Week 33: August 13th thru 19th

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Names in bold will be found in Players; bolded Titles in References.

8/13 of… 1853

Halloway Massacre: Close onto today’s Wells, NV, near the head of the Humboldt River: the small Halloway wagon train (nine people) was attacked by Indians (thought to be Paiutes). Six killed, including the Halloway’s two year old daughter. Mrs. Halloway was scalped but survived. Three men survived (two wounded) to make it back to safety with a following wagon train. Mrs. Halloway’s scalp was retrieved, reattached and she lived several more years. However, it was said that she slipped into insanity before her death, due to her experience.  {001}

1860

Phoebe Ann Mosey “Annie Oakley“, born in Woodland, Drake County, IA. Exhibition shooter.  {001}

1869

John Wesley Powell‘s first Colorado River expedition reaches the mouth of the Virgin River in Arizona after 82 days and some 930 perilous river miles. Three men who quit the expedition and attempted to walk out were likely killed by Paiute Indians. His second expedition traversed the route again in 1871-72.  In 1867 he began exploring and mapping areas that would, in time, become treasured national parks: Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Zion, and many others which would become national monuments and recreation areas. His story is far too big for Old West Daily Reader; start with his revised expedition report, The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons – J.W. Powell (1895).  {001 & 003}
see also:
Wk. 38, 09/23/1902 – John Wesley Powell

1877

LCW: Regulator “Doc” Scurlock arrested for allegedly keeping stolen horses on his Rio Ruidoso, NM, ranch — by Murphy-Dolan faction, Lincoln County Sheriff William Brady.  {001}

1878

This photograph was taken the morning after the Batchelor reached Fort Buford (Dakota Territory) (ND).) from Bismark, (Dakota Territory) (ND) having made the quickest run on record between two points, 55 hours and 25 minutes. Photo: U.S. PD pre-1923, Steamboat F.Y. Batchelor.  {001}
see:
The Originals Index –Western Forts and Trading Posts – Fort Buford
Photo Gallery Index – Transportation Photos – Steamboats

1896

The Wild Bunch at Montpelier, ID. Butch Cassidy, Elza Lay and Bub Meeks, holding cashier G.C. Gray and teller A.N. MacKintosh at gun point, took $16,500 from the safe and rode quietly out of town. Pursuit by bicycle, horse and posse proved ineffective. Meeks, later identified by teller MacKintosh, was arrested and convicted of participation in the robbery.  {001}

1934

Died in Santa Fe, NM, at age 65, Mary Hunter Austin. Early writer of the Southwest, having decided to be a writer at age nine. She studied and collected fossils, and when twelve years old, studied geology in an adult program. After college in Illinois, her family moved to California to homestead, living in the desert on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevadas. Austin was captivated by everything: geology, plants, animals, the native peoples, weather, and the extreme terrain of the desert. She wrote The Land of Little Rain (1903), a book of vignettes about her desert. She said, “I was only a month writing… but I spent twelve years peeking and prying before I began it.”  It was well received, and Austin wrote more books, novels, plays, and essays, including The Arrow Maker (1911), Experiences Facing Death (1931) and One-Smoke Stories (1934). Mount Mary Austin, in the Sierra Nevada, was named in her honor (1966). Photo U.S. PD c. 1900 Charles Fletcher Lummis.  {003}

8/14 of… 1848

The lands determined by the Oregon Treaty of 1846*  are now designated the Oregon Territory. Congress got off their duff after more than two years, partly because the news of the Whitman Massacre** had caused an uproar when it reached the Eastern press. Graphic: PD 2004 Mathew Trump.  {001}
see:
*Wk. 24/06/15/1846 – Oregon Treaty of 1846
**Wk. 48, 11/29/1847 – Whitman Massacre

1851

John Henry “Doc” Holliday born in Griffin, GA, with a harelip and cleft palate. Gambler, gunfighter.  {001}

1860

Ernest Thompson Seton born Ernest Evan Thompson in South Shields, County Duram, England. Author.  {001}

1861

Mark Twain and his brother Orion arrive safely in Carson City, NV.  {001}

1877

Captain Nolan and the survivors finally return. The whole story is too big to tell in detail in the Old West Daily Reader. Look up the Buffalo Soldier Tragedy, aka: “The Staked Plains Horror“. Truly the end of the Buffalo Hunter’s War.  {001}
see:
Wk. 31, 07/30/1877 – The Toll

