LINCOLN — Having lived in New Mexico for nearly 49 years, it comes as no surprise to me that the state has deep roots in its Wild West history.
When you kick the ground, dust rises up along with the dirt.
kAm%2<6 7@C 6I2>A=6 =2DE H66<6?5( H96? >@C6 E92? a__ A6@A=6 D9@H65 FA 7@C 2? @A6? 9@FD6 2E E96 9:DE@C:4 t==:D $E@C6 😕 {:?4@ =?( E96 @=5 7C@?E:6C E@H? bb >:=6D D@FE962DE @7 r2CC:K@K@)k^Am
Me and Billy the Kid: Ghosts and Legends of New Mexico’s Most Famous Outlaw Hangout Journal Writer
The historic Ellis Store in Lincoln, New Mexico.
Amy Gautier, owner of the historic Ellis Store in Lincoln, talks with guests during a recent open house.
At left, Mike Bilbo, a volunteer with the nearby Fort Stanton Historic District, talks with True West magazine editor-in-chief Bob Boase Bell on the veranda of the Ellis Store.
Lincoln-based historical author Linda Sanchez (left) visits with University of New Mexico history professor and author Paul Andrew Hutton and his daughter Lorena Hutton at the Ellis Store.
True West magazine editor-in-chief Bob Boze Bell visited with historical author and Lincoln resident Lynda Sanchez at the Ellis Store Open House.
Western artist Buckeye Blake (left) talks with musician and Western non-fiction author Mark Lee Gardner inside Ellis Store.
Lincoln County resident Bob Vincent attended the Ellis Store open house dressed as a 19th century Western sheriff.
Journal staff writer Ollie Reed Jr., then an Albuquerque Tribune reporter, and Tribune photographer Stacia Spragg Braude at the Kid’s gravesite in Fort Sumner near the end of the 2004 Billy the Kid Trail Ride.
Veteran cowboy EW Gunkel (left) chats with Rio Rancho resident western musician and author E. Joe Brown.
kAm(6DE6C? 9:DE@C:2?D( (6DE6C? HC:E6CD( (6DE6C? A2:?E6CD( (6DE6C? >FD:4:2?D( @=5 4@H3@JD( E96 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?5D@? @7 2 8F?7:89E6C 2?5 >6>36CD @7 E96 86?6C2= AF3=:4 EFC?65 @FE E@ D66 H92E p>J v2FE9: 6C( E96 ?6H @H?6C @7 E96 t==:D $E@C6( 😀 5@:?8 E@ C6DE@C6 2 3F:=5:?8 E92E 52E6D 324< E@ 367@C6 E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ (2C( E96 3CFE2= 4@?7=:4E 36EH66? 4@>A6E:?8 3FD:?6DD :?E6C6DED E92E >256 3F==6ED 9F> 96C6 😕 `gfg)k^Am
