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Tragic Jack
Tragic Jack; the true story of
Arizona Pioneer
John William Swilling
ISBN 0762741511, Published 2007
TRAGIC JACK - Jack
Swilling, Father of Phoenix
John William “Jack” Swilling,
who established and later named the city of Phoenix, led an impressive
and complex life as a scout, farmer, prospector, rancher, and
entrepreneur. He fought in the war with Mexico, founded the Swilling
Irrigation Canal Company, owned a number of mines, and captured Indian
Chief Mangas Colorados to make New Mexico a safer place.
But Jack Swilling also had a
dark side. He was addicted to opiate painkillers and alcohol and was
accused of killing a dozen or so men – and even blamed to scalping
one. Yet despite his many transgressions, he landed in jail for one he
didn’t commit.
Falsely accused of a
stagecoach robbery, Swilling languished in the Yuma County jail until
he died a horrible death, just three weeks before the true guilty
party was captured. He was buried in an unmarked grave and largely
forgotten – until now.
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