1912

Famous old-time lawman, deputy U.S. Marshal Henry Andrew “Heck” Thomas {25}, dead of Bright’s disease at 62 years in Lawton, Comanche County, OK. One of the “Three Guardsmen” (1889-1905) (with Bill Tilghman* & Chris Madsen**). They worked for U.S. Marshal Evett “E.D.” Nix and “Hanging Judge” Issac Parker (1875 – 1896) and successors, who “cleaned up” the Oklahoma Territory. These were some hard, bold and brave men. Outlaws were offered a chance to surrender and, if they refused, they were killed. Thomas starred in a silent film in 1908. TYH! Photo: U.S. PD 2008 from a family album.  {001}
see also:
*Wk. 44, 11/01/1924 – Bill Tilghman
**Wk. 02, 01/09/1944 – Chris Madsen
PLAYERS – Timelines Index – Timelines M-Z – Three Guardsmen Timeline
The Originals Index – Gunfighter Statistics
Photo Gallery Index – Hangings and Shootings (Caution!) – Bill Doolin
The Originals Index – Resources and Hazards – Disease – Bright’s Disease

8/15 of… 1779

Governor Juan Bautista de Anza+2 left Santa Fe in the afternoon with roughly 600 troops including 250 Indians to find and deal with a group of Comanche+2 raiders. They camped the first night near the town of Pojuaque. This trail was different than other Spanish expeditions had taken. During the next days, the forces continued on the Camino Real.  {003}

1824

John Simpson Chisum born in Hardeman County, TN. Cattle baron.  {001}

1861

Battle of Cook’s Canyon (NM Terr.): some days after leaving Tucson on or about this date – the Ake Party, mostly miners and ranchers, twenty-four men, sixteen women, seven children were Confederate settlers; fleeing after the Siege of Tubac (Az terr.), headed for the Rio Grande near Mesilla. Traveling with six double wagons, two buggies, one single wagon, 400 head of cattle and 900 head of sheep, as well as horses and goats. At Tucson, several others joined the train, including Moses Carson, half-brother of Kit Carson. As the last wagon entered Cook’s Canyon, an estimated 100 Chiricahua Apache warriors, probably led by Cochise and Mangas Coloradas, sprung an ambush. However, the wagons were successfully circled and after a day long battle, the Indians left the scene with most of the livestock (likely the goal in the first place), leaving four killed and eight wounded. The last single wagon, carrying most of the women and children had escaped in the initial attack and returned safely to the Mimbres River settlement to seek help and make warning.
Cookes Canyon was the most dangerous passage on the trail between Mesilla to Tucson. Various records indicate that more than 150 whites were killed there, within a sixty day period, during that summer.  {001}

1872

Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the town company of Dodge City, KS, made a formality of the little settlement around Henry L. Sitler’s three room soddy and George M. Hoover’s plank and sod whiskey bar on the Santa Fe Trail where it crossed the Arkansas River. The Santa Fe Railroad arrived in September to bring in supplies and take out hides and meat. Green buffalo hides piled high along Front Street provided an odious background to the saloons and the brothels lit by the red lanterns of visiting railroad men. Land speculators, gamblers, merchants and madams flourished in booming Ford County. In time, Texas cattle would arrive for shipment east — and the city would become the epitome of the Wild Western community. Boot Hill would become legend.  {001}

1888

Charlie Montgomery killed by Bob Dalton at Brown’s Farm, Bartlesville, KS. (weapon: shotgun)  {001}

1905

Adios, in Woodward, OK, to attorney Temple Lea Houston at age 45. Last child of Texas hero Sam Houston, this pistol packing, eloquent, courtroom dramatist served as a district attorney. He was a member of the Texas state senate (1885-89) and worked as counsel to the  AT&SF RR. His 1899 “Soiled Dove Plea“* for Woodward’s Dew Drop Inn girl of the line, Minnie Stacy, is notorious — the temporary courtroom setting in the Woodward Opera House saw her acquitted in ten minutes! The aforementioned pistol saw action at the Cabinet Saloon in October of 1895 when Houston and friend Jack E. Love had a disagreement with rival attorneys John and Ed Jennings (father and brother of Al Jennings*). John was wounded, Ed died, and Temple was acquitted (self-defense). Photo: U.S. PD pre-1905.  {001}
see:
*Dictionary – Soiled Dove Plea
*Wk. 52, 12/26/1961 – Al Jennings

