Raton, New Mexico, where the west began for those from eastern states, had a wild and wonderful beginning. Here is the complete story, as gleaned from newspaper reports from the late 1800s and pioneer oral histories. Gun fights, lynchings, land wars, construction of the city's opera house and much more about how this rare American community grew. This is true western history at its vibrant best in a re-publication of a unique book printed in 1948.
Dozens of marvelous tales ranging from lifestyles in Raton's long-gone Red Light district to the lynching of Gus Mentzer, about nearby ghostly former coal camps that once hand thousands of residents and more of the City's vibrant history. And how about Pegleg La Josie, who managed a brothel and could dance up a storm on her one good leg. Or the Dawson mine disaster which buried 283 miners far underground. A title that everyone will thoroughly enjoy.
In the summer of 1930, two federal prohibition agents were murdered. The first died in a hail of buckshot on a dark street in Aguilar, Colorado. Six weeks later, the second agent and his vehicle disappeared on a sunny afternoon along a New Mexico state highway south of Raton. During their fifty-year search, the authors sought answers to why no one was ever prosecuted for these crimes. This is the first book to correlate the two murders, identify how and why they occurred, and name the parties involved and the roles they played. Drawing from first-hand interviews and National Archives files, this book lifts the shadows along the trail as the light of truth is shown upon this mystery. Two federal agents can now rest in peace.
Eleven years of research and 30,000 miles of travel are the props upon which the author built this story. Exciting tales of gun slingers are not always true tales, but this work blends both.
Bart Kingsley had followed her to New Mexico, ready to lay his love--and his life--on the line. But spirited Laura Rose had made a fresh start for herself. She hadn't left her controlling father in Kansas to let some gun-slinging outlaw ruin her hopes--no matter what scandalous past they shared six years ago. Or how his green eyes beckoned Rosie was his light in the darkness--Bart would do anything to win back her trust. But he was a wanted man. Would the past, with its dangerous demands and debts, conspire to destroy their new beginning? Or would his faith in God--and in Rosie--be rewarded?
To love and protect… The Lawman Claims His Bride by Renee Ryan For five years, US Marshal Logan Mitchell has dreamed of returning to his sweetheart in Denver. He never imagined he’d find Megan Goodwin in prison. Megan has no memory of what happened the night the outlaw was murdered. Remembering the killer’s identity will clear Megan’s name, but could lead danger right to her door… The Gunman’s Bride by Catherine Palmer Bart Kingsley had followed Laura Rose to New Mexico, ready to lay his love—and his life—on the line. But the spirited Rosie hadn’t left her controlling father to let some gunslinging outlaw ruin her hopes—no matter what scandalous past they shared six years ago! Bart would do anything to win back her trust, but he’s a wanted man. Will the past conspire to destroy their new beginning?
When New Mexico became part of the United States, the territory contained 295 land grants, the largest of these being the Maxwell Land Grant. The size and boundaries of the grant were disputed, with some believing that much of the land was public domain. Settlers on this land were fought not only by the land grant owners but also by a group of corrupt politicians and lawyers—known as the Santa Fe Ring (most notably Thomas Catron and Stephen Elkins)—who tried to use the situation for personal profit and land acquisition. The fight escalated in late 1875 with the assassination of Reverend F. J. Tolby, an outspoken critic of the Santa Fe Ring. In a confession one of the assassins stated that men connected to the ring had paid to have Tolby killed. Outrage, civil unrest, and more murders followed. The town of Cimarron alone was the scene of a lynching, a barroom gunfight in the St. James Hotel involving legendary gunman Clay Allison, and a nighttime murder of a prisoner. For a time the troubles in New Mexico were ignored by the federal government. But in 1878 the murder of John Tunstall set off a wave of violence known as the Lincoln County War. Following that, a letter came to light that appeared to show that the governor of the territory, Samuel B. Axtell, planned a mass execution of critics of the Santa Fe Ring, who he considered to be agitators in the Colfax County troubles. Finally, officials in Washington took notice and sent Frank W. Angel with orders to investigate the violence, murders, and corruption that plagued the territory. Following his investigation, Angel concluded, “It is seldom that history states more corruption, fraud, mismanagement, plots and murders, than New Mexico, has been the theatre under the administration of Governor Axtell.” The actions taken as a result of Angel’s investigation wouldn’t end the violence in New Mexico, but they did lead to the end of the Colfax County War.
In this volume, published originally in an edition of 250 numbered and signed copies, Stanley (Father Stanley Francis Louis Crocchiola) takes on the task of telling the complex story of the Maxwell Land Grant.
Authoritative guide to everything in print about lawmen and the lawless—from Billy the Kid to the painted ladies of frontier cow towns. Nearly 2,500 entries, taken from newspapers, court records, and more.
A richly illustrated history of the first cross-country auto trips exposes the role of these well-publicized jaunts in changing the way the public felt about this new technology. (Transportation)
