By Al Bates

To those of us who still use newspapers—we learn from them, argue with them, line our bird cages with them—March 9, 1864, was an important day in local history for that is when the first issue of the Arizona Miner newspaper was published at Fort Whipple, then still at Del Rio Springs.

Some may argue that that the Miner was not the first newspaper published within Arizona’s boundaries—the Weekly Arizonian had been published briefly before the Civil War, first in Tubac and then at Tucson—but the

The first Arizona Miner was issued on March 9, 1964. Page one of that edition is shown here (Photo Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum Call).

Miner was the first newspaper published in the newly formed Arizona Territory, and for many years was a prominent voice commenting on territorial affairs.

Territorial Secretary Richard McCormick brought the materials needed to publish a newspaper overland with the Governor’s Party.  These materials included a used printing press of 1820s vintage and handset type fonts.  According to McClintock’s history of Arizona, that press was in use in Prescott as late as 1880, but was destroyed in the Whiskey Row fire of 1900.  Even then the bed was recovered and used as an imposing stone.

The nominal publisher was Tisdale A. Hand, a 23-year-old immigrant from New York, though it is certain that the owner, Secretary McCormick, contributed much of the editorial matter.  Albert Franklin Banta who had arrived with the Fort Whipple founders as a “bullwhacker,” was Hand’s assistant for at least the first issue.

In the manner of the times, the Miner had a motto, “The Gold of that Land is Good.” It consisted of four pages, with four columns to the page, and initially was published twice monthly before becoming a weekly in 1867.  Advertising in the first issue occupied only a single column on page four and included jewelry and watch making services, postage stamps and envelopes for sale, and a $100 dollar reward for recovery of Marshal Duffield’s lost horse.

Additional embellishments on the first page included images of the American Flag and the original territorial seal designed by Secretary McCormick.  Editorial content included a description of the governor’s proclamation ceremony at Navajo Springs including the text of Secretary McCormick’s remarks.  The Organic Act establishing Arizona Territory was also printed in full.  Much of the remaining columns contained filler material from other sources, a common practice of the time.

Page two led off with pledges to emphasize local news and everything outside “of note.”  And there were statements that the Miner would be “independent” and “non-partisan,” which political foes of the Secretary must have found amusing.

The Arizona Miner office eventually moved to Montezuma Street, shown here, c. 1878 (Photo Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum Call Number: BU-B-8135pa).

Some of the local news items found in the first issue: Urgent need for stage routes to Albuquerque and Mesilla; Considerations of where the Territorial Capital should be located; Indian troubles including a third raid on King S. Woolsey’s Agua Fria ranch; and information on the upcoming special census.

After Fort Whipple moved to its new location on Granite Creek, the newspaper moved to the new Prescott townsite.  Their offices were located across from the town plaza in a frame building that the paper proudly announced was the first building completed in the townsite.  The first issue published with a Prescott dateline was June 22 and the paper apologized for missing one edition due to the move.

Publisher Hand did not remain in Prescott for long.  Banta, although a not totally reliable source, shed some light on his departure telling of an incident, featuring Editor Hand and a desperado named Lou Thrift.  He told that one day at dinner in the Prescott House Hand got into a political argument with Thrift, a native of Virginia and ardent Confederate supporter, and “in the dispute Hand was so indiscrete as to call Thrift a liar.”  Thrift proposed to settle the matter then and there with “Colonel Colt” as arbiter.  Hand demurred saying he was unarmed and never carried a pistol.

Thrift then drew one of his two six-shooters, cocked it, and placed it beside Hand’s plate indicating he was free to use it.  Hand prudently declined to do any shooting.  Thrift, “boiling with rage,” picked up his gun, and slowly returned it to its scabbard.

Banta concluded his story with, “Shortly after this Mr. Hand left the country for the East.”

Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). The public is encouraged to submit articles for consideration.  Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. 14, or via email at dayspastprescott@gmail.com for information.