kAmq@3 q@K6 q6==( 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 %CF6 (6DE >282K:?6( 5C@G6 7C@> r2G6 rC66<( pC:K@?2( E@ 36 2E E96 @A6? 9@FD6)k^Am
kAm“xE H2D 2 C@2C:?8 DF446DD(” q6== D2:5) “xE 8:G6D >6 9@A6 7@C E96 7FEFC6 @7 9:DE@C:4 AC6D6CG2E:@?) p== E96 9:DE@C:2?DE@=5 >6 E96 6G6?E H2D DF49 2 3C62E9 @7 7C6D9 2:C 😕 E96 AFEC:5 2:C @7 E96 4FCC6?E 4F=EFC6 H2CD)”k^Am
kAm(6DE6C? ?@?7:4E:@? 2FE9@C 2?5 >FD:4:2? |2C< {66 v2C5?6C 2?5 9:DH:76( z2E:6( 42>6 7C@> r2D4256( r@=@C25@)k^Am
kAm“u@C >6( :E H2D 2== 23@FE E96 42>2C256C:6 36EH66? @=5 7C:6?5D 2?5 ?6H 5C2H? E@86E96C 3J 2 >FEF2= 😕 E6C6DE 😕 q:==J(” v2C5?6C D2:5) “qFE :E H2D ?@E 2 DE@58J 9:DE@CJ 82E96C:?8) |@C6 =:<6 2 D2=@ ? H:E9 E96 z:5 2D :ED E96>6)”k^Am
kAmq:==J) %96 z:5) q:==J E96 z:5)k^Am
kAm%96C6 :E :D) xE’D =:<6=J E92E q:==J E96 z:5'D 2DD@4:2E:@? H:E9 E96 t==:D $E@C6 5C6H >@DE @7 E9@D6 2EE6?5:?8 E96 @A6? 9@FD6 E@ {:?4@=?) %96 J@F?8 @FE=2H( }6H |6I:4@’ D 36DE @H? C62=\=:76 7:8FC6( A= 2J65 2? 24E:G6 C@=6 😕 E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ (2C 2?5 😀 D2 :5 E@ 92G6 DE2J65 2E E96 t==:D $E@C6 )k^Am
kAmxE H2D E96 z:5’D >JDE:BF6 E92E AF==65 !2F= p?5C6H wFEE@?( 5:DE:?8F:D965 AC@76DD@C @7 9:DE@CJ 2E E96 & ?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6H |6I:4@( 2?5 9:D 52F89E6C( 2EE@C?6J {@C6?2 wFEE@?( E@ E96 {:?4@=? 82E96C:? 8)k^Am
kAm“x H2D 6I4:E65 E@ 36 324< :? {:?4@=? 2?5 E@ 36 @?46 282:? D@ :? 2H6 @7 9@H E92E E@H? 42? EC2?DA@CE J@F 324< E@ E96 H:=5 H6DE 52JD @7 q:==J E96 z:5(” !2F= wFEE@? D2:5)k^Am
kAm{:?4@=? r@F?EJ $96C:77 !2E v2CC6EE D9@E q:==JE@ 562E9 @? yF=J `c( `gg`( 😕 u@CE $F> ?6C) qFE 9:D 89@DE =:?86CD)k^Am
kAmx @H( 3642FD6 :E 92F?ED >6)k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw:89\G@=E286 56DA6C25@k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx? >J 62C=:6C J62CD 2D 2 ;@FC?2=:DE 😕 }6H |6I:4@( x EC:65 E@ 2G@:5 HC:E:?8 23@FE q: ==J E96 z:5) }@E 3642FD6 E96 z:5’D DE@CJ 72:=65 E@ :?EC:8F6 >6( 3FE 3642FD6 D@ >2?J @E96CD 92G6 E@=5 :E)k^Am
kAmq6== 92D HC:EE6? E9C66 3@@ H:E9 9:D @H? 2CEH@C<) v2C5?6C'D a_`` 3@@< “%@ w6== @? 2 u2DE w@ CD6” :D 23@FE E96 z:5 2?5 v2CC6EE)k^Am
kAm!2F= wFEE@? H2D E96 8F6DE 4FC2E@C @7 E96 a__f p=3FBF6CBF6 |FD6F> 6I9:3:E “sC62>D42A6 s6DA6C25@iq:==J E96 z:5 2?5 E96 ~FE= 2H 😕 p>6C:42)”k^Am
