Tuesday, April 17, 2007

April 17, 2007
Final push for Classic Gunfights, Volume Three: Hell's In Session. Lots of tiny errors, but, of course Meghan Saar finds them all. Even on the map Gus did for the Butch and Sundance escape route in Bolivia, done years ago.

Went home and did one more quick illustration for the Salt War Siege, or Salt War Slaughter, or Salt War Shootout, take your pick:



One of the major turning points in the battle, was when a relief column, led by Captain Blair left Franklin (as El Paso was called in 1878), and headed for San Elizario. Blair and his fourteen men arrived on the outskirts of the battlefield around midnite. Blair was challenged about two miles out but he ignored it and kept on the road. At a distance of 300 yards, and where the road was hemmed by a low wall on one side and a hedge fence on the other, a dozen voices commanded him to stop. He did, but demanded to talk to their leader. Chico Barela appeared and told the captain that whatever was going on was no business of his. After several blustery attempts at intimidation, Barela just shrugged and told the captain "they wanted Howard and would have him." Adding that if Blair advanced they would fire on him.

Blair turned tail and rode back to El Paso, where he sent a series of telegrams to his superiors covering his tail (feathers). The Rangers besieged at San Elizario waited in vain for Blair to do something to help them, but he never did.

"Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter could be said to remedy anything."
— Kurt Vonnegut

No comments:

Post a Comment

Post your comments