Had a visit yesterday from a gentleman who has photos, letters and correspondence from his kin, Mr. Commadore Perry Crawford who travelled from San Diego to Silver City, New Mexico in 1873.
Mr. Crawford started by steamer, on the "Prince Alfred," in Victoria, British Columbia on December 27 of 1872 and arrived in San Francisco on New Years morning. He "tarried nine days" then took off again by steamer to San Diego, 450 miles south. He "stopped for a few hours at San Diego, then "took the stage for Fort Yuma on the Colorado River." He tells us he is on a four-horse stagecoach and they stop "every 12 or 15 miles" at a stage station where "we changed horses." This is how we picture stage travel throughout the west, but wait. From Arizona City (later to be called Yuma) he takes a "2 horse concern" that is "not so comfortable." However, from Tucson to Rios Mimbres, the "U.S. Mail and Stage line had degenerated. . .into a 2 wheeled one horse springless cart drawn by a miserable mule—said mule having to travel 60 miles without rest or change—save one hour to feed." He goes on to say this conveyance went on for "three days and nights—making in that time 230 miles, without sleep."
Totally changes your ideas about travel in Arizona, doesn't it?
Daily Whip Out: "An Arizona Stagecoach Bristling With Armed Guards"
"And now I am done with Arizona I will give you my opinion of it—formed by what I saw. It is the most barren, desolate and uninviting part of the west that I have visited."
—Commadore Perry Crawford
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