JUNE

June 3 - 9, 2001: POSSE WEEK

Monday, June 4, 2001
POSSE WEEK!

A great crew in for Posse Week. We have with us Russ and Andrea back for a second time from Ohio. J.D. and Darrel from Ca. Terry from N.Y. Dave from Ga. Chris from Va. Tim from Ma. Then there’s the English birds Sarah and Katherine still here for a second week. And Don from Tenn. The following is the start of the week.

SILVER CITY DAILY NEWS
JUNE 4TH
*EXTRA*EXTRA*
DEADLY DOINGS ALONG THE BORDER
RANGERS RETURN

After a two-month absence New Mexico Ranger Captain Bates has returned to the area to once again try and rid our fair country of Fearless Frank and the Frisco River Gang. As we have been reporting over these past eight weeks the gang has been raging unchecked throughout the area, emboldened by the unfortunate outcome of the rangers last try. From the robbery of the Mogollon Mine payroll to the wholesale rustling of N- stock there has not been a moment’s peace.

But the Rangers are back! Arriving by train last night with Capt. Bates was his usual side kick “Loco Lyndsey” Hobson and a new group of volunteers. We know well of two of the volunteers, they are none other than Rowdy Russ Imler and his woman Anything goes Andrea. This couple if you recall were at one time riders for the N- . Good hands but both were a bit too quick to fall to gunplay and were asked to leave and take the pressure off the local cemetery. Seems they are back to help their old friend Capt. Bates. We feel they are a perfect choice for the job.

Also along are two well-known Californian bounty hunters, J.D Treadway, known along the Gold coast as the “Assassin” and Deadly Darrel Roy. Both of these men have made a living by the gun along the coast from Mexico to Canada. A bit shady though they may be, we will over look any past in exchange for help in cleaning up the mess of the Frisco River Gang. The last volunteer to get off the train was Tricky Terry Watters, a private investigator with the Pinkerton Agency sent along to see things were done right this time. Being from New York, we hope she leaves behind any East coast ideas of fair play and is willing to use her gun as well as her wits.

After losing most of his gang to the last dance with the Rangers, Fearless Frank has gathered a new bunch of outlaws around him. Seems there is never a shortage of renegades. As usual Terrible Tanya is there with an attitude that just seems to get worse everyday. New gang members include three gunslicks who have been riding together since the war between the states. Dangerous Dave Hovey of Georgia, Chris Polecat Pollock from Virginia and Twisted Tim Burr, born a Yankee in the Boston area then understandably heading south during the conflict. These three we hear were hell on wheels and have never stopped rolling. Moving through the south after the war they made unpleasant names for themselves as they went. Now that they are in our country we hope this will be the end of the road for all three.

To our surprise two ladies, and we use the term loosely, from across the big water are along with Fearless frank. Known only as Sassy Sara and Mad Katherine we have no idea why they would be along with Fearless and his gang. But the simple fact that they are makes them undesirables and puts a target and price on each. Perhaps they are looking for a bit of excitement. Well, we can be sure the Rangers will give them plenty. Then there is Bugfuzz the old mountain man and commanchero who has a bad name all over the country. People everywhere have heard of him and go to great lengths to avoid him. What the old codger is doing here in the border country is a mystery to us all.

When this reporter conversed with Capt. Bates he allowed as how he was confident that this attempt to clean up the gang would be quick and successful. Unfortunately we have heard this before with disappointing results.

But we must have faith! Our hopes and prayers are with the Rangers that soon the scavengers of the border will be feasting on the meat of Fearless Frank and his outlaw partners.

We will get you up to date as news of the events reach this office.

Tuesday, June 5, 2001
As soon as the Posse hit the border country they went straight to the Ghost Ranch hoping to find Fearless Frank and the gang there. Upon arrival they only found ol’ Bugfuzz who had himself holed up in the livery barn. Capt. Bates tried to talk him out but the old codger wouldn’t budge. He instructed the Posse to try and take him alive but when Bugfuzz started shooting it wasn’t long before Rowdy Russ gut shot him and ended things for old Bugfuzz.

