Frontier Friendship and the Rattlesnake in the Garden: A 19th‑Century Arizona Tale of Survival and Trust

 

Updated on October 29, 2025

John caught the writing bug in high school after a story he wrote was published. He has written for 15 years on HubPages.

 For the first in this series, see A-Tiny-Story-Romance-and-Savagery-in-19th-Century-Southwestern-Arizona

Installment 2:

Apache-Land-Travels-and-Surprises

Installment 3:

An-old-time-arizona-silver-mining-pioneer-adventure

Installment 4:

An-anglo-woman-and-her-hispanic-neighbor-in-18th-century-arizona-silver-country

AI assisted drawing

Jack Returns Home

“Welcome home, dear Jack. Let me fetch water to wash your face. Supper's on the table, stew and bread. Did you manage well today? It seems rather late?”

It was 7PM, and Jack was dead beat. Besides the roof collapse at the mine, Jack went back in to clean up the muck that covered the mine floor. Shoring and all manner of rock had to be moved out to make for a clean path into the working area.

“Nell today was a rough one. Hit a stubborn seam of rock around noon, and it cost us hours. Fingers ache from pickin', lungs feelin' the dust. But found a small vein, might get some silver out of it. Then a piece of roof collapsed. Exhausted, but it’s honest work. Supper smells mighty fine, I can smell the meat we spoke of earlier.”

His weary steps had given her pause. She was reticent to share her news. With a faint smile, she placed his food, her words carefully chosen, omitting news of a newfound friend. "Let his mind rest from the grind and struggles of his life," she thought. His need for a brief moment of peace outweighed her need to share.

Nell had news of her own to share.

Nell's Earlier Explorations

Nell had walked up the road and across to another adobe casa. She had noticed a young woman wave at her when they had come into town. She was eager to learn about the desert area and longed for some female companionship.

When she approached the casa, she could see chickens roaming in the front of the house. To the left of the front door was a plot of land being tended for vegetables. She thought to herself, "These folks are doing well. With such a garden the woman of the house may be a good cook and have many recipes, especially local ones." As she approached closer, she saw a number of shovels and other tools on the front porch leaning against the wall.

A Canela Introduction

The closer she approached the front door, the more cautious a dog in the front yard seemed to get. His ears started to lower, and its head bowed just enough to reveal the white of his eyes. With a slightly quivering lower lip he cut loose.

"Ark, ark, ark, gr.................."

A woman opened the front door and yelled, "Canela!"

The dog immediately recognized her master's tone of voice. The woman's face was tight illuminating slight crow's feet to the side of her eyes. The dog's ears relaxed a bit as she turned. Then her tail began to beat at the air like a feather duster.

Cordial Greetings

"Hello, my name is Nell. I am your neighbor over there." She pointed with her arm turning slightly. The pleasing slight breeze made the white cotton sleeve on her blouse wave gently..

"Very nice to meet you," the woman responded while slightly lowering her head in a nod, as if to say she really meant it. "My name is Juanita."

"Your garden is so beautiful, and your vegetables look amazing. My husband and I would love to grow such wonderful food."

"Come, I will show you around. I would be glad to help you learn," Juanita was enthused with the conversation and seemed, perhaps proud.

They followed a path next to the boards that allowed the raised garden. Suddenly, there was a sound, "chicka-chicka-chicka."

Juanita threw her arm out to stop Nell. "Be still!" she demanded.

A Slithering Menace

Not 15 feet away a tight, spiraling shape with its body wound around itself in several loops, had a raised head saying, "Beware!"

"Don't move," was Juanita's command as she turned and ran to the porch snatching a hoe. Nel was frozen in fear completely still, almost as if paralyzed. Her muscles were tense and rigid, with her arms and legs locked in place. Her eyes were wide open, staring unblinkingly at the source of their fear, pupils dilated.

Nel could hear Juanita as she rushed to the side of the snake. It was concentrating on Nell. In a nearly complete motion, the hoe was elevated above her head and came down with crisp, resonant sound, followed by a dull thud as the blade sank into the soil.

It was then that the rattlesnake flipped, its coils writhing over and over, first the white underbelly, then the brown diamonds, then the white belly again. Juanita had severed the creature's head from its tangle of coils. Rather unbelievably, the snake continued to coil and roll for several minutes. Sometimes a rattler can move for up to an hour after being sliced by an object.

