Nov 1 Sunday 2009 Slaughter ranch
Today we drive to Douglas near the Mexico border to see the Slaughter Ranch near Douglas. 14 miles on a dusty dirt road. It was also known as the San Bernardino ranch. In 1884 John Horton Slaughter bought the homestead to establish his cattle empire. Slaughter served 2 terms as Cochise Country Sheriff. He was judge, jury and executioner. All in one. John Slaughter raised his family including many foster children. He had 500 hired hands to help run the ranch. No electric and no indoor plumbing. He built an ice house in 1903. He had the first telephone in the area connected to Tombstone. The Mexican border is only 600 feet away. He knew the Clayton's ,Earp's, Johnny Ringo, Pancho Villa and their kind. 65,000 acres 2/3 on the Mexico side. One can see the border fence from the ranch. We also walked on the old fort grounds on the property. We had a picnic lunch beside the pond where the water supplied by the Yaqui river. On our way back we stopped in the town of Douglas and went inside the 1907 Gadsden hotel. We saw the beautiful grand staircase, stained glass windows and marble columns. I have everyone for dinner at our place. A great end to another wonderful day.
REMEMBER-With a new day comes new strength and new thoughts.