Pioneer Hotel

In 1970, Tucson suffered one of the biggest fire disasters of its history. On December 20, 1970 a fire began to engulf the upper floors of the Pioneer Hotel. While people on the lower floors managed to escape, the people on the upper levels were not so lucky. People who were trapped by the fire leapt to their deaths from windows. A mother, frantic by the idea of being engulfed by the flames, threw a mattress outside her window in a desperate attempt to save her children. All perished. Many others tried this attempt as well, only to be crushed against the pavement. Others died from smoke inhalation while trying in vain to wait for rescue from fire fighters. A 16-year old boy was later arrested and charged with the deaths of 29 individuals. Although the building has been restored and turned into office buildings, many have reported strange happenings. Late at night, employees have reported smelling acrid smoke and hearing frantic running on the upper floors. Some have heard screaming and the crying of children. Others have felt a sense of being trapped and desperation. More terrifying yet, is the account of a few who have seen the images of burnt bodies in the mirrors of the restrooms. One woman was so horrified, she quit her job the very day she saw the image.

Superstition Mountains

How far would you go in search for a treasure beyond your imagination?

Would you be willing to die for it? Legend tells of a mine that is unlike any other. It is called the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. Many who have gone in search for this elusive gold never return. In the Superstition Mountains the legend of this mine has taken a life of its own. The mountain itself is not one single mountain, but rather a chain of cliffs, peaks, plateaus, peaks, and mesas. Within this rough terrain, people have become lost, or have killed each other in their mad search for this gold. It is said that an Apache Thunder God who protects the mine from would-be-looters curses the place. When Francisco Vasquez de Coronado searched through here for the famed Seven Golden Cities of Cibola, his men began to disappear. When their bodies were found, many were headless, and mutilated. The rest of the Spaniards fled in terror, and Coronado dubbed the mountains, Monte Superstition. In the 1880’s, Don Miguel Peralta eventually discovered bits of gold. But the Apaches became angered by his presence. When he got word of their planned attack, he tried to escape with his men. It was to no avail, as all were massacred. It was said that 100-400 men perished in the massacre. A man by the name of Walz (who was the “Dutchman”) began to display vast amounts of gold throughout Phoenix in the late 1880’s. Although he was of German descent, the mine was dubbed after this miner. How he came about his vast amounts of wealth remains a mystery, although stories have speculated that he received a map from Peralta when he saved him from a knife fight. Over the century, dozens of bodies have been found scattered throughout the mountain range. Some have been mutilated and beheaded, while many had been shot through the head. All deaths remain a mystery to this day.

Tombstone

In a town where many lived and died by the gun, it is not surprising that the dead are unable to let go here. At one of the more famous haunts resides the O.K. Corral, the scene of one of the most famous gunfights in history. On that fateful afternoon of October 26, 1881, Wyatt Earp and his brothers, along with skilled gunman Doc Holiday, armed themselves and walked to the corral to confront a group of cowboys. In the group of the cowboys was the Clanton gang. Virgil, the oldest Earp, charged the Clantons with illegally bringing guns into Tombstone. For whatever reasons, Doc Holiday and Morgan Earp opened fire on the gang, and a gunfight ensued. After a matter of seconds, 3 men lay dead, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury. Since the gunfight, people have reported seeing ghostly apparitions, feeling cold-spots, hearing footsteps, and feeling hands upon them. Some have even reported seeing the armed gunmen who died in the gunfight.

The Dark Cell

In Yuma from 1876-1909 was a prison that once housed more than 3,000 inmates. Those that dared misbehave were thrown into the dreaded cell for solitary confinement. The cell was no more than ten by ten feet, and had a small ventilation shaft on the ceiling. The inmate would be shackled by two ringbolts, and all they would have to eat is bread and water once a day. When the sun went, the inmate would be submerged in complete darkness. Sometimes snakes, scorpions, and spiders would find their way into the cell, further tormenting the inmate. Many prisoners who left the cell would end up in the insane asylum in Phoenix. Many have felt cold-spots, or felt someone touching them when visiting the cell. Employees have heard screaming and cries for help coming from the cell as well. A writer for Arizona Highways wanted to experience the cell when writing an article. She wanted to be treated in the same manner as the inmates; to be shackled and only fed a loaf of bread and some water. The ventilation shaft was covered to leave out any light. She tried to maintain her exposure for 48 hours, but fell short of her goal. She began screaming to be let out, as she felt that she was not alone.