Nell had held her breath altogether. Now breathing more rapidly, she had a cold sweat forming on her forehead. Then she took a step toward the snake at death's door. The hoe handle was quickly placed across her chest.

"No, it is still dangerous," Nell's guardian said, "No!"

Juanita grabbed a Palo Verde branch she had trimmed and used to disturb any grasshoppers that might be munching on her maize. She approached the head of the snake carefully with the outstretched branch tip nearly in its mouth. As soon as the stick touched the mouth, the rattler bit down hard. Juanita lifted it to show Nell how firm the snake held the wood.

When a rattlesnake is decapitated or seriously injured, its nervous system can still send reflexive signals to the body for a period of time. With a very serious look, Juanita interjected, "They do not die easily or quickly."

Handle with care! AI assisted picture.

We Will Leave It

"Let us go into my house, but first I must get Canela," the words came slowly, as if a tragic afterthought. Heading across the yard, she snagged Canela and pulled her to the back of the house with orders to stay. Canela lay on the ground by a back door. Walking around to the front, Juanita motioned for Nell to come in. Her hands at the doorway made a motion as if to say, "Please, come and visit awhile."

Just inside the warm abode, a calf cowhide rug lay on the floor. Nell walked gingerly around it, as the skin was far too beautiful to walk on. Its fur was splashed with brown and white splotches from head to tail.

"Please have some pan de elote, I made it this morning." Made with fresh corn kernels, sugar, and milk, giving it a moist and slightly creamy texture, the corn cake is a delicacy. Nell and Juanita approached a small table where a cake pan, fluted all the way around sat invitingly. The rectangular tin-coated iron was covered with a white cotton cloth. The table with small floral carvings on the sides spoke of an older time.

Lifting the cover from the metal bake tin, Juanita raised a portion of the corn cake and placed it on a saucer, a wooden spoon to the side.

The rattlesnake's nervous system is still active after a mortal wound. AI assisted drawing.

A Crumb, and an Amazing Awareness

Nel turned to find a seat and saw a campeche chair. With embossed leather for a back and a cane seat, the chair looked very elegant. In fact, it looked a bit out of place in Juanita's modest home. Simple curved wooden arms added to the graceful look.

Sitting down and conservatively savoring the pan de elote, a morsel fell to the side just missing the arm of her chair. She looked down to recover the tidbit and was intrigued by a low wooden chest. Its surface was dark and scarred yet polished in places from years of care. On top of the chest was a stack of aged papers, corners curling from the dry Arizona air. Among them, a particular document caught her eye—a brittle parchment with rough edges and faint traces of faded ink. Part of it protruded from beneath a ledger. As light fell on it, the unmistakable outline of a map revealed itself. The ink marks depicted jagged mountains, a river, and an “X” in bold strokes.

Campeche chairs were usually found in well-appointed homes. Yet, this stylish piece seemed suitable for Juanita's modest home. AI generated picture

A Doggie Disturbance

Suddenly there was a loud bark at the door. Canela was acting up and Juanita went to the door. On opening the door, she saw Canela sitting proudly outside the door. The lifeless body of a rattlesnake, sine head, was hanging from her jaws. With the snake's scales gleaming slightly in the fading sunlight, Canela's demeanor was one of triumph.

Juanita demanded that the dog drop the carcass immediately. "No! Drop it!" Canela obeyed swiftly.

Picking up the body, Juanita threw it to the side of the yard. She would talk to her husband when he arrived home from work in the mines. She closed the door and returned to the living area.

Nell, on hearing the disturbance, gathered herself. She knew not what to think of all that had just transpired. Thoughts raced through her mind. Was the parchment she just surveyed of importance? Raising her head on hearing the back door close she saw a small painting of a Madona. Mary's robe was blue, the reds were sparingly used as an accent on her robe, while her halo seemed of gold leaf. Again, this image was so wonderful, and yet, with Nell's Baptist upbringing, veneration would be a sin. The painting, once more, seemed out of place.

AI assisted picture

Nell Confides at Home

Jack had just heard of Nel's day. He had a pensive look about his face. Even though tired from a hard day's work, his face revealed an intrigued look.

"Hmm.., did you meet Juanita's husband?"

Nell's response was quick. "No, he had yet to come home, but Juanita was going to tell him about the snake she threw near the fence."

A Partially exposed drawing, perhaps a map, sat on a chest beside Nell. AI assisted picture.

