b'THE OLD STORYTELLEROne of the Last Arizona GunfightsBy Hank Sheffer, The Old StorytellerWHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ARIZONA they generally refer to the same topics. Right at the top of the list is the Grand Canyon. Of course, there is always Jacob Waltz and his Lost Dutchman gold. There is Roosevelt Dam and the many beautiful man-made lakes and history that accompany them. And of course, there are the CowboysTunnel Saloon, then and nowand Indians. And you can still see locations where true-to-life old-west street shootouts actually took place like Tombstone, where the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral came to a head. For another, there is Florence, Arizona, where the deadly shootout in the Tunnel Saloon took place.What?Wait a minuteWhat Tunnel Saloon?What gunfight? I t was the year 1888, seven years after the Tombstonethe meantime, by 1859 young Pete had crossed the altercation when one of the last gunfights to takeSierra Nevada to work for the famed Col. Frederick place in the Arizona Territory shattered the warmWest Lander, an explorer and superintendent of the spring day with gunfire and death. At that time it wastranscontinental wagon route. Later, Lander became a every bit as notorious as the OK Corral affray. But firstgeneral in the Union Army during the American Civilthe absence of his pistols missing trigger guard and front off we need to get a perspective of what was going whenWar. This is an important point and, as we will see later,sight on his Colts hardware. He is known to have some things were popping during those adolescent years. this certainly could have been another one of thosehard bark with a nasty disposition and quick temper that political differences that grew up between Peter Gabrielescalated while drinking.Florence was founded in 1866. In 1875, the Silver Kingand Joe Phy.claim was filed some 30 miles away. It rapidly became aDuring an incident in September 1873, notorious boomtown due to the incredibly productive silver mine,The 1860s were busy years for Gabriel. Throughbandido boss Tiburcio Vsquez fled into eastern Los bringing both prosperity and trouble in equal portions,the influence of Judge Whiteside, Gabriel landedAngeles County following the Tres Pinos Tragedy. After and was soon selected as the county seat to the newlyemployment as a mule skinner and hunter undera five-month pursuit, Gabriel, Sheriff Rowland, and established Pinal County. Josiah D. Whitney, leader of the first comprehensivethe small posse approached Rancho Potrero Grande geological survey of California. Pete stayed with thewhere a band of squatters were holed up. One of the Also, it is important to see a clearer picture ofsurvey party for a year before he joined the Idaho Goldsquatters (Bernard Newman) opened fire. Gabriel what gunfights or shootouts in those early days,Rush. He prospected and served for a time as a deputywas hit and suffered a perforated lung. Rowland and disappointing as it may be, were truly like. Theysheriff. During the era, he married Marie Rinehart inhis men hurriedly brought Gabriel to Los Angeles to certainly were not the ilk Hollywood would have us toMay 1864. By the time that decade rolled away, Pete,get doctored. The posse then returned to Rancho and believe. The portrait of two pistoleros tensely facinghis wife, and young daughter had again moved andarrested Newman.each other in some sort of heroic, noble-like posturesettled near Prescott, Arizona Territory. Unfortunately, pursuing justice in the middle of Main Street just ainthis drinking and gambling seemed to chase after PeteIn the meantime, doctors in Los Angeles thoroughly the way it was. With that, lets have a closer look atwherever he went.believed Deputy Gabriels chances of survival were little the participants of the Tunnel Saloon gunfight and seeand none! He was laid up for months. True to form, what really happened on May 31st in 1888. One story goes on Christmas night in 1870; Gabriel wasGabriel had other plans about that dying part. By 1875, at a saloon in Kirkland Valley southwest of Prescott. Heafter quite a difficult recovery period, Gabriel was well John Peter Gabriel was born on November 17, 1838, inand a gambler named Boyce were drinking and playingenough to return to Prescottjust in time to face the Kruft, Germany. He was just nine years old when he andpoker. Gabriel spotted Boyce cheating and ordered himmurder charge leftover from the card game shooting his parents immigrated to the United States, where theto stop. Then Gabriel drew four jacks. That was too muchback in 1873. The trial was set for October. This time he family settled in Grant County, Wisconsin. When hisand Boyce now claimed Pete was cheating. Accordingwas acquitted of all charges.father died several years later, his mother found herselfto one account, Boyce tried to grab the pot; in another unable to take care of her 12-year-old son. Peter wasinstant, he drew a knife. Gabriel did not hesitateheAfter those several years of setbacks, Gabriel eventually taken in by a prominent lawyer of the time by name ofdrew his six-gun and fired. One round killed Boycedrifted south to Florence. He was running the Silver Ninian Whiteside. Whiteside soon moved to Californiainstantly while another struck an innocent bystander.King Hotel (in Florence) in 1877, when Sheriff Peter R. following the gold rush, where he settled aboveGabriel was charged with murder, and the case came toBrady appointed him a resident deputy. Gabriel became Marysville on the Yuba River. This is where young Petertrial in July 1873 resulting in a hung jury. Those werentquite popular with the locals who prompted him to began his school of hard knocks education. He had tothe only casualties. The fact Gabriel had been drinkingrun for sheriff against his boss. He did so in 1878. He fight his way through to early adulthood in the violentand gambling and shot two men on Christmas likely didwon the popular election for Pinal County sheriff and rough-and-tumble mining camps of Yuba County. Innot sit well with his wife, Marie. Their marriage had notassumed office two months later.those days every man carried firearms and was expectedbeen a happy one, and the couple eventually divorced.to solve their own problems. Now Mr. Gabriel found himself back in California,In 1880, the 41- year-old sheriff married Carrie Wratten, serving as a deputy under Los Angeles County Sheriff,the 17-year-old daughter of a friend. This marriage Ninian Whiteside soon became a judge and well- William R. Billy Rowland. Gabriel had achieved adid not survive any better than the first one . . . and for known politician in Marysville and Sacramento. Inreputation as a quick gun hand. This was reinforced byessentially the same reasons! Nevertheless, Gabriels 8 August 2021'