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-March 8, 2006 Volume 2, Issue 21
The purpose of this publication is to endeavor to provide readers with the most up-to-date information possible regarding the activities of New Mexico’s many historians, historical societies, museums and other groups interested in the state’s colorful and complex past. THE NEW MEXICO HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK will provide calendars of events, essays and monographs, book reviews, bibliographies, and interviews. It is revised and issued on Wednesday of each week. Submissions and comments from readers are encouraged. If you would like to have your name removed from this e-mail list, simply contact me at NMHN@donbullis.bizland.com and let me know.
DID YOU KNOW….
Born in Washington, D. C., William F. M. Arny (1813-1881) was educated at Bethany College in what would become West Virginia. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln appointed him Indian Agent for the Ute and Jicarilla Apache of northern New Mexico. He replaced Kit Carson in that position. Lincoln appointed him Secretary of New Mexico in 1862 (Secretary was second in rank only to the Governor in territorial governmental organization). He served under Governor Henry Connelly and was interim governor in 1866. Arny opposed the relocation of the Navajo people to Bosque Redondo in 1863 and suffered political consequences for his stance. As “Special Agent for the Indians of New Mexico” he conducted a census of NM Indians in 1870; and later in the 1870s served another stint as territorial secretary. He also served as agent to the Navajos at mid-decade, but was not well received by local merchants and resigned in 1875 and returned to Santa Fe. He died virtually penniless. He is interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Southwest Oral History Association
April 20-23, 2006/Hotel Albuquerque
Silver Anniversary Meeting
With Voices Raised: Twenty-Five Years of Oral History in the Southwest
Tentative Schedule—Sessions & Times Subject to Change until Meeting
Updated information can be found on: SOHA website at http://soha.fullerton.edu/conferences.htm
Session 1: Roundtable: Oral History and Guided Autobiography
Session 2: Oral Mosaics of New Mexican History
Session 3: ‘Regarding Your War Experience…:’ Research, Documentation, and Curriculum Building Using Women and Veteran’s Experiences
Session 4: Landscapes, Place & Identity: Reconstructing Dispersed Communities
Session 5: Roundtable: Oral History into Art
Session 6: Building Oral History Projects: Planning to Products
Session 8: The Navajo Traditional Use of Plants
Session 9: Mirror to America: The Federal Writers Project and Oral History
Session 10: Roundtable: The Joys and Sorrows of the ‘Viet Nam Oral History Project’
Session 11: Roundtable: World Wide Access to Oral History: Promises and Perils
Session 12: Speaking of Torture: Practitioners and Scholars in Dialogue
Session 13: TBA
Session 14: Ethical and Legal Issues in Community and Classroom Oral History Projects
A panel of leading experts addresses the legal and ethical issues and dilemmas
of working with community and classroom projects in the field of oral history.
EVENTS/PLACES TO GO
The Events Calendar is maintained by the
NEW MEXICO HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK
in cooperation with
The New Mexico Office of the State Historian (OSH).
http://www.newmexicohistory.org.
Now Open!! The Albuquerque Tricentennial Exhibit at the Center for Southwest Research, at the University of New Mexico. “We have pulled out some of the finest treasures of the CSWR archives and displayed them for you on this very special anniversary. It is a one time—must see occasion with something for everyone,” according to Nancy Brown Martinez. Call her at 277-6451 or her cell at 280-4832 for further information.
Through May 6, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Albuquerque Progress presents Historic Photographs by Harvey Caplin at the Special Collections Library, 423 Central Ave. NE. Best known for his landscapes, Native American scenes and ranch life images, Harvey Caplin (1925-1984) called “New Mexico’s Million Dollar Photographer” also created a remarkable visual record of Albuquerque’s post World War II growth. For further information, call Joe Sabatini at 505-848-1377 or go to www.cabq.gov/library.
