The Black Range Rag - www.blackrange.org

THE SPELL OF THE

BLACK RANGE THE REMEMBRANCES OF MILDRED ELIZABETH FULGHUM REA

Mildred Rea, the young girl in the photograph to the right, is the author of a series of blog entries entitled “Spell of the Black Range” which were published on The Free Range Blog during the second half of 2015. She was born in Chicago in January 1895. Her grandparents, Jay and Louise Barnes, moved to Chloride in 1881, bringing with them their 16 year old daughter, Alice (Mildred Rea’s mother and the woman in the photograph above). Some of the The author as a child. family’s activities are described in the Black Range newspaper, published in Chloride at that time and recounted in the 1880 -1900 Left to Right: Blog on The Black Range Rag. Exactly when the “Spell of the Black Alice Barnes Fulghum, Range” was written is uncertain but assumed to be about 1921. Mildred Elizabeth Fulghum, Roscoe W. Fulghum. Except as noted, Images and descriptions are from The Mildred Elizabeth Fulghum Rea papers, 1880-1921. Ms 0054 State University Taken in Chicago on Library, Archives and Special Collections Department. Used with October 11, 1897, shortly permission. before Alice and Mildred went to the Ingersol in New PART OF THE “BLOGS TO BOOKS” PROJECT Mexico. OF THE BLACK RANGE RAG

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE

Spell of the Black Range by Mildred Rea The southern portion of the Rocky Mountains, lying west of the Rio Grande in southwestern New Mexico, with the southern tip less than one hundred miles from the Mexican border, is known as the Black Range. It is a rugged and beautiful country, still largely wilderness.

Maps of (forty or fifty) years ago show many little towns dotted over the foothills of the eastern slopes of this range — Chloride, Fairview, Grafton, Hermosa, Hillsboro, Kingston, Lake Valley — all ghost towns now. They lie within the Above, the author and her boundaries of Sierra County, parents in Chicago in 1897 (see which was carved from three first page). Her mother, Alice other counties in 1883 — Barnes Fulghum lived in Socorro, Grant, and Dona Chloride in the early 1880’s. Ana. In the late 1870’s and early 1880’s silver mining was Right: The author’s booming in the area, and a grandparents (Jay and Louise remarkably diversified stream Barnes) and her grandfather’s of adventurous men, and a partner, Raubitzcheck at their cabin the area around North few women, flowed in to turn Percha Creek, on the east slopes the sites of many “strikes” of the Black Range, New from small campsites, with Mexico, USA.

The header photograph on page one is by Bob Barnes of Hillsboro, taken near Kingston, New Mexico.

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE perhaps a few tents, into towns hundred houses, plus a number that grew to boast of several of shops and a hotel. By 1886 1. Edward Laurence Doheny thousand people. Kingston, there were between one and was an oil tycoon who where Edward Doheney1 got two thousand people living in made a substantial fortune his start, is said to have had ten Chloride or making it in the oil fields of Southern 2 thousand in its heyday. headquarters for their California and Mexico. prospecting or other activities. Before the oil business, My grandparents, Jay and however, he was a hard Louise Barnes, came to The Barnes family must have rock miner and mine Chloride in the early spring of been lucky enough to buy a speculator. In the 1880’s 1881, bringing their daughter house from someone who was he was working and living and only child, Alice, who was moving on, but I do not know in Kingston, New Mexico. to become my mother. She was the details. I do know their On August 7, 1883 he sixteen at the time. The Santa home was “up on the hill” married his first wife, Fe Railroad was being built above the main street (known Carrie Louella Wilkins, in from the north towards El Paso, as Wall Street), which ran Kingston. In 1891, Doheny left Kingston. While living Texas, and toward juncture with along the bank above the in Kingston, however, he the railroad being built stream bed. They had two met and became friends eastward from the Pacific rooms and a tent, plus a brush with two people, Albert Coast. It had been completed “wickiup” that served as a sort Fall and Charles Canfield. as far as San Marcial, a little of storeroom, butler’s pantry, Fall and Doheny were town on the east side of the Rio laundry, and what have you. major players in the Teapot Grande, which now lies The two rooms had the only Dome Scandal and Canfield beneath the water of the lake shingle roof in town, which must partnered with Doheny in created by the Elephant Butte have been a mark of some oil ventures. See also, Dam. The Barnes family rode distinction! Mark B. Thompson’s the train as far as San Marcial, excellent blog entry then took the stage coach to They were the first people in “Teapot Dome: Literature Chloride, some seventy miles in town to have a chicken. and Litigation” on Craig Springer’s Hillsboro a southwesterly direction, lying Grandpa bought it for a dollar History Blog. in the foothills of the Black from a Mexican settler in the Range. A rich silver strike had Rio Grande Valley when he 2. Although the author been made there not long had to make a horseback trip correctly reports what before. to the valley. My mother said some where saying the population of Kingston was the Mexican must have thought this figure is now disputed The population of Chloride in it was about to die or he would regularly with estimates the spring of 1881 was about never have sold it. It was a half generally around 1,000. fifty, and the arrival of Louise dead mongrel, minus most of its and Alice Barnes brought the feathers, looking like the All hyperlinks, shown in bold number of women to five. Two defeated campaign rooster of black font, are active. years later the boom had cartoons, the day after resulted in a total of about one election. The first night it chose

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE the bar holding the roller towel so terribly rancid and strong by washboiler3 for the crowd. as its roosting place, and could the time it reached Chloride it Sometimes she made doughnuts never afterwards be persuaded was not fit to eat. It sold for a also, the “raised” kind made to roost anywhere else. It was dollar a pound. I do not know with yeast. She could work impossible to deal severely with what the price of butter in wonders with anything made anything so precious! For “civilization” was at that time — from flour — Grandpa always several weeks the family (something I should like to insisted she made “the best couldn’t tell whether it was a research some day.) But Mark bread in the world.” I suppose hen or a rooster, but finally one Twain in his autobiography it was too difficult to get the morning it crowed and quotes the price of butter in his necessary ingredients for everybody cheered. Later they boyhood, not too many years doughnuts, as well as too were able to buy two hens from earlier, as six cents a pound, so expensive, for her to make another Mexican farmer in the I would guess that the them very often. Storytelling, Rio Grande Valley. One they prevailing price at this time singing, and general named on sight. might not have been more than conversation were the order of She had very rough feet and fifteen cents a pound. the evening, and people left the legs, and no feathers on her Shortening of any kind being circle of firelight reluctantly. back. The other they called almost unobtainable at this Whitey. After a long time time, the family once bought a There were occasional Indian Calamity Jane established a tub of butter, but couldn’t scares. The regarded nest in the wickiup. All day she stomach it. The unused tub sat the Black Range as their home would march up and down on a shelf in the wickiup, and and hunting ground and were between the tent and the one day Calamity Jane very resentful of the wickiup and not let either of the managed to get the lid off and encroaching white men, seldom other chickens go near the eat a considerable quantity. missing an opportunity to wickiup. She laid six eggs and She soon died. My harass them. , the then hatched them. (Eggs were grandfather tried to josh the most famous chief, was far too precious to eat at this man from whom they had at this time in captivity in stage.) Eventually the family bought the butter about the , and did not escape did have a nice little flock of quality being so terrible that it and again resume his raiding chickens, and I can imagine had killed their prize hen, but until 1885, but and 4 what a joy it must have been to the storekeeper insisted that it Nana and their bands roamed my grandmother, who was an was the salt in it that killed her. excellent cook, to have eggs to 3. A washboiler was a large use. My grandfather was by nature extremely sociable, hospitable, metal tub in which clothes and fun-loving. On summer were boiled (washed). Calamity Jane met an 4. Victorio, Nana ignominious fate. The only evenings he used to build a bonfire on the hillside by their butter available in Chloride All hyperlinks, shown in bold home, and everybody in town was brought in by freight black font, are active. wagons, packed in little would see it and come up. wooden tubs or firkins. It was Grandma made coffee in the

