Trip Report: The Wild, Wild West

nomadictxn wrote:
Sounds like a great trip! I like the historical aspect myself. Best I remember The MOB from Rice University has a pretty good marching band also. I use to go to a lot of Rice games in Houston and usually the band was better than the team. Not so with Baylor. I hope the rest of your trip is awesome. Going to Big Bend in November for our big TC vacation and I cant wait!

Thanks! It was a great trip. We both like visiting historic sites in the west, and learn a lot about our country and the people who ventured out into the frontier every time we make a trip like this.

This was at least the third Baylor/Rice game that we've seen on an "Alumni Band" weekend. Rice didn't bring their band for this one, but we've seen the MOB a few times before. You're right, they are a good sounding band, but whatever that is they do scurrying around on the field sure ain't marching :W You want to hear some good-natured hating? Bring up the Rice Mob to any proper marching band! :B Baylor's football team was above average when the boss was a student, but they've become a real powerhouse the past few years.

Scott16 wrote:
Great trip. Reminds me of my High School Band days,umm years ago! Played Baritone Horn in those days! A lot of history in that area of the country, like it all. Your cousin sure does have a Big Dairy operation. Looking forward to the next post!
Scott

Thank you. I have a lot of respect for a good marching band program. They can be as good a means as any for teaching young people the life lessons needed to be successful as adults. One minor down side to going to these alumni-band events is that the songs they play get stuck in your brain. They play over, and over, and over, and over........ It's doing it now. It'll be weeks before it stops. :E

We were very impressed with my cousin's dairy operation. He and his wife have built a business that is just amazing to us city folks. The amount of automation, measuring and computerization is probably far beyond what most people would think a dairy would even need. Everything that goes in and comes out is measured. Dairy farming on this scale is about as risky as any entrepreneur can imagine. And yet, he managed to take it to the next level about 6-7 years ago by moving his farm and family from New York state to Texas. That took guts! They love living in Texas now, and I am tickled to death for them.

OK, on with the trip report:

After leaving west Texas, we drove to Lincoln NM, where the Battle of Lincoln, the climax of the Lincoln County War, took place in 1878. The Lincoln County War was an Old West conflict between rival factions intent on monopolizing the dry goods and cattle business in Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory. The feud became famous because of the participation of a number of notable figures of the Old West, including Billy the Kid, sheriffs William Brady and Pat Garrett, cattle rancher John Chisum, lawyer and businessman Alexander McSween, and the organized crime boss Lawrence Murphy. It's a long, convoluted story so I won't try to retell it here. Suffice it to say that several people came to a bad end. It's one of those historical events that I have a hard time keeping the two sides straight, and there really wasn't a "Good Guys" and "Bad Guys" to the story. The outcome (for better or worse) was ultimately determined by the direct intervention of the Army, who aligned themselves with one side. A common occurrence back then.

The Lincoln Visitor Center has a self-guided walking tour brochure that directs you to the historic areas of the town. The first is the Montano Store. Owned by the Montano family, one of the first in Lincoln. Operated as a general store by Jose Montano, who was neutral in Lincoln County War. A 25 man garrison of McSween men, led by Martin Chaves, were driven out by Col. Dudley and troops in July 1878 "Battle of Lincoln".





San Juan Mission Episcopal Church



Inside. Notice the interesting disk behind the pulpit. The steps into the pulpit are nearly vertical, so the priest would end up in front of the disk as he climbed into the pulpit. I've never seen one before so I'm not sure what it's called, but I can imagine it's purpose was two-fold. First, it would give the appearance of the "aura" around the person standing in front of it as was typically depicted in religious paintings, Second, it would help project the speakers voice to the congregation.



The stone "Torreon" is one of Lincoln's oldest structures, and was used to protect the town's inhabitants and livestock from Apache raiders. It was also used by sharpshooters during the Lincoln County War. It's pretty small, so I can just imagine what it was like when it was packed with people and animals.



The Tunstall-McSween General Store. Opening this store threatened the dry goods monopoly formerly enjoyed (and exploited) by the Murphy-Dolan store. Tunstall eventually lost his life over it, and a long period of back-and-forth revenge killings began, that became known as the Lincoln County War. McSween was eventually killed in the Battle of Lincoln after the house he had taken refuge in was set on fire. He was shot trying to escape the flames. The store today is filled with authentic period goods.



Tunstall's living quarters adjoining the store.



The two crosses mark the graves of Tunstall and McSween.



The Murphy-Dolan store. They were the dominant (as in only) retailer in the county, and they didn't take kindly to competition. Their business eventually failed, and the building was used as the county courthouse for several years.





Dr. Woods house with an interesting inset porch.



This house has had some extensive restoration done, and is being offered for sale. About 550K if you're interested.





Dolan house.



After leaving Lincoln, it was time to look for a place to park for the night. Ft. Stanton/Snowy River Cave BLM campground was nearby, so we head there.

We were the only ones there that night.



