The Clifton Cliff Jail with it's historical marker in view. It was built in 1881 and closed in 1906 when a large flood nearly submerged the building. The water was so deep that the prisoners had to be pulled out by ropes through a small window high up in the roof.
When it was first built, it was higher up in elevation than the surrounding town and could only be approached by climbing up the side of the cliff. Over the years, sediment from floods gradually raised the ground level even with the entrance to the jail.
The jail was the temporary residence of such notables as Augustine Chacon, or quot;El Peludoquot; (quot;The Hairy Onequot;), a Mexican outlaw who perpetrated the bloodiest shootout in Morenci history. He was subsequently captured by Burt Mossman of the Arizona Rangers and at 1400, 21 November 1902, was hanged at Solomonville (now Solomon).