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE the Black Range, occasionally confused with the town of Hot Alice made many a trip to the picking off an isolated Springs on the Rio Grande, now Post to dance, nearly always prospector or two, or making a called Truth or Consequences.]6 horseback, though sometimes a hit and run raid on some small The Post was important in the swain was able to provide a town. In January of 1881, social life of Chloride, in spite of buckboard or “rig” of some sort. before the Barnes family the distance. The big dances of Louise went to the dances closer arrived, Nana’s band raided the area were most frequently to home, but I think did not often Chloride and killed two men, but held there. For one thing, the make the long trip to the Post. I believe no others were killed in several army wives helped to The dances were rather the Chloride area until 1885. correct, if only slightly, the great strenuous, including the Polka, After some time in Chloride scarcity of women in proportion the Schottisch, the Varsuviana, without seeing an Indian or to men. For another, they had a and square dances, as well as experiencing a raid, Alice began building with a large enough to ridicule the idea of Indians of floor space to accommodate a 5. The fort at Ojo Caliente has being a danger. Her large crowd of dancers. The melted into the earth, as temperament was such that she floor was a dirt one, but for adobe is prone to do, a probably would have welcomed dances the cavalry number of years later it any excitement. But little magnanimously spread looks like the image below incidents kept happening which tarpaulins or canvas on the (taken from the site of the kept the people always a bit floor, then shaved bits of wax previous link). A video of uneasy. from candles and sprinkled over the spring at Ojo Caliente the canvas, making an excellent is hosted by The Black Range Rag. Once the Mexican freighters dance floor. They always 6. And do not confuse with were bringing a large load of seemed to be able to get a the town of Ojo Caliente, or goods to Chloride when they Mexican band to come from the the nearby spa, near Taos, heard the Apaches were on the long-established little Mexican New Mexico. Google rampage, and they prudently farming communities in the Rio searches generally abandoned the freight and went Grande Valley. Because the generate links to the spa/ home. Everybody in Chloride band had to come so far and the town. began to run out of food, and dancers were so hungry for this they couldn’t get any until they form of fun, the dance always organized a posse and guarded lasted all night. Sometimes the the freighters. band even stayed over for a second night. Coffee was put A post [or fort] had been over in a washboiler of cold established in the general area, water early in the evening, and many miles from Chloride, and by midnight the aroma was cavalry stationed there for the irresistible. No doubt the All hyperlinks, shown in bold black font, protection of the population. [I dancers needed plenty of that are active. believe the name of this post coffee to keep them going the was Ojo Caliente5 — not to be rest of the night!

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE waltzes. Naturally, Alice been eagerly awaiting a chance without horses except for the danced every set. One did not to fight the Indians, and now at stage horses, which no one turn down a request for a dance last an opportunity had come could touch for love or money. with so many men waiting on and he was not there! Once a rider on a nearly the sidelines. No matter if their Moreover, he had been left in exhausted horse came tearing heavy miner’s boots crunched charge of the Post! He was in from Kingston to warn the one’s toes! Though I’ve no probably the maddest man in community that the Indians were doubt she preferred partners the whole Black Range. rampaging, had killed several who had more skill. As I However, the next day the people in the Kingston area, mentioned before, all kinds of troops were called back to the and were thought to be headed people were drawn to this area, Post. But within twenty-four for Chloride. The men gathered including a good many polished hours they were ordered out and talked the situation over and sophisticated gentlemen. again. They had come home and decided on what seemed a As a melting pot this type of and thrown things down and brilliant bit of military strategy. frontier has no equal. After were not exactly in condition to They knew of a narrow canyon making the long ride to the Post, start right off again. The threaded by the trail the Indians dancing all night, then riding commanding officer was furious. would almost certainly take to home again, even the This time, however, they were reach Chloride, and they unquenchable Alice would out for some time and went thought if they could get there admit to exhaustion. I have clear down into Old Mexico. first they would have a perfect heard her say that a piece of spot to ambush the Apaches, kill rare beefsteak or a bowl of There was no horse feed for some, and send the rest oyster stew (canned oysters, of sale in those days, so at night scurrying for the shelter of the course) were the only things everyone staked their horses on higher mountains. A posse of that would restore her. the low mesa above town where about thirty men was (Followed by a good night’s there was very good grass for organized, each man with horse sleep, I trust.) grazing. One night the Indians and saddle, gun, ammunition, came and took all the horses on and some food. They left Once a lady at the Post invited the mesa. It happened that Chloride very early in the Alice to come and visit her. She Grandpa had been away that morning and rode hard until a was to ride over with the Post day and got home too late to little after noon, when they doctor, who was making a trip put his horse on the mesa, and came to a lovely little spring in to Chloride and back. They one other man had kept his a small canyon, with beautiful started, and had covered a horse in town that night. The grass on the low shoulder considerable distance but were town organized a small posse, above it. They decided to take still a long ways from the Post borrowed the two available a short “nooning” to rest the when a sentry unexpectedly horses, and tried to follow the horses and eat a bit of lunch. appeared and shouted, “Halt!” Indians. Of course they had no Saddles were pulled off the It seems there was an Indian success, but they rode the poor backs of sweaty horses; they scare and the troops were horses hard until their backs were allowed a drink, then ordered out. Ever since coming had such saddle sores they staked on the grassy shoulder to to the Territory the doctor had could not be used for weeks. take advantage of the luxurious This left the town entirely

