The Capture of Billy the KidJames H. Earle Billy the Kid mad be America's most widely-known folk hero. His story has been told many times, but new firsthand accounts of the Kid are rare a hundred years after his death. However, this book is based on two newly discovered eyewitness accounts by members of Pat Garrett's posse who captured Billy the Kid and his gang. Cal Polk and Louis Bousman (The Animal) wrote their versions of how the Kid was trailed to Stinking Springs and was captured after a shoot out in the snow of December 1880. Also included is a facsimile of a map drawn by Charlie Foor, a long-time resident of Fort Sumner, New Mexico, who had lived there since 1881. His map gives a better understanding of the village where the Kid lived, was shot, and is buried. The other firsthand accounts--by Garrett, Siringo, East, and contemporary newspapers--are included for comparison with those by Polk and Bousman. Both new accounts are written in the language of their authors. Polk related a conversation between Garrett and the Kid as follows: "In a few minutes after the shooting, Billy cride out is that you Pat out there. Pat says yes, and then Billy says Pat why dont you come up like a man and give us a fair fite. Pat said I dont aim to. Billy says that is what I thought of you, you old long legged S..B and then every thing hushed for a while." |
Contents
Introduction | 6 |
Louis Bousman Version | 47 |
Charles Foor Map of Fort Sumner 61 | 61 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Anton Chico Arroyo Barney Mason Bazil's Billy the Kid Billy Wilson Bob Roberson boys Brazil bunch Cal Polk camp capture of Billy Carlyle cattle Charley Charlie Bowdre cowboy crowd Dave Rudabaugh dead horse December door EARLY WEST fight fired Foor Fort Sumner Frank Stewart front Garrett Garrett's posse GAZETTE Greathouse guard guns hand Holdenville house at Stinking jail Jim East Kid's gang killed Las Vegas Lee Hall Lincoln County Lon Chambers Louis Bousman mare Maxwell's Mexacans Mexico miles monnie morning night o'clock O'Folliard O'Phalliard outlaws Panhandle Plains Museum party Pat Garrett Pecos river Pickett pistol plaza Polk's prisoners riding rock house rode rope saloon Santa Fe sent shoot shot Siringo snow started Stinking Springs stoped Sumner surrender Tascosa Texas thrue told Tom O'Folliard Tom Pickett took town trail Vagas Vegas wagon wanted White Oaks Wilcox's ranch yards