The posse went to camp and kept an all night vigil expecting the outlaws to come seeking revenge. A sleepless night wasted as the Outlaws had been out collecting loot and riding the range not getting back till after dark only to find they had been visited. The loss of lo’ Bugfuzz was not enough to cause them to hit the trail to the Posse camp.

Wednesday, June 6, 2001
The Posse followed clues down into the Frisco River Box looking up some loot. The heat of the day forced them to seek shelter in a shaded overhang along the cliff. They finally found some loot late in the day and headed out, encountering quicksand that was more deadly that the Outlaws. J.D. had his trusty mount Rocky go over on him in the thick of it. Fortunately the soft landing in the sand just turned his leg black and blue instead of broken in two. At the same moment Capt. Bates had quicksand suck his horse down to over his neck within one step. Again luck was with them as the sand was still loose and they were both able to get out.

The Outlaws spent the day at the Ghost Ranch, living carefree and eating well, waiting the arrival of the Posse which never came. That evening under the cover of darkness the Posse moved camp to within a mile of the Outlaws. Rowdy Russ, his gun happy wife and the Capt. went into the outlaw hang out and threw a few shots around waking everyone up but causing no damage other than the loss of sleep for the rest of the night.

Thursday, June 7, 2001
Morning dawned clear and hot as the Posse headed to the Ghost Ranch. With the Outlaws just rousing they had the advantage catching Mad Katherine in the outhouse and killing her. Fearless Frank was soon on the scene and that’s where the tide of the battle changed. He quickly shot-----and then turned to hunting more Posse. The gun battle raged for several hours, during which it is noted that the Capt. seemed to disappear, later claiming equipment problems. We have our doubts. Sgt. Hobson carried on in his place till she fell to outlaw gunfire. J.D. and Deadly Darrel also took hits but J.D. went down knowing he had gotten a good hit on Fearless. Several of the outlaws were also hit, but the Posse took the worst of it before finally retreating back to camp .

The Capt. never showed up back in camp leaving us only to wonder if he’s up to the job anymore. While he was gone doing whatever it was he was doing the outlaws visited his camp hitting everyone there. That night the leaderless camp was in turmoil and depression. And little wonder why as they had been left to hang out and dry.

Friday, June 8, 2001
Sgt. Hobson rallied what was left of the shattered posse and headed into the outlaw camp. We have to respect those brave souls as they never gave up and kept taking the fight to the outlaws. The Posse ruined a hot breakfast for the outlaws arriving just as the hungry outlaws prepared a morning meal. The gunfire erupted and lasted for hours. Capt. bates showed up and gave the group a bit of a boost taking out Polecat just as he was about to blow away the Sgt. But one by one the Posse riders fell to Outlaw bullets. The Capt. kept things hot for Dangerous Dave and Twisted Tim Burr who were holed up in the livery barn, but he was finally hit in both arms rendering him unable to handle his weapon. Rowdy Russ took over his position and continued. Deadly Darrel was right up on the barn and about to make a move when Fearless by luck saw him and quickly sent him to meet his maker. After that it was all over for poor brave Rowdy as six outlaws swarmed over him. He fought gamely but went down in a hail of lead.

It seems this outcome has become almost routine when the Rangers take to the border country. Time and again they are ripped to shreds and driven out. Perhaps it’s time the powers that be in Sante Fe posted an advertisement for a new Ranger Capt.

June 10 - 16, 2001: Spring Gather

Monday, June 11, 2001
Our first week up top… for every one but Frank and me. This week our crew consists of Russ and Andrea here for a second week and joining them are Russ’ father and mother, David and Nancy. Also we have Don here still for another week. First timers are Tony and Dennis, another father and son team. Andy, a Texan and Roland, a German now living in Albq. round out the bunch.