kAmr@?D:56C:?8 2== E96 2EE6?E:@? q:==J 86ED( x 7:8FC65 C6256CD 5:5?’E ?665 >6 D=:?8:?8 : ?< 2E 9:D E2=6)k^Am
kAm(6==( 8@@5 =F4< H:E9 E92E) x7( =:<6 >6( J@F 2C6 2 }6H |6I:4@ HC:E6C H9@ @7E6? 56=G6D :?E@ E96 A2DE( J@F’5 92G6 2 36EE6C 492?46 ?@E HC:E: ?8 23@FE 5C@F89E @C E96 p=3FBF6CBF6 x?E6C?2E:@?2= q2==@@? u:6DE2 E92? ?@E HC:E:?8 23@FE E96 z: 5) %96 :?E6C6DE 😕 9:> 😀 :?D2E:23=6)k^Am
kAm“q:==J H2D aa_ G@=ED 2?5 6G6CJ@?6 6=D6 H2D “_ 3@=ED(” D2:5 qF4<6J6 q=2<6( 2 (62E96C7@C5 ) (%6I2D( 2CE:DE 2?5 q:==J E96 z:5 6?E9FD:2DE) “w6 H2D BF:4<6C E92? 6G6CJ3@5J) tG6CJ3@5J'D D42C65 E@ 562E9 @7 9:>)」k^Am
kAmq=2<6 H2D D9@H:?8 9:D (6DE6C?\E96>65 2CEH@C< 2E E96 @A6? 9@FD6( 2D H2D q6==) x'G6 @H? q6==( v2C5?6C 2?5 !2F= wFEE@? 7@C J62CD( 3FE x 925 ?6G6C >6E q=2<6 AC:@CE@ =2DE H66<'D 6G6?E)k^Am
kAm}6G6C >:?5 E92E) |:?FE6D 27E6C D92<:?8 92?5D( q=2<6 2?5 x H6C6 =:<6 @=5 7C:6?5D( 2?5 96 H2D E6==:?8 >6 2 DE@CJ 23@FE H92E 92AA6?65 E@ @?6 @7 q:==J’D 72G@C:E6 9@CD6D)k^Am
kAm{@C: v@@5=@6( AC6D:56?E @7 E96 q:==J E96 z:5 ~FE=2H v2?8( 2? @C82?:K2E:@? 7@ F?565 😕 `hgf E@ AC6D6CG6( AC@E64E 2?5 AC@>@E6 E96 ECF6 9:DE@CJ @7 E96 z:5 😕 }6H |6I:4@( 2EE6?565 E96 @ A6? 9@FD6)k^Am
kAmv@@5=@6 =:G6D 😕 !9@6?:I( 3FE 😀 @7E6? 😕 {:?4@=?)k^Am
kAm“xE’D >J D64@?5 9@>6(” D96 D2:5) v@@5=@6 HC@E6 2?5 A9@E@8C2A965 “~? E96 %C2:= @7 q:==J E96 z:5(” 2 A9@E@8C2A9:4 =:76 @7 E96 z:5 😕 }6H |6I:4@)k^Am
kAm“(96? x H2D 2 <:5( x ;FDE 2DDF>65 96 H2D 2 32?< C@336C 2?5 2 >FC56C6C(” v@@5=@6 D2:5) “qFE E96? x C625 2 (!p W(@C:?:DEC2E:@?X :?E6CG:6H H:E9 2 H@>2? H9@ D2:5 D96 6H q:==J 2?5 =6E 9:> A=2J H:E9 96C 49:=5C6?) xE >256 >6 E9:?< E96C6 >:89E 36 >@C6 E@ 9:>)”k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#:5:?8 q:==J’D EC2:=k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm$E6G6 $656CH2== 😀 E96 2FE9@C @7 2 3@@< C64@F?E:?8 9:D 4@=5\42D6 :?G6DE:82E:@? @7 E96 EH@ <:==:?8D E96 z:5 4@>>:EE65 H9:=6 6D42A:?8 7C@> E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ r@FCE9@FD6 ;2:= @? pAC:= ag( `gg`) w6 H2D DE2 ?5:?8 😕 @?6 @7 E96 >2:? C@@>D @7 E96 t==:D $E@C6 5FC:?8 E96 @A6? 9@FD6)k^Am
kAm“x C64<@? 6G6CJ ?2>6 😕 E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ (2C 92D 366? 😕 E9:DC@@>(” 96 D2:5)k^Am