MARCH 2006
March 11, Saturday at 11:00 a.m. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Coronado State Monument, a re-dedication ceremony will be held at the Monument, 485 Kuaua Boulevard in Bernalillo. Guests will have an opportunity to tour the newly restored John Gaw Meem visitor’s center and the Kuaua murals. The murals are considered some of the finest examples of pre-contact Native American mural art to be found in North America. Call 505-867-5351.
March 15, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation will hold a fund raising event featuring a talk, Slide Show and Tapas with Anya von Bremzen and her book The New Spanish Table. Tickets are $50.00 per person or $75.00 per couple, which includes a signed copy of the book. Event will be held in La Fonda del Bosque Restaurant at the Hispanic Cultural Center. Tickets can be ordered from Bookworks, 344-8139. For further information call Clara Apodaca at 505-766-9858.
March 16, Thursday at 6:00 p.m., The Albuquerque Corral of Westerners International will host a presentation by VanAnn Moore offering a program called “Wesward Ho! Women of Courage: Western Trail Diaries and Letters. The monthly meeting will be held at the MCM Elegante at the corner of University and Menaul NE. Dinner is $12.00. Call Don Bullis for further information at 892-9177. Dinner reservations by the 14th are required.
March 18, Saturday at 10:30 a.m., The New Mexico Genealogical Society will present Robert J. Torrez, Former State Historian, who will offer, “Education in New Mexico: From Colonial Spain to the Spanish American Normal.” Programs are held at Botts Hall in the Special Collections Library, at Edith and Central NE in Albuquerque. Programs are free and open to the public. For further information, call 505-796-0376 or go info@nmgs.org.
March 18, Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Music in Corrales will offer “Cascada de Flores,” Folkloric Traditions of Mexico & Cuba. Program will be held at the Old San Ysidro Church on Old Church Road, across the street from the Casa San Ysidro. For further information call 877-287-0082 or go to www.musicincorrales.org.
March 19, Sunday at 2:00 p.m., The Sandoval County Historical Society will enjoy an Old Town (Albuquerque) field trip directed by Ruth Bernstein. Members should meet at the west end of the plaza, under the flags. Tour should last one hour. Call 867-2755 for further information.
March 21, 7:00 p.m., Corrales Historical Society Speaker Series, features Diane Souder, “Petroglyphs: Images for All Time.” Program will be held at the Old San Ysidro Church on Old Church Road, across the street from the Casa San Ysidro. Program is free and open to the public. For complete information call 505-301-0042.
March 30, El Rancho de las Golondrinas will sponsor a program at Santuario de Guadalupe at the corner of Guadalupe and Agua Fria Street in Santa Fe featuring former New Mexico State Historian Robert Torrez and Pueblo scholar, Rina Swentzell, in a program called, “Spain Meets the First Nations: Sharing Cultures/Shaping Traditions.” For complete information call Mike King at 505-471-2261.
APRIL 2006
April 2, Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Sandoval County Historical Society will host Sandoval County Commissioner Bill Sapien who will talk about the Civil War in New Mexico. For further information call Martha Liebert at 867-2755.
April 7, Friday, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and April 8, Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Fifteenth Albuquerque Antiquarian Book Fair, a Benefit for the Maxwell Museum Archives & Library, will be held at the UNM Continuing Education Conference Center, 1634 University Blvd. For sale will be books, prints, photos and other printed collectibles. Admission is $6.00 for both days, $2.00 for Saturday. Parking is free. For further information call 505-291-9653 or go to AlShal@aol.com.
April 8, Saturday, 2:00–4:00 p.m., Treasure House Books in Albuquerque’s Old Town (2012 S. Plaza NW). Don Bullis and Judith Van Gieson will be signing their most recent books, published by ABQ Press: Van Gieson’s The Wolf Path and Bullis’ Bull’s Eye (copies of their other books will also be available). For further information call Don Bullis at 892-9177.
April 9, Sunday, 2:00-4:00 p.m., Page One Books, 11018 Montgomery NE. Don Bullis and Judith Van Gieson will be signing their most recent books, published by ABQ Press: Van Gieson’s The Wolf Path and Bullis’ Bull’s Eye (copies of their other books will also be available). For further information call Don Bullis at 892-9177.