Sources

Gontar, Cybelle T. (May 2009). The Magazine ANTIQUES. The American Campeche chair - The Magazine Antiques

Solly, Meilan (2018, June 8) Meilan Solly is Smithsonian magazine's senior associate digital editor, history. Why Rattlesnakes Are Just as Dangerous Dead or Alive | Smithsonian

When Iceland’s Banks Fell: Inside the 2008–2009 Financial Meltdown

 Updated on October 14, 2022

John has been interested in economics and politics since high school. He wants to vote more responsibly and watches candidates' positions.

What should Iceland do? | Source

Should Iceland Refuse to Pay?

In March of 2010, something rather remarkable happened. Icelanders voted not to accept a proposal called "Icesave" which would have provided for the repayment of funds that England and the Netherlands had paid to its citizens who had lost savings in Icelandic private banks.

When Icelandic banks went bankrupt in 2008 and 2009 due to the worldwide lack of liquidity, or put another way, money to carry on investment activities (the same reason the stock market crashed in the U.S.), the banks went belly up. To give you an idea of the severity of the problem, the Central Bank of Iceland had a total of 378.4 billion kronur, while the Icelandic private bank debt totaled 356.8 billion kronur. The central bank could not finance such repayments without incurring catastrophic damage to the Icelandic economy, an economy it was required to support by law. Hence, there was the birth of an idea for a graduated payment schedule based on the gross domestic product (GDP). Iceland's total debt to outsiders is 9.553 trillion kronur. This is equivalent to 50 billion Euros, or 65.91 billion USD at today's conversion.

Osvor Fishing Museum. Photographer: Herbert Ortner, Vienna, Austria July 11, 2003 | Source

A Proposal and What Happened

The proposal called for a kind of moratorium on debt payment. The government at the time felt it necessary to agree to the proposal for fear of being denied future loans, European Union membership, and a host of things viewed by politicians as intolerable. Negotiated with the participation of the Icelandic government, it required as much as 4% of Iceland's gross domestic product (GDP) to be paid to the United Kingdom (in British currency) from 2017 through 2023. The Netherlands would receive up to 2% of Icelandic GDP (calculated in Euros) over the same time frame. These loans were required to pay back the English and Dutch governments who had bailed out their country's citizens who had put their money in Icelandic banks. The private Icelandic banks had offered high interest rates, which was a lure to savers. But as anyone knows from economics 101, with higher return comes higher risk.

As mentioned earlier, in 2010, Icelanders voted down the proposal by 90% (viewed by some as repudiating its debt) claiming that they were not responsible for the liabilities of a private bank. Some estimates of the time to repay this debt are more like 30 years.

After a campaign to bring the population on board with the agreement, a second vote was taken. On 10 April 2010, Iceland voted again to reject the proposed government treaty by a margin of 60% to 40%. Spokespeople for the government have said that the people have spoken; no need for a third vote.

Glacier

Capitalism and Lingering Questions

The interesting feature of this whole thing is that the response of this small island people brings into question some of the perceived principles of capitalism, and as a result, the way democratic capitalist governments around the world have been dealing with private debt bailouts.

What is one such question? The first one will come shortly.

Free market capitalists are fond of supporting a hands-off approach to conducting business. Just about any interference by government is opposed. But in the case of Iceland, the people voted for a hands-off approach, namely that the public had no responsibility to England or the Netherlands for risks taken by its citizens. In other words, no bailout of private banks. Iceland’s banks are now under government boards who are basically locating assets, determining how much creditors will receive through bankruptcy laws, and closing down business until such time as new private banks are chartered. And incidentally, Iceland banks paid for adequate deposit insurance under European law.

