Ariz. Rangers fought law breakers, lost to lawmakers

Today’s question: Are the Arizona Rangers still in existence today?

Yes, they are, but perhaps not in the same rootin’ tootin’ manner of their heyday in the Old West.

The Rangers exist today as an unpaid, volunteer auxiliary with no real law enforcement authority. They do volunteer law enforcement assistance and community service through their posts — companies — around the state.

The first incarnation of the Arizona Rangers was a group founded by the territorial government in 1860 to fight the Apaches. There also was a later rangers company formed during our brief stint as a Confederate territory.

In 1882, with the Arizona Territory fighting not just Indians but outlaws, Gov. Frederick Augustus Tritle authorized formation of the 1st Company of the Arizona Rangers in Tombstone and named John H. Jackson its captain. They were to be similar to Texas Rangers with a mission to combat outlaws and hostile tribes.

Unfortunately, Tritle could never persuade the Territorial Legislature or Congress to fund the Rangers and his plans for them soon fizzled.

The Arizona Rangers’ glory days came between 1901 and 1909. In 1901, lawmakers agreed to fund a new effort with one captain, one sergeant and 12 privates.

They were created to clean out nests of outlaws, especially rustlers.

In those years, the Rangers were well-funded and well-trained with the best weapons and horses to be found.

Their first captain was Burton C. Mossman, a former Rough Rider and manager of the huge Aztec Land and Cattle Co. that stretched across northern Arizona.

Their badges were solid-silver fivepointed ball-tipped stars, lettered in blue enamel with engravings etched in blue. From 1901 to until they were disbanded in 1909, there were a total of 107 Rangers.

The last surviving Ranger, John R. Clarke, died in 1982 at the age of 97.