CHAPTER VI.
“BILLY THE KID” AND GANG STAND OFF A POSSE AT THE CHISUM RANCH. A BLOODY BATTLE IN LINCOLN, WHICH LASTED THREE DAYS.
As time went on, Sheriff Peppin appointed new deputies on whom he could depend. Among these being Marion Turner, of the firm of Turner & Jones, merchants at Roswell, on the Pecos river.
For several years, Turner had been employed by cattle king John Chisum, and up to May, 1878 had helped to fight his battles, but for some reason he had seceded and became Chisum’s bitter enemy.
Marion Turner was put in charge of the Sheriff’s forces in the Pecos valley, and soon had about forty daring cowboys and cattlemen under his command. Roswell was their headquarters.
Early in July, “Billy the Kid” and fourteen of his followers rode up to the Chisum headquarters ranch, five miles from Roswell, to make that their rendezvous.
Turner with his force tried to oust the “Kid” and gang from their stronghold, but found it impossible, owing to the house being built like a fort to stand off Indians, but he kept out spies to catch the “Kid” napping.
One morning, Turner received word that the “Kid” and party had left for Fort Sumner on the upper Pecos river. The trail was followed about twenty miles up the river, where it switched off towards Lincoln, a distance of about eighty or ninety miles.
The trail was followed to Lincoln, where it was found that “Billy the Kid” and gang had taken possession of McSween’s fine eleven-room residence, and were prepared to stand off an army.