Rainbows over iceland

The Questions

1. Question 1: This issue is going to wind up in International Court, but if the Icelanders decide to continue to repudiate the “debt," what will happen? They aren’t currently getting loans from anyone, and limitations have been placed on investment overseas, which results in keeping money at home in Iceland. So far so good compared to predictions.
2. Question 2: Will Britain or the Netherlands invade militarily and hold the people under martial law while these two forcefully implement a skimming of Iceland’s gross domestic production? Invasion (explosives) will hardly do anything for gross domestic product, and occupation certainly will do nothing to help the GDP. British and Dutch governments would be directly overseeing private business in Iceland in order to exact payment of the lost depositors’ money. That’s a formula for failure. Most capitalists love to quote Adam Smith, usually accepted as the father of modern economics. Smith was of the opinion that by dividing labor, stuff could be manufactured more cheaply. Through greater and greater divisions of labor, more and more products could be made. This would result in more and more money being earned, which would result in satisfying the needs of labor (including owners), with profit being turned back into the industry for improvements in production. He saw this as a moral process and a pattern that was cyclical; a pattern that should provide the best life for the masses.
3. Question 3: How does accepting the terms of the proposed agreement help the cycle of production in Iceland for children and grandchildren? It puts a burden on those generations that Iceland feels, under law, they should not place on them.
4. Question 4: Even though the Brits and Dutch feel they “loaned” their people money that Iceland should repay, this all brings into question whether a sovereign nation has an obligation to repudiate debt when it becomes a tool to subjugate its people for generations. The two largest industries in Iceland are fishing and geothermal heat. Iceland is already in recession and has been since 2008.
5. Question 5: If there is a point at which it is the obligation of a people to reject a proposal to pay off a “debt”, does this apply to less wealthy nations who have revolving loans, loans to pay off prior loans with ever-increasing interest rates and conditions? In Europe, for instance, Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Italy are at the point where any further loans will probably be conditioned on public property being used as collateral. So there would be the prospect of public lands being divided among banks, buildings being sold, lottery proceeds being promised to banks, access fees being promised to banks, etc. In essence, the banks would become the government. One could say that the people did not enter into the agreements, but the government did (I know, the people are the government because they vote, but we know how that goes). Under the current situation, a lot of economists think no matter what these countries do, they will never be able to pay off the debt. Is there a point when a debt becomes impossible to repay, and therefore whether or not a government should or shouldn’t have acted more prudently, the debt should be repudiated? Would these nations be better off repudiating than continuing what has been going on with growing debt service and huge loans? Can what has been going on even continue before the loaner nations and/or debtor nations break?

Land of ice and steam

No Conclusions

I don’t have answers to these questions, but Iceland’s refusal to pay for loans to English and Dutch depositors charges the imagination. The commonly held thinking about the consequences of repudiation comes into question.

 

Meta Hit With Record $17.1 Billion Settlement as States Crack Down on Harmful Social Media Practices

On August 26, 2026, Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb announced a massive multistate settlement with Meta Platforms, Inc.—the biggest Big Tech settlement ever, second only to the tobacco cases of the 1990s. As part of the agreement, the District of Columbia will receive between $90.3 million and $129.3 million. The lawsuit argued that Meta knowingly designed Instagram and Facebook in ways that were addictive and psychologically harmful to kids, all while misleading the public about the risks. Now, Meta will be required to roll out major safety reforms across both platforms, marking a turning point in how social media companies treat young users.

Brian L. Schwalb, Attorney General of the U.S.

Schwalb didn’t hold back in describing Meta’s behavior, saying the company “intentionally exploited kids for profit and then lied about it,” even though its own internal research showed the platforms were harmful. He called the settlement a major public health win, especially for teens who have been dealing with the mental, emotional, and physical fallout of social media addiction. According to Schwalb, Meta is the first major platform to agree to such sweeping changes, and it likely won’t be the last.

Over the next decade, Meta will pay at least $12.1 billion to resolve lawsuits filed by 51 states and territories. That number could climb to $17.1 billion if other major social media companies agree to adopt similar safety features. If they do, Meta will also be required to strengthen those protections even further.

The reforms Meta must implement are extensive. Instagram and Facebook will introduce strict daily time limits for young users, including mandatory breaks designed to interrupt endless scrolling. Kids will face nighttime restrictions that block access to feeds and silence notifications during late hours, and school‑time protections will cut off push alerts during the school day. Meta will also have to improve age verification, introduce stronger safeguards against bullying and harmful content, limit features that fuel unhealthy social comparison, and give parents more intuitive control over their children’s accounts. An independent auditor will regularly evaluate how well these changes work, with oversight from the states involved in the settlement. These updates are more far‑reaching than anything previously ordered by a court.

The settlement follows years of investigation. Starting in 2021, attorneys general across the country began digging into how social media companies were targeting kids despite knowing the risks. The investigation found that Meta intentionally built features to keep children hooked, chasing ad revenue while hiding internal research that showed the platforms were damaging young users’ mental health. In 2023, 42 attorneys general—including Schwalb—filed suit. DC’s case moved forward in Superior Court, while other states pursued their claims in federal and state courts. Evidence uncovered by DC’s Office of the Attorney General showed that Meta’s lawyers tried to prevent damaging internal research from being disclosed, even advising employees to remove sections of documents that revealed how vulnerable teen users were.

