Early Trails Of Spanish Explorers/Missionaries

Transcribed by Wilola Follett

Probably Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and his companion, Esteban, crossed through the furthest southeast corner of Cochise County in about 1528. Esteban returned with Fry Marcos de Niza traveling along the western boundary of Cochise county in 1539. The most famous explorer was Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, following fairly close to what is now Highway 191 (old Highway 666). It is also referred to the Coronado Trail. Father Eusebio Francisco Kino left a fairly accurate record of his travels. He traveled extensively in a triangle bounded by the San Pedro River, the Gila River and the US/ Mexico border.

Apache Pass

In the early 1700's Apache Pass was known to the Spaniards and was called "Puerto de Dado" - the definition of that phrase is wildly debated. A veiwer wrote in with one definition and I checked 4 sources and got 6 different responses. The general consensus is that you were gambling your life to pass through there, so "The Gate of the Die" (singular for dice) seems to work. Others argue that puerto means port, not gate and that dado means "given". Ask your Spanish speaking friend for your version.

The pass is a deep gorge about four miles long. It was a favorite spot for the Apaches to waylay emigrants, military, and miners. It was said that the four miles through the pass and the road beyond at either end held the bones of horses, mules, and oxen and the wreckage of the wagons so thick that travelers were never out of sight of them or of the graves along the trail.

Cooke's Route - 1846-1847

Although there were many paths/trails through Cochise County, there is no precise record of anglo wagon travel in Arizona until the Mexican War . Kearney dashed through on his way to California, but the Mormon Battalion, under the cammand of Colonel Phillips St. George Cooke, did establish a full-fledged wagon road. After the war this road was used extensively by settlers, the military, Indians, and men hauling a variety of commercial goods. The traffic greatly increased with the discovery of gold in California. This route was in Mexico until 1854 when the United States bought the Gadsden Purchase (land south of the Gila River to present day US/Mexico International Boundry.)

Jackass Mail - 1856-1858

Official name, San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line. The ride ran through Apache Pass, was very uncomfortable and slow. Most of the stations were just camping places. Although the line didn't last long it did leave a route for the Butterfield Overland Mail to use and improve upon.

Leache's Wagon Road - 1858

Jesse B. Leach, a civilian who had a contract with the Department of Interior, built a wagon road across southern Arizona (northern part of Cochise County). Leache's road followed Parke's railroad survey route north of the San Pedro Valley following the river, turning westward along the Gila River to Yuma. Eventually the road was used by the stage lines.

Butterfield Overland Mail - 1858-1861

The Butterfield stage route ran from St. Louis dropping down through Texas, New Mexico and for a short ways through Cochise County with the final stop at San Francisco. The mail route entered Arizona from New Mexico taking a course through the heart of the Chiricahua Apache's homeland. Stations were built about 20 miles apart and were stocked with fresh mules or horses, extra coaches, grain and food for the passengers. Stations in Cochise County were built of adobe and surrounded by a wall for protection. The Butterfield Overland Mail was very well organized and the first dependable transcontinental stage line. The wagon road was fairly short lived as the southern states seceded from the union during the Civil War. Cochise County was in Confederate territory.

Other Stage Lines

There were a few other stage lines crossing Cochise County - Tucson and Tombstone Stage Line - 1879; Tombstone and Patagonia Express - 1880; Norton and Stewart - 1881;

Today a major interstate highway crosses the desert in Cochise County, I-10. It runs through Benson, Willcox (north of Apache Pass) on to Lordsburg, NM.

References used:

1. Arizona Historic Land, by Bert M. Fireman, 1982

2. "The Overland Mail", Arizona Highway's Magazine, by B. Ira Judd, Oct 1958

3. "The Old Trails West", by Ralph Moody, 1963

4. The Arizona Story, compiled and edited from newspapers by Joseph Miller, 1952

5. Historical Atlas of Arizona, by Henry P. Walker and Don Bufkin, 1978

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