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE grass. The men sprawled by Chloride before they came homegrown variety, practical the spring, relaxed, and ate. It upon a Mexican woodcutter, jokes are highly regarded. No would seem that the citizens of with a string of burros, working doubt by the time Becky had Chloride sadly lacked to supply cordwood for the attained respectable size, experience and expertise in cooking fires of Chloride. After everyone in town knew that Indian fighting! As had considerable dickering and Alice’s love for her was happened before, nearer promises of good pay, he comparable to the love one home, a small band of Indians agreed to pack their saddles gives their first child, and also appeared from nowhere and the rest of the way into that Alice’s temper was sure to stampeded the horses away Chloride. Human nature being flare if anyone made slighting before anyone could lift a what it is, when they got back remarks about Becky. finger, much less a rifle. To to Chloride and told their story, Inevitably Becky was the butt of add insult to injury, several the men who had not gone on a good many practical jokes. Indians slipped to the edge of the expedition did some cruelly Once they dressed her in a suit the rim above the stream and barbed twitting, pointedly of red flannel underwear, tied a sent four or five big boulders questioning the character, tall-peaked Mexican hat on her crashing into the picnic spot. intelligence, and bravery of a head, and, as a finishing touch, No one was hurt but there was sizable group of men who tied a big round hatbox to her some wild scrambling. After would let “a few squaws” make tail. The hatbox frightened her their first violent reaction of off with thirty valuable horses. and Alice chased her many rage and frustration the men Some very lively fist fights were tearful miles around the town awoke to the somber the order of the day for about and over the hills before she realization that they were a a week. I often wonder how could catch her and remove the very great many long hot miles the residents of the town were offending object. from home, with heavy saddles able to find replacements so and rifles which could under no often for their vital Another attempted prank circumstances be abandoned. transportation system. backfired. Wild cherries were The only solution was to carry their gear on their backs. As Alice Barnes was at that 7. Editors Note: See the time the only unmarried woman December 4, 2015 entry, in Chloride, I imagine she was If you have never walked for and other, later entries, on endless miles with a heavy looked upon by the horde of the 1880 -1900 Blog of the pack over rugged country on a miners as some sort of one-and- Black Range Rag for a very hot day, you can hardly only treasure — an object of all- report of Mrs. Barnes appreciate the extent of their inclusive community concern. making an addition to her discomfort! Feet were soon The miners conferred many home, in the March 2, blistered, nails worked their favors on her. Once they gave 1883 edition of The Black way through boot soles, and her a baby burro, which she Range newspaper. muscles ached and burned in named Becky and raised on a spots that had never ached bottle, with the aid of canned All hyperlinks, shown in bold before. I believe they made it milk. In a community where all black font, are active. to within about ten miles of the entertainment is of the

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE ripe, and two miners who had soared to five, that the production. At any rate shared a little cabin on the miners took up a subscription Grandpa went there and I outskirts of town decided it and invited Alice to “teach know he stayed long enough to would be delightful to have school.” This she did, holding serve as Justice of the Peace — I some cherry brandy. To classes in her home. It was a think the first one for Lake achieve this they picked a large challenging adventure for her Valley, but am not sure of that. dishpan of cherries, mashed and gave her much satisfaction. Shortly before his death in them, and poured plain brandy She had completed the eighth 1907 I heard him remark to my over them, then set them aside grade in and grandmother as they were until the result pleased their had a quick and inventive mind, driving past the Lake Valley taste. When Becky came to so I am confident considerable Cemetery, “I laid this cemetery their doorstep for a routine learning was achieved. It out and buried the first man in neighborly visit, they offered became a family joke that the it — a shooting victim — and her some of the discarded following year the Territorial soon I will be sleeping there cherries. She was delighted, so Legislature passed a law myself.”8 (See next page for footnote.) they gave her the whole panful. requiring that anyone who I assume that Grandpa’s mining It was soon apparent that taught school must be able to luck in Chloride had not been Becky was definitely drunk. read and write! I suspect that, of the best, and that times were They thought this was a huge as Spanish was spoken more pretty lean for the family. At joke, and expected to have widely in the Territory than any rate, my grandmother, who much fun at Alice’s expense. English, the law probably had not seen her family for a Unfortunately for them, Becky specified ability to read and long time, went at this time from flatly refused to leave their write English, but Alice’s Chloride to Ft. Wayne, Indiana doorstep, where she brayed tormentors did not bother to to visit her sister’s family, taking loudly, raucously, and explain this. Alice with her. It turned into an continuously all night long. extended visit. I know that my They simply could not sleep. I do not know why the Barnes grandmother, who was quite an Vigorous attempts to drive her family left Chloride in a few experienced seamstress, did off only resulted in her years, before the boom had dressmaking in Ft. Wayne. immediately circling back to her reached its peak. Perhaps Alice and her cousin, Addie all night stand at their there were several reasons. Bleekman, were almost like doorstep. My grandfather, a prospector sisters. Addie was attending at heart, may have been Buchtel College (now Akron In 1881 there were no public attracted to the Lake Valley University), and persuaded schools of any kind in the area farther south because of Alice to go. She had to enter whole Territory of New the fabulous strike known as the the preparatory department, of Mexico. In fact the only Bridal Chamber — one of the course, but by taking one schools of any kind, to the best richest deposits of silver ever year’s work and passing many of my knowledge, were two found anywhere concentrated examinations, she was able to “academies” run by the in so small an area. The Santa qualify for the Freshman class Catholic sisters. I think it was in Fe had built a branch line into the following year. 9 (See next page 1882 when the count of Lake Valley because of the ore for footnote.) children in or near Chloride

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8. Jay & Louise Barnes and Alice & Roscoe Fulghum share a headstone at the Lake Valley Cemetery in southern Sierra County. 9. Alice Barnes is listed as one of 17 Juniors in the Collegiate Department (Scientific Course) in the Catalogue of Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio, 1889-1890. She is listed as being from Kingston, NM. The tuition for the Fall Term, for the Collegiate Department, was $15 and for the Winter and Spring Terms $12.50. The course of study in her junior year is shown below.

All hyperlinks, shown in bold black font, are active.

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My grandfather must have had him, dug into what they hung in front of the bunks to no more outstanding luck in believed would be a fortune. give a measure of privacy. I Lake Valley than he had in once heard my grandmother Chloride. When I was a small Grandma and Grandpa and remark that Ruby was always girl he took me walking on the Ruby shared the one room log very considerate and a perfect far side of the low hills just west cabin. Cooking was done in gentleman. I do not know just of Lake Valley and pointed to the fireplace with the aid of a when or why Ruby left, but am the dugout where he had lived good iron Dutch oven. The under the impression some alone while in Lake Valley, a bunks, as was usual in miner’s family matter called him back sort of shallow tunnel into the cabins, were made of saplings to the Old Country. hillside, just tall enough for a and anchored to the wall, with man to stand up in. It was supporting legs on the side closed by a wooden door and away from the wall. Curtains frame when he lived there, but that was long since gone. It was not very long before his wandering feet and love of prospecting took him to the headwaters of North Percha Creek, or rather, a tributary of that creek, high in the Black Range, some thirty-odd miles north and west from Lake Valley. Here he made a strike which stirred his wildest dreams to life. He named his mine the Ingersoll, for Robert Ingersoll, whose works he often quoted. It is an extremely slow and difficult process for one man alone to dig much ore from a 10.The photographs from the 1880’s - 1901, above and on the mountain, and soon Grandpa next page, are provided courtesy of The Mildred Elizabeth had a partner, and Austrian Fulghum Rea papers, 1880-1921. Ms 0054 New Mexico named Raubitzcheck. They State University Library, Archives and Special Collections Department. In “Around Hillsboro” this cabin is misidentified built a sturdy one-room log as the saloon in Percha City. The cabin was built in the early cabin10 (editor: photo above, 1880’s by Jay Barnes at the Ingersol Mine. Louise Sixbey right) with a good fireplace Barnes is the woman at the left, Jay Barnes stands next to and soon my grandmother her, and Jay’s partner - Raubitschek stands at the right. returned from Ft. Wayne. Meanwhile, Grandpa and All hyperlinks, shown in bold black font, are active. “Ruby” as they always called

