How did Bloody Basin Road get its name?

Do you know how Bloody Basin Road got its name? We pass the sign all the time driving north on Interstate 17 and are curious.

This question comes up pretty often in the summer when a lot of people are headed north for the mountains.

I’ve answered it before, but since you people keep asking, we shall discuss it today.

There are a couple of myths about Bloody Basin. One holds that during range wars between sheep ranchers and cattlemen, a big flock of sheep was slaughtered there by the cow people.

PHOTOS: Arizona: Then and now

The fact, however, is that in March 1873, U.S. Army soldiers tracked a band of Apaches who had attacked and killed three Whites to nearby Turret Peak.

The soldiers attacked at dawn and caught the Apaches flat-footed. Between 25 and 57 Indians were killed with no loss of life to the troops.

As long as we’re at it, you’ve probably also noticed a sign on I-17 for Big Bug Wash.

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There are two stories about this. One holds that in 1863 a group of prospectors were attacked by a horde of large insects.

Another says that “big bug’’ was slang for a foreman or boss.

There was a rather successful mining town on Big Bug Creek from 1879 to 1910, where the ore ran out.