Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford

The relentless march of time often erases the origins of place names, leaving behind a void where vibrant stories once resonated. Old landmarks, christened by generations past, risk fading into obscurity as new monikers, favored by more recent arrivals, take hold. This is a lament for the loss of connection to history, a plea to remember the narratives woven into the very fabric of the land.

For those familiar with the Safford and Solomonville region of Arizona, the route to Clifton was once known far and wide as the "Convict Highway." This rugged path, carved into the landscape, snaked its way out of the fertile Gila Valley, scaling the formidable mountains before descending once more to the banks of the Gila River, eventually leading to Clifton. This highway represented a monumental improvement over the precarious pack trails that had previously served the area. The Convict Highway was a remarkable feat of engineering accomplished through the backbreaking labor of convicts armed with nothing more than picks and shovels. The project commenced in 1914 and concluded around 1920. Initially traversed by horse-drawn wagons, the road soon welcomed the arrival of the iconic Model T Ford.

Imagine a family journeying along this road in the early days of the automobile. A Buick Sedan, perhaps, its occupants eager to visit Grandpa Gamble in Clifton. Children in the back seat, ears attuned to the mechanical symphony of whining gears and the rhythmic honking of the horn as the car navigated the hairpin curves. Eyes glued to the temperature gauge mounted on the hood, a silent apprehension building with each degree climbed. A canvas water bag, a ubiquitous accessory of the time, stood ready to avert overheating. For some, the journey was less pleasant, marked by the onset of carsickness, a queasy feeling culminating in a desperate need for fresh air.

The journeys along the Convict Highway were punctuated by a somber tradition: a visit to the Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford, a place of quiet contemplation just off the roadside. Family members would gather stones, adding them to the pile marking the grave, while the story of the convict was recounted, a tale passed down through generations.

The story goes that, on a sweltering day in 1916, a crew of prisoners toiled under the watchful eyes of armed guards, their picks and shovels biting into the unforgiving earth. Suddenly, one of the convicts, for reasons unknown, made a desperate dash for freedom. His attempt was short-lived. He was shot and killed instantly. His fellow inmates were then forced to dig his grave, unceremoniously roll his body into the hole, and cover him with earth. A grim reminder of the consequences of defiance. This is the story behind the Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford.

The final resting place of the "old convict" lies in a desolate, rock-strewn flat, dotted with tenacious cacti. Standing at the grave, one can survey the vast expanse of the surrounding landscape, a seemingly endless vista. It is difficult to imagine where the convict thought he could escape to, what drove him to make such a desperate gamble. Perhaps it was simply a yearning to escape the harsh realities of his existence. The reason for his imprisonment remains a mystery, lost to time. Quien Sabe? As the Mexicans say.

One particular detail stood out during a visit to the Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford: a cholla cactus had sprouted at the head of the grave. The cactus was unusually shaped, tall and slender, with two arms extending outwards, forming a perfect cross. A natural marker, seemingly placed by divine intervention, to commemorate a life largely forgotten.

A short distance from the convict’s grave lies another burial site. The story attached to this grave is of a man who fell ill and died in the area. The two graves, though nearby, are not side-by-side. Both are in a state of disrepair, overgrown with cactus and scattered with rocks, silent testaments to the passage of time and the indifference of nature.

The "Convict Highway" is now known as the "Black Hills Byway." While the new name may be considered more politically correct and possess a certain romantic allure, for some, the road will always be the "Old Convict Highway," a reminder of the arduous labor and tragic fate that shaped its history. It’s a connection to the past that resists being erased by superficial changes.

Years later, a quest began to uncover the identity of the individual buried in the Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford. Decades of unanswered questions and fruitless inquiries had left little hope of finding any information. However, perseverance eventually yielded results.

While exploring the internet, a website for the Arizona Prison System was discovered. The website contained records of prisoners, including those who had been executed, and even their last meals. The website also suggested that further information on incarcerated individuals might be available through the Department of Library, Archives, and Public Records in Phoenix, Arizona. A letter was sent to the library, outlining the location of the grave, the approximate year of death, and the context of the "old convict" story. Despite low expectations, the effort proved successful.

The library’s response contained the story of the man buried in the Old Convict’s Gravesite Near Safford.

The records from the State Prison at Florence, Arizona, provided the following details:

• Name of convict: Jesus Rodriguez
• Age: 21 years
• Marital Status: Single, from Guadalajara, Mexico
• Property found on convict: $1.25
• Expiration of sentence: 1-20-1919 Received Sept. 1916
• Crime: Burglary 2nd Degree, Sentence, no more than 3 years
• From: Cochise County.
• Race: Mexican
• Nativity: Mexico
• Religion: Catholic
• Height: 5’1 3/4"
• Weight: 129 ¾ lbs.
• Complexion: Dark
• Expression: Pleasant
• Color of Hair: Black,
• Color of Eyes: Brown
• Teeth: Good
• Carriage: Stooped
• Size of foot: 5 ½
• Education: Can read and write. Educated, catholic school, Mexico.
• Family: Has both parents.
• Occupation: Miner and machinist helper.
• Criminal History: Had no former imprisonment.

The details paint a poignant picture of a young man, far from home, caught in the grip of the justice system. A miner and machinist helper, with a pleasant expression and a stooped carriage. What prompted Jesus Rodriguez to attempt escape remains a mystery, but his story now has a name, a face, and a context. Pobre Pendejo, why did you run?