1935

Will Rogers (William Penn Adair Rogers) dead at age 55. Real cowboy, writer, philosopher, author, lecturer, vaudeville star, movie star (and amazing trick roper!). Killed in Barrow, Alaska Territory in an airplane crash with aviator Wiley Post during an around-the-world flight attempt. Movies : The Roping Fool (1922)* ; Two Wagons Both Covered, Going to Congress and Our Congressman all in 1924; 48 silents total and then 26 talkies! State Fair, Dr. Bull and others in 1933; Steamboat ‘Round the Bend and In Old Kentucky, both in 1935. He liked to be directed by John Ford and he played with everybody who was anybody, the list is long! Read about this man and wish we had him today. A truly incredible American! TYH!  {001}
see:
*Wk. 44, 10/29/1922 – The Roping Fool
Photo Gallery Index – Performer Photos – Will Rogers

1977

The Absaalooke (Crow) Nation hosted a gathering of approximately 35 Indian spiritual leaders at the Headwaters of the Missouri River. Traveling from the four directions, they worked together to forge the Two-Circles relationship between the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth (composed of grassroots spiritual leaders from Indian nations throughout North America. Structured in the ancestral way, the Circle is open to all traditional Indian people. It serves as a living repository of indigenous wisdom and values. Its focus is exclusively on perpetuating traditional cultural and spiritual values.) and the American Indian Institute; (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-Indian Circle that provides administrative, fund development and program support to advance the work and vision of the Traditional Circle). Logo: © AII, used with permission.  {001}
see:
References – Websites – American Indian Institute

8/16 of… 1815

Born: William Adams “Wild Bill” Hickman. Mormon Assassin.  {001}

1878

Henry Beckwith Ranch near Seven Rivers, NM: Henry Beckwith shotguns William Johnson (his son-in- law) to death during a family quarrel, then threatens his son John Beckwith because he attempted to intervene. Henry is then shot in the nose and cheek by John Olinger, Johnson’s partner. Olinger is arrested but released. Henry lives and is never charged.  {001}

1886

Ex-Olive Trail Boss Joseph J. “Joe” Sparrow kills Cattleman/gunfighter Print Olive over a $3.50 gambling debt and maybe something more, at the Haynes Saloon in Trail City, CO. Print was aggressively drunk and pushed Joe into a fight. Each missed a shot, some said Joe intentionally  missed and tried to talk Print down, but Print shot again and grazed him, so Joe shot him in the left breast. Down in the door of the saloon, Olive whimpered, “Oh, God, Joe, don’t murder me”, even as he attempted to again take aim. Sparrow shot him dead through the temple. Sparrow quietly gave himself up to the law. Print’s body was taken to Dodge and the Odd Fellow buried him with an impressive ceremony. Photo: U.S. PD pre-1886, Print Olive.  {003 & 001}
see also:
Quotes Index – Gunfighters Quotes – Print Olive

1989

Amanda Blake who played Miss Kitty Russell on Gunsmoke for 19 years, dead at 60 in Sacramento, CA. Inducted into The Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Museum in Oklahoma City, OK in 1968.  {001}

1894

Due to his heavy involvement in disputes with miners,* Colorado Adjutant General Thomas J. Tarsney is kidnapped from the Alamo Hotel in Colorado Springs, CO, likely by dissident miners from Cripple Creek, CO. Taken some miles north of the city, he is stripped, tarred and feathered and set loose to walk back.  {001}
see also:
*Wk. 22, 05/30/1894 – The Western Federation of Miners

1904

Col. Prentiss Ingraham, age 60, died in Biloxi, MS. Colonel in the Confederate Army and chief of Scouts in a Texas cavalry brigade. Soldier of fortune in Europe, Crete,  Egypt, Spain, Mexico and Cuba. A prolific dime novel author who also claimed to have written 600 novels under numerous pen names. On the staff of and an advance man for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. A friend of Texas Jack Omohundo, Buckskin Sam Hall and others of note. Ingram was a major influence in shaping the world’s concept and perception of the American West.  {001}
see also:
Wk.23, 6/9/1860 – Beadle’s Dime Novel Series
Timelines Index – Timelines A-L – Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show Timeline
Wk. 26, 6/28/1880 – Texas Jack Omohundro
Wk. 05, 02/01/1886 – Buckskin Sam Hall