Charleston Bridge

Located between Sierra Vista and Tombstone is the old Charleston Bridge. It isn’t uncommon to run into someone from Sierra Vista who will tell you that at some point in their life, they have experienced the ghost of Charleston Bridge. Many stories abound as to who this mysterious lady was, but no one knows for sure who she really is. One popular story says that a woman who was madly in love with a man wanted desperately to be with him. But since she had children, the man cut off the relationship. In a moment of insanity, she took her children to the bridge and threw them over. When she told her lover what she had done, he became disgusted with her and wanted nothing more to do with her. Anguished by what she had done, she went to the same bridge and ended her life. Many claim that when they had driven over the old bridge, they would see a woman walking alone. People who didn’t offer her a ride would end up in horrible car crashes. Those that did would talk off how she left a wet spot on their passengers seat when she left. Many crosses mark the road from Sierra Vista to Tombstone, but whether or not that has anything to do with the mysterious lady is here say.

The gunfight did not actually take place in a corral

The gunfight took place in a vacant lot behind the OK Corral, with some of it spilling out onto Freemont Street in front of the lot.

It lasted less than 30 seconds

Most movie portrayals of the gunfight last several minutes. One of the early adaptations which seemed to set the standard for the later movies is “Gunfight at the OK Corral” starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas. It had the gunfight lasting 5 minutes. In actuality, the gunfight lasted about 29 seconds.

The combatants fought at very close range

The movies usually show the shooters firing across expansive corrals and courtyards, as well as in and out of barns and other buildings. In fact, all the participants were no more than a few feet from one another until Frank McLaury went for a horse on the street, trying to pull a rifle from its scabbard.

The “Good Guys” fired first

Although accounts differ among the surviving participants, most eyewitness accounts concur that the first shots were fired by Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday. In their defense, the Clantons and the McLaurys (with the possible exception of Tom McLaury – see below) began pulling weapons instead of throwing up their hands, as ordered by Marshal Virgil Earp.

Tom McLaury may have been unarmed

No weapon was found to have been in Tom’s possession. Wyatt Earp testified that Tom had been carrying a concealed weapon. Indeed, earlier in the day Wyatt had confronted Tom about that very issue. Some believe that sympathizers with the Cowboy gang removed Tom’s weapon from his body prior to the medical examinations in order to implicate the Earps, although this has never been established.

Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday were arrested for murder

12 days after the gunfight, as a result of charges of murder from Ike Clanton, Wyatt and Doc were arrested and jailed pending a preliminary hearing. Virgil was suspended from his police duties at the same time. At the conclusion of an exhaustive inquest, Judge Spicer ruled that the Earps and Holliday did nothing illegal, and the charges were dismissed. Doc and Wyatt spent 16 days in jail during the hearing.

It didn’t end there

As most western aficionados know, the animosity and bloodshed didn’t end with this gunfight. After the Earps were exonerated, the Cowboy Gang extracted their revenge by ambushing and shooting Virgil Earp (who recovered but lost the use of one arm for the rest of his life) and in a separate incident, Morgan Earp, who died as a result of his wounds. These attacks on his brothers sent Wyatt on what has come to be known as the Earp vendetta ride. Accompanied by Doc Holliday, Warren Earp, and others, Wyatt tracked down and killed some of the men he felt were responsible for killing Morgan and maiming Virgil.

To this day there is still much controversy over the gunfight and ensuing events. During the vendetta ride, Wyatt was a federal Marshall carrying warrants for the arrest of several people. Some of these people were riding in an opposing posse led by Cochise County Sheriff John Behan, who himself was carrying a warrant for Earp’s and Holliday’s arrests. The surviving Clantons still insist that the Earps were guilty of murder for their role in the gunfight, and that the vendetta ride was just a murder spree fueled by vengeance. Others adhere to the belief that the Earps were acting in the best interests of law and order by breaking up the Cowboy gang, who were indeed guilty of cattle rustling and stage robbery.