THE STARTING OF THE BLOODY LINCOLN COUNTY WAR. THE MURDER OF TUNSTALL.
"BILLY THE KID" IS PARTIALLY REVENGED WHEN HE KILLS MORTON AND BAKER.
Arriving back at the Murphy-Dolan cow-camp on the Pecos river, "Billy the
Kid" was greeted by his friends, McDaniels, Morton and Baker, who
persuaded him to join the Murphy and Dolan outfit, and become one of their
fighting cowboys. This he agreed to do, and was put on the pay-roll at
good wages.
The summer and fall of 1877 passed along with only now and then a scrap
between the factions. But the clouds of war were lowering, and the "Kid"
was anxious for a battle.
Still he was not satisfied to be at war with the whole-souled young
Englishman, John S. Tunstall, whom he had met on several occasions.
On one of his trips to the Mexican town of Lincoln, to "blow in" his
accumulated wages, the "Kid" met Tunstall, and expressed regret at
fighting against him.
The matter was talked over and "Billy the Kid" agreed to switch over from
the Murphy-Dolan faction. Tunstall at once put him under wages and told
him to make his headquarters at their cow-camp on the Rio Feliz, which
flowed into the Pecos from the west.
Now the "Kid" rode back to camp and told the dozen cowboys there of his
new deal. They tried to persuade him of his mistake, but his mind was made
up and couldn't be changed.
In the argument, Baker abused the "Kid" for going back on his friends.
This came very near starting a little war in that camp. The "Kid" made
Baker back down when he offered to shoot it out with him on the square.
Before riding away on his faithful "Gray," the "Kid" expressed regrets at
having to fight against his chum Jesse Evans, in the future.
At the Rio Feliz cow camp, the "Kid" made friends with all the cowboys
there, and with Tunstall and McSween, when he rode into Lincoln to have a
good time at the Mexican "fandangos" (dances.)
A few "killings" took place on the Pecos river during the fall, but "Billy
the Kid" was not in these fights.
In the early part of December, 1877, the "Kid" received a letter from his
Mexican chum whom he had liberated from the jail in San Elizario, Texas,
Melquiades Segura, asking that he meet him at their friend's ranch across
the Rio Grande river, in Old Mexico, on a matter of great importance.
Mounted on "Gray," the "Kid" started. Meeting Segura, he found that all he
wanted was to share a bag of Mexican gold with him.
While visiting Segura, a war started in San Elizario over the Guadalupe
Salt Lakes, in El Paso County, Texas.
These Salt Lakes had supplied the natives along the Rio Grande river with
free salt for more than a hundred years. An American by the name of
Howard, had leased them from the State of Texas, and prohibited the people
from taking salt from them.
A prominent man by the name of Louis Cardis, took up the fight for the
people. Howard and his men were captured and allowed their liberty under
the promise that they would leave the Salt Lakes free for the people's
use.
Soon after, Howard killed Louis Cardis in El Paso. This worked the natives
up to a high pitch.
Under the protection of a band of Texas Rangers, Howard returned to San
Elizario, twenty-five miles below El Paso.
On reaching San Elizario the citizens turned out in mass and besieged the
Rangers and the Howard crowd, in a house.
Many citizens of Old Mexico, across the river, joined the mob. Among them
being Segura and his confederate, at whose ranch "Billy the Kid" and
Segura were stopping.
As "Billy the Kid" had no interest in the fight, he took no part, but was
an eye witness to it, in the village of San Elizario.
Near the house in which Howard and the Rangers took refuge, lived Captain
Gregario Garcia, and his three sons, Carlos, Secundio, and Nazean-ceno
Garcia. On the roof of their dwelling they constructed a fort, and with
rifles, assisted in protecting Howard and the Rangers from the mob.
The fight continued for several days. Finally, against the advice of
Captain Gregario Garcia, the Rangers surrendered. They were escorted up
the river towards El Paso, and liberated. Howard, Charlie Ellis, John
Atkinson, and perhaps one or two other Americans, were taken out and shot
dead by the mob. Thus ended one of the bloody battles which "Billy the
Kid" enjoyed as a witness.
The following year the present Governor of New Mexico, Octaviano A.
Larrazolo, settled in San Elizario, Texas, and married the pretty
daughter of Carlos Garcia, who, with his father and two brothers, so nobly
defended Howard and the Rangers.
Now "Billy the Kid," with his pockets bulging with Mexican gold, given him
by Segura, returned to the Tunstall-McSween cow camp, on the Rio Feliz, in
Lincoln County, New Mexico.