1924

Dead at age 53 or 54: “Arkansas Tom” Jones (actually Roy Daugherty), last surviving member of the Doolin Gang. Killed in Joplin, MO, while resisting arrest for a bank robbery of some three years before. Photo: U.S. PD unknown.  {001}

8/17 of…1786

David (Davy) Crockett, soldier, legislator, and folk hero, born in Greene County, Tennessee.  {003}

1854

Miniconjou Lakota warrior High Forehead kills a cow belonging to a Mormon+3 pioneer on the Oregon Trail and takes refuge in a nearby Brule’ Sioux village. It will prove to be a very expensive cow all around.  {001}

1856

Delay after delay… first it was the ship departing England, then it turned out they were unexpected by Mormon Church officials in Iowa City, IA. So preparations were rushed, but still there was more delay. Finally, concerns were raised about the late start in the travel season — but the Fourth Hand Cart Company (Willie) with 500 eager emigrants — sets out for Florence, NE. Only 404 will press on from there across the vast prairie into the rapidly waning summer.  {001}
see also:
PLAYERS H – Hand Carts
Photo Gallery Index – Transportation Photos – Mormon Hand Carts

1869

The killing of Malcolm Clarke and the wounding of his son by Piegan Blackfoot Indians led by Owl Child (Clarke had raped his wife, among other things). Owl Child takes refuge in the camp of Piegan Blackfoot head chief Mountain Chief. Now comes the uproar that will set the stage for the Marias Massacre.  {001}
see:
Wk. 04, 01/23/1870 – Marias Massacre

1877

“Billy the Kid”-to-be (age 17), kills blacksmith F.P. Cahill in George Adkin’s Saloon at Ft. Grant, AZ. Billy’s first shooting.  {001}

1920

Maureen O’Hara (Maureen FitzSimons), born in Ranelagh, County Dublin, Ireland. A well known Irish/American actress, she starred in a number of Westerns.  {001}

8/18 of…1774

Meriwether Lewis is born just outside of Charlottesville, VA: soldier, explorer. The Lewis of Lewis and Clark.  {003}

1779

Governor Juan Bautista de Anza+2 diverted his troops toward the Tusas River to avoid “La Canada de los Comanches” (Comanche Canyon). The topography became more difficult as they turned north, then they woke up to frost on Friday. That night near Rio de Los Pino, 200 Apache and Ute Indians united with the Spanish, all seeking revenge against the Comanche+2. This brings the total of men to 800 with 2400 horses.  {003}

1816

Born in Middletown, CT: Ebenezer Townsand Starr. Firearms designer/manufacturer.  {001}

1819

The Western Engineer, first steamboat up the Missouri River brought Major Long and his explorers to Cantonment Martin on Cow Island. This was to be the supply base for what would become his famous scientific journey into the Rocky Mountains. Before venturing on west, Long held a peace powwow with thirteen Osage and 161 Kanzas Indians. The Kanzas or Kaws as they were later called, admitted depredations against the soldiers but promised to be peaceful in the future. White Plume, ancestor of Vice President Charles Curtis, was one of the Kaw chiefs who signed the agreement. Cantonment Martin was occupied until Long’s expedition returned in October, 1820.  {001}

1846

The Army of the West (approximately 1,700 troops), led by General Stephen W. Kearney, marched into the city of Santa Fe to claim the city and the entire Territory of New Mexico.  {001}

1854

Newspaper editor Richard H. Weightman stabs Francis X. Aubry to death in a saloon in Santa Fe, NM, over a comment about Weightman’s paper.  {001}

1884

The Dodge City Democrat (KS), reported that the operators of a Chinese laundry on the south side of town attacked a cowboy who went in for his washing. He was rescued from potential death by the timely arrival of the city police.  {001}

1975

Western Author Luke Short (Frederick Dilley Glidden), age 66, died in Aspen, CO.  Short penned many short stories and more than fifty novels: The Feud at Single Shot (1935), Blood on the Moon aka: Gunman’s Chance (1941) movie (1948), Ramrod (1943) then as a movie in 1947, Trouble Country (1976). Yes, the pen name taken from gambler/shootist Luke Short*.  Photo: U.S. PD   {001}
see:
*Wk. 36, 9/08/1893 – Luke L. Short

