In the spring of 1865, a journey on official business turned fatal for Yuma County Sheriff Cornelius Sage. On May 3rd of that year, Sheriff Sage, a male, was traveling from La Paz to Prescott, Arizona, accompanied by an associate, Richard Bell. As they made their way through an area known as Willow Springs, situated between Camp Date Creek and Kirkland Valley, they were suddenly ambushed by members of the Yavapai Apache tribe.
The attack was swift and brutal, resulting in the deaths of
both Sheriff Sage and Mr. Bell from gunfire. Accounts from the time indicate that the ambush was a violent encounter, leading to the deaths of not only the sheriff and his associate but also a larger group, including eleven other men and four soldiers.
At the time of his death, there were conflicting reports regarding Sheriff Sage's age, with some sources stating he was 29 and others 35. He had been serving as the Sheriff of Yuma County for a relatively short period, having been appointed to the position on January 1, 1865. Prior to that, he had served as the constable of Castle Dome. The historical records identify the Yavapai Apache tribe members as the perpetrators of the ambush, though specific individuals were not named, and the concept of arrests in that era and context differs significantly from modern law enforcement procedures.