They got out on Monday in reasonable time and went on a horse hunt. The 2 year olds hadn’t been seen for a few weeks. About 4 hours later as Frank and I were working on some fence repair Tanya’s group came in with the missing horses. I had told her not to bring them in, just to locate them. So I knew something was up when I saw her running them in a corral. In a few minutes I find that Preacher, a handsome Appy-colored colt had a nasty old cut in his fore arm. We doctored him up which he took like a well-mannered young man. Then put him in with Frio, who is recovering from a stifle injury.

A few folks called it a day after that and a few others went out to check the mares and see if we had any new foals out there. They came back with a report that there were a total of five foals so far and they all looked great.

Frank and I spent the day fixing this and that to get us through the next week till we could spend some more time on it all. Then after dinner he and I trailered our horses, Chili and Doc down here to the lower ranch.

Tuesday, June 12, 2001
Everyone went with Lyndsey over to help Don and Jeanie at Collins Park. There they gathered 300+ cattle and cut off 130 head which they then pushed about 8 miles down through Y canyon and then up the pass into the Morega… a mountain top meadow of about 5000 acres. It was a heck of a long day, every one getting plenty of the rear view of a cow. They got home about 8:30pm.

Frank and I were up at 5am and riding at 6. We gathered the river pasture and with the help of Joe, John’s brother, we were branding by 10am. Trying to beat the heat. We branded 33 and were done by noon. Frank and I loaded up our horses and headed out to have a perfect afternoon. It just went like clock work. We trailered to Hicks tank and found 21 head, pushed them into the River pasture. Then we trailered all the way up to Roberts Park and found 8 head within a mile of the corral. We got them in and trailered down to the corrals in Alma and dropped them off. At 5pm we left the Ghost ranch and went up onto Vigil Mesa where we found 11 head and pushed them back to the Ghost Ranch where we cut and sorted and loaded them on the trailers, getting them to the River pasture. It was a great day for our young horses. A lot of getting in the trailer then unloading working cattle and then loading up again to do more of the same. Frank and I are getting to work really well in the corral. He holds the bunch and watches the gate as I cut. I no longer have to shout direction to him, we are like a choreographed dance out there. Doc made some moves that were so slick and smooth, we were stopping traffic on the highway as tourists took pictures. We got done feeding our horses at 10:30pm.

Tanya spent the day at the dentist in Silver City after a week of tooth pain. She got the word that her wisdom teeth need to come out. She is getting it done next week and is dreading it. Too bad it has to be so long a wait, too many days to think about it.

Wednesday, June 13, 2001
Tanya took a group to work bulls out in one of Don’s pasture, spending the day but getting done by 5pm what Don had thought would take a couple days. She found them and penned them at the N- shipping pens, really surprising Don. She’s a regular cowgirl.

Lyndsey went checking water with Maggie and some of the crew. Riding fence, finding most gates open and cattle way out in 7HL pasture. She reported all the tanks she saw were in pretty good shape.

Frank and I had just the opposite of yesterday. It was a wreck all day long. Joe helped us and we spent most of the day branding. We had cattle breaking corrals, mixing up what we had already sorted. We each got chased and charged a dozen times. It was hot, it was windy, and it was no fun at all. We got 38 head branded. Lyndsey had the day off.

Thursday, June 14, 2001
It was a cool night at the lower H.Q.—41. A cold night at the upper ranch—29.

