dog, pierced with an arrow in his side. The Apaches then attempted to crush the dugout with all four of the white men inside. Big boulders were rolled down onto the structure from the mountain above. Two of the miners held a bed frame over their heads to keep the roof from caving in. The Apaches came close and Boggs with the remaining miner manned their muskets. When the Apaches came close enough, the two stuck their rifles outside a few little portholes just dug and then they fired. Two of the Apaches were killed immediately and dropped to the ground. Caught off guard, the Apaches hastily picked up their shot fellow warriors and retreated up the mountain side. Once at the top, the Apaches cremated their dead in full view of Boggs and the others. They then continued a withdrawal from the area. Later the four went back to the town unharmed and told the alarmed residents what had happened. See also Navajo Wars References External links Ghosttowns.com entry for Big Bug Arizona Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project entry for Big Bug Sharlot Hall Museum entry for Theodore Boggs Pre-statehood history of Arizona Ghost towns in Arizona Cemeteries in Arizona Battles involving the Apache Former populated places in Yavapai County, Arizona Populated places established in 1862 Apache Wars Mining communities in Arizona 1862 establishments in New Mexico Territory