April 16, Easter Sunday, Basket and Corn Dances at most Pueblos. Nambe Pueblo: Bow and Arrow Dance after Mass; Zia Pueblo: Various dances on Sunday and Monday; San Ildefonso, various dances; Santo Domingo Pueblo: Corn Dances. For further information call the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center at 505-843-7270.
April 18, 7:00 p.m., Corrales Historical Society Speaker Series will feature a presentation entitled “Founding Families of Albuquerque” by the New Mexico Genealogical Society. Program will be held at the Old San Ysidro Church on Old Church Road, across the street from the Casa San Ysidro. Program is free and open to the public. For complete information call 505-301-0042.
April 20, Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The Albuquerque Corral of Westerners International will host a presentation by Leba Freed of the Wheels Development Museum on the impact of railroads in New Mexico, particularly in Albuquerque. The monthly meeting will be held at the MCM Elegante at the corner of University and Menaul NE. Dinner is $12.00. Call Don Bullis for further information at 892-9177. Dinner reservations by April 17th are required.
MAY
May 7, Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Sandoval County Historical Society will host Paul Carpenter, UNM Professor, who will speak on New Mexico History. Meetings are held at DeLavy House in Bernalillo, and they are free and open to the public. For further information call Martha Liebert at 867-2755.
May 9, Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey in Santa Fe, Meet and greet authors Judith Van Gieson and Don Bullis. They will discuss their books and their new publishing company. Book signing to follow. The event is free and open to the public. For further information call Gloria Bullis at 892-9177
May 12 & 13, Friday and Saturday, Elkhorn Lodge in Chama, New Mexico Book Co-op. On Friday evening, Judith Van Gieson will discuss her experiences as an author. On Saturday, she and Don Bullis will offer a roundtable on starting up a publishing company. More information to follow.
May 18, Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., the Corrales Historical Society Speakers Series will feature Sara Voorhees and Jim Belshaw. Meetings are held at the Old San Ysidro Church, Old Church Road, in Corrales. They are free and open to the public. For information call 301-0042.
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THE BEGINNING OF THE END:
THE DEMISE OF BUTCH CASSIDY'S WILD BUNCH
By Don Bullis
Butch Cassidy gained fame as an outlaw in the Old West during his lifetime (1866-1908?) but it was the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, (1969) starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford in the title roles, which made his name well known to modern Americans. He was one of the last of the so-called cowboy outlaws who did his stealing toward the end of an era; the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and did it with a flair that antagonized authorities.
By 1899, Cassidy had been in the outlaw business for 14 or 15 years. He was 33 years old, born on Friday the 13th of April in 1866. In all those years he had served only 18 months in prison, in Wyoming, for horse stealing. He was wanted in states and territories all over the American West—and the Pinkerton Detective Agency was on his trail—for bank and train robbery. In 1899, Cassidy was going by the name Jim Lowe and working on the WS Ranch near Alma in southwestern New Mexico, hard by the Arizona line.
Jim Lowe was just one of many names the outlaw used and that fact has led to a good deal of confusion about what his name really was. When he entered prison in July of 1894, official records show he was using the name George "Butch" Cassidy and that he was born in New York City. It was fairly well known at the time that his real last name was Parker and that he was from Utah. In fact, historian Charles Kelly (The Outlaw Trail) wrote in the 1930s that the bandit's true name was George Leroy Parker.
In 1975, though, Cassidy's sister, Lula Parker Betenson, age 90 and the only surviving member of his family, wrote a book called Butch Cassidy, My Brother in which she averred the name given him at birth near Beaver, Utah, was Robert Leroy Parker. Throughout her book, she referred to her brother as Bob, though she indicated that her parents called him Leroy. Among the other names the outlaw used over the years were Roy Parker, Roy Cassidy and George Parker. Later in South America he used the name Santiago Maxwell.
