Document text
rrs. 5.C.Totty
Box 677
Sileer City, N.M.
Date: Aug. 25, 1937
lorde: 1750
Subject: Indians
Information: Mrs. 0.S.Warren
early Days Around Silver City
In 1882 when I came to Silver City the stage coach had to be guarded as
the Indians were at that time on the war path.
T sae many exciting events* Svery women carried a pistol not to kill Indians
'ut herself ln case she were attacked by the Indians as they were greatly
mistrated.
Cne of the first things I saw in Silver City was the hanging of two men.
I stayed at the Southern Hotel when I first landed in Silver City, th: Court House
end jeil at that time were then next to the Hotel*
Two men were tried and hung in the court yard. The uniue way of keeping
the prisoners from escaping was when the well was made bottles were broken and
stuck up in tho wall, but one in awhile a break was made*
There was a break one time when four prisoners escaped. Jackson who drove
a livery wagon saw the escape, so he cut his horse loose from the wagon and called
back to a fellow to keep him in sight and he would keep the escaped prisoners
in sight. He followed the men to the old cementary where they were surrounded
by the collecting posse.
Cne of the men escaped but was later captured on the Membres. The other
three were captured two were hung at the cementary, but brought the other in as
he proved to the posses that he hadn't fired a shot.
eae brou7,ht back to town and on examing his gun it was found that it
locked, and that was tee reason he hadn't fired.
Joseph La ;Farm a promenant citeen of that time wae killed in the capture
of the prisoner's. In 1884 when a prisoner escaped and any one was kilLe the
law dealt in a hurry not y trial, but b
moose and a nice large limb.
One afternoon we heard a woman holler out in front of the place when we
went out to see what she wanted she told us the Indians hed attacked the Silver
2
Ranch where ..;ottage Sand now is. There were two Spanish families livina out
tiere. The woman had gotten her brother-in-law in the buckboard and brought him
to town where he died a few hours later.
A posses was formed to go in search of 3oronimos Apaches but they were never
seen.
About nine o'clock I was celled to the door there stood a nine year old
boy with a red scarf tied around his neck and waist. He had his baby sister under
the shawl. The youngster had been in the cornfield when the Indians attacked.
He knew his little si-ter was up in a shed aelep. He crawled back to
the cornfield ten after the fiTht with his bay sister, and later walked into
town carrying his little sister.
The sarrivals of two large families. One small baby was found hung up by
a meat hook. The Indians were very cruel to the people they captured especially
women and girls. They liked to take white boys to raise.
Anot'ier time we were going to John Broehmans flour mill an the 1:embres.
On th's side of Ivanhoe the soldiers from Ft. Byard stopped us and told us the
Ind!ans were out, but we were w for to o far-ard as the Indians were behind us.
Ye stopped at a farmhouse to water the team. My three children and I was
sittina on the steps. le thought the family was amay when one of the children
accidently pushed the door open and a horrible sight we did behold. There were
bodies lying around and he entire place ,4as wrecked.
General Miles who was in charge of the soldiers of the district went out
after the Indians. They finally overtook them and found that they had taken a
small oy with them who General Miles reeaptured and returned to Ft. Byard.
My husband was an insurance agent having one of the largest Co's in the
Southwest. Mr. 4arren died in 1885 and I took the company over, and at the
same time to collecting real estates.
le needed sidewalk's but couldn't find any clean sand. Contractors came
from Albuquerque and El Paso to put down the sidewalk, but as all sand had to be
2
washed, and thp expense was proving to great.
One day one of the contractor's noticed some clean sand in front of the old
nks building* le couldn't find the man that had placed the sand there.
soon learned he was in California. Upon hts return I asked, "Where did you get
that nice sand," The reply was "That's my secret."
"I'll make it worth your time to tell me and let it be my secret also,"
I replied.
"I All for all of your forms." To this I quick].:, agreed. 4ent to the
place and I took the bearing in hopes of buying the property.
Imagine my surprise when I discove,-ed I ovned the property. Now that I had
the clean sand I deeided to tuild my own sidewalks. When I finished my walks my
neighbors wanted their sidewalks laid. I liked the work and was soon in the
contracting business.
I have build many of the larger dwelling's, remodled the business houses.,
and many the old land marks.
Shen the flood came and ruined so many of the buildings on Main Street and
°tested the street to sinking I started the Rock wall which the N.P.A. finished.
The flood isflated the 4otel in such a way there was'nt anything tcido, but
tear it down thus losing ?40,000. and the test hotel in Silver L'ity with the
tearing down of San Vicente.
Yost of the business has been taken up tu a step to improve what I had so
to be able to make a living.
T used to say a woman to be a success not only must do as well as a man,
but much better.