Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-24
The Armijo Suicide,

how THE SHEEP KING OF NEW MEXICO DIED
The telegraph has announced that Pedro c.
Armljo, OF Albuquerque, New Mexico, COM
mitted suicide By shooting himself through the
body near the heart, on the night of Tuesday
January 6. The Denver (Colorado) News
gives the following account of the young man:
Pedro g. Amijo-or Pete Amijo, as he was
tamiharly termed by his English and American
friends hereabouts-was about q years of age
and was descended from one OF the first Spanish
families of New Mexico. His people are inn
mensely rich, and boast the finest estate and
most extensive properties in the south. Born
at Albuquerque, he was reared among the
Spanish population, but, upon gaining his
youth, he was sent to the Christian Brothers,
college, a Catholic institution, in st. Louis
There he received the foundation OF his educa-
tioD, his business attainments having been sub
sequently perfected in the clearinghouse of
Nortbrup & Chick, in Wall street, New York
After leaving the banking business he re-
turned TO New Mexico and engaged in sheep
culture and herding, an occupation which had
been followed by his family for generations HID
took charge of immense fiocks, and managed
their sale in the northern markets. For this
purpose he came to Denver last summer and
remained here until fall, disposing of his stock
to eastern and territorial purchasers At one
time he had herded three miles from Denver
10000 sheep, and it was estimated by those who
knew the extent Of his flocks, that he controlled
over go, 900 head OF sheep in his own territory
and the vicinity of his home. He became known
throughout the United States as the "Sheep
King of New Mexico" and the magnitude of
his transactions was familiar to every stock
man in the country. During his sojourn in
Denver, Amjo, while he may have lived a fast
life, at least made hosts of friends by his honest
nature, his out-spoken way, his Straightforward
commercial transactions and his warm heart:
his falings were the failings of one whose lIber-
alty exceeded his better judgment. He spent
his money prodigally, apparently paving no
heed to the future, but he knew no such thing
as selfsbness. ATmijo was betrothed to Miss
Otero, sister of the wife of Benito Baca She
is spoken OF as noble young lady, but whether
there was any disappointment in the affair, is
beyond our knowledge. A fact il is that he idol
lied the young lady with all the feryor of his ma
ture, and repeatedly spoke of the engagement
and happiness he anticipated when the betrothal
should be contaminated. One evening in No
vember last Pedro Amijo and a few friends
went to the room Of Foster, the medium, at
Charpiot's Hotel, to participate in seance
During the sitting Foster told Amljo that he
(AmiJo) would come to violent and tragic
death. After the seance, the writer of these
lines who was one of the parties at the seapcel
met Foster and asked why he did not tell Amiio
how he would die, and Foster replied that he
did not wish to brighten him. He then told the
writer that Amj0 would be shot-either muir
dered or take his own life The fact had passed
from our mind, although it was related to sew
eIal parties at the time, and was ouly revived
nv the terrible news that the young man had
Amijo left Denver in November for his home at
His death will be mourned by many who knew
him well His shortcomings will be forgotten:
his goodness OF heart will always be remem.