DC’s lawsuit highlighted the dangerous and manipulative design choices baked into Meta’s platforms. While a federal court dismissed many of the claims in the multistate case, DC’s Superior Court allowed the District to continue challenging all of those features. The case was handled by Kevin Vermillion, Emily Holness, and former director Adam Teitelbaum from the Office of Consumer Protection.

Attorney General Schwalb was joined in the settlement by attorneys general from nearly every state and territory, reflecting a broad, bipartisan effort to hold Meta accountable and push the tech industry toward safer, more responsible practices.

Why Western Liberal Values Are Fundamentally Incompatible with Classical Islamic Law

The question of whether Western liberal values can coexist with classical Islamic jurisprudence is not merely a matter of cultural difference or political disagreement. It is a deeper structural issue rooted in the foundational principles that define each system. Western liberalism is built on secularism, individual autonomy, and moral relativism, while classical Islam is grounded in divine sovereignty, communal obligation, and objective moral truth. These are not superficial contrasts but opposing philosophical frameworks that shape law, morality, governance, and social life. Because each system begins from a fundamentally different source of authority, attempts to harmonize them inevitably force one to yield its core premise. This analysis concerns systems rather than individuals; it does not address Muslims as people but the doctrinal and philosophical structures that guide Western liberalism and classical Islam.

At the heart of the incompatibility lies the foundational source of authority. Western liberalism assumes that authority originates from human reason, the social contract, and democratic consent. Morality is considered negotiable, evolving, and subject to pluralism, and the state itself is secular, operating on the basis of man‑made law. Classical Islam, by contrast, holds that authority originates from God and divine revelation. Morality is objective, fixed, and not subject to democratic revision, and Shari’ah is understood as divine in origin, with human legislation occupying only a secondary role. These two foundations cannot be reconciled without one system abandoning its essential principle. If law is man‑made in one system and God‑made in another, they cannot coexist without one losing coherence.

This foundational divide extends naturally into the question of individual autonomy versus communal obligation. Western liberalism elevates the individual as the primary moral unit. Self‑expression, personal lifestyle choice, and freedom from community norms are central, and the prevailing ethos is that personal rights take precedence over tradition. Classical Islam, however, places the community (ummah) and divine command at the center of moral life. Obligations to God override personal preference, social norms are religiously anchored, and individual freedom is bounded by moral duty. A system built on individual autonomy cannot fully coexist with a system built on divinely mandated communal obligations without one compromising its essential structure.

The tension becomes even more pronounced when examining secularism and sacred law. Western liberalism treats religion as a private matter and insists that the state remain neutral toward religious belief. No religious law is permitted to govern public life, and the separation of church and state is considered foundational. Classical Islam treats religion as inherently public. Law, ethics, and governance are unified, and Shari’ah is intended to regulate society as a whole, not merely personal spirituality. A secular state cannot implement sacred law, and a sacred‑law system cannot accept secular neutrality; the two represent mutually exclusive models of governance.

Moral philosophy reveals another deep structural divide: moral relativism versus moral absolutism. Western liberalism embraces the idea that morality is subjective and that individuals should “live and let live.” Competing moral systems are expected to coexist within the same society, and moral pluralism is considered a virtue. Classical Islam maintains that morality is objective and revealed. Certain acts are categorically forbidden or required, and society has an obligation to uphold moral truth. A relativist moral framework cannot coexist with an absolutist one without generating conflict over public norms and the moral direction of society.

Freedom of expression is another area where the two systems diverge sharply. In Western liberal societies, freedom of expression is nearly unrestricted. Criticism of religion is protected, and even blasphemy is considered a legitimate exercise of personal liberty. In classical Islamic jurisprudence, blasphemy is a grave offense, insulting prophets or scripture is strictly forbidden, and speech is morally regulated. A system that protects blasphemy cannot align with a system that prohibits it; the two approaches to speech are fundamentally incompatible.

Gender and family norms further illustrate the structural divide. Western liberalism views gender roles as fluid, marriage as a personal contract, and sexual autonomy as central to individual identity. Classical Islam views gender roles as divinely structured, marriage as a religious institution, and sexual ethics as strictly defined. A system built on self‑defined gender and sexual norms cannot fully align with a system built on divinely mandated ones without undermining one or the other.

