While Lieutenant Whitman was corresponding with his superior officers relative to Es-kim-in-zin’s desire to live at peace with the white race, a camping place for those Indians was designated a short distance up Arivaipa Canyon where they were under the protection of the United States troops. Little did anyone about Old Camp Grant dream of the fearful tragedy that was impending.
The citizens of Tucson had no love for the Apaches and when it was known that several hundreds of these Indians had gathered at Old Camp Grant, a party, numbering about 150, composed of Papago Indians, Mexicans and a half-dozen Americans, was organized in that city for the purpose of attacking Es-kim-in-zin’s camp in the Arivaipa Canyon. This attack occurred at daybreak April 30th while the unsuspecting Apaches were yet asleep. Just how many Indians were killed is not certain. One statement sets the number at 118. In Miles L. Wood’s statement, published by Colonel Robert McClintock, he says, “I do not know how-many were killed.”