20th Century Rangers (pictorial) With A Story Er Two....Post 39&43

[Danny Abernathy]

My sister lives in Austin and if there is one thing I mean to do before I leave this earth is see that museum.
Next time I make a trip to see her, she and my wife will just have to do without me for a day!
A big "Thank's" for sharing this with us.

 

[GF]

Captain Manuel T. Gonzaullas' 45's with the trigger guards cut away made me smile. The Lone Wolf had ta' keep the safety ON and the finger OFF when he re-holstered or he'd be the Limpin' Wolf!

Get yourself squared away and come back to see me in Louisville - me & Burg and Doublesharp ain't done with you yet!

Gail

 

[keith44spl]

Captain Manuel T. Gonzaullas' 45's with the trigger guards cut away made me smile. The Lone Wolf had ta' keep the safety ON and the finger OFF when he re-holstered or he'd be the Limpin' Wolf!

Get yourself squared away and come back to see me in Louisville - me & Burg and Doublesharp ain't done with you yet!

Gail

Hey Ol Pard,

I'm still kickin...Just not as high!

I pack one without a trigger guard purty often, now and again...

"Not recommended for children or them fellers that's a squatin behind a piece of plywood
and a shootin at sum imaginary foe or 'em urban commandos types neither."

Ol Gonzaullas had a pair of Smith's with the guards cut away as well...It tain't so much about equipment as it is 'bout comin back alive.

Heard one of them Kentucky boys had to shoot an armed one off'n the hood of his crusier the other day...

I'm lookin forward to the next show...
Mabee we can all get together and visit fer a spell. Sure hope so.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Iggy]

Seems to me that this Dave Keith feller kinda fits the mold..

After visitin' with him a couple of times, I'm sure of it.

 

[keith44spl]

Wells Iggy,

Ya know the deal on them 'two gun' fellers...We don't have to carry all them extra mags.

As one ol hand sez, "If'n I can't get 'em in sixteen shots, Boys theys can't be had!"


Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Iggy]

Seems to me I've watched you shooting two guns from the hip.
You ain't gonna git no argiment from me.

 

[kmyers]

Those are some great pictures and guns, but Wendy's favorite is the one of Dave.

 

[semperfi71]

keith44spl,

I hope your health is good. Thanks for the pics. I too want to see the Texas Ranger museum some day.

As to the previous question, yes the Buckhorn Museum (last located in downtown San Antonio) has a small "Ranger Museum" located in it.

It's interesting to note that even though Patton said what he said several Rangers (and other SW lawmen) liked pearl grips.

 

[keith44spl]

Those are some great pictures and guns, but Wendy's favorite is the one of Dave.

Thanks Ken for the kind words...Hope this finds ya'll doin well

Please give Wendy my best wishes.

Regards,
Dave

keith44spl,

I hope your health is good. Thanks for the pics. I too want to see the Texas Ranger museum some day.

As to the previous question, yes the Buckhorn Museum (last located in downtown San Antonio) has a small "Ranger Museum" located in it.

It's interesting to note that even though Patton said what he said several Rangers (and other SW lawmen) liked pearl grips.

SF71,

Yup,

G.S. Patton's remark not withstanding, a lot of them ol fellers had MOP stocks.

Especially on their BBQ or parade pistols.

Just for what it's worth, I'd venture to say several of them fellers had been in more gunfights up close and personal than the good General.

I've never been one to judge a man by his 'handle', but more on his grip and stock.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[Rule 303]

I was always impressed with the old Ranger from the day that they were Cowboys riding the Range to protect folks from Indians and Mexican Banditos. Or the Rangers who were the best in LE that had been Great Investigators or Great Sherrifs or Chief of Police and were appointed Rangers.

The Rangers changed a lot in the late 1960s when the DPS took Control of the Rangers and only Sergeants from the DPS could be appointed Ranger. Most had no to very little investigative experience and training.

Rule 303

 

[keith44spl]

I was always impressed with the old Ranger from the day that they were Cowboys riding the Range to protect folks from Indians and Mexican Banditos. Or the Rangers who were the best in LE that had been Great Investigators or Great Sherrifs or Chief of Police and were appointed Rangers.

The Rangers changed a lot in the late 1960s when the DPS took Control of the Rangers and only Sergeants from the DPS could be appointed Ranger. Most had no to very little investigative experience and training.

Rule 303

I believe your correct in your general statement.
Used to be a really good Sheriff or other agency officers could be appointed to the Rangers...
Like Ranger Ray Martinez, Ranger Red Arnold and others.

Or those that promoted up through the ranks within the Highway Patrol...Men like Capt. Bob Mitchell, Ranger Glenn Elliott, Howard Alfred,
Max Womack, Jim Ray and all the other fine men to serve the folks of Texas.

As of right now, Ya'd have to single handedly save the life of someone purty high up to get
a commission if'n you were from outside the DPS.

