Augustine Chacon was born during the Civil War (1860/1865) in Sonora, Mexico. In his early life, he was a peace officer in the little town of Tigre, Sonora. He was a vaquero and was proficient in stealing cattle and horses. He first came to Morenci, Arizona in 1888 or '89. He was a powerfully built man and was darker than most people of his race. His powerful chest was covered with a matted mass of black hair which led to his nickname of "Peludo", meaning hairy. He had a fierce black mustache. Peludo was soon the leader of a clique or gang of Morenci Mexicans. They would steal and butcher beef on Bonito and Eagle Creek. They were not beyond armed robbery of establishments in Clifton and Morenci. Chacon did work though, as he hauled wood to fire the narrow gauge train, Little Emma. He worked for George B. Gamble, the engineer of the train that hauled ore from the mine at Metcalf to Clifton. Mr. Gamble said that he was a good and willing worker and seemed to have a mild manner. (Mr. Gamble was my grandfather). Chacon and his gang attempted to rob the McCormick store in Morenci Canyon. It was a botched attempt, with Chacon and his gang having to make a run for it up the hill. In the fray, Chacon was wounded, but managed to get up the hill and behind some rocks. Pablo Salcido, a prominent Morenci merchant, had joined the fight and attempted to go it alone to capture the outlaws, shooting as he went. Chacon shot Salcido dead and it was here that Chacon cut Salcido's heart out and laid it on his chest. (This part of the story was told to my husband, Clyde, by Pablo's brother, Jose Salcido, when they worked at Morenci). A number of townsmen participated in the blazing battle in which about three hundred shots were fired. Chacon's partners in the crime, Luna and Morales were killed and Chacon was wounded, and captured. He was charged with the murder of his former friend, Pablo Salcido and sentenced to be hanged. Chacon made his escape from the Solomonville jail with help from the outside. He cut through planking with which the jail was lined and then dug through heavy adobe walls into the sheriff's office, and out through the window to freedom. He was finally captured near Naco on the Mexican border.
Sheriff Jim Parks brought him back to Solomonville, where he was executed by hanging. Chacon made a thirty minute speech before the final call, smoked two cigarettes and drank a cup of coffee and then said, "It's time to hang". The body was cut down and delivered into the hands of Sisto Molino and Jesus Bustos. They hurriedly put him into a wagon and streaked to Molino's house where a stiff drink was poured down Chacon's throat and efforts were made to revive him. Sheriff Parks got word what they were doing and went to the house and ordered them to dig a hole and bury him--now! It was known he was buried in the yard of the Molino home. Years later, my father, mother and my two children and I went to the the old Molino home, where descendants were still living. My dad asked about the grave, but they insisted that Chacon was buried in the San Jose Cemetery. They may have moved the body at some time or he could still be there in the corner of the yard, with an empty spot and headstone in the San Jose Cemetery which reads, Augustine Chacon 1861/ 1902. "He lived life without fear. He faced death without fear". Muy Bravo Hombre.