A TRIP DOWN THE REO PECOS.
On my return I found that the "L. X." ranch had changed bosses. Moore
had quit and bought a ranch of his own, while John Hollicott, one of the
old hands had been put in his place. Hence in the future I had to be
governed by Mr. Hollicott's orders--that is while working around the
ranch. One of the firm, Erskine Clement, had charge of outside matters,
now, since Moore had left.
I put in the summer running a branding outfit, loafing around Tascosa,
working up a cattle stealing case, etc., until the middle of October,
when Clement received a letter from John Poe, who was prosecuting
Cohglin, stating for Chambers and I to come over to Lincoln as witnesses
in the Cohglin case. The time set for us to be there, was on the 7th day
of November, therefore we had no time to lose, it being five hundred
miles over there, by the shortest route.
Hollicott and Clement talked the matter over and concluded that I had
better not come back until the next spring--"just put in the winter
drifting over the country, wherever you can do the most good," was my
orders.
Chambers and I struck out from Tascosa on the 22nd of October. He had
only one horse, while I had two of the best animals on the ranch, Croppy
and Buckshot.
We traveled up the river to Liberty, New Mexico, and from there cut
across the Staked Plains to Ft. Sumner, on the Reo Pecos.
The distance from "Sumner" to the "Oaks" was about one hundred miles on
a bee line across the country, while it was one hundred and fifty around
by the road. We chose the former route, although we were told that there
wasn't any water until reaching the Capitan mountains within thirty
miles of the "Oaks." We both wished though, that we had followed the
road, for, our progress being very slow on account of the loose dirt
which would give away under a horse, allowing him to sink almost to his
knees, we came very near perishing from thirst; and so did our poor
horses.
We landed in White Oaks about noon of the fourth day out from Ft.
Sumner; and had been on the road twelve days from Tascosa. We were
welcomed back to the "Oaks" by all of our old acquaintances, especially
those whom we had furnished with stolen beef all winter.
As we had five days to loaf in, before court set in, we went to work
prospecting for gold, every body in the town being at fever heat over
recent rich strikes.
The first day was spent in climbing to the top of Baxter mountain, where
most of the rich mines were located, and back. The only thing we found
of interest was a lot of genuine oyster shells imbedded in a large rock
on the extreme top of the mountain. Of course this brought up a
discussion as to how they came there. Chambers contended that they grew
there during the flood, and I argued that they were there before God
made the earth. We both finally got mad, each one, over the other's weak
argument, and began to slide down hill towards town, which looked
something like a checkerboard from where we were.
The next day we tied the pick and shovel behind our saddles and struck
out on horseback to prospect in the valleys. At last we struck it, a
fine gold bearing lead. It cropped out of the ground about a foot. I
told Chambers to go to work and dig the prospect-hole, while I wrote out
the location notices.
Finally an old miner by the name of Stone came to us. I was sitting
under the shade of a pinyon tree writing, while Chambers was sweating
like a "Nigger at election." "What are you fellows trying to do?" spoke
up Mr. Stone, after grinning a few moments. We told him. He then said:
"Why neither one of you fellows has got as much sense as a last year's
bird's nest; that's nothing but a very common ledge of rock." We took
him at his word and went back to town.
That night Mr. Stone gave us one of his mines, if we would sink a twenty
foot shaft on it. We done so; that is, Chambers did, while I carried
water, and rode into town every day at noon to bring him out his dinner.
Finally our time was out and we had to pull for Lincoln, a distance of
thirty-five miles. Poe had written to me to come in after night, and on
the sly, as he wanted to make Cohglin believe that we wouldn't be there
to appear against him, so he would let his trial come off, instead of
taking a change of venue. I left Croppy in a feed stable to be taken
care of until my return.
Arriving in Lincoln, Poe sent us down the Reo Bonetta, twelve miles, to
stop with a Mr. Cline, with whom he had made arrangements, until sent
for.
Mr. Cline was a Dutchman who had married a mexican wife and had a house
full of little half-breeds around him.
Time passed off very slowly to Chambers and I, although our host tried
to amuse us by telling his hairbreadth escapes from wild indians and
grizzly-bears.
We were indeed glad when Mr. Poe rode up, after we had been at the Cline
ranch twelve days, and told us that we were free. Cohglin had "smelled a
mice" and taken a change of venue to Mesilla, in Dona Anna County.
Before leaving Lincoln I had to sign a five hundred dollar bond for my
appearance in Mesilla, as a witness against Cohglin, on the first Monday
in April, 1882, which was the following spring. Mr. Chambers being sworn
and not knowing anything of importance, was allowed to return home. We
both received ninety dollars apiece, for mileage and witness fees.
Returning to White Oaks, Chambers remained there a week, making love to
his mexican widow, and then struck for the "L. X." ranch, by way of
Anton Chico, and down the Canadian River. The route he and I had come
was too far between ranches for him, traveling alone.
I remained in the "Oaks" about a week after my "pard" had left, waiting
for some more money which I had written for.
From the "Oaks" I went to Roswell on the Reo Pecos, a distance of one
hundred and twenty-five miles, by the route I took. There I struck
company, a jovial old soul by the name of "Ash" Upson, who was just
starting to the Texas Pacific Railroad, two hundred miles down the
river, to meet Pat. Garrett, who had written to come there after him, in
a buggy. Ash was making his home at Garrett's ranch, a few miles from
Roswell.
We laid over Christmas day at the mouth of Seven Rivers and helped kind
Mrs. Jones, one of Mr. Upson's old-time friends, get away with a nice
turkey dinner.
While sitting around our camp-fire at nights "Old" Ash would amuse me by
relating circumstances connected with the "bloody Lincoln County war."