While Cassidy was at the WS Ranch, so were two of his cohorts, and their names were also aliases. Harvey Logan used the name Tom Capehart but soon switched off to G. W. Franks. (Logan was also called Kid Curry.) Elzy Lay was there, too, using the name William McGinnis, called Mac. Charles Kelly says Lay's name was Elsa, short for Ellsworth. Lula Betenson says his full name was William Elzy Lay. She is probably correct since she was personally acquainted with many members of the Lay family, including the outlaw's two wives. The name, however, was pronounced as Kelly spelled it.
Betenson said most of the escapades recounted in the 1969 movie actually involved Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay and not the Sundance Kid. But, she asked, who would go see a movie called Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay? (The Sundance Kid's real name was Harry Longabaugh. Who would go see a movie called Leroy Parker and Harry Longabaugh?)
Just before his arrival at the WS Ranch, Cassidy's Wild Bunch robbed the Union Pacific Railroad's Overland Flyer (or Limited) of $30,000 near Wilcox, Wyoming (June 2, 1899). While the movie indicates that Cassidy planned the robbery, and that the Sundance Kid took part, neither of them may have been involved in the actual robbery. As a condition of his release from prison in 1896, Cassidy promised the governor of Wyoming, W. A. Richards, that he would not rustle horses or cattle, or rob banks and trains, within that state. Whether or not he kept his word up to 1899 has not been proven.
Harvey Logan and Elzy Lay did not stay long at the WS Ranch. On July 11, 1899, a Colorado and Southern train was held up near Folsom in northeastern New Mexico. The robbers were William McGinnis, G. W. Franks and Sam Ketchum (Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum's brother). A posse was promptly gathered and took up the chase. Five days later, at a place called Turkey Creek Canyon, the bandit's camp was located by the lawmen. The gunfight started almost immediately and Elzy Lay and Sheriff Ed Farr were both hit in the first volley. Both men continued the fight, along with all of the others. The battle lasted for about 45 minutes and ended only when the posse retreated after Sheriff Farr was shot a second time, and killed. Two possemen were also wounded, one of whom subsequently died.
Among the bad guys, Elzy Lay was hit twice, once in the body and once in the shoulder. Sam Ketchum's left arm was shattered. Harvey Logan was unscathed. Logan tried to help out but Ketchum couldn't sit a horse and was left behind. He was captured a few days later and died of blood poisoning on July 24, 1899. Logan and Lay got away, but Lay was shot again and captured by Sheriff Miles Cicero Stewart of Eddy County, New Mexico, in late August. Logan got clean away again.
In October 1899, Elzy Lay, still using the name William McGinnis, was tried and convicted of the murder of Sheriff Farr. He was sentenced to life in prison. On July 4, 1905, New Mexico Governor Miguel Otero pardoned him, and he was released the following January. That marked the end of the outlaw life for William McGinnis. He married his second wife and lived out his days as Elzy Lay. He died in California in 1934.
Butch Cassidy was not involved in the Folsom robbery—was never accused of it—but the style of the robbery was purely Cassidy's: detach the express car from the rest of the train and then blow the safe with dynamite, and the car too, if necessary.
Logan, again as Tom Capehart, returned to the WS Ranch after the shoot-out at Turkey Canyon, but that may not have been his smartest move. Cassidy was still there, but bank notes stolen in the robbery of the Overland Flyer in Wyoming had started showing up in southwestern New Mexico. It wasn't long before a Pinkerton detective named Frank Murray arrived at the WS and with him he had pictures of the outlaws. Ranch Manager William French identified Jim Lowe as Butch Cassidy and Tom Capehart as Harvey Logan. Neither of the bandits happened to be at the ranch headquarters at the time, and they were not seen in southwestern New Mexico again.
The heat was on as remnants of the Wild Bunch rode north, back to Utah. The days of the wild frontier were closing fast.
(Next week: "The Book Closes on the Wild Bunch.")