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE Grandpa was working an exceptionally rich vein. The ore, after being sacked, had to be carried some miles by burro back into an area where a road of sorts made it possible for freight wagons to pick it up for the long haul to Lake Valley — about thirty miles — and from there it went by rail to the smelter. Fairly rich ore was needed to make a profit with these transportation problems. The vein Grandpa was working on sloped upward through the side of the mountain, and Meanwhile he had built a build a two room house. At eventually came out under blue house12 (see photo next page), one time in his varied career he sky, which was the end of that about a hundred feet north of had done carpenter work, and particular . However, the original cabin, which was he made a very workmanlike there were a number of later used as a barn. At this job of the house. The roof he promising veins seaming the time prospectors were covered with “shakes” which he mountain. He had cleared swarming through the Black made himself. They are a thick, about a thousand dollars on Range in considerable rough type of shingle, and the one rich vein, and on the numbers, and during the boom many a time in later years have strength of the very rich ore he someone established a sawmill I watched him making them. had shipped, Mining Capital — some seven or eight miles from First he selected a Ponderosa I believe with headquarters in the Ingersol, on what is still pine from the stand of pines Colorado — made an offer for known as Sawpit Creek. There near home, cut it down, and the mine. Grandpa loved the Grandpa bought the lumber to mine too much to sell it outright, but eventually the bidder organized a company 11.The photo at this point is of Main Street in Kingston in the in which Grandpa would hold 1880’s. The author’s attribution for this photo reads: “The about half the stock and the Sierra Land and Cattle Company (notice sign) was one of the company would work and big cattle outfits in those days, and the brand was still being develop the mine. Grandpa run when I was a child in the early 1900’s (SLC). If I thought he was getting 51% of remember right, it was owned by ‘Ridenhour Baker’ located the stock, but it somehow possibly in Oklahoma, at any rate far east of our area. At turned out that he had only one time they controlled the famous ‘Frisco Springs’ on Cave 49%, which proved a great Creek, which was later homesteaded by my father, Roscoe W. disadvantage later on. Fulghum.”

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE sawed the trunk in sections froze to death. I can imagine stove was unloaded and the three or four feet long. Then, the struggle they must have had pack saddle off, Beecher went with a section standing on end, getting her out when the storm and lay down — the only time he split off strips with a fro, was over! This house did not he was ever known to do so striking the blade of the fro with have a fireplace. They bought after carrying a pack from a wooden mallet to drive it into a small wood-burning Kingston. the wood. cookstove in Kingston. I think the four-hole top was about two Later, when Alice was coming and a half feet square. The 12.“Hunting Party, home from college for the oven was small but would hold November 1901 at the summer, he added a nice, high- four loaves of bread at a time. Barnes Fulghum roofed log room for her to use, I can imagine my grandmother ‘Ingersol’ home. This is separated from the other rooms was happy to again have a the house Jay Barnes by a space about six feet wide, real oven in which to bake her built about 300 feet with roof and floor, one end light bread, as well as the pies from the original cabin. closed and the other open. for which she was famous. The The party stayed here This we always called the stove came to the Ingersol on at least one night “gallery”. In the terrible the back of Beecher, a fine before going to do the blizzard of 1888 a range cow large burro Grandpa owned at ‘Magne Cabin’ at a higher elevation. L to R: — a Texas longhorn — crawled that time. I have heard Mr Warner, Mr. into the gallery for shelter and Grandpa say that when the Chamberland (who was killed in this area several years later when he accidentally shot himself), Miss Minnie Moffitte (niece of Major Morgan, well-known in early Lake Valley), Jennie McCadden (daughter of Mr. McCadden), Mr. McCadden, Jay Barnes, Alice Barnes Fulghum, Charles Hoyle of Lake Valley, Roscoe Fulghum. Apparently only the ladies got to ride one at a time, the rest walked.”

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Soon after the deal had been Kingston stores were well had a good-sized dairy herd, made for an interest in the stocked, but prices were high. and Grandma began milking, mine, the company brought in Louise had a nice flock of with great pride, when she was men and tools and went to chickens to supply eggs and an about six. She knew all about work. I do not know just what occasional feast of fried or making butter and cheese and equipment was brought in — a roast chicken, and she had a had a passionate love of good minimum I would suppose, with garden to supply some fresh stock. It was inevitable that she the problem of transporting it! vegetables. There were clumps would want milk cows after As a child I remember of pie plant or rhubarb and a they settled at the Ingersol. numerous big iron ore buckets, few berry bushes to furnish Her first purchase was a roan a good deal of cable, a very filling for her famous pies. cow of mixed breed, probably small ore car and some track When nothing fresh was mostly Shorthorn, called “Old for hauling ore to the mouth of available she made very good Roaney.” Grandma knew the the tunnel, drills and hammers pies from dried apples. cow was old, but she was good — both single jacks and double stock and a good milk cow, jacks — and an anvil, forge, My grandmother came from and Grandma thought if she and other items for use in the Herkimer County, New York, could just raise one or two blacksmith shop, a small frame where dairy cattle were heifer calves she would be shack near the edge of a shaft. plentiful. Her parents, John happy. Roaney did bear one There was also a whim at the and Sarah Sixby, were Holland calf, a heifer called “Little top of one shaft, a revolving Dutch and had a farm near Roaney”, but she died a few drum pulled by a horse, for Stratford, where Louise and her months later. My grandmother bringing loaded ore buckets to eleven brothers and sisters was a very quiet, the surface. grew up. The farm must have undemonstrative person, and a produced nearly everything the tireless worker, but my mother Louise, the only woman for family used. They had a once told me that the day her miles around, boarded the woodlot, fields and meadows, first cow died, Grandma sat in miners. For this of course the fruit trees and a garden, cattle a chair by the window nearly company paid her. Flour, and sheep, chickens and ducks all day, with silent tears rolling sugar, coffee, meat, and other and geese. She used to talk of down her cheeks. staples were packed in by plucking the geese for pillows horse or burro from Kingston, and featherbeds (with a There were more purchases, a about twelve miles away, a stocking pulled over the head total of five cows at this time. nice one day’s round trip with to keep them from biting). Her The steer calves were sold to pack animals. Kingston was mother carded and spun the the Kingston butcher when booming at this time, with many wool and wove the cloth. She grown, but all the heifers were rich silver mines. Well over six was quite provoked, Grandma kept, and usually produced million dollars in silver was said, when the children began calves of their own when two produced there over the years, wanting “store bought” years old, so, the herd began but the panic following the material, as more stylish and to grow. Thus, more or less by demonetization of silver in elegant than homespun. accident and without 1893 was a death blow. Among other things the Sixbys

