The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-07-13
DARK CANON PIONEER.
Walter F. Thayer, An Old Cowman Of
Eddy County,

Sun, published at Carlsbad, New
Mexico, contained a descriptive arti-
Gle of Walter f. Thayer's career since
he went west. He is brother of
Mr.. Fred. \. Thayer and Mesdames
johnson and Waters, of Oakland. Mr..
Thayer left Oakland shortly after
the close of the Civil War, first set
ting in Texas, later going to New
/ Mexico, where he has become one Of
the cattle kings Of that country. The
! SIMS article follows:
Walter Thayer, the Dark canon
| stockman, came to New Mexico from
Maverick Co., Texas, in 1878 and i'm
mediately secured employment with
John Chisum, the then cattle king of
this section. This was at the break
ing out of the Lincoln county war and
at the time that Billy the Kid mad
sworn vengeance againstJohn Chisum
and all his friends, because he claim
ed that Chisum owed him money for
work.
Mr.. Thayer was sent, by Chisum to
Arizona, with drove of cattle. This
was in 1875 in the fall. He returned
during the winterand in the spring of
| 1879 he was sent to Canadian, Texas.
with 1000 cows and calves. James
Chisum having charge of the outfit
returning in the fall. When he re-
turned in the fall 1879, though the
Kid was still out, the Lincoln county
war had ended The fall Of 1850, Mr..
Thayer went TO work for Henry /.
Van Wyck, at Bosque Grande.
After working one winter Mr.. Thay-
er helped move the cattle down from
Bosque Grande to point just about
where the Avalon dam is now. While
driving the cattle down the spring of
1850. the indians stole all the saddle
horses and work mules, except three
| head of saddle horses which were tied
to rustic the stock on. A messenger
was sent over to Seven rivers where
mounts were obtained for the party
and the trail of the indians struck.
Mr.. Thayer only remembers the names
of seven out of ten of the party who
struck out after the indians. They
were Messrs. Van Wyck, Joe Nash.
Buck Powell, Tom Walker. Jno. Ed
wards, W. Thayer and Fred Alberdine.
They pursued the theiving indians in
a southeasterlY course for thirty hours
when from lack of water they were
compelled to quit the trail which had
been followed by moon light, as well
as by day light, until the horses were
nearly dead for water. Some distance
after leaving the trail Tom Walkers
horse died and Tom got on behind
ThaYer. Two other horses died
shortly after, but by doubling up and
leaying the saddles the party reached
Pecos, at Pierce canon, about day
light next morning. lhaving travelled
in hot weather for forty eight hours,
through sand without water The
posse bad travelled through an un-
know country, at that time seldom if
eyer visited by white man. After ar
irving at Pierce canon thew threw in
with NJ. L. Pierce and rested up for
two or three days. In about ten days
came in to Pierce's ranch and stole
him out. He then went to Fit. Davit
and got some thirty soldiers who
came up the Pedos and took the trail
of the andians
After the soldiers had followed the
trail around from Pierce canon to
Five Wells. Four Lakes and Mescelaro
Springs over on the east side, the
trail crossed the Pecos at the mouth
of the Fel.z, Thayer and Walker join
ed the party of soldiers at this point,
with whom Joe Nash and NJ. l..
Pierce had accompanied from Pierce
canon. The whole party went up to
the Mescelaro reservation and found
all the stock, recovering every head,
about sixty saddle horses and work
mules. Though the saddle horses
were poor and their backs tore up,
they all recruited in a few months.
Mr.. ,Thayer continued to work for
Van Wyck until the summer of 1882.
December % and % 1881, party Of
Indians came down from the reserya-
ton and stole Mr.. Ashby's horses
from near the head Of Rocky arroyo.
A party was Immediately organized
to follow them consisting of Pete
Corn, Mart Tanning, Mr.. Ashby and
son, Mr.. Eubank, Alberdine, Jim
Whitaker, Jno. Edwards, Cal Oats
and Mr.. Thayer. They struck the
trail on Rocky and followed it up
Last Chance to the rim rock and into
the head of Dark canon, where they
found the indians. The old man Ash
by divided his squad in three parties.
sending Corn and Thayer to the
right, two more to the left and four
followed up the ridge.
After getting close to the indians,
! they opened fire, the whole souad