Inspired by Lanit's touching story, I thought I'd share a story of my own. My Mom was from Western Colorado. Her family were among the first settlers of the area.
First is a photo of me wearing my Kachinas CSGM in front of a Navajo Saddle Blanket from the 20s or 30s (at least according to my Grandmother) which I use as a wall hanging.
Second is a photo of my Great Grandmother. I don't know the year this was taken but I've always loved this photo. Probably taken on Grand Mesa. She was reputed to be an excellent horsewoman. Its too bad that the nose of the horse was cut off in the photo. Her name was Ruby Hutchison and she married my notorious and colorful Great Grandfather, Ben Lowe. (Much later she lost an arm in a farming accident but continued to run the ranch and raise 5 children as a widow, but I'm getting ahead of myself).
Ben Lowe had a been a cowboy, coming from the south before settling in the area. He was renowned in the area for his skill as a horseman and for being a great marksman. He had a cattle ranch but at least in his younger days he had a shady reputation - accused of being horse thief, cattle rustler etc. By all accounts though he was a charmer and well liked. The third photo is a picture of my Great Grandfather (he's in the middle) with his two best friends or "gang" depending upon your point of view.
He died in 1917 in a shoot out with Cash Sampson at the height of the Cattle-Sheep Wars in Western Colorado. The story could be a plot right of Hollywood Western, if it weren't so tragic. Cash Sampson had been a Brand Inspector which meant going after horse thieves and cattle rustlers. He then held the post of County Sheriff. He resigned as Sheriff shortly before events took place.
My understanding is that the Cattlemen in the area grazed their cattle on free range land - I think this was government owned land that anyone could graze their cattle on. Some other ranchers in the area started raising sheep and used the same free range land to graze their sheep. This really upset the Cattlemen because there was only so much land to go around and the land couldn't support the grazing of both cattle and sheep. Basically, from the Cattlemen's point of view, their ability to put food on the table and their very survival were threatened.
Tensions got really hot and a vigilante group known as the Night Riders started harassing the Sheepmen out on the range, shooting sheep and threatening them. They were not identified because they always pulled up their bandanas to cover their faces. Now Cash Sampson and my Great Grandfather, never got along, in fact they really detested each other. Probably because of my Great Grandfathers past shady history, Cash Sampson suspected my Great Grandfather of being the ringleader of the Night Riders. Also Cash Sampson was suspected (rightly or wrongly) by the Cattlemen of being sympathetic to the Sheepmen. Even though Cash Sampson, no longer held any official law enforcement position, it seems as though he continued to unofficially investigate the Night Riders.
One fateful day in Escalante Canyon, the two men met up at a ranch who, in the custom of the day, opened up his house to let people rest and water their horses and share food. Cash Sampson was there and Ben Lowe and his two boys were also there. There was no quarrel at the ranch, I guess both being on their best behavior as guests in another man's home. At some point, Ben Lowe and his two sons rode on and shortly thereafter Cash Sampson left and followed in their direction.
Its not entirely clear what happened, but Cash Sampson caught up to my Great Grandfather. My Great Grandfather said for his two boys to continue riding. Then there was the shoot out. The Inquest concluded that Cash Sampson shot first and that my Great Grandfather was shot in the back (which is viewed as a very cowardly act - however it is possible that my Grandfather was twisting around for one his "trick shots"). In any event, my Great Grandfather, before he died, managed to get a couple of shots off, killing Cash Sampson. The two boys who had gone on ahead, raced back on their horses hearing the shots. One stayed with his dying father and the other rode for help.
I think this incident put an end to the Cattle Sheep Wars and the true identities of the Night Riders were never revealed. I think its likely though that my Great Grandfather, if not a ringleader, was at least a participant.
I hope you found this story interesting. If you haven't been to Western Colorado, go see it, its beautiful part of the state, rich in history.
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very nice choice!
bunny... how did I never notice the bunny 
