico.
Battles
The canyon was the site of several battles during the American Old West. In 1879, a group of outlaw Cowboys attacked a group of Mexican Rurales and stole their cattle. In July 1881, Curly Bill Brocius
William Brocius (c. 1845 – March 24, 1882), better known as Curly Bill Brocius, was an American gunman, rustler and an outlaw Cowboy in the Cochise County area of the Arizona Territory during the late 1870s and early 1880s. His name is like ...
attacked and killed about a dozen Mexican smugglers carrying silver and heading to the United States. In retribution, the Mexican government attacked and killed Newman Haynes Clanton
Newman Haynes Clanton (c. 1816 – August 13, 1881), also known as "Old Man" Clanton, was a cattle rancher and father of four sons, one of whom was killed during the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Two of his sons were involved in multiple conflic ...
and others as they were driving cattle through Guadalupe Canyon. In 1883, Apache Indians from Chihuahua's band surprised eight troopers of Troop D, Fourth Cavalry, killed three men, burned the wagons and supplies, and drove off forty horses and mules.[
]
Geronimo's surrender
Geronimo
Geronimo ( apm, Goyaałé, , ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a prominent leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache ba ...
's final surrender to General Nelson A Miles on September 4, 1886, occurred at the western edge of this canyon. As the surrender site is now on private property, commemorative monument has been erected to the northwest along SR 80, where it intersects with Skeleton Canyon Road in Arizona, at geographic coordinates . The mouth of the canyon lies about to the southeast just west of the Arizona – New Mexico line.[''Chiricahua Peak, Arizona – New Mexico'', 30x60 Minute Topographic Quadrangle, USGS 1994]
Murders and shootouts
On November 4, 1889, Judson "Comanche" White was found dead in Skeleton Canyon after being killed by persons or persons unknown; all his possession had been stolen as well.The Deseret News November 7, 1889
/ref>
On August 12, 1896, a shoot-out between the Christian gang and a posse resulted in the Skeleton Canyon shootout.
See also
* Geronimo's War and the role of two Apache scouts
* Indian Wars West of the Mississippi
* Skeleton Canyon Shootout
* Skeleton Canyon Massacre
:''These events should not be confused with the Skeleton Canyon Shootout in 1896.''
The Skeleton Canyon massacres refer to two separate attacks on Mexican citizens in 1879 and 1881. Skeleton Canyon is located in the Peloncillo Mountains (Hidal ...
* Skeleton Canyon treasure
The Skeleton Canyon treasure is said to be located in the Peloncillo Mountains within Skeleton Canyon. The canyon straddles the modern Arizona and New Mexico state line border and connects the Animas Valley of New Mexico, (the New Mexico Booth ...
* Guadalupe 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. Five American men were killed in an ambush, including "Old Man" Clanton, t ...
References
External links
Evolution, Use, and Effectiveness of the Apache Indian Scouts
Jul 31, 1937, Apache scout Martine dies
Scouts Guide Lieutenant Gatewood to Geronimo's and Naiche's camp
{{Coord, 31, 35, 24, N, 109, 2, 10, W, type:landmark_region:US-AZ, display=title
Arizona folklore
Canyons and gorges of Arizona
Canyons and gorges of New Mexico
Cochise County conflict
Geronimo
Landforms of Cochise County, Arizona
Landforms of Hidalgo County, New Mexico
New Mexico Bootheel
New Mexico folklore