Office humming. Big pow-wow at 1:30 of the Committee of Four. We had numerous hangout issues, with accruing stock, outstanding stock, disputed stock, below the line stock, half-assed stock, just a mess. But R.G. came in with an item by item proposal that was inspired and smart. What I thought might take weeks to solve, was readily agreed to. Not one objection. It was very fair, neat, clean and solid. Really a home run and my respect for R.G. went up a notch or two or three.
I rewrote the Blazer’s Mill gunfight copy and made notes on the artwork I want to do for it. As I was doing this, several questions came up. “Buckshot” Roberts had a Civil War wound that prevented him from lifting his arm up beyond his waist. He carried a .44 Winchester and got into a fight with 13 Regulators, among them Billy the Kid. One guy against 13. He emptied his Winchester into this group, who were surrounding him at the time. Now, the question, as an artist is: which arm? And if you can’t raise your arm up above your waist, how do you fire it? I suppose like Chuck Connors in The Rifleman. If his right arm is crippled, might he shoot left-handed? Big questions. That’s why I e-mailed Fred Nolan in England.
Fred is the undisputed expert on the Lincoln County War and Blazer’s Mill. I waited patiently for his email reply. I didn’t have to wait long. He sent me his opinions and interviews conducted in the 1920s with Frank Coe and George Coe (both participants). Among many gems, here’s the answer to one of my questions:
Frank Coe: “I had on my six shooter but had not picked up my gun after dinner. [Roberts] came back and we sat down in the door with our feet outside. He had a Winchester in his hand all the time. He was over on the left of me with his gun laid across his knees and its butt over on mine [so he most likely shot right-handed]. I talked with him and tried to get him to surrender. I told him there were thirteen of us and that Brewer would take him or try it. I told him to give me his gun and come around with me and I would stand by him and see that they did not hurt him.”
Great stuff. And that’s why I love doing this because of the little nuggets you find (when you know the right people, ha!).
Finally, here’s the photos of the javelina damage to the garage from several weeks back. They have been quiet the past two nights and the chicken house has not been abused.
Kathy and I met Russ and Wendy S. at the Cheesecake Factory at 6:30 to celebrate Wendy’s birthday ($75 house account, includes tip). Lots of laughs.
“Boxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less people appreciate it.”
—George Foreman