Finally, the question of pluralism versus exclusivism highlights a philosophical incompatibility. Western liberalism holds that all belief systems are equally valid in public life and that the state must treat them with equal neutrality. Classical Islam maintains that truth is singular and that Islam is the final revelation. A pluralist truth framework cannot be reconciled with an exclusivist one without one losing its philosophical foundation.

In synthesis, the incompatibility argument ultimately rests on a single core point: Western liberalism is built on human sovereignty, while classical Islam is built on divine sovereignty. Two systems cannot share sovereignty. When one system asserts that human beings are the ultimate authors of law and morality, and the other asserts that God is the ultimate author of law and morality, the resulting conflict is structural rather than incidental. This makes the incompatibility thesis one of the strongest academically defensible arguments in comparative political philosophy.

Operation Economic Outcast: Inside America’s Largest Sanctions Offensive to Isolate Iran’s Regime

August 25, 2026

Operation Economic Outcast is a broad U.S. economic pressure campaign announced by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on August 24, 2026. Its purpose is to sever every remaining financial and commercial lifeline supporting Iran’s regime. Bessent has described the effort as “the single greatest financial offensive ever” and even called it an “economic D‑Day.” The strategy is meant to isolate Iran from global markets, block its revenue sources, and force Tehran to choose between complete isolation or reintegration into the world economy. The campaign follows six months of U.S. and Israeli military operations and comes at a time when a naval blockade is already tightening pressure on Iran.

The plan targets nearly sixty individuals, companies, and vessels tied to illicit oil smuggling networks, nuclear and missile procurement rings, cyber groups attacking U.S. infrastructure, and Iran’s largest state bank, Bank Melli, which has been ordered to shut down all branches. For the first time, the U.S. is also sanctioning crypto facilitators, including exchanges, decentralized finance platforms, and stablecoin issuers. In addition to these direct designations, the United States is expanding secondary sanctions into five major sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping. Any entity that helps Iran operate in these areas risks facing U.S. penalties.

To enforce the campaign, the Treasury has built what it calls a “zero‑leakage” architecture and suspended general licenses that previously allowed limited Iranian transactions. The State Department is simultaneously targeting military procurement networks, cyber groups, and petroleum and petrochemical traders. Bessent has warned that no country is exempt from these measures, naming China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Qatar, and Turkey as potential pressure points. The United Arab Emirates has already suspended trade with Iran, closing off one of Tehran’s major financial backchannels.

Strategically, the United States aims to cut off the oil revenue that funds Iran’s security apparatus, disrupt illicit finance through crypto and alternative assets, and prevent Iran from reentering global markets without U.S. approval. The administration has signaled that this economic campaign will remain its primary strategy through the midterm elections, though military options have not been ruled out. In short, Operation Economic Outcast is a sweeping, multi‑sector sanctions offensive designed to economically suffocate Iran, with secondary sanctions turning it into a global enforcement tool.

An Arizona Boom Town: The Draw of Silver after The Civil War

 

Updated on October 20, 2025

John caught the writing bug in high school after a story he wrote was published. He has written for 14 years on HubPages.

Jack and Nell on their way to their new Harshaw home.

A Serial - 19th Century Arizona Journey of Hope

INSTALLMENT 1

A-Tiny-Story-Romance-and-Savagery-in-19th-Century-Southwestern-Arizona

Installment 2: Apache-Land-Travels-and-Surprises

Installment 3:

an-old-time-arizona-silver-mining-pioneer-adventure

Installment 4:

arizona-silver-country

On Their Way

The sunbaked landscape of Arizona stretched out before Jack and Nell as the couple rode into the small settlement of Harshaw. Jack, his face weathered by the journey, squinted against the relentless desert sun. Nell was sitting not so straight on her horse, her Stetson shielding her fair skin from the harsh rays of the sun.

Their excitement was palpable. They had heard tales of Harshaw—a place where dreams could take root, where fortunes could be made. The promise of a new life beckoned them, and their hearts swelled with hope. Jack's calloused hands gripped the reins, guiding the horse along the dusty trail. His eyes scanned the horizon, searching for the first glimpse of their new home.

As they approached the settlement, the adobe buildings came into view — humble structures with red-tiled roofs, nestled against the backdrop of rugged mountains. Jack's chest tightened. This was it — their fresh start. The house they had purchased sight unseen awaited them — a modest abode with whitewashed walls and a terracotta tiled roof. It might not be grand, but it was theirs.