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE premeditation was our family determination to hang on never Grandfather Fulghum’s pansy eventually to be launched into wavered. bed in front of their home on the cattle business. Bowen Avenue, a Sunday trip The company did ask him to do to Lincoln Park, and especially My grandfather became very the assessment work necessary the day my parents took me to unhappy with the management to hold title to the mine — a the zoo shortly before my of the mine as time went by, but hundred dollars worth of work mother and I left for New his 49% of the stock allowed each year. This he did. The Mexico — but of the trip I him no decisive voice in the first year the company paid remember only two things — planning. There were many him, and I believe also the lying on a bed beside by well-mineralized outcroppings second year, about the only mother as she rested in the scattered over Ingersol cash they had coming in, as home of a friend, no doubt Mountain. I have heard him they had very few steers old when we had reached Kingston say that apparently the enough to sell at this time. — and my meeting with my company thought the whole After that they did not pay him, Grandfather Barnes. mountain was made of silver, and did not answer any of his and instead of following some letters. He decided to get the It had been arranged for a promising vein as is almost mine back into his own hands. team and light wagon — I think universal practice, they first dug It was illegal to “jump” a claim it was the delivery wagon for one deep shaft, were one owned, or had an interest one of the Kingston stores — to disappointed in the results, then in, so after allowing the take us as far toward the tunneled blindly straight into assessment work to go undone Ingersol as the wagon could the mountain for a long for a year, he arranged for a go, where Grandpa was to distance, then decided on an friend to locate the mine and meet us with an extra horse for incline, going down at an angle deed it back to him. So my my mother. (She carried me from the end of the tunnel, and grandparents stayed on at the the rest of the way in front of finally sank another shaft at the Ingersol, with the garden, the her on the saddle.) I remember end of the incline! They were chickens, and the milk cows the splash and sparkle as the taking out considerable ore of furnishing a good part of their horses picked their way a fair grade, but even getting it food. Times were very hard between shiny rocks and to the surface was expensive, everywhere after 1893. boulders of many colors in the and with the high cost of clear, rippling waters of what transportation — burro back, In October of 1897, when I was must have been North Percha freight wagon, railway — they two years and nine months old, Creek, and then just ahead of were making little or nothing my mother brought me to the us was a man with a shovel — above the cost — perhaps less. Ingersol for what was to be an my Grandpa Barnes working to Finally the decision was made extended visit. It turned out the last possible second at Colorado headquarters to that this was to be my home removing rocks to make the drop the whole operation. until I was sixteen. I was born road passable just as far as Grandpa’s hands were and had lived in Chicago until possible. effectively tied, but his burning this time. I have a few faith in the mine and his memories of Chicago — helping to shell green peas, my

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE There was firewood to be cut and brought home on the back of the staid old white horse, John. We burned the fragrant wood from the alligator bark junipers that were plentiful in the region — dry wood for a hot fire and green wood for a long lasting fire, with sometimes a bit of pitch pine for quick starting. I gathered the juniper chips in a big tin pan for kindling. In everything he did, Grandpa always seemed to find a way for me to help him. The juniper wood In a short time he was to capable of getting thoroughly was very beautiful, like the cedar used for cedar chests. become the dearest person in muddy! my life — dearer than parents — My mother used to say it seemed such a pity to burn it. partly because he delighted in Our Ingersol home and my Grandpa had made a large, putting himself at a child’s level grandfather’s companionship beautiful churn from juniper, and making play of work, and were to become the very core bound with shiny brass hoops, partly because he treated me and foundation of my life. I and I never tired of watching like a grown-up and an equal, loved the place and I loved Grandma churning.13 capable of understanding the him. Wherever he went I went. affairs of the adult world if they What a fascinating variety of were explained to me. He had There were rocks to gather things he did! ! There were always loved children, and his from the lower end of the water holes to clean out so the fenced area which had not yet anticipation of my coming was cows could have clean water to very keen. He came to the side been cleared. These were drink. There was the cow with piled carefully under the new of the wagon and lifted his a new calf to be hunted and arms eagerly up to me, but I section of fence to make it as brought home. There was the nearly as possible proof drew back haughtily and said, axe to be ground; there was a “Don’t touch me. You will get against the wild rabbits that horse to be shod. There were could devastate a garden. my dress dirty. You are all pine trees to cut down and saw muddy.” Perhaps my mother into lengths, and shakes to be had cautioned me especially made. He taught me to chew 13.Photo: Ingersol Mountain, that day not to get my dress the sweet strip that grows with the Ingersol Mine dirty, or could it be I was just a between the wood and the and a cabin in the middle natural prig? If so I soon rough outer bark, and carries of image. Taken in the recovered and proved myself the sap upward. late 1880’s.

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE There was a patch to be put on will never see any as beautiful good honest metal bell we the roof of the calf shed; he as our wildflowers.” I’m sure hung on the neck of a horse. carried me up the ladder and the florists of California would The little cloth sacks in which let me sit on the gently sloping disagree, but as for the impact Bull Durham tobacco was sold I roof beside him while he nailed on my emotions, he was so filled with sand for my blasting the new shakes in place. right! powder; bits of tightly coiled baling wire was my fuse, and He sat beside me during a an empty tomato can made a sudden pouring shower, good ore bucket. watching the tall splashes the raindrops made as they struck Evenings were story-telling a sheet of water on the ground. time. On summer nights we He said they were soldiers often sat on the “stoep”— a marching. platform or unroofed porch on which the kitchen door opened. He delighted in the birds, their I imagine the name came from colors and their calls and my Dutch grandmother’s songs; he pointed out the vocabulary. The full moon mother quail scurrying across rising over Ingersol Mountain the trail with her babies, and was sometimes part of the the red-headed woodpecker setting, or sometimes the slim boring a hole in a pine tree. crescent of the new moon in the west. In the winter we sat in There was assessment work to “Grandpa’s chair” in front of be done, and I was fascinated the kitchen stove, with the red by this ritual. I dug two mines coals glowing through the slots of my own, shallow holes in of the front draft. He told me He showed me the beautiful sandy soil, and named them bear stories, he told me Indian peacock ore with its blue and The Yellow Moon and The stories, he told me stories of the green and bronze colors, and Parlor Bell. What suggested sea, and of Napoleon and other chunks of rock with the those names I have no idea. English kings, and of David square, brassy crystals of Grandpa questioned me — why Copperfield and Little Nell. “fool’s gold.” He paused on not the Golden Moon or the the trail to admire the flaming Silver Moon, but to me the red bloom of a pincushion moon was yellow and no other cactus, and pointed out the tiny term appealed. Grandpa 14. Photo by Bob Barnes: delicate wildflower blooms I wanted to know what kind of a The flowers of the Black might not have seen.14 Once, bell, and explained the Range are beautiful when I was older, he said, difference between a b-e-l-l and and the species myriad. “Some day you will go to a b-e-l-l-e, but I was scornful of This is a Rusby’s Primrose. California, and you will see anything as frivolous-sounding beautiful flowers there, but you as a b-e-l-l-e, and wanted the

