The Coolidge examiner., 1937-02-19
VISITS GHOST TOWN
TO SEE GRAVES OF
PALS BURIED THERE
OId-Timer Weeps as He Passes
Among Headstones
on Boot Hill.

Tascosa. Tex. - John Lang came
back to old Tascosa for a last
look at a time-faded page of the old
Vests history; then he departed for
his home in Haines, Ore, to spend
his last days.
Tears streamed down his face as
he walked among the dusty head
stones on Boot hill that mark the
graves of his friends, killed the
night of March 81, 1886, in a feud
between cattle trail drivers. That
fight is remembered as one Of the
bloodiest in range history of the
Texas plains.
Lang, then a cowboy, in subse-
quent years joined the Alaskan gold
rush, served in the army IN the
Philippines during the Spanish-Am-
erican war, and later was mem
Der of the Oregon legislature.
He came back to Texas to visit
the Texas Centennial exposition,
and was drawn by a vivid remem-
brance of his stirring youth to visit
old Tascosa, now deserted save by
Mrs. Mickey Mccormick, whose
husband lies buried in Casa Ro-
nero cemetery near by.
VolIey FelIs Companion.
Lang told of leaving a cattle camp
at Jerry Springs that March after
noon in 1886, with three compan-
ions, to ride to Tascosa for a
"spree" Frank Valley drew his six
shooter, killed a rabbit and cut
OF the left hind foot to keep for
a luck charm.
They visited jim East's Equity
bar. Ed King, Leon Woodruff, Char
ley Emery and Lang emerged from
the saloon and started across a
street to Jess Jenkins saloon.
A volley out in the darkness.
King fell dead. Successive blasts
felled Woodruff and Emory. A rifle
shot ripped Lang's coat sleeve.
Lang said he lodged into East's
saloon and begged the bartender,
Concho, to lend him a loaded re-
volver. Concho refused.
Frank Valley and Fred Chiffon,
over their drinks, were singing
Little Laughing Nell of Narragan-
sett Bay" They stopped when they
heard Lang and dashed into the
street with him.
Woodruff and Emory were gone
Only Kings body lay in the street.
Lang took Kings pistol.
Valley found the unknown assail-
ants hidden in an abode building
near Jenkins saloon. He opened fire
on the house. Unexpectedly some
one behind a woodpile began shoot
ing at Lang. Valley fell, seven shots
in his body. The rabbit s-foot charm
had failed.
Started Shooting.
Lang said Fred Sheets came to
the door of his restaurant and be-
gan shooting at him. Fred Chiffon,
who had taken his stand near Lang,
returned Sheets fire. Sheets
dropped mortally wounded.
81 got one Of them," Chiffon ex-
ulted. A few seconds later he
gasped, John, they've got me-"
and fell, face downward.
Sheriff Jim East interviewed.
Emory and Woodruff fled. They sub
sequently were acquitted, as was
Lang, in trials at Claredon.
Lang blinked silently at the grave
stones on Boot hill, where brave
men were buried with their boots
on.
'1t is friendship, indeed, when
men die for one another" he said.
That evening in 1886 he was a quick
stepping youth. Now his face is
furroWed
He had known Mrs. Mccormick
and her husband in Dodge City,
Kas., before they came to Tascosa.
He had hoped to talk over old times
with her. When he returned for his
latest visit she did not recognize
him.
Dust swirled through the ghost
ly, deserted streets of old Tascosa
and about the gravestones on Boot
hill.