A low-level aerial view of the Peloncillo Mountains and Skeleton Creek, which leads to the entrance of Skeleton Canyon
Date
August 12, 1896
Location
Skeleton Canyon, Arizona Territory, United States
Outcome
Outlaws escape
Deaths
1
Non-fatal injuries
1–3
This event should not be confused with the Skeleton Canyon Massacres of 1879 and 1881.
The Skeleton Canyon shootout was a gunfight on August 12, 1896, between members of the High Five Gang and a posse of American lawmen. Following a failed robbery on August 1 of the bank in Nogales, Arizona, the High Fives headed east and split up. The gang's leader, Black Jack Christian, and George Musgrave got away.
Three others, including Bob Christian, were engaged by the posse at the entrance of Skeleton Canyon. This gorge in the Peloncillo Mountains had historically been used by smugglers, bandits, and legitimate travelers between the United States and Mexico. The outlaws fought off their pursuers, killing Frank Robson, and escaped into New Mexico Territory.[1]
Pursuit continued through the month, as Black Jack and Musgrave surfaced in other areas, as did the other three. Other men joined the posse, and the United States Marshal of New Mexico Territory acquired aid from United States Army forces already in the area for the Apache Campaign in the Peloncillos. The pursuers did not catch up with the bandits for many months.
^Cite error: The named reference Tanner, pg. 42-55 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
and 21 Related for: Skeleton Canyon shootout information
event should not be confused with the SkeletonCanyon Massacres of 1879 and 1881. The SkeletonCanyonshootout was a gunfight on August 12, 1896, between...
the SkeletonCanyonshootout. Geronimo's War and the role of two Apache scouts Indian Wars West of the Mississippi SkeletonCanyonShootoutSkeleton Canyon...
Samuel Webb, actor of Drew Sharp in Dead Freight Samuel Webb of the SkeletonCanyonshootout Samuel B. Webb School in Wethersfield, Connecticut This disambiguation...
Battle of Antietam, the Coffeyville Bank Robbery, the Frisco Shootout, the SkeletonCanyonshootout, and the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. The Cartel's multiplayer...
them in the United States. Records indicate he participated in the SkeletonCanyon Massacre of Mexican smugglers. In retaliation, Mexican Rurales are...
Barracks, in Alabama, with other Apache prisoners. Arizona portal SkeletonCanyonshootout Cherry Creek ruins Apache–Mexico Wars "The Congressional Medal...
together that their pistols almost touched each other..."[citation needed] Long Branch Saloon Gunfight Frank Loving Dodge City Shootout, Long Branch Saloon...
Arizona pursued members of the gang with a posse. While approaching SkeletonCanyon, they were fired upon by some of the High Fives, immediately killing...
some reports say that Brocius ambushed a Mexican trail herd in the SkeletonCanyon Massacre. Six vaqueros were killed and the remainder captured, then...
as the Cochise County Cowboys who participated in the bloody 1879 SkeletonCanyon massacre. Gunslingers frequently appear as stock characters in Western...
Cowboy faction that had prior gunfighting experience (not counting the SkeletonCanyon massacre, in which the McLaurys and Clantons took part). Doc Holliday...
to force their way through, with the skeleton yelling "Let me out of here!" (It uses the same audio as the skeleton attempting to escape his coffin in the...
1886, when the Apache shaman Geronimo surrendered to the U.S. Army at SkeletonCanyon. But even after Geronimo's surrender, warriors like Massai and the...
from the original on December 17, 2010. Retrieved February 7, 2011. "SkeletonCanyon". Ghost Towns of Arizona. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011...
unrecoverable. For example, near the town of Garryowen, portions of the skeleton of a trooper killed in the Reno Retreat were recovered from an eroding...
1879 SkeletonCanyon Massacre. He was killed on August 13, 1881, by Mexican soldiers in a retaliatory raid along the Mexican border at Guadalupe Canyon. Ike...
Territory, one of the Old West's most notorious towns and the site of the shootout known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Located south of Tucson, Tombstone...
and officially surrendered to General Miles on September 4, 1886, at SkeletonCanyon, Arizona. When Geronimo surrendered, he had in his possession a Winchester...
"Search for the Dunham skeleton". San Francisco Call. September 5, 1899. Retrieved 27 February 2023. "Not Dunham's skeleton". Stockton Record. August...
Global Information