Su Amigo,
Dave

 

[kmyers]

Thanks Ken for the kind words...Hope this finds ya'll doin well

Please give Wendy my best wishes.

Regards,
Dave

Most welcome Dave. We are doing great here still in the honeymoon stage after a year and a half, and I know she will appreciate your best wishes like I do. She is still moderating over there, and now on two forums.

 

[wbraswell]

Great thread, Dave. Thanks.

 

[OK Hog Shooter]

Thanks for sharing the photos and history of the Rangers. Every time I go through the museum, as I get near the end of my tour, I get a lump in my throat. Blessings to those men who so gloriously served the great State of Texas, and to their families as well.

Hog
Texan by the Grace of God
Okie by choice (was chasing a job!)

 

[dnonac]

I believe your correct in your general statement.
Used to be a really good Sheriff or other agency officers could be appointed to the Rangers...
Like Ranger Ray Martinez, Ranger Red Arnold and others.

Or those that promoted up through the ranks within the Highway Patrol...Men like Capt. Bob Mitchell, Ranger Glenn Elliott, Howard Alfred,
Max Womack, Jim Ray and all the other fine men to serve the folks of Texas.

As of right now, Ya'd have to single handedly save the life of someone purty high up to get
a commission if'n you were from outside the DPS.

Su Amigo,
Dave

Dave....I just found this thread while doing some other research.
This morning I had a conversation with Homer Garrison's grandson regarding some of Garrison's old guns. It was a pleasure just talking to him about Garrison and the early days of the Highway Patrol and the Rangers.
Thanks for posting!

 

[oldafsp]

What a wonderful thread. Some awesome history there!

Thanks for sharing it Dave

 

[chud333]

Dave,
Very nice post.
True American heroes.
Thanks for sharing and hope you're on the mend.

Chuck

 

[keith44spl]

Ol Tequila Trail.

It was a moonlit night in February, of Nineteen Hundred and Twenty-Five.
The Eighteenth Amendment, Prohibition, the "noble experiment" was the order and law of the day. The international boundary of a mere river was not an overwhelming obstacle.
With great profits to be had, and a hero's status south of the border as a smuggler, many sought to ply their trade.

A U.S. Mounted Inspector of Customs and other local Lawmen were a few miles north of the River watching and waiting, for the pack train of illicit liqueur laden mules they knew would cross into their jurisdiction at any time now.

The leader of this band of smugglers was none other than infamous Pancho Patino. Traveling with these loads were armed guards, men that had swore an oath to kill all and sun dried that tried to stop them. Patino was well armed and having survived several gunfights, had stated he would shoot it out with any opposition.

Patino was at 45 years of age in the prime of his life, tall and strong with dark eyes and black mustache, he was a hero to his people and fellow tequileros. Mounted on the legendary Iron Grey stallion, they were a formidable pair. This horse and rider was well known to Lawmen and folks on both sides of the river.

In addition to being a rum-runner, Pancho was a horse thief as well. Often times stealing several head of good Texas horse flesh while making his return run south,
back down the 'Tequila Trail'.

Horse theft was a felony and wasn't tolerated. As Wm. Sydney Porter put it, "On the Border if you take a man's life you sometime take trash; but if you take his horse, you take a thing, the loss of which renders him poor indeed and enriches you not…If you are caught.

Old traditions died hard in Texas and often, so did horse thieves.

Not only were the smugglers bring in illegal liquors, but were spreading ticks north as well. Ranchers were dippin' livestock every fourteen days as it was…the tick infestation was a battle by it's self.

Two respected lawmen of the South Texas country, Harrison Hamer (the younger brother of Frank Hamer) and S.P. Witt waited that night to intercept the smugglers and their loads. Their wait would not be a long one, as sound carrying well at night, the approach of the riders was soon heard.

The bright moon light silhouetted the band as they came into range of the riflemen concealed in the thick brush.
The horse, Iron Grey was well known to be able to smell out the hated Los Rinches [the Rangers] would let-out a snort, then wheel to escape with his rider.

Orange flames erupted from both sides, the big grey stallion fell and before the rider could take cover behind his fallen mount, Pancho Patino lay dead.

Patino was buried in the Brackettville City Cemetery by his brother Simon.
A fellow smuggler killed in the short fight was buried in a pauper's grave by the county.

As for the carcass of the famous horse 'Iron Grey' it may have been left to the buzzards and coyotes,
as sometimes the remains of Tequileros did not fare much better.

As Ranger W.W. Sterling, while serving at an inquest recalled,

One of the boys wrote an impromptu epitaph:

"Here lies a rum running stranger.
He tried to kill a Texas Ranger."

It seems only the 'loads' have changed over time…


.

 

[jlrhiner]

Now see, I always thought Harrison was Franks son. I didn't realize they were brothers.

Great story as always, Dave.

 

[ancient-one]

That was interesting. Looking forward to the next issue. Thanks for posting.