- Frisco Shootout
The Frisco Shootout was an
Old West gunfight that occurred onDecember 1st ,1884 , involving self-appointed lawmanElfego Baca . The shootout happened in San Francisco Plaza, a community now part of (and about 3 miles south of)Reserve, New Mexico . It stemmed from Baca's arrest of acowboy who had been shooting into the air and into buildings at random while intoxicated.Shortly after the arrest was made, Baca was confronted by a large number of the cowboy's friends. Baca took refuge in the house of local resident Geronimo Armijo. A standoff ensued, during which the cowboys increased in number to around eighty men.
Legend has it that the cowboys fired more than 4,000 rounds into the house, but there is little way of confirming just how many rounds were fired exactly. Baca was not wounded by any of the rounds fired, but did return fire killing four of the cowboys, and wounding eight others. The standoff ended when the cowboys were unable to acquire more ammunition. With their ammunition supply depleted, they simply withdrew. The fight had lasted thirty six hours.The cowboy that had been originally arrested by Baca served his time in
jail for disturbing the peace and drunkenness, and was released. The cowboys pursued Baca through legal means, attempting to have him imprisoned for the killing of their four comrades. In May,1885 , Baca wasindicted for the killing of one of the men. However, when the door of Geronimo Armijo's house was introduced as evidence, having over four hundred bullet holes in it, Baca wasacquitted . Baca went on to become a licensedattorney and a Deputy US Marshal.Memorial project
On
May 24 ,2008 the Elfego Baca Foundation opened a memorial inReserve, New Mexico in honor of Baca. [ [http://www.catroncitizens.org/projects.htm "Projects"] , Catron Concerned Citizens Group. Retrieved 8/24/08.]References
* [http://www.thewesternweb.com/old-west/the-frisco-shootout-old-west-series/ Frisco Shootout]
* [http://www.hiltonopen.com/Elfego0401.htm Elfego Baca]
* [http://www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands/22_elfego_baca.htm Borderlands]External links
* [http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/nm/frisco.html Frisco, New Mexico] . GhostTowns.com
* [http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-ElfegoBaca.html Elfego Baca & The “Frisco War”] . Legends of America website.
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