After an early morning rodeo getting cattle in the corrals, Frank and I loaded Joe early and got him on the way to the upper ranch. The crew up there waited for the cattle to arrive, then moved them into Negrito pasture. Alan got up there about noon and with their help branded a few calves. It was a fine, fine day. High up top was 75, no wind and no clouds. Frank’s horse Chile lost both front shoes, they had been clanking for days. I sent him home to get some rest. We had been up at 5am every day and working 16 hours. He deserved it. I took Doc into the dreaded Carcass Basin. Not really expecting to find anything, I came out 4 hours later with 22 head. Doc worked his ass off and was spectacular. We got them down to the Ghost Ranch and penned them then cut and sorted them. The horse has the most awesome moves I’ve ever ridden, and thinks ahead and for himself. No other horse I know could have done the work he did by himself. I had to leave him alone at the Ghost Ranch as I trailered the cattle to Alma corrals, he didn’t like that a bit. On the third and last load I was going too fast as I came off the mesa above the river, hit the washboard in the gravel and went off the edge of the mesa. As I went over the edge I thought… “I’m F----- dead.” By some miracle the truck stopped. Inches from the trailer tumbling over on top of it. I walked to the corrals just as Joe and Alan pulled in. Alan said I looked homeless. I pointed to the truck on the mesa edge a 1/4 mile away. “Holy shit!!” was his response.

Joe went and got his tractor; I called Frank who brought his trailer. It was so impressive a sight as we stood looking down at it that Joe, a life-long logging trucker who’s seen it all, took pictures. We loaded the cattle into Frank’s trailer and pulled my truck out with the tractor and Alan’s truck. Amazing.... no real damage.

Friday, June 15, 2001
Frank and I put another load on Joe’s semi and sent it up, then went to the H.Q. and loaded our gear and headed up ourselves. We are calling it done below. I know of 4 head that are still out there but...they will have a lonely summer. The upper ranch crew moved some cattle…not getting too far as there were too many little babies that just wouldn’t move. When we got up top we branded 18 head of cows… The last big cow branding. All totaled I increased my herd by 259 head!

June 17 - 23, 2001: Summer Ranch Week

Monday, June 18, 2001
Man oh man it’s great to be back up top! Full crew this week, Vincent and his daughter Denise are back for another visit from Ct. Pam from Ca. Phyllis and Sara from W.Va. make up the gentler gender crew. Tom, Roger, and Mike from Mo. John from S.C. fill it out.

It’s hard to decide where to start and what to do first up here. We have hundreds of cattle around the H.Q., in the horse pasture, in the yard, in the horse corrals. As well as both North and South traps are full and the east side of Bearwallow pasture. So today after a shakedown ride we started working. We got the cattle out of the horse pastures and yards. Then went out into the North trap and gathered up a handful of pairs and did some branding. Everyone was getting into the swing of things, they dang well better! We got a lot of calves to brand. My plan is to work the traps pulling out pairs, branding them, then spreading them out in the big pastures. Probably Negrito will be the first we go into with large numbers, lots of feed under the Ponderosa trees and there’s plenty of water. We didn’t really use that pasture much last year. When we are all done we will just have the heifers and small bulls in the traps for safe breeding. High today was about 80 with lots of clouds in the afternoon and a tease of rain. The summer rain should start any day now.

The Elk are out of control around here. Every morning there are at least 200 here in the H.Q. Yesterday they never left, just hung out in the horse meadows all day eating up the good feed. They are amazing to watch and listen to but kinda piss me off!

Tuesday, June 19, 2001
A productive day around here. We rode across the North trap first out to Holy Shit Ridge where we let everyone enjoy the view and promised them if we got some more work done today we would get them out for a little sight seeing ride. They held up their end of the deal. We worked our way back through a lot of cattle, mostly Alan’s. Came out on the other side with 8 calves to brand a few extra of mine to move to Negrito pasture. Got the cattle corralled and took a nice lunch break at the H.Q., something we don’t get to do often. Then we set to branding. The crew worked great! Ropers are getting pretty dang good, flankers know how to do it now, the girls were quick with the vaccinations and dressings, and on the ball with the ear tags and hot irons. The brands today looked a whole lot better than yesterdays. We got the branding done in less than an hour, then moved the cattle slick as you please out to Dog Spring about 2 miles. We were back home at about 6:15.

