March 30, 2006
Working on a new Classic Gunfight. This one is Kid Curry vs. Pike Landusky two days after Christmas, 1894. Really more of a bar fight, but there are some interesting angles to it. Wild Bunch expert Dan Buck has steered me to some of the good stuff and so has Mark Boardman. I also blocked in my editorial for June and turned it over to Meghan this morning (running an ancient photo of a certain Little League Oddfellow Yankee. It's our Sports In The Old West issue). Office is quiet. Several still out sick.

What Happened to In-din Divide?
“I'm really sorry about your friend Wendell. You're lucky to have grown up in a small town and stayed close with your school friends. Not many people have that opportunity now with busing and mega-schools. By the way, you said you were going to talk about the funeral and the divide between the In-dins and the white people.”
—Lauren, Maniac #19

Yes, there was a noticeable tension at the funeral between the “traditional” Hualapais and the Christian faction of the tribe. Of course, most of the turnout was Native American and there we were in a White Man’s church (I think, but am not positive, that Wendell’s church was borrowing the large, modern Presbyterian church we were in.).

Among the non-Indians in attendance were Mickey and Zibby Campa and Mickey’s mom, Richard Montez, Bob Burford and his wife, Dorian Trahan, John Pemberton, Jimmie Carl Duncan, Karen Johnson and Phyllis Morton.

Wendell’s half brother spoke and he basically commented that he had said what he wanted to say at the previous night’s sing (I assume this was the all-night traditional wake at the Hualapai Gym in Peach Springs), and he seemed to intimate he didn’t put much stock in this “white man” ceremony. This prompted the preacher—a feisty, fire and brimstone cowboy kind of guy—to take back the mike and confront the half-brother. He was quite steamed and literally said something like, “That’s just not true. The Hebes who founded our religion are darker than you are.” At least that’s what I heard. At this point, Johnny Pemberton and Jimmie Carl Duncan got up and left in disgust (Someone also told me that Johnny himself is thinking of becoming a preacher).

It was quite fractious and unfortunate. After all, Wendell had obviously chosen the Christian path (see CD below). After the half-brother’s odd speech quite a few Hualapai women got up and many of their comments were more akin to an AA meeting: “I’ve been on a bad road. . .in the bars. . .but I believe Jesus will lift me up. . .” It didn’t have much to do with Wendell, but as John Lennon once sang, "Whatever gets you through the night. . ."

I got this listing from Buckingham Books this morning:

11. BELL, BOB BOZE. ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID, DOC HOLLIDAY, & WYATT EARP IN THREE SPECIAL PRESENTATION BINDINGS. LIMITED TO TWELVE COPIES. VOLUME I: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF BILLY THE KID. Phoenix: Tri-Star-Boze Publications, Inc., 1996. Second edition, Revised and Expanded. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies in brown leather, with gold stamping on the spine and front cover, numbered and signed by the author. Full leather, 192 pp., illustrated, maps, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition is expanded over the first edition from 120 pages to 192 pages. Full leather slipcase with gold stamping on front cover. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. VOLUME II: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF DOC HOLLIDAY. [Phoenix: Tri-Star Printing, 1995]. Second edition, Revised. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies signed by the author. Full leather, gold stamping on spine and front cover, 128 pp., illustrated, map, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition has been revised over the first edition. Full speckled cloth slipcase. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. VOLUME III: THE ILLUSTRATED LIFE AND TIMES OF WYATT EARP. Phoenix: Tri-Star-Boze Publications, Inc., 1995. Third edition. Revised and expanded. Quarto. Limited edition of twelve copies signed by the author. Full leather, gold stamping on front cover and spine, 142 [2] pp., illustrated, map, plates, portraits, credits. Illustrated by the author. This edition is expanded over the first edition from 128 pages to 144 pages. Full speckled cloth slipcase. Both book and slipcase are in "as new" condition. These three volumes have been specially produced for presentation in fine bindings and limited to twelve sets. Together they provide a host of information about three legendary characters of the Old West. The Set of Three: $2000.00 (22479)

Favorite Onion Headline de Jour
America Reminded of Beef's Existence By Bold New Ad Campaign

“Help your brother's boat across, and your own will reach the shore.”
—Old Vaquero Saying