He also gave me a full sketch of "Billy the Kid's" life, a subject
which I am going to devote the next chapter to, as I imagine it will be
interesting reading to some.
We arrived at Pecos Station, on the T. P. R. R., one afternoon about
three o'clock. And it being a terribly lonesome place, we, after leaving
our horses and things in care of an old wolf hunter who promised to see
that the horses were well fed, boarded the west bound passenger train
for Toyah, a distance of twenty-two miles.
We put up at the Alverado House, in Toyah. It was kept by a man named
Newell, who had a pretty little fifteen-year old daughter, whose
sparkling eyes were too much for me; to use a western phrase, she broke
me all up on the first round.
After supper Ash went out to take in the town, while I remained in the
office exchanging glances with Miss Bulah.
It was New Year's eve and Mr. and Mrs. Newell were making preparations
for a ball to be given New Year's night.
Toyah was then one of those terrible wicked infant towns, it being only
a few months old and contained over a dozen saloons and gambling halls.
About midnight Ash got through taking in the town and came back to the
hotel. He was three sheets in the wind, but swore he hadn't drank
anything but "Tom and Jerry."
The next morning the town was full of railroaders, they having come in
to spend New Years. A grand shooting match for turkeys was advertised to
come off at ten o'clock, and everybody, railroaders and all, were
cleaning up their pistols, when Ash and I got up, we having slept till
about nine o'clock.
Miss Bulah made a remark, in my presence, that she wished someone would
win a fat turkey and give it to her. Now was my time to make a "mash,"
so I assured her that I would bring in a dozen or two and lay them at
her feet.
When the shooting commenced I was on hand and secured the ticket which
was marked number eleven. The tickets were sold at twenty-five cents
apiece, and if you killed the bird, you were entitled to a free shot
until you missed.
Mr. Miller, the Justice, was running the business for what money there
was in it. He had sent to Dallas, six hundred miles east, after the
turkeys, which had cost him three dollars apiece. Hence he had to
regulate the distance and everything so that there would be considerable
missing done.
Everything being ready, he placed the turkey in an iron box, with
nothing but its head visible and then set the box thirty-five yards from
the line. The shooting to be done with pistols "off hand."
Ten shots were fired and still Mr. turkey was casting shy glances
towards the large crowd of several hundred men. Mr. Miller wore a
pleasant smile, when he shouted number eleven.
I stepped forward trembling like an aspen leaf, for fear I would miss
and thereby fail to win Miss Bulah's admiration. I was afraid, should
the bullet miss its mark, that the few dozen birds would be all killed
before my time would come around again, there being so many men waiting
for a shot. At last I cut loose and off went the turkey's head, also Mr.
Miller's happy smile. You see he lacked "two bits" of getting cost for
the bird.
Another one was put up, and off went his head. This was too much for Mr.
Miller, two birds already gone and only two dollars and "six bits" in
the pot. He finally after humming and hawing awhile, said:
"Gentlemen, I don't like to weaken this early in the game, but you all
know I have got a large family to support and consequently I will have
to rule this young man out of the ring. He's too slick with a pistol to
have around a game of this kind anyway."
I hated to quit of course, but it was best, for I might have missed the
very next time, and as it was Bulah would think that I would have
carried out my promise if I had been allowed to keep on.
After that, during my stay on the T. P. R. R., I was called the "Turkey
shooter." Often while riding near the railroad track, maybe four or five
hundred miles from Toyah, some one would hail me from a passing train by
that name; and whenever I would ride into a town there was sure to be
some fellow on hand to point me out. They all knew me so well by my
horse, Croppy, he being milk white and both ears being off close up to
his head. He was indeed a notable animal, as well as a long, keen, good
one.
That night nearly everybody got drunk, old Ash excepted of course, as he
was already full. The ball was a grand success. The dancers on the
womens' side, were all married ladies, with the exception of Miss Bulah
and a Miss Lee; and those on the opposite side were a terribly mixed
mob, but mostly gamblers, horse thieves and cow boys. The railroaders
didn't take any stock in the ball. Maybe it was because there were so
many on the floor wearing six-shooters and bowie knives around their
waists.
It was indeed a grand sight next morning looking at black eyes and
swollen heads. Every Chinaman, there being a dozen or two living in
town, skipped for parts unknown that night. There was too many loose
bullets flying through the air to suit them; and it is said that the
"Pig-tails" have shunned Toyah ever since that New Year's night.
A few days after New Years a telegram came to Ash, from Garrett who had
arrived at Pecos Station stating: "Come on the first train as I am in a
hurry to get home." Ash got me to answer it as he, having drank too much
Tom and Jerry, was unable to walk to the Telegraph office. I sent the
following message: "Can't leave here; owe every man in town."
In a few minutes another one came, an answer to the one just sent,
stating: "If you don't come down on the morning train I will strike out
and leave you."
This one raised Ash's spunk, so he told me to write down just what he
told me, and then give it to the operator. I done as requested, which
ran thus: "Go to, hic, h--l, d---- you!"
The next evening, Garrett arrived on the west bound passenger, and next
morning, after paying a lot of saloon bills, etc., took old Ash back
with him.
I had, the day after New Year's, went down to the Pecos and brought my
ponies up to Toyah, therefore I took a little spin out into the country
to pass off the time, every now and then, or at least to look through a
few herds of cattle in that vicinity.
After spending about two weeks around Toyah, I struck out for Colorado
City, two hundred miles east. Of course I hated to part with Miss Bulah;
and so did Mr. Newell hate to part with me, for he was losing a good
cash boarder.
Illustration: "BILLY THE KID."