Just before leaving on vacation, I had finally gotten around to making a new place to carry my 20L Jerry can of Diesel. I had also bought a 5L Jerry can to carry some gas for my Yamaha 1000 generator, and I needed a place for that as well.



I've always carried a can of Diesel in the bed of the truck under the camper wing, just in case we run short. I had been thinking about a way to re-purpose a spare tire carrier that I mounted on the camper bumper when I had a '95 F350. The F450 spare tire is just too heavy to carry that way, so the carrier has been unused for a couple of years. I got the 20L can from Swiss Army Vehicles in Fayetteville, AR several years ago when I decided these new CARB cans are for the birds. It's a real, surplus military gas can. The 5L can is from Atlantic British, and is a brand new can that uses the same spout from the 20L can.

I had already used the Diesel can once on this trip in west Texas, when the hills and wind blew my fuel mileage and we were going to come up about 3-5 miles short from my planned fuel stop. I was glad I had it easily accessible.

I am a notorious pack-rat, and salvage all kinds of things (junk) that would otherwise be thrown away at work, and I had several heavy steel angle plates, a 4'x4' sheet of 1/2" high density polyurethane, a bunch of 6" long carriage bolts, etc. I was actively trying to find a way to use some of this good junk, so I could free up some shelf space in my storage building for newer, gooder junk. I bought the Jerry can holder from a eBay auction at a good price, and I bought the nylon locking nuts. Everything else is salvaged. Actually, I consider the spare tire mount to be salvage as well, since it was originally on an old truck I used to own.

Here's a better view of the contraption with the Jerry cans removed.



Backside showing salvaged 90 deg. plates.



It can even still fold down, so that............... I'll figure out why it needs to do that later.

Edit: After doing some major damage to both my shoulders since I first posted this TR (torn rotator cuff, torn deltoid, torn biceps), that fold-down feature has been a shoulder-saver. I wouldn't be able to get a full 20L can of Diesel out of the holder if I had to lift it straight up.



Back to the TR, sorry for the detour to talk about gas cans.

As the campground name suggests, there is a cave here, but it's by appointment only.



That's fine, we just wanted a place to grill a steak, drink a bottle of Alien brew I bought in Roswell, and get some sleep. We had our sights set on another destination.



The next day, we drove to Ft. Stanton, which was built in 1855. It was established to protect settlements along the Rio Bonito in the Apache Wars. Kit Carson, John "Black Jack" Pershing, Billy the Kid, and Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th Cavalry all lived here at one time or another.

Confederate forces actually occupied the fort in the beginning of the Civil War but they only held it for about a month before abandoning it due to harassment by the Apaches. They tried to burn it as they left, but a thunderstorm prevented it from doing much damage. Ft. Stanton is unique in that most of the buildings were made of locally quarried stone, and have withstood the elements quite well.

Kit Carson was the fort's Commanding Officer after the Confederates abandoned it.



In 1899 Fort Stanton was transferred from the War Department to the Marine Hospital Service, and converted to America's first federal tuberculosis sanatorium. During World War II, Fort Stanton was used as a detention center for 411 German nationals taken from the luxury liner Columbus in 1939 after becoming stranded in U.S. waters behind a British blockade. The U.S. was still technically neutral at the time of their capture.

Ft. Stanton Catholic Chapel.



Inside the chapel.



Hand hewn beams in the ceiling.



Officers quarters. Most of the stone buildings have been remodeled and changed several times over the years. If you look closely, you can see windows that used to be doors, the added second story and bay windows, etc.



More officers quarters. This one housed two families.



Administration building and theater.



Looking across the parade ground. The center building is the Commanding Officer's Quarters. It is the only building that has remained practically unchanged since it was built.



Inside the Commanding Officers quarters.





Beautiful polished stone fireplace surround.




Patio.



The museum had a great collection of old photographs from the fort and local area.



The center picture has a young John Pershing in it (on crutches).



If you don't know much about General John J. Pershing, you should read about him sometime. I'm convinced he is one of the United States greatest unknown hero's. He is the only US military officer to hold the rank of "General of the Armies" (plural) while alive. That is a six star General, a rank I didn't even know existed. The only other person to hold that rank was George Washington, and his was a posthumous promotion in 1976. His promotion order was intentionally worded in such a way to ensure that he out-ranked General Pershing!

This is a great picture. Even though it's staged, it's awesome.



Another great picture of old trucks. The two on the far right are Mack model AC trucks. Before Mack adopted the Bulldog as their mascot, they used the stylized "M" on the hood as their logo. This would have been taken sometime after 1915. Chain drive, solid tires. It was this model truck that was given the nickname "Bulldog Mack" because of their "jowly" appearance when viewed straight on, and how rugged they were. Because of that nickname, Mack trucks now all have that well-known hood ornament. The unique shape of the engine bonnet is due to the fact that the radiator sat BEHIND the engine to protect it from damage, just in front of the cab. Look at those loads!



This explains the difficult diplomatic situation behind the German "Detainees" from the liner Columbus.





That's all I can do today. I'll add more as I get time. Next stop, White Sands Missile Range!

:):)