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE But mostly he told me of his I suspect it was because I the house we planted corn that own adventures. I was begged to hear it once more. year, to furnish some grain for fascinated by the adventures the horses and chickens, as well the family had when they went My joy in my grandfather’s as fodder for horses and cows to Peru. They had gone by company was sadly interrupted when the snow buried other sailing ship from New York to that first winter when he food. I was fascinated with the Aspinwall on the Isthmus of became suddenly ill with what plowing, and ran behind my Darien in 1877. They crossed the family called inflammatory mother in the fresh turned the Isthmus by narrow gauge rheumatism. His joints were furrows, trying to count the railroad and took another badly swollen and the pain blue and white “molly grubs” sailing ship on the Pacific side must have been intense — he that were exposed and eagerly to Callao, the port for Lima. could not stand to have anyone snatched by the chickens. They were in Peru during a jar the bed. There was no Grandpa and his chair were revolution and an earthquake, doctor, but my grandmother just outside the front door. The when the people fled to the always had a marvelous knack sun was warm and he thought I mountains in fear of a great for nursing. I remember lots of would be worn out running in tidal wave, but the part of the flannel wrapping his joints, and every furrow, so he would call story I loved best was their some sort of liniment or home me over to him on some homeward trip to San Francisco remedy that Grandma pretext, but for once my interest in another sailing ship — a concocted. When the pain was was wholly centered brigantine. They encountered a unbearable he used to sniff the somewhere else. He noticed violent storm, were blown far fumes from a bottle of that when he let me go, instead off course, were nearly lost chloroform for relief. The acute of running to my mother’s when heavy seas swamped the condition lasted for months, but heels, I returned to the exact ship, and went through a by spring he was able to get spot from which he had called starving time after all their flour about a bit, with one knee up me and ran as hard as I could and supplies were soaked and on a chair which he shoved in down the furrows that had became moldy and unfit for front of him. been plowed while I was gone, use. I always cried when he until I finally caught up with my told of a crate of live chickens, My mother did the plowing that mother again, so he gave up. lashed to the deck and carried spring. Grandpa had enclosed for food, which tore loose in between two and three acres in Sometime that summer my the storm and went bobbing fence. The garden at the back father arrived from Chicago. away over the waves. That of the house was separated He was in extremely poor picture of lonely creatures lost from the rest of the land by a health. He had been doing on the immensity of the ocean “chicken proof” fence. The newspaper work when he and was too much for me! No hens had learned that by my mother were married in matter how often the story was getting up on the stoep they 1894 — at one time he was a retold, I always sobbed long could fly over the fence, so at proofreader for the Chicago and bitterly. My mother was a that point Grandpa had build a Tribune and later he had a bit annoyed and couldn’t see second story over the fence. In neighborhood paper of his why Grandpa kept retelling it — the front and along the side of own, The Call.

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I think he had not been able to in to lie down in complete sense of humor kept it to a work for some little time — my exhaustion. His improvement minimum, I think. Cooks of that mother told me once that all he was remarkable, however. In day had a saying: “The nearer had been able to send her after less than a year he was able to the bone the sweeter the we came to New Mexico was a walk quite a distance, and to meat,” which Grandpa, when dollar a week, most of which do a creditable day’s work. times were lean, turned around she spent for bran to feed a When I was about five he got to: “The nearer the meat the milk cow in the winter because work in Kingston for several sweeter the bone.” To me life she thought I ought to have months assaying while the was delightful, exciting, and milk. regular assayer was absent for filled with a sense of some reason. They rented a abundance. We gathered the Ordinarily my grandparents house in Kingston and the three wild black walnuts in the fall milked the cows only in the of us lived there while the job and stored them for later use. summer when grass was lasted. He had learned to We gathered wild grapes plentiful, and then half the milk assay when, as a very young which were abundant; too sour went to the calves. No man, he had lived in New to eat in more than very small skimmed milk for Grandma’s Mexico several years for his amounts, they made wonderful beloved calves — she didn’t health. The used assay office jelly, and each fall the folks want them “stunted.” And she dishes he gave me were among made the year’s supply of felt, quite rightly I’m sure, the my most cherished possessions. vinegar from them, which was cows had all they could do to They were little pottery bowls, stored in a big wooden keg. A feed themselves and their perhaps two inches across, of few years later we also made calves through the winter material similar to that used in grape juice and bottled it, and months. Buying feed was out flower pots, and the inside of did a little experimenting with of the question in general, each dish was glazed from the making wine. Wild cherries though if a cow seemed to be metals which had been melted made a wonderful tasting jelly, ailing Grandma always fixed in it. Some were green — they too. From the yearbook of the her a pan of bran mash, made were my favorites I think — Department of Agriculture my with hot water, to which she others were various shades of mother learned to identify the added a few drops of aconite. brown, yellow, and many other edible mushrooms and we colors. His salary must have feasted on them when the I think my father would not been a godsend to the family, summer showers brought them have lived very long if he had for there were as yet very few up. We used two varieties — stayed in Chicago, but our steers to sell to the butcher. the dainty little “meadow New Mexico climate helped. mushroom,” with dull pink gills When he came he wanted to I suppose the grownups must and a ring around the stem help, and tried to help — my have worried sometimes, where the cap had pulled away grandfather still was not able to though the security of the little as it opened, and a larger one do very much — but the least home created in the wilderness we called the “horse exertion, like chopping a few and my grandfather’s mushroom” with pale green sticks of wood, would send him unquenchable optimism and gills and a bone-white top. The

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE deadly amanita grew there too Grandpa had built a large always sat on the stove, and — perhaps because of the table from lumber, which also a large iron pot we usually power of suggestion its corpse- served as work table and used for heating additional like whiteness was repulsive to dining table. We had one water. me. kitchen chair; all the other seats were square stools Grandpa On the south wall, at right Perhaps I should try to describe had made. I think the stove angles to the cupboard, a large this place I loved so much. To and the chair were the only packing box, perhaps four feet begin with, nearly everything furniture in the kitchen not square, rested on the floor with we used was something one of homemade. There was a large the opening to the front, the family had created. The open cupboard in one end, covered by a calico curtain. house we lived in, most of the holding the crockery and most Flour, sugar, beans, and other furniture in it, the fence for the of the cooking dishes. We had staples were kept inside, and garden, the well from which we a large iron teakettle that there was a working surface got our water, the corral and shed for the stock, the circular fence of piled up stones which Grandma had built all by herself to enclose her potato garden farther down the creek, the substantial stone chicken house Grandpa had built — all represented hours and hours of work. Yet the making was deeply satisfying.