kAmp D9@CE E:>6 =2E6C( qCJ2? #682?( 2 4@?EC24E@C H9@ 3F:=5D C@25D 😕 (6DE %6I2D( D9@H65 FA) #682?’D 8C62E\8C62E\8C2?572E96C( v6@C86 r@6( 7@F89E @? E96 D2>6 D:56 2D E96 z:5 5FC:?8 E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ ( 2C) p C:4@496E:?8 3F==6E 4@DE r@6 9:D EC:886C 7:?86C 😕 E96 q=2K6C’D |:== D9@@E@FE @? pAC:= c( `gfg)k^Am
kAm$66 H92E x >62? 23@FE }6H |6I:4@’D 7C@?E:6C 9:DE@CJ 36:?8 4=@D6 E@ E96 DFC7246) %96C6 2C6 A6@A= 6 H2=<:?8 2C@F?5 E@52J H:E9 4=@D6 E:6D E@ E9@D6 H:=5 2?5 H@@==JE:>6D)k^Am
kAmx 7:?2==J 82G6 FA E96 ?@E:@? @7 ?@E HC:E:?8 23@FE q:==J)k^Am
kAmx? a__c( a__d 2?5 a__e( H96? x H2D 2 C6A@CE6C 7@C %96 p=3FBF6CBF6 %C:3F?6( x C@56 E96 q:==J E96 z:5 %C2: = #:56( 2 `b_\ E@ `ef\>:=6 W56A6?5:?8 @? E96 C@FE6X 9@CD6324< C:56 7C@> {:?4@=? E@ u@CE $F>?6C) %96 :562 H2D E@ 7@==@H( 2D 36DE 2D A@DD:3=6( E96 z:5’D EC2 := 7@==@H:?8 9:D `gg` 6D42A6 7C@> E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ r@FCE9@FD6)k^Am
kAm#:56CD H@F=5 D6E @FE 😕 pAC:=( @? @C 4=@D6 E@ E96 52E6 @7 q:==J’D 3C62<@FE) pAC:= a__d H2D 4@=5( H6E 2?5 H:?5J) (6 42>A65 E96 7:CDE ?:89E 😕 E96 r2A:E2? v2A 2?5 H@?56C65 :7 H6 H@F=5 86E 3=@H? @FE @7 E96C6 367@C6 H6 7C@K6 E @562E9)k^Am
kAmx HC@E6 23@FE E9@D6 EC2:= C:56D 7@C %96 %C:3F?6 2?5 (6DE6C? w@CD6>2? >282K:?6) p?5 96C6 x 2> a_ J62CD =2E6C( HC:E:?8 23@FE q:==J E96 z:5 7@C E96 y@FC?2=)k^Am
kAmt==:D $E@C6 @H?6C v2FE9:6C 😀 2 ?2E:G6 @7 {@F:D:2?2 H9@ H@C<65 :? 4@CA@C2E6 DA2 >2?286>6?E 😕 &E29) $96 H2D AC@>AE65 E@ AFC492D6 E96 9:DE@C:4 {:?4@=? 3F:=5:?8 3J DE@C:6D 96C > 2E6C?2= 8C2?572E96C E@=5 96C 23@FE q:==J E96 z:5) $96 A=2?DE@ >2< 6 C@@>D:? E96 @=5 3F:=5:?8 2G2:=23=6 7@C G242E:@? C6?E2= 2?5 A6C92AD EFC? :E :?E@ 2? 6G6?E 46? E6C)k ^am
kAm“x 42>6 96C6 7C@> $2=E {2<6 r:EJ( 9@C?D 9@?<:?8( D:C6?D D4C62>:?8(” D96 D2:5 ) “w6C6 2E ?:89E( H96? E96C6 2C6 ?@ 42CD( :E :DD@ BF:6E) %92E’D H96? x 766= 4=@D6 E@ E96 9:DE@CJ)”k^AM
kAmx @H H92E D96 >62?D)k^Am
kAm%96 ?:89E 367@C6 E96 DE2CE @7 E96 a__c q:==J E96 z:5 %C2:= #:56( D6G6C2= @7 FD DAC625 @FC 3=2?<6ED 369:?5 E96 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ r@FCE9@FD6( H96C6 E96 9@CD6D H6C6 4@CC2==65) (6 D=6AE F?56C E96 DE2CD( ;FDE J2C5D 7C@> H96C6 E96 z:5 <:==65 56AFE:6D y2>6D () q6== 2?5 q@3 ~=:?86C 5FC:?8 9:D 6D42A6)k^Am
kAms:5 x 766= E96 AC6D6?46 @7 q:==J’D 89@DE E92E ?:89En *@F 36E) $@>6E:>6D x DE:== 5@)k^Am