Document text
Stith L. Crawford,
Oarrisoso, N. Max.
PAlizzik STORY
Pedro M. Rodrigues,
Oarrisoso, 111. Max.
words 1539/IL,
AUG 291936
04-
I was born in Lincoln, Lincoln County, New Mexico, on
October 10, 1294, and have lived all ar life in Lincoln Goma".
My father, limas Rodrigues, was born la Li. Paso, Old Mexico,
(whisk is HIL Paso, Texas nowt) but i can not remember wha t year
he was born as be was killed when I was about nine years old.
viy *other, Franaisea Sanehms, daughter of lose Sanchez, was born
in Masan* New *WA*. I do not know the date at her birth, she
died when I was about twelve years old, at Ruidoso, New Mende°.
Father and Mother were married in Lineoln New Mexico about the
year 11144, and lived there until my father was killed in Ian
by Sheriff Amide Chaves of Lincoln. Mother then went to Ruidoso
New Mexico to live with my grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fernando
Herrera. Father was a private in Captain William Brady** Com-
pany A, First Regiment a Cavalry, at Fort Stanton, New Mexico.
Hs enlisted for one year, from October 29, 1844 to October 29,
1865. He was discharged at Fort Sumner Now Mexiso. He spent most
of his time in the army fighting the Indians, for in those days
the Indians roamed all over i•ineoln County, and were always kill.
ing people and stealing settle and horses.
My grandfather, Fernando Herrera, lived, on the Ruidoso (where
Hollywood is now located), end be owned about four hundred head
of cattle and run than in l'Urkey Canyon whieh was in the Moses-
ler* aountry. The Indians had been killing the cattle f.fr meat
so my grend.fether got a posse at men together and started out to
gather his cattle and bring them to the Ruidoso, where he could
watch them.
Carrizozo„ K. Mex.
Words 1539
In the posse was Billy the Kid, Andres Herrera, Ntnuel Silva,
George WashiNgtsa and grandfather. They started out early one
awning for Turkey Canyon. When they got to Turkey Spring about
half way up the Canyon, they met Chief liaise and about twenty-
five Indians. liaise was Chief at the Nesealere Apache Indians.
While the posse was talking to Chief ramie. the Indians formed
a circle around the men and told Umiak to toll than they were
going to kill every one of thee. Billy the Kid told the men
in Spanish, to get off their horses end tighten up their front
*inches and follow him. Billy mounted his horse with a six gun
in each hand, and started hollering and shooting as he rode to
wax d the Indians The rest of the was followed, shooting as they
went. They broke through the line of Indians and not a one at the
an were hurt. They gathered a few head of cattle and took them
has and put them in a corral. The next morning Umlaut and a
band of Indians (same to my grandfather's house. Ogden sailed to
grandfather to some out, he wanted to talk to him. Grandfather
and Kamisa had always been pretty good friends so grandfather
went to the door and Maim told him that if he would butcher
three beeves and give them to the Indians, Ihre do you no more
hare.* The Indians kept their promise and never stole any more
cattle. Grandfather and Kazis& were good friends from then on.
I remember Kunio' well. Me and I were good friends and I always
liked to talk to him.
The Indians killed my father's brother, Martial Rodriguez. NO
had gone to the house of Servant° Apodase, who lived near Blue
water, in the Capitan Mountains. Re went there on New Year's
Eve, to hunt some game with Apolasa. They got up at daybreak to
go look for their horses. Mere was a flat covered with Juniper
Edith L. Crawford,
Carrisozos Is7. )ex.