The kitchen was about sixteen 15 feet square, with a door and a window on the front or south side, and another door and window on the north side. The floor was of wide pine boards which Grandma kept scrubbed, Dutch fashion, to immaculate cleanness. A ceiling of white muslin strips stitched together 15.The kitchen door and window, referenced here, are visible on was tacked to the rafters, and the right end of the building. The “stoep” referenced earlier the walls were covered with the in the story is in front of the kitchen door. same white muslin. A major 16.The living room is visible behind the main group of people. The two windows with white borders, the living room door, household undertaking was to and the “stoep” in front of the door are visible. take the whole thing down, wash it, and tack it back up. This was not done very often.

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE on top. A smaller box was There were white muslin reaching nearly to the floor nailed to the wall above this curtains at the windows. provided a closet for hanging and held smaller items such as up clothes. On each side of the soda, baking powder, salt, The living room 16 (See footnote on door was a small shelf which coffee, and spices. Next to this previous page) was a step up from held a few special treasures. cupboard, close to the door, the kitchen and the same width, Grandma had crocheted strips was a bench where the two but somewhat longer. It was about six inches wide from ecru water buckets sat, with the lined with the same white thread which were tacked to inevitable tin dipper. On the muslin and boasted a carpet. It these shelves like curtains and north side, between the door was a good carpet, woven of gave them a finished and the window, was another wool, in shades of brown and appearance. Altogether it was small packing box nailed to the beige, and I suspect was a very “homey” room. wall, curtained, and holding something salvaged from Grandma had made round the wash basin and soap, with earlier days in the city, rather braided rugs of castoff wool the roller towel installed on the than purchased in Kingston. material which were used in the back of the door. There was On the south side the room had rooms where needed most. one other chair in the kitchen, two good-sized windows with a always called “Grandpa’s door between, opening on My mother and father and I chair.” He had built the frame another stoep. Again, there slept in the log room, across the from four stout oak poles, cut were white muslin curtains. My gallery, and it was also a very from the brush in the area. A grandparents’ bed stood by pleasant room, but somehow long one, about five feet, and a one window, and beside it a we seemed to spend most of short one about three feet, small chest or “washstand” our waking hours in the other were bolted together in the which had a crockery bowl and part of the house. shape of an X to make a side of pitcher on top. Grandma had the chair. A stout oak strip the a Singer sewing machine The outdoors was just as much width of a chair joined the tops beside the other window. home to me as the indoors, and of the two long poles, and There was a rocking chair built more exciting. In memory, the another strip joined the tops of of lumber and canvas along sun-drenched air carrying the the two short poles, completing lines similar to “Grandpa’s fragrance of the pine trees the frame. A width of canvas chair.” There was a tall seems as tangible as a pool of firmly tacked in place reached bookcase full of books along water into which one could from the top strip to the bottom the north wall. Grandpa had step. At most times of the year strip, making a seat and back built it of lumber and stained it a little stream of clear water rest that curved like a with burnt umber. There was a ran in the creek bed just below hammock. Grandpa found this table in the corner with a coal the house. I spent much time chair very restful when he was oil lamp for reading or sewing, admiring the many-colored, tired, and it was in this chair and along the other end of the shiny pebbles in the bottom, that he usually held me on his north wall a long shelf was and picking some of them out lap in front of the fire for winter anchored five feet or so above to add to my collection of evening story-telling sessions. the floor. Muslin curtains treasures. In times of sudden tacked to the edge and heavy rains, it was fascinating

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SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE to watch “the creek come character to rate names. I distinctive, almost bell-like down,”— a boiling torrent of remember “Grandpa” was quality. I do not believe this is muddy water, grinding rocks definitely scraggly at the top, all my imagination, for I have together on the bottom and but a most estimable tree in my noticed, years later, that same carrying a froth of debris on its mind. indescribable quality of sounds crest. It seemed to have a in far wilderness areas. hypnotic effect on me, and in I remember running out in the Perhaps the crowding together fantasy I was a tiny, lone garden before the sun peeked of many people and many creature, no more than an inch over Ingersol Mountain, while sounds in our urban areas tall, riding a leaf down the there was still dew on all the smothers this quality and kills flood. After I made the plants, to gaze into the very the feeling, importance, and acquaintance of peanuts, a hearts of the wild morning individuality that each peanut shell became my boat. glories — communing with them, wilderness sound carries. it seemed. And I remember the Summer thunder showers were smell of the damp earth in the The varied language of the a joy, but when the lightning garden when the folks watered chickens held my attention. I struck too near and the thunder it at dusk. They had gotten a could mimic their cackling, was too loud I was very much pump for the well, and at first crowing, clucking, and other afraid, and used to scuttle the water was carried to the sounds almost exactly. I did under the bed in the living plants in a bucket, but later pretty well imitating the room — always my refuge in they ordered a hose from gobbling of the wild turkeys we time of fear. Montgomery Ward — its arrival heard occasionally, but I was was an exciting event. It never able to reproduce the There were huge granite screwed onto the nozzle of the bright sound of the rock boulders, covered with lichens pump and was a great back squirrels. I loved the early and half buried in the earth, saver. morning trilling of the canyon scattered here and there near wren — we called them rock the creek bed, each one having Especially I remember the wrens. One always nested on a special name in my mind, like sounds! It seems to me there is a shelf in our gallery. I “the sidesaddle,” which had a a quality of expectancy in the delighted in the strident call of 17 (See footnote on comfortable, shallow seat still mountain air, as though it the blue jays following page) scooped out near the top. I sat waits to receive and savor and , the soft cooing of sedately in the hollow, my legs treasure each separate sound, the wild doves, and the arranged in proper sidesaddle listening until the last overtones strange, loud hammering sound position, and took many a long have passed beyond the hills. made in flight by the orange- ride down the inviting trails of Whether it be the sound of a breasted flicker — we called fantasy. sledge hammer on stone, or an them yellowhammers. axe on wood, the distant bawl I named each of the pine trees of a cow, or the silvery “chink- except the young ones — for chink” of a rock squirrel some reason they had not gathering wild walnuts, each attained enough distinctive sound seems to have a

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LEFT: Mildred Fulghum and orphan fawn in yard of Cave Creek home, about 1905. The cave which gave the name to the area can be glimpsed about a mile away, just over the tops of the young juniper trees (looks like a big arch).” The fawn “ belonged to Joe Badger, a good friend and neighbor of ours who had a goat ranch on the Animas Creek about 4 miles north of our Cave Creek home.”