8/19 of…1839

A world changing event: at a special joint meeting of the Académie des Sciences  and  Académie des Beaux-Arts held at the Institut de France in Paris, France — Louis Jacques-Mandé Daguerre (1787 – 1851) revealed the secret of his photographic process to the world. The first commercially successful photographic process, it will come to be called daguerreotypy.  It came to the American West and it’s why we know what so many of the old timers looked like. The other common process was tintype (Ferrotype). Photo: U.S. PD, Jean-Baptiste Sabatier-Blot – 1844; Daguerre himself.
{003 & 001}
see also:
References – Dictionary – Photography in the Old West

1854

The Grattan Massacre: An Indian killed a cow from a Mormon+3 wagon train*. The army sent inexperienced second lieutenant John L. Grattan and an incompetent, drunken interrupter named Lucienne Auguste to arrest the miscreant and deal with an issue which should have been handled by the Indian agent. The situation quickly deteriorated when a nervous soldier shot an Indian and the melee ensued.  Chief Conquering Bear was fatally wounded and the Indians, led by Red Cloud, killed all the soldiers and went on the warpath. Trader James Bordeau, well-liked by the Indians and married to a Brule’ woman, had been at the scene and left before the fight started. He accurately reported the causes of the incident. East of Fort Laramie, Nebraska Territory (WY).  Photo: memorial stone PD, Phil Konstantin (also at: Photo Gallery – Memorials, Monuments & Sculpture – Grattan Monument  {001}
see:
*08/17/1854 – above

1863

Here is a story for some thought: President Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and several other high government officials join Christoper Spencer on the Washington, DC, mall near the White House, for some target practice and a demonstration of Spencer’s Lever Action Repeating Rifle. This because the day before, Spencer had walked through the White House and past the guards, carrying his rifle and ammunition, to show the President his product. He caught the President’s interest. I’d say times have changed a bit…  {001}

1882

Deputy Sheriff M.B. McGraw and George Goodell shoot it out over accusations by Goodell that McGraw is being paid to allow prisoners to escape. Goodell kills McGraw and it’s ruled self defense: downtown Trinidad, CO.  {001}

1883

Doc Holliday shoots Billy Allen at Hyman’s Saloon on Harrison Avenue over harassment and threats about a $5.00 debt. He is disarmed by bystanders and arrested by Captain Ed Bradbury of the Leadville, CO, police. Not guilty verdict at trial. This is Doc’s last shootout. The laudanum days are coming…  Photo: U.S. PD  c. 1880’s – Hyman’s Saloon.  {001}

1887

Pleasant Valley War: Billy Graham shot on the Payson Trail in Pleasant Valley, AZ. Cowboy Louis Gruwell and stockman Al Rose both later testified that, on his deathbed, Billy said the shooter was Ed Tewksbury.  {001}

1895

John Wesley “Wes” Hardin {02} “Little Arkansas” dead at age 42. Hardin was courageous, a well-practiced fast draw and good shot with eleven kills (up to 41 by some counts) to his credit. That’s probably why then-lawman (drunk) John Selman shot him in the back of the head at the Acme Saloon in El Paso, TX*.
I tend to view Hardin as the #1 real Gunfighter of the Old West, although Bass Reeves** should probably be in contention on this as well. Hardin was not a back shooter such as Killer Miller***  whom Hardin had defended in court over the Frazer killing****, or Tom Horn***** and definitely not the likes of “Wild Bill” Longley******. Well… that snorer in Abilene must have been a rip-roarer! Anyway, an interesting bad man. Daddy was a preacher, he became a lawyer in prison; look him up. The bullet that killed him sold for $80,000 U.S. in 2002. {001}
see also:
Photo Gallery Index – Hangings and Shootings (Caution) – Shootings – John Wesley Hardin
*Photo Gallery Index – Pushin’ Up daisies – John Wesley Hardin
*The Originals Index – Gunfighter Statistics) – John Wesley Hardin
**See: Wk. 02, 01/12/1910 – Bass Reeves
***(see: Wk. 16, 4/19/1909 – Killer Miller
****(see: Wk. 37, 09/14/1896 – Bud Frazer
*****(see: Wk. 47, 11/20/1903 – Tom Horn
******(see: Wk. 41, 10/11/1881 – Wild Bill” Longley

End: Week 33, August 13th thru 19th.
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{001} C 01/22: E 08/19; F 01/16; P 08/18