Beyond the home about a quarter mile was the bustling activity of a thriving mining community. Harshaw was named after David Tecumseh Harshaw, a cattleman-turned-prospector who first discovered silver in the area.

“Jack, it’s as charming as they said! We will find work here, won't we?”

They dismounted; legs stiff from the long ride. The air smelled of mesquite and promise.

Jack smiled, his sun-bleached mustache twitching. “I reckon so, Nell. The mines are booming, and there’s talk of a new railroad coming through. We’ll find our place.”

Whitewashed Adobe Never Looked So Good

They walked toward their new house. | Source

A Livable Place

They walked toward their new house. The wooden door stood ajar, inviting them inside. The floors were bare, but the sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the empty rooms. Nell traced her fingers along the rough-hewn walls, imagining curtains and furniture filling the space.

Old houses mended, Cost little less than new before they're ended. Colley Cibber | Source

Mining for A Good Life

Outside, Jack surveyed the land — the arid soil, the distant hills. He knew the work would be hard, the days long. But he also knew that here, in Harshaw, they had a chance. A chance to build something from nothing, to forge a life together.

The first thing he looked for were signs of silver shafts.

Evening Approaches

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the desert, John and Mary sat on their porch. The stars blinked to life above them, and they whispered their dreams into the night. Harshaw, would be their new beginning, their oasis in the vastness of the Arizona wilderness.

Jack was a bit uncomfortable. He had been waiting to tell Nell of his plans. Now was the time.

"I'll be up early to head to town. It is important to make a connection. The best place for that is the saloon. I will be out at sunup."

And so, with hope in their hearts and the promise of work on the horizon, they settled into their house—their own piece of the American dream, carved out of sunbaked earth and determination.

Approaching Harshaw, Arizona from Jack's and Nell's new home. | Source

An Early Appointment

Jack was up early the next morning. He had tried to be quiet, but Nell was already rustling and anxious to start the new day cleaning a preparing their dated casita.

With a puzzled look, Nell stated, "You're up early. Clean clothes and a shave sound serious."

'You don't land a job in the mines looking like a bum. It's after you secure the job that you look like a bum,' Jack retorted. And then as if to put a fine point on it, he holstered his Colt Single Action Army revolver.

"Going to town shouldn't necessitate that!", she blasted. Nell was holding on to her Eastern upbringing where everything was more civilized.

A Disagreement

“Jack,” she said, her voice a mix of curiosity and suspicion, “why in the name of all that’s sensible do you need to be at the saloon at this ungodly hour?”

Jack shifted his weight from one foot to the other, avoiding her direct gaze. “Nell,” he began, “it’s about the job. You know how things are—opportunities don’t wait until high noon.

Nell crossed her arms, her apron strings digging into her waist. “Opportunities, you say? Jack, we’ve been scraping by, living on hope and dust. What kind of opportunity awaits you in that dimly lit saloon?”

He cleared his throat, choosing his words carefully. “You see, Nell it’s not just any saloon. It’s where the miners gather—the ones who’ve struck copper veins or silver lodes. They talk business, share secrets, and make connections. If I want work, I need to be there.”

Nell’s eyes softened, but her skepticism remained. “Connections, you say? Jack, you’re not much of a drinker. What kind of connections can a sober man make in a place reeking of whiskey and desperation?”

Jack leaned against the rough-hewn wall, tracing the grain with his calloused fingers. “True, Nell. But it’s not about the drink. It’s about the conversations—the hushed exchanges over cards, the nods exchanged at the bar. Men who’ve been through hell in the mines—they know things. They know who’s hiring, who’s expanding their operations, who needs a steady hand.”

Jack kissed her on the cheek and smiled.

Walking through the doorway he could smell dust and saw some smoke from the hills. Despite the air not being pure, he was anxious to make contacts in town. Harshaw was a bustling place. He mounted his horse counting on some friendly social interaction at the local saloon. Though not unpredictable, Jack would encounter a brief surprise.

Preliminary Observations

His former race horse was walking steadily on the dirt road leading to Harshaw. Not yet to the entrance to town, heading southeast, Jack could see the outlines of townspeople.

On entering town, he rode past the general store, its sign creaking in the breeze. A few townsfolk glanced their way, curiosity etching their faces.