Another fine day, high of 79, clouds in the afternoon with a tease of rain and good breeze. Any day now it should come a downpour. Maggie is in Albq. picking up Cassady and said it rained hard there this afternoon.

Wednesday, June 20, 2001
The first rain of the season!!!

Day started clear after a night low of 45, about 11am the clouds were building up and I told Alan that this was the day. Of course Mr. Pessimistic said not. We were riding the South trap clearing it out, moving little pairs into 7HL pasture and bringing the big pairs to the H.Q. corrals to brand. We got everything in about 1pm, took a lunch break then started branding. The clouds got thicker and the thunder rumbled and finally the first few drops. It never rained hard but enough to dampen the calves making it harder to lay a brand because of the wet hair. The crew is getting great! They really have the branding pen jobs down to a well-oiled machine. It took almost as long to sort as it did to brand.

As mentioned, Alan was here today after a lousy week. His dad has had two surgeries in the last month and another to go due to a broken hip and infection caused by it. Sunday night while he was in Albq. with his dad, Terry his wife was feeding horses and got run down and fell to break her elbow in four places. She had surgery and has a plate and 2 screws. So Alan has driven back and forth from Albq. to Silver City three times in 36 hours....about 1150 miles visiting two hospitals. He was in a lot better mood after a few hours in the saddle. As they say the best thing for the inside of man is the outside of a horse.

Thursday, June 21, 2001
Up and out in good time, we gathered the North trap… everything and moved them out into 7HL pasture. There were some calves in there we should have branded, but Alan was in a mode of just get everything out into the big pastures and deal with the branding later in the summer. Should prove to be interesting at that time. As we rode we decided to separate our herds, we both seem to have different ideas as to how to manage them. So the next several weeks we will spend putting mine into the southern pastures, Negrito, Loco, and Canyon Creek while he uses Pitchfork. We will be setting up a cow camp way out past Snow Lake in Canyon Creek canyon.

After we moved the cattle into 7HL Alan and Frank went with a few of the crew to ride the fence and check gates. I headed home with a few others, just as we left I looked at the clouds and asked Alan if he wanted my slicker. He just shook his head. Frank went north with Roger, Mike and Tom, Alan went south with Pam. As I got home I looked back and saw the dark clouds and the rumble of thunder as sheets of lightning ripped the sky. I was glad I was home. Sitting on the front porch a few hours later with Cassady I saw Frank’s group coming in, sooner that they would be had the fence been ridden. They had tales of terrific lightning, wind and hail, galloping horses across the grasslands. They never even made it to Fence tank, never rode a foot of fence or saw a gate but had a great time. Pam returned a few hours later, mission being accomplished and a tale of sharing a slicker with Alan, crouched in a canyon with lightning dancing along the rim.

The high was 72, the rain lasted for less than an hour but will really make the country green up. The afternoon temperature after the storms rolled through was only 59. Overnight low 42.

Friday, June 22, 2001
It was just a riding to be riding day. We had worked around within a few miles of the H.Q. all week and we wanted folks to see a bit more country. Plus the fact that the fences weren’t ridden or gates checked yesterday due to the sparky conditions. So Lyndsey went out with Vin, Phyliss, Sara, and John. They rode Rocker canyon, up into and through N- Park and got back home about 3pm. They reported the water was gone in the canyon, all gates were closed but lots of deadfall trees from the winter snow over the fences. Just as they got home it was getting pretty mean looking, what with dark grey clouds. The wind picked up and lightning flashed. I looked to the east where Frank had taken the long riders and was glad I stayed home to do some plumbing.

Frank, Mike, Tom, Denise, Roger and Pam all went out through 7HL, into Pitchfork to Dead Horse corral. There they rode the north fence all the way back. About 25 miles in all. They got in about 8:30pm tired but smilin’. They reported all but one gate closed and all the fence in good shape. They also reported lots of hail, lightning, rain, wind. Hundreds of Elk, Coyote, Hawks and Antelope. Everyone vowed that it was the best week horseback they’d ever had and would return. That makes us smile.