17.The birds: Mildred Rea describes the call of the Canyon Wren accurately, Rock Wrens are also possible in the area. The Blue Jay may have been one of three species; Steller’s Jay, Scrub Jay, or Pinyon Jay (she probably saw all three species at her home at the Ingersol). The Orange-breasted Flicker is now The Red- shafted Flicker subspecies of the Northern Flicker.

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Each of the mountains and hills Black Range a prospector’s in Kingston. 21 (See footnote on next that ringed us had an heaven. page.). Kingston was only about individuality of its own. Granite twelve miles away and was our Peak, to the north and west, Our Ingersol Mountain, east of post office and source of dominated our Ingersol the house — a sort of granitic supplies at this time, but to ride country. Hillsboro Peak, the porphyry, I believe, looking in, leading a pack horse, highest peak in this part of the much older than the hard rock purchase and load supplies Black Range, reaching 11,000 of Granite Peak, and slightly and return took almost a full feet20, is farther south, rising decomposed — is a cheerful day. above Kingston. It has a gently yellow color. I know of no rounded top, but Granite Peak other outcropping of a similar There were two old bachelors has a most distinctive outline. material or color anywhere in still living within a mile of us, Its back rises in a long, gentle the region. The color is cut off each with his cabin, his claim, slope to the highest peak, cleanly at the creek bed — on and a few head of cattle, but where it drops off very steeply, the other side of the stream the unfortunately we were not on giving the peak an appearance small mountain known as the good terms with them. One as much like pictures of the Mascot is ash gray, and is also was Lester Dumm, who had Rock of Gibraltar as anything I obviously of older material. come up behind my can think of. Both peaks can Phillip’s Hill, directly north of grandfather in Kingston one be seen from the road between the house and abutting Granite day, when Grandpa was Las Cruces and Deming if the Peak, is also of the old, ash stooped over tightening the atmospheric conditions are gray material. To the west, cinches of a pack saddle, and right — I watch with yearning beyond the Mascot, can be had swung a length of two by whenever we travel that road, seen the long, rounded four against the back of and feel cheated if dust or mountain which we called the Grandpa’s skull. I do not moisture are obscuring them. Red Hill. Its vivid color comes believe he ever entirely from iron stain. recovered from the effects of Both these peaks, and the the blow — it seemed to affect whole backbone of the Black Our family of five was a close his breathing. Range, are the result of a little circle in this setting. The tremendous upthrust through prospectors who swarmed older layers of rock. This through the Black Range a few gigantic upheaval threw the years earlier were nearly all 20.Hillsboro Peak has an older formations into great gone from our particular area, elevation of 10,020’. confusion, with abrupt so we were rather isolated. McKnight Mountain discontinuities, so that hills of No doubt the demonetization which is closer to where entirely different color and of silver in 1893 played no she lived, but probably material may be touching each small part in the not visible from there, is other. It is these ancient layers, disappearance of the the highest “peak” in the so wildly disarranged, that are prospectors, although much Black Range at 10,164’. heavily mineralized, making the silver was still being produced

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Dumm was drunk at the time, have relinquished his grudge, stuffing that tastes the way my and what grievances, real or however, for about ten years Grandmother’s did! —and fancied, he may have had we later he began systematically usually Grandma baked a pie. never knew, but relations poisoning our cattle with became so frosty that for many strychnine in pans of salt. Once when the folks had fixed years we never saw each other. About that time he left for his the usual extra nice dinner and old home in Ohio. looked forward to a good visit The other neighbor, Ed Pontius, with Mr. Hickey, he did not was a man of peculiar Fortunately there was one man, come. Next morning Grandma temperament, perhaps living about half way to built up the outdoor fire she dominated by jealousy. The Kingston, for whom the family used for heating the wash family had been friendly with had the highest regard. He water in summertime and him, in pioneer fashion, until he was Mr. Hickey, a Civil War attacked the week’s wash. began unmercifully beating veteran of Irish extraction who About nine o’clock someone Grandma’s cows. There was had lost his wife many years came riding a white horse no very good reason for his before. He had a standing along the trail through the actions. Grandma had bought invitation to take Sunday dinner “saddle” - sure enough, it was two claims from a departing miner named Phillips, giving him a small payment because each of his claims had a good permanent spring on it, furnishing water for the cattle in a good grazing area. The springs were both fairly close to Ed’s cabin. He had five cows, and no one had the slightest objection to their grazing with our stock and drinking from the springs, but seemingly he wanted this area all to himself. My family could not abide wanton cruelty to animals, and they watched with us, and almost always (sleeping out at night) until they came. Our family made quite 21.Mildred Read describes had proof of Ed’s actions, then an effort to have Sundays this view of Kingston as: “Kingston, New Mexico, confronted him with it. The “special.” Work was put aside in 1880’s. Our post upshot was that our family unless there was a very urgent office until we changed bought the five cows from him, emergency, and dinner was a special treat. Quite often a to Hillsboro in the early and relations became 1900’s. reasonably good again, though roasted hen was the piece de far from cordial. He must never resistance — I wish I could make

24 The Black Range Rag - www.blackrange.org

SPELL OF THE BLACK RANGE

Mr. Hickey. Grandma, thinking looked at her speculatively for no doubt of the scanty supply a moment and said in his firm, of leftovers, was annoyed. positive manner, “Mrs. Barnes, “What in the world has gotten there’s White Irish, and there’s into him that he can’t come on shanty Irish, and there’s the day he is supposed to,” she damned Irish.” muttered. It was soon apparent that Mr. Hickey was cross too. Mr. Hickey went to the Old Finally he burst out, “Since Soldiers’ Home in Sawtelle a when do you have to do your few years later when physical washing of a Sunday?” My problems developed. The first grandmother was astonished Christmas he was there he sent and stoutly assured him this me a shell box made by the was Monday. A vigorous veterans — a cigar box with a argument ensued; the almanac design formed by many was taken from its hook behind varieties of shells covering the the stove and consulted. Days top and sides. It was one of my and events were recalled and great treasures for many years. fitted together, and eventually Mr. Hickey convinced everyone that this really was Sunday, so *** Grandma put away her washing and bent her ingenuity The only manuscript that we to getting as good a meal as have been able to locate ends possible from the available abruptly at this point. supplies.

I wish I had been old enough to appreciate the conversations when Mr. Hickey visited — they seemed to satisfy a special need and hunger for my family. I know he was a most upright man, and I suspect a bit salty at times. Once my grandmother, discussing the shortcomings of a certain Irish woman of the Kingston area, unthinkingly said something disparaging about the Irish, then caught herself and blushed in embarrassment. Mr. Hickey

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