OLDNAVYMCPO
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
In the Big Bend area of Texas, called the Trans Pecos Region, between the towns of Alpine and Marathon, there existed in the 1890's a huge open cattle range. Both large and small operators ran their cattle on the range. The cattle being free roaming, had to be gathered usually twice a year, separated by owner, branded and the bull calves castrated. These round-ups had cowboys from each ranch doing the labor and usually the big ranches had "reps" to look after their interest. Sometimes these "reps" were gunslingers.
In Jan 1890, such a round-up was taking place. The two big ranchers were Dubois and Wentworth. A gunfighter named Finus "Fine" Gilliland worked as a rep for one or both of the large ranchers. Also present ( his status is lost to history), is Emanual Clements, the cousin of John Wesley Hardin.
One of the small ranchers is a one armed Confederate veteran by the name of Henry Harrison Powe. His brand was HHP. He and his son were both working cattle. His boy was working at the fire, helping with the branding.
The way round-ups work is any calf is branded with the brand of it's mama. This usually works well because a calf will generally stay with it's mama even after it is weaned. In this case, there was one brindle bull calf not following a cow. When the calf was cut from the herd some of the local cowboys identified it as belonging to a HHP cow. While it was being hazed to the fire, Fine interfered and turned it back into the herd. A verbal confrontation ensued between Fine and Powe. Fine roped the calf and started to drag it off. Powe went and pulled a pistol out of Emanual's saddlebags and shot at the calf. He missed, Fine thought he was shooting at him , he drew his pistol and shot at Powe. Powe now shot at Fine and missed. Fine shot and killed Powe, then got on his horse and ran.
Powe's son rode hard for Alpine and reported the murder to the Texas Rangers. Brewster County Deputy Sheriff Thalis Cook and Texas Ranger Jim Putman went after Fine, trailing him into the wild canyons of Big Bend. Meanwhile the cowboys of round-up roped the bull calf and with a running iron, branded him on one side in large letters that spelled "MURDER". The other side was branded JAN 28 90.
The ranger and deputy caught up with Fine in an unnamed canyon. When challenged, Fine shot at the deputy, wounding him and killing his horse. Putman dismounted and drew his rifle. Fine's horse was killed by the deputy. While the Ranger sought shelter, Fine hid behind his dead horse. The Ranger stayed hid and quiet, he waited Fine out. When curiosity got the best of him, Fine peek up, Ranger Putnam shot him between the eyes. Today the canyon is named for Gilliland.
Some say the calf grew and was sent on a cattle drive to Montana. Local legend has the maverick haunting the ranchland for generations. Songs and much fiction has been written about the MURDER MAVERICK. In the 1960's Rawhide produced an episode, their most popular ever, on the MURDER MAVERICK.
It really happened, it is recorded history. The museum at Sul Ross has Powe's Confederate jacket. Over the years there has been some disagreement over the exact date, some say 1890, some say1891 and some say 1896. My best source says 1890.
In Jan 1890, such a round-up was taking place. The two big ranchers were Dubois and Wentworth. A gunfighter named Finus "Fine" Gilliland worked as a rep for one or both of the large ranchers. Also present ( his status is lost to history), is Emanual Clements, the cousin of John Wesley Hardin.
One of the small ranchers is a one armed Confederate veteran by the name of Henry Harrison Powe. His brand was HHP. He and his son were both working cattle. His boy was working at the fire, helping with the branding.
The way round-ups work is any calf is branded with the brand of it's mama. This usually works well because a calf will generally stay with it's mama even after it is weaned. In this case, there was one brindle bull calf not following a cow. When the calf was cut from the herd some of the local cowboys identified it as belonging to a HHP cow. While it was being hazed to the fire, Fine interfered and turned it back into the herd. A verbal confrontation ensued between Fine and Powe. Fine roped the calf and started to drag it off. Powe went and pulled a pistol out of Emanual's saddlebags and shot at the calf. He missed, Fine thought he was shooting at him , he drew his pistol and shot at Powe. Powe now shot at Fine and missed. Fine shot and killed Powe, then got on his horse and ran.
Powe's son rode hard for Alpine and reported the murder to the Texas Rangers. Brewster County Deputy Sheriff Thalis Cook and Texas Ranger Jim Putman went after Fine, trailing him into the wild canyons of Big Bend. Meanwhile the cowboys of round-up roped the bull calf and with a running iron, branded him on one side in large letters that spelled "MURDER". The other side was branded JAN 28 90.
The ranger and deputy caught up with Fine in an unnamed canyon. When challenged, Fine shot at the deputy, wounding him and killing his horse. Putman dismounted and drew his rifle. Fine's horse was killed by the deputy. While the Ranger sought shelter, Fine hid behind his dead horse. The Ranger stayed hid and quiet, he waited Fine out. When curiosity got the best of him, Fine peek up, Ranger Putnam shot him between the eyes. Today the canyon is named for Gilliland.
Some say the calf grew and was sent on a cattle drive to Montana. Local legend has the maverick haunting the ranchland for generations. Songs and much fiction has been written about the MURDER MAVERICK. In the 1960's Rawhide produced an episode, their most popular ever, on the MURDER MAVERICK.
It really happened, it is recorded history. The museum at Sul Ross has Powe's Confederate jacket. Over the years there has been some disagreement over the exact date, some say 1890, some say1891 and some say 1896. My best source says 1890.
