Butterfield Overland Mail Company Station ~ attacked by its own!
The Dragoon Springs Massacre was a brutal event that occurred on September 9, 1858, at the Butterfield Overland Mail Company's stagecoach station near our very own Dragoon Springs. A group of Mexican laborers working to build stations along the Butterfield Overland Trail, likely motivated by a combination of factors including resentment towards the American presence in what used to be part of Mexico and the promise of reward, attacked the station in the dead of night.
The attack resulted in the tragic deaths of three Butterfield employees: James Laing, William Cunningham, and James Burr. Silas St. John, another employee, was severely injured but miraculously survived. His injuries were horrific, including a nearly severed left arm and a deep gash in his thigh. Despite his wounds, St. John managed to fend off the attackers and escape into the harsh desert wilderness.
Butterfield construction Superintendent William Buckle's personal account as documented in The New York Reformer, Watertown, November 4, 1858, "Particulars of the Murder of Mr. James Burr and Companions."
"The last hope that there might be an error or falsehood in the first report of the massacre of our old fellow townsman, Mr. James Burr, and his companions, at Dragoon Springs has been dispelled by a letter from William Buckley, one of the superintendents of the overland mail company, to his father. The details of the horrid murder equal in atrocity anything we read in the annals of crime. Mr. B. writes from Tucson, seventy-five miles from Dragoon Springs, September 14, five days after the murder. We copy from his letter: Uncle James, Mr. St. John, Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Laing, together with three Mexicans in our employ, were stationed at that place, [Dragoon Springs.] Everything had gone on well. I had not learned of any trouble between the men. I had eight mules with quite a large amount of property at the place. The murder was committed by the three Mexicans. Mr. Laing is undoubtedly dead before this. Mr. St. John is wounded, but I think with good care he will recover. The murder was committed in order to steal the property, as I had quite a large amount there. Uncle James was lying outside the corral when he was found, which was on Sunday morning. The murder was committed on Wednesday night. He lay in his blankets, with his head on one side all broken in. He had been killed with a stone hammer, and from all appearances he was struck two blows. He undoubtedly died without a struggle, from his appearance and position when found. Mr. Colwell and another man I had sent up to Dragoon Springs arrived there Sunday morning. Soon after the stage came up with Lieutenant Mowry, Colonel Leach, and several other passengers. Immediately on their arrival they buried uncle James and attended to the wants of the wounded men. They had nothing to eat or drink from Wednesday night to Sunday morning, being unable to move from the corral. Everything was done for them that men could do."