JoeWaWa's Strange Arizona!

La Llorona

    

     Once upon a time there was a beautiful young Mexican woman who had two children and lived in a poverty stricken town.  Her name was La Llorona which means “the crier” as her cries, moans, and screams can be heard along the San Pedro River in Arizona not too far away from Tombstone.  It’s a story of a broken heart and the agony of her decision.  As she fell in love with this wealthy man, he returned the affection.  But he did not want to be a father to her children.  This deeply depressed the young lady and her heart was heavy with grief.  In reckless desperation, she chose her fate, her curse, she did the unthinkable. 

     She took her children down to the San Pedro River in Southern Arizona, and she drowned them in the water.   She returned to her lover hoping that he would be pleased.  Stunned and bewildered at the dirty deed she had done, he wanted no part of it.  As a matter fact he showed a bit of scorn and contempt.  For he knew she was foul, she was evil, he would not fall for her invite.  In a moment of saneness she runs back to the river to see if she could undo the wrong she had done.  Too late!  They were dead, but she could not find them.   Her spirit is said to be cursed and like a Phantom Banshee she searches the river banks relentlessly looking for her children.  Over and over her spirit roams, they say she has a white dress and floats above the water with a wicked horse face.  And it is said to naughty children to who are bad that La Lorona will come for you.  YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT!

         El Chupacabra also known as “goat sucker”  is a traveling story that began in Puerto Rico and spread out through Latin America with many versions and finally spread into Mexico and Arizona.  The JoeWawa version is the one you will hear today.  It involves the southern Arizona region down around Tucson where many farmers reported that their live stock were sucked out of blood bone dry!  Other reports said that internal organs were missing but there were only small straw sized punctures that have baffled local authorities and doctors.   What Devilish creature is terrorizing these hard working farmers? 

     Well that say the Great Cupacabra legend began in the 1950’s  and reports have been very recent, this story is much newer than that of the Jersey Devil.  Thousands of mutilated, blood-drained animals were found leaving farmers scratching their heads.  How come no one has caught this elusive creature?  Is he of this world?  Is he an agent of the Devil, or a freakish wild beast?  People describe this goat sucking monster as having kangaroo legs, large red eyes that glow in the night, the claws of an eagle, spikes along his back spine, with a lizard like tail and body, that is built for making the quick kill.  He is fast, ferocious, and he should not be messed with. 

     People have chased him tracked him to and fro, with no captures just sightings.  Authorities are working hard as El Chupy is always hungry and ready for his next meal.  Luckily he don’t eat too many humans just an occasional little boy who misbehaves.   He stocks the chicken coops, likes cows, and loves the fresh pig blood that drips down his demon chin!

     How could authorities make such a mistake to name a highway 666 knowing that that is the number of the antichrist, the fallen angel, the Devil’s abode.   It happened on the sixth branch of the long gone highway Route 66, it ran through four states in the west.  It was about a 600 mile stretch that zigzagged through Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and parts of Arizona.  Locals called it the “Devil’s Highway” because of the strange and eerie occurrences that have reported there.   And remember, “I get my kicks on route 66!”

     Some reported sightings included in local Navaho lore concerning “Skinwalkers” or “shape-shifters.” These mythical Navaho creatures first appear as various animals in front of moving vehicles trying to make the driver swerve or crash.  If that don’t kill them than they appear in their rear view mirror, they can shape into an animal form and move quicker than the vehicle.    These creatures than try to steal your soul and rob your spirit.  They are usually summoned up by an ancient Navaho curse.  They like to take the form of a wolf, lion, tiger, bear, and a huge elk.  They roam the desert around the edges of what was formally known as highway 666.  In 1992, Arizona changed the name, but the shape-shifters, phantom fire truck, and the girl in the white dress were not aware of the change.

     Reports also speak of a small girl in a white dress who roams the highway trying to hitch a ride.  She was killed on Highway 666 years ago and her restless spirit terrorizes innocent motorist as they pass by.  Whenever a motorist pulls over to give her a ride, she fads away into the darkness moaning and shrieking endlessly.  Many motorists also reported a phantom fire truck going down this road traveling very fast in  the wrong lane.  When it approaches the other motorist is flung off of the road, swerving to avoid a deadly head on collision.     Maybe that explains the huge number of automobile fatalities along Hell’s Highway.  Some say the highway really leads to hell and that Satan himself travels this road looking for a soul to steal.

     According to popular American folklore and legend there is a gold mine somewhere up in the Superstitious Mountains in Arizona that has never been found.  So it goes that a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz nicknamed the “Dutchman,” stumbled upon pay dirt, the mother lode of gold.  It’s a precious metal for which all man lust, the power that it brings.  But it has not been found to this day, lots a searching led to many men’s dismay.

     Now Jacob he started off mining at the “Vulture Mine” in Wickenburg, AZ, but he eventually set out on his own in the 1860’s looking to make his claim.   But it was reported after many small claims around the state that he reported to some pubs in Phoenix carrying sacks of gold.  Drinking and bragging, he was buying everyone drinks and telling his tale.  And years went by and he lived off of his score, taking precautions to make sure he was not followed.  Often he would clear his tracks that made following him very difficult.  In 1848 there was a massacre by the Apache Indians in the Superstitious Mountains of family from Mexico known as the Peralta’s who were said to be taking sacks of gold which the Apache had no use for.  Was it that treasure that the “Dutchmen” found or is there a missing mine?  Many deaths of people searching have been recorded through the years, strange things occur in these mountains that is how they got their name.  The spirits of the miners roam through the hills searching for the  Mother Lode and making it hard for all to search.

     If you are in the Superstitious Mountain’s be sure to stay a few days at Canyon Lake boating and fishing.  Goldfield’s Old Mining town will make for a nice tour, a few antique shops along the way, be sure to bring your metal detector.