The Story of the Outlaw: A Study of the Western DesperadoHough, Emerson
History
The Story of the Outlaw: A Study of the Western Desperado
Hough, Emerson
Crime -- West (U.S.); Criminals -- West (U.S.); Outlaws; West (U.S.) -- History
[Footnote H: Captain Saturnino Baca was a friend of Kit Carson, an
officer in the New Mexican Volunteers, and the second commanding officer
of Fort Stanton. He came to Lincoln in 1865, and purchased of J.
Trujillo the old stone tower, as part of what was then the Baca
property, near the McSween residence. The Bacas were recognized as
non-combatants, but were friendly to Major Murphy. Mrs. McSween and Mrs.
Baca were bitter enemies, and it was commonly said that, as each side
had a sheriff, each side had a woman. Bonifacio J. Baca, son of Captain
and Mrs. Baca, was a protege of Major Murphy, who sent him to Notre Dame
University, Indiana, to be educated. "Bonnie" Baca was at different
times clerk of the probate court, county assessor, deputy sheriff, etc.,
and was court interpreter under Judge Warren H. Bristol. He was teaching
school at the time Sheriff Brady was shot, and from his refuge in the
"round tower," a few feet distant, saw Brady fall. Captain Baca, wife
and son, were after that closely watched by the men of the McSween
faction, but managed to remain neutral and never became involved in the
fighting, though Billy the Kid more than once threatened to kill young
Baca.]
The death of Crawford ended the second day's fighting. Peppin's party
now numbered sixteen men from the Seven Rivers country, or twenty-eight
in all. The McSween men besieged in the adobe were Billy the Kid, Harvey
Norris (killed), Tom O'Folliard, Ighenio Salazar (wounded and left for
dead), Ignacio Gonzales, Jose Semora (killed), Francisco Romero
(killed), and Alexander A. McSween, leader of the faction (killed). Doc
Skurlock, Jack Middleton, and Charlie Bowdre were in the adjoining store
building.
At about noon of the third day, old Andy Boyle, ex-soldier of the
British army, said, "We'll have to get a cannon and blow in the doors.
I'll go up to the fort and steal a cannon." Half-way up to the fort, he
found his cannon--two Gatling guns and a troop of colored
cavalry--already on the road to stop what had been reported as firing on
women and children. The detachment was under charge of the commanding
officer of Fort Stanton, Colonel Dudley, who marched his men past the
beleaguered house and drew them up below the place. Colonel Dudley was
besought by Mrs. McSween, who came out under fire, to save her husband's
life; but he refused to interfere or take side in the matter, saying
that the sheriff of the county was there and in charge of his own posse.
Mrs. McSween refused to accept protection and go up to the post, but
returned to her husband for what she knew must soon be the end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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