Reserve, NM

When the west was wild . . .

              "I will show the Texans there is at least one Mexican in the                            county who is not afraid of the American cowboy."
                                                                                       Elfego Baca-1884
 
October 1884 -
       Seven drunken cowboys brutally tortured a man known as El Burro at Milligan's Saloon in Upper Frisco (now Reserve, NM); they then set upon his friend and would be rescuer, Epitacio Martinez, binding him and using him for target practice. Both El Burro and Epitacio survived the ordeal.
       Deputy sheriff Pedro Sarracino rode the 130 miles to Socorro for help to bring the cowboys to justice. He returned with nineteen year old Elfego Baca who was intent on seeking justice (or revenge?).
       The local Justice of the Peace said he was unable to stop the lawlessness of the cowboys on the payroll of the Slaughter outfit. Baca arrested one cowboy whom he witnessed head butting another cowboy. A large group of cowboys gathered to demand his release but dispersed after Baca fired into the crowd wounding one man.
       At the time of the man's trial the following day about eighty cowboys rode into town demanding his release. After the trial he was released. Fearing trouble Baca barricaded himself in a jacal (a hut with a thatched roof and walls consisting of thin stakes driven into the ground close together and plastered with mud) belonging to one Geronimo Armigo, and prepared for a gunfight. Baca blasted his six-shooter for thirty-six hours pausing just long enough to cook tortillas and beef stew. Baca survived dynamite and 4,000 rounds shot in his direction by the Texas cowboys. On the third day, unscathed, Baca gave himself up, but not his weapons, to deputy Ross of Socorro. He had killed two cowboys and wounded two others.


       George had to renew his New Mexico driver license and the nearest DMV is Reserve county seat of Catron. Beautiful country to drive through.



       Extra 1: looking back to Escudilla in Arizona.
       Extra 2: near Quemado on state route 32.