7,,,ords 1539
trees and the limbs grow very °lose to the ground,. There was a
spring, 0j* Ages Asule, at the toot at the Meuntaine on this flat.
while the two mon were crossing this flat a bend of Indians were
hid in the Juniper tress and they Chet at the two men and mortally
wounded Martial. He was shot in the bask and Apodaca was A4ot in
one leg. They fought with the Indiana all day and as it began to
get dark Marcial told Apedsoa to run for the arroyo and save his*
self, as Mareial felt he was going to die. Apodaea made a run for
the arroyo with the Indians after him, but as it was vatting dark
bs was able to get away from that. Apodaca and Marais' killed
several of the Indiaas that day. Apodaca welbed all night long
and came out at the Robert 114 Casey rani*. (This man was father
of Lillie Casey 13* u.) This rasa was about four miles north
of Tioadho, Row Maxie°. Ro told the Caw me& about the Indians
and that be bed left Morelia Rodrigues wounded, on the flat. Tbe
Casey's formed a posse and sent word up and down the Rio Bonito
for every one that scald go to meet then at Ages Asuls.(Bluawater)
The posse left Casey's raw* just at daybreak and went to the
Apodaca house and found the Indians hat been thaw* and taken
;manila Banohes de Apodaca. who was the wife of Servant. Apodaca,
and who was about to become a notber at the time. They took up
the Indians trail and followed thou beak through the Ages Lamle
Flat whom* oar toted Mareiales body. The Indians bad out off
his right arm and scalped him before leaving him. The posse dug
a grave and buried hit where be lay. (This happened about the
first of ;emery, lef4„ and what's* celled the Agee Asule Plat
is now known as Iluowater.) Posses from Lincoln and all up
and dowt the river started after the Indians and overtook that
at the west end of the Capita& Mountains. Rare they had a fight
ldith L. Crawford, 4. Words 1539
Garrison°, R. Z.
with thin and killed quite a raw, but found that the Apodaca
MDMil vies not with this band. Sonoma in the posse noticed tiro
squaws up on the side at the mountain and started after those.
The Apodees MOM was with thma end when the two squaws saw the
white men owing they split the Apodaca wonses head open with
an axe and nada their getaway. Whoa the nen got to the Apodase
waren she was dead and they found that she had given birth to
her baby, whisk was a boy t They brought the baby to Lincoln and
Apodaca gave hie to a woman named Tull* °ferule Stanley to ear*
for. She raised this baby and called his Jose Apodaoa, who is
living in Carrie.= today. Servanio ApOditgai was killed about
WS, (by the Te4asos) while he was taking a load of wheat to
Downs 's Mill on the Ruidoso.
W father was an sad at the Indians for killing his brother
that he wanted to kill every Indian that he saw. He want to the
Torres Ranch one night to waylay two Indian masa that he knew
could talk Spanish and were very friendly with sy father, but
be hated then because they were Indians and wanted to kill then.
He had bought some new cartridies for his six shooter front Jose
Montanote store. HO waited for the wows to arose the Bonito
river from the TOrres Raneh to their house. He heard then Gaming
and drew his six shooter and pulled the trigger but no report.
He tried the next cartridge and the next and the next and never
fired a shot. Re took his six shooter and broke it all to please
over, rook in the river bed. W father was a very mean ma when
he was drinking and was always in sons kind of trouble. He was
killed by Sheriff Amato Chavez in Lineal*. He had been on a drunk
for several days and was hunting for Chaves to kill bin. Chaves
Edith L. Crawford, 5
Oarrisozo, N. Mex.
words 1539
had arrested bin and put bin in jail. The jail in those days was
a deep hole dug in the ground with an *dab, roma built over it.
The rpm had one window and one door. When the prisoners were
real bed they were put in the hole. The jailor had a step ladder
that he put down in the hole sad put his prisoners in and Uwe he
took the step ladder out and hid it. They did not put 17 father
in the hole that night, he was left in the adobe room and in
soon way during the night he got out and got his gun and went
hunting for Chaves. Be found him at the house of Casaaeria Perim.
Her son, Deastrio„ was with Chaves when father went to the house
and knooked on the door with his gun and asked for Aaado Chimes.
Demstrie Peres, *posed the door just a little bit sad told father
that Chaves was not there, but father stuck his boot in the crook
of the door and was just about to get into the room when Chaves
shot him. Re died about throe days later.
My grandparents, Mr. and Ws. Fernando Herrera raised as.
I have been janitor of the Lincoln County Courthouse for the
past six years.
EARRATORI Pedro M. Rodrigues, Carrisoso, New Mexico), Aged 64 years.