Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-05-16
HOW PEG LEG BILLY LOST BIS
RANCH.


A correspondent Of the New York
Tribune, writing from New Mexico, tells
the following amusing story Of cowboy:
socorro county is almost entitled to be
considered a community by itself, and is
certainly large enough TO make = respect
able state as states 60 in the Worn-out
east It extends 100 miles from east to
west, and has an average width Of ninety
seven miles. II area is 1922 square
miles. It is altogether magni6cent
stretch Of country, with practically limit
less pOSsibiiities-at least that is what cat
ilemen and land boomers" tell you.
But there is 30 much Of that sort Of thing
in the bounding west that you seem to get
ssed to it il. and nothing surprise you.
They tell story OF tough old boy nam
ed Peg Leg Billy, who is now employed IN
punching" COWS in this region. but who
is recent importation from "Montany. 3"
As Billy tells it, be Ia the victim Of rsth-
lesAly advancing civilization. from which
he declares be is not safe even here
When he was 10 "Montsny'' he had few
cattle OF bis own, from which be derived n
revenue amply sufficient to supply him
with whiskey--the Que commodity which
he il willing to take from civilization.
Tine night Billy went to a rattle which took
place vt the ranch few miles away. and
with the rest Of the boys made not one
night Of il. but several, in trne cowboy
stJle. After the boys who had Leen killed
had been "planted" with all tue grand
honors, Billy ambled hons, carrying n
S9.caliber Lullst in bis left leg as sou.
yenir sC the event.
as he approached his ranch he was
mighty surprised to dnd, not his ranch Rt
all. but large and bustliug city. 0f
Course gambling houses and saloons pre-
dominated. bnt there were oth0r more sub
stAntlal evidences Of urban life A fret
national bank stood proudly on one cor.
ner, while opposite 1t stoed the city hall.
Two rival daily papers were published,
the Ripsuorter and Inc PIruiyzer, between
which the most deadly hostility existed.
( There was theatre. the AlhambrS, in
which we're preseubsj nightly plays that
made the boys roar with delight. As he
saw all this Billy sWore for half an hoHr
ID pure perPivEi;J, and logan 70 fear that
be was the victim OF some woeful magic
But on inquiry he learned that boom
had struck this part Of tue country. Sat
tlrrv had rushed in during toe few days Of
kls absence. Az the land was bought up,
nominal sum being allowed hne tor bis
ranch, aud in aigtt aud day c,tJ had
sprung up, as II 10 dsiy Billy and TIE
boys
| This j. the story Billy tells to explain
why he lett "Mon5Spy, anu it IL consider
ed dangerous in this part OF the country
to ca,l IN qaest ont 81 a :cur ICY even of its
slightest deiAils. ~ hat did they do with
oar cows, "Blily?' asked sympatheuc
listener Tho other day iu the Maverlc, after
Billy had told the story Of his wrongs
wall, stranger, replied Billy, "uay be-
you won't believe me. but II be dsrRed il
they didn't tu,n one corner OF my ranch
inte peun d aud put my cattle II tor tres
passin IN the ety limits, and before
eoald get them animals out had to pay
the pouudkeeper the kull tarnel amount
HthAt they allowed ME fer NY land. Jusl
think of ii More n thonsand drink
gone At one hck!" and Billy drank hie
tour finger" in stately but pathetic 81
lvnee.