In the month of February, 1878, W. S. Morton, who held a commission as
deputy sheriff, raised a posse of fighting cowboys and went to one of the
Tunstall cow-camps on the upper Ruidoso river, to attach some horses,
which were claimed by the Murphy-Dolan outfit.
Tunstall was at the camp with some of his employes, who "hid out" on the
approach of Morton and the posse.
It was claimed by Morton that Tunstall fired the first shot, but that
story was not believed by the opposition.
In the fight, Tunstall and his mount were killed. While laying on his face
gasping for breath, Tom Hill, who was later killed while robbing a sheep
camp, placed a rifle to the back of his head and blew out his brains.
This murder took place on the 18th day of February, 1878.
Before sunset a runner carried the news to "Billy the Kid," on the Rio
Feliz. His anger was at the boiling point on hearing of the foul murder.
He at once saddled his horse and started to Lincoln, to consult with
Lawyer McSween.
Now the Lincoln County war was on with a vengeance and hatred, and the
"Kid" was to play a leading hand in it. He swore that he would kill every
man who took part in the murder of his friend Tunstall.
At that time, Lincoln County, New Mexico, was the size of some states,
about two hundred miles square, and only a few thousand inhabitants,
mostly Mexicans, scattered over its surface.
On reaching the town of Lincoln, the "Kid" was informed by McSween that E.
M. Bruer had been sworn in as a special constable, and was making up a
posse to arrest the murderers of Tunstall.
"Billy the Kid" joined the Bruer posse, and they started for the Rio Pecos
river.
On the 6th day of March, the Bruer posse ran onto five mounted men at the
lower crossing of the Rio Penasco, six miles from the Pecos river. They
fled and were pursued by Bruer and his crowd.
Two of the fleeing cowboys separated from their companions. The "Kid"
recognized them as Morton and Baker, his former friends. He dashed after
them, and the rest of the posse followed his lead.
Shots were being fired back and forth. At last Morton's and Baker's mounts
fell over dead. The two men then crawled into a sink-hole to shield their
bodies from the bullets.
A parley was held, and the two men surrendered, after Bruer had promised
them protection. The "Kid" protested against giving this pledge. He
remarked: "My time will come."
Now the posse started for the Chisum home ranch, on South Spring river,
with the two handcuffed prisoners.
On the morning of the 9th day of March, the Bruer posse started with the
prisoners for Lincoln, but pretended to be headed for Fort Sumner.
The posse was made up of the following men: R. M. Bruer, J. G. Skurlock,
Charlie Bowdre, "Billy the Kid," Henry Brown, Frank McNab, Fred Wayt, Sam
Smith, Jim French, John Middleton and McClosky.
After traveling five miles they came to the little village of Roswell.
Here they stopped to allow Morton time to write a letter to his cousin,
the Hon. H. H. Marshall, of Richmond, Virginia.
Ash Upson was the postmaster in Roswell, and Morton asked him to notify
his cousin in Virginia, if the posse failed to keep their pledge of
protection.
McClosky, who was standing near, remarked: "If harm comes to you two, they
will have to kill me first."
The party started out about 10 A. M. from Roswell. About 4 P. M., Martin
Chavez of Picacho, arrived in Roswell and reported to Ash Upson that the
posse and their prisoners had quit the main road to Lincoln and had
turned off in the direction of Agua Negra, an unfrequented watering place.
This move satisfied the postmaster that the doom of Morton and Baker was
sealed.
On March the eleventh, Frank McNab, one of the Bruer posse, rode up to the
post-office and dismounted. Mr. Upson expressed surprise and told him that
he supposed he was in Lincoln by this time. Now McNab confessed that
Morton, Baker and McClosky were dead.
Later, Ash Upson got the particulars from "Billy the Kid" of the killing.
The "Kid" and Charlie Bowdre were riding in the lead as they neared
Blackwater Spring. McClosky and Middleton rode by the side of the two
prisoners. The balance of the posse followed behind.
Finally Brown and McNab spurred up their horses and rode up to McClosky
and Middleton. McNab shoved a cocked pistol at McClosky's head saying:
"You are the s-- of a b-- that's got to die before harm can come to these
fellows, are you?"
Now the trigger was pulled and McClosky fell from his horse, dead, shot
through the head.
"Billy the Kid" heard the shot and wheeled his horse around in time to see
the two prisoners dashing away on their mounts. The "Kid" fired twice and
Morton and Baker fell from their horses, dead. No doubt it was a put up
job to allow the "Kid" to kill the murderers of his friend Tunstall, with
his own hands.
The posse rode on to Lincoln, all but McNab, who returned to Roswell. The
bodies of McClosky, Morton and Baker were left where they fell. Later they
were buried by some sheep herders.
Thus ends the first chapter of the bloody Lincoln County war.