. . . . . . .

-       - SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY - cont.
 
 

The old reliable spring came to an abrupt halt as the result of a truly mammoth earthquake in the year 1887, which was centered near Bavispe, Mexico.  It was reported that as far away as Tucson water spilled from tanks, buildings cracked and yuccas swayed.  Both Sulphur Springs and Dragoon Springs were permanently shut off, and areas that were formerly verdant became arid and void of much vegetation. A SOAKING THUNDERSTORM PASSES OVER THE HEART OF SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY, NEARLY OBSCURING THE DISTANT DRAGOON MOUNTAINS IN THIS VIEW.       Today Sulphur Springs Valley is still rather sparsely populated, as is true of the entire Cochise County.  In many ways it retains its Old West flavor, hosting sprawling ranches and miles upon miles of grazing land instead of bustling towns and cities.  You'll find friendly little hamlets like Willcox, Sunizona, Sunsites and Elfrida -- as well as the old mining town of Pearce, which hangs on with pride to its colorful past.    Sulphur Springs Valley is long and expansive and it became an oft used corridor for troops from Ft. Bowie to travel in their many pursuits of Cochise and his warriors, and, later, of Geronimo and Juh's renegade bands, who made a habit of raiding ruthlessly above the border and then slipping down into the forbidding Sierra Madre of northern Mexico.

SULPHUR SPRINGS VALLEY HOSTS A VERITABLE SMORGASBORD OF BIRD LIFE YEAR ROUND.  THIS YOUNG SWAINSON'S HAWK TYPIFIES THE AERIAL SITES YOU CAN TAKE IN ON ANY GIVEN DAY.