Tanya is no longer here...we are not sure why. I think the 16 hour days, 6 days a week, week after week just got to be too much. Two years is the longest anyone has lasted here. I guess I’m just a slave driver.

So if any one knows some good hands looking to WORK and not whine send them out our way.

June 24 - 30, 2001: Summer Ranch Week

Sunday, June 24, 2001
Another week of a returning crew. We have a big bunch from Michigan who were here 2 years ago. They are Jim, Roger, Ray jr., Ray sr., Jerry, Jane, Bev, Angela, Denise.

Monday, June 25, 2001
Today was spent getting things set with saddles and horses, then in the afternoon they went and gathered all the broodmares, foals, 2 year olds, and extra stuff we had in the South Trap. They moved them out into 7Hl Pasture. It was a pretty good bunch of loose horses to be moving, over 25 in all. The day was glorious, high about 70 then we had a rare overnight rain which was a long soaker giving us over 2/10 of an inch! These Michigan folks are sure enjoying our insect free world here.

Tuesday, June 26, 2001
We all went over and helped Don and Jeanie gather about 200 head of cattle and moved them up 7HL canyon about 6 miles to Shepherds Baseball Park, a really pretty spot. Looks just like a baseball stadium with a large tank in the meadow surrounded by Aspens. We left them there and took a roundabout way home exploring some new country. Got in about 6:15pm. Everyone tired but feeling a good day’s work done. No rain but some nice clouds, had to wear a vest all day as the high was only in the 60’s. Over 200 Elk in the horse pastures this morning. I sent Frank out with paint ball guns to run them out.

Wednesday, June 27, 2001
Lyndsey went out horseback with some of the crew, they gathered a handful out of N- Park and moved them about 4 miles to Burnt Cabin. It was supposed to be a short 3 or 4 hour ride that ended up being about 6. The rest of the crew rode in trucks with Frank and I to the Lower Ranch, seeing some new country the fast way. We went down through the old ghost town of Mogollon then on into Alma and the to the H.Q. There we fixed one trailer and hitched it up and also dragged back a travel trailer that we will put out at one of the line camps to store gear in. The day was glorious, a high of about 75 after a low of 48. No rain but a sprinkle.

Thursday, June 28, 2001
Another fine day. Lyndsey took one part of the crew up to N- Park, gathered a few head and moved them into Negrito Pasture. They had wanted only a 3-4 hour ride but didn’t get in till about 5pm. All tired and complaining Lyndsey didn’t know how to tell time. Frank went into the Wilderness Area with the rest of the crew, something we don’t get to do often but plan to do more. It is really fantastic country. It was planned as an all day ride but one of the gals along chickened out cause of the “steep” trail so they headed back out after about 4 hours. These folks from Michigan are real flat-landers. All week they have been worrying about rocks and steep slopes, heck we haven’t even seen any yet! I told them this country up here was a golf course compared to the lower country. I don’t think they can even imagine what we ride down there. Maggie and I spent the day with Cassady fishing a few different places. No luck. But a fun day.

Friday, June 29, 2001
We spent a lot of the day waiting for Alan who said he’d be up and never showed. So finally most of the crew went out on their own and did a bit of exploring. Some of the folks hadn’t planned on riding anyway so they were happy swapping lies on the porch.

Sold a couple of yearlings this week. Denise and Ray bought Batman, a handsome black with four perfect socks and a blaze. Roger and Jane bought Jimmy, a very very cute bay with four socks and a blaze. It’s nice knowing they are going to happy homes. But after hearing the tales of Michigan bugs I feel kinda sorry for them.

Posse Week next week, hard to believe that it’s been a month already. So a busy weekend is ahead getting camps set up and loot bags out.