Most of the houses were made of sunbaked adobe brick. Some were whitewashed, others the color of mud. Hitching posts and water troughs purported a lot of horse traffic. He noted a hand-cranked water pump standing just before the saloon. His horse lowered its head and shook; this arid land encouraged animals to drink when they could.

The syncopated rhythm and cheerful melody drifting from this tavern was lively and upbeat. Jack heard a honky-tonk piano playing in the background. The sounds of happy voices and loud singing were quite audible.

Jack was thinking, "This is the place," when a large man, beard and mustache covered with dust, came stumbling out of the saloon through batwing doors. Jack immediately detected the sweet, yet sour odor of pungent alcohol. Jack quickly ruminated about his luck, "My first human encounter in Harshaw is with a drunk. That might not be a bad thing."

Confederate Vets and Union Vets Inhabited Southern Arizona

Some 200 Confederate cavalry (1862) were located in Tucson, while some Confederate militia also existed. By 1863, 2000 Union troops arrived in Arizona from California. As is the usual process, soldiers lingered and decided to stay in Arizona after the hostilities between North and South concluded.

Civil War Consequences

From the doors, Jack could see a long wooden bar. He approached the bar, a space available between two men, obviously miners. The fellow to his left gave a gradual glance at Jack. He quickly turned, standing perfectly straight and shouted pointing to Jack's holster "Yankee!!"

Immediately, Jack felt a large glass mug impact his head. Startled and momentarily wobbly as he leaned slightly forward, Jack mustered enough strength to apply a left hook to this enraged laborer. Spittle sprayed on the bar counter. As it settled Jack gave him a very firm right cross to the other jaw, followed by a quick left uppercut. The worker's head swung back along with his body, and he went down with a heavy thump. He didn't move.

Two other bar goers dragged the unfortunate fighter out of the saloon. His boots scuffed along the wooden floor sounding like a soft scuffing drag.

Jack found a nearby table and pulled up a chair. He was bent forward and moving his head side to side slowly while his hand touched his head. He was in a state of relative disbelief. Nell had more or less warned him. Unfortunately, he had fancied this would be a gentlemanly introduction to the town and a way to have a conversation with those employed in the town.

Chew Adaptations

Many saloons had gutter-like troughs at the bottom of the bar, which were often made of brass. They ran the length of the bar, and fresh water flowed through them to wash away waste, including tobacco spit, to an awaiting drain.

An Introduction

"Howdy," was what Jack heard as he stared at the shiny brass fixture below the foot rest at the bar.

"You will have to forgive Reb. When he's had his limitation of spirits, he can fly off the handle. You Yanks need to be more careful about your garb."

Dismayed, Jack replied, "What you know about it?"

"That holster says it all," came the retort from this mystery man.

Garb Can Do You In

Civil War era holster.

An Introduction

"My name is John Walther, owner of Copper Ridge Mine. You seem to be plenty strong enough to swing a miner's pick and know pugilistic skills for sure. Those are skills I am looking for. Would you be interested in hiring out to me?"

Jack quickly reflected about this. Things did happen fast in Arizona. And he wasn't daft enough to turn down a possible job.

"Yes, sir!" Jack responded smartly.

"Done. Be at the Copper Ridge tomorrow morning. Seven sharp." They shook hands.

Then there would be Nell upon his arrival at home. She always seemed to put a spin on bad news. First, she would watch him come in the door and say, "Are you hurt, what happened?" Then she would blurt, "Seems you’ve upgraded from ‘saloon socializing' to ‘mug dodging’!"

More Reading

For more stories of gold, buried treasure, silver, and other grand things of value, see, Golden Legends Tales of Buried Treasure, https://goldlegendstalesofburiedtreasure.blogspot.com/

Historical Contributions

Trimble, Marshall. (Sep 29, 2020) True West History of the American Frontier. Wyatt’s Stallion, the Apache Kid and the Code of the West - True West Magazine

Chatterton, Liz. (November 18,2010). LIfestyle Blog. A Lesson in Tavern History – the Fresh Flow Trough Spittoon (kegworks.com)\

Lyons, Chuck. (January 9, 2017). Uncategorized Historynet.The Bank Crowd and Silver Kings Made a Fortune From the Comstock (historynet.com)

Vlorel, Jim. (August 10, 2018). Paste. The 1800s: When Americans Drank Whiskey Like it was Water - Paste Magazine