The Sugarloaf Snare at Stinking Springs

by J. Young

Located approximately twenty miles East of Fort Sumner, slightly south of Taiban and Tolar, sits an area that was historically referred to as Stinking Springs. At an elevation of 4,170 feet, this location earned its unique name due to the sulfur gas and steam emanating from an old volcanic molten underground. The resulting bubbly springs produced a very stinky odor. Once serving as an unofficial foraging station and rest area for cowboys moving stock, cattle drives frequented this area in the past.
Located on the site, was a small abandoned cabin consisting of only one room with no windows and a solitary door. This cabin proved to be a hazardous trap for five unwitting outlaws who were on the run after being ambushed by Pat Garrett and his posse at Fort Sumner a few nights earlier. Unfortunately, Tom Folliard had lost his life, while Dave Rudabaugh’s horse had also been killed in the ambush.

On December 22nd, 1880, a group of individuals including Billy the Kid, Tom Pickett, Billy Wilson, Charlie Bowdre, and Dave Rudabaugh sought refuge from the cold inside the small rock house. Unbeknownst to the group, Sheriff Garrett and his posse had tracked them through the snow and were positioned in an arroyo nearby.

In December, Sheriff Pat Garrett received information from an anonymous informant that Billy the Kid was seen wearing a distinctive Mexican Sugarloaf hat with a green band. Garrett, with the goal of arresting the Kid and his associates, marked this hat as the “death hat” and tried again to capture them. On December 23rd, Sheriff Garrett and a group of thirteen individuals rode from Fort Sumner through difficult winter conditions following the suspects’ trail. Eventually reaching the Brazil-Wilcox Ranch, where the outlaws were last seen, the posse picked up their trail and continued towards Stinking Spring based on its direction. Sheriff Garrett recalled this event, stating, “By the look of the trail’s direction, I was convinced that they were heading for Stinking Spring.”

Approximately half a mile away from the house, Garrett and his team come together along the trail to strategize. Sharing a recollection of the plan, Louis Bousman details that “Garrett informed us that The Kid could be identified himself from his sombrero featuring a green band. His primary objective is to kill the target while the remainder of the gang should surrender peacefully.” At approximately 3 a.m., Garrett divides his team and surrounds the property.

"We got to the rock house just before daylight. Our horses were left with Frank Stewart and some of the other boys under guard, while Garrett took Lee Hall, Tom Emory, and myself with him. We crawled up the arroyo to within about thirty feet of the door, where we lay down in the snow. There were no windows in the house and only one doorway which we would cover with our guns. The Kid had taken his race mare and possibly one more horse into the house, but the other three horses were standing near the door, hitched by ropes to the viga poles."

Jim East

The rest of the posse hid themselves about 200 yards from the other side of the building. Because of the extreme cold, Garrett sent a message to Frank Stewart wondering his vote on a plan of attack: “To stealthily enter the house, cover them with our guns and hold them until daylight.” Lee Hall favored the suggestion but Stewart did not. The men decide against it despite their suffering the extreme cold.

The men patiently waited through the night, enduring the bitter cold until daybreak. Unfortunately, one of the posse members, Charlie Rudolph, suffered from frostbite on his feet due to the frigid temperatures. While keeping watch for the sombrero Kid, the posse heard snoring coming from inside the rock house and searched for any signs of movement from the boys. Shortly after, as the sun began to rise, Sheriff Garrett had a clear view of the doorway. Instructing his team to remain alert, he ordered them to take action without hesitation once he signaled: “when I bring up my gun you raise and fire.”

“The man's head is down, but Garrett sees a Mexican hat with a green band and brings his Winchester rifle to his shoulder. Garrett and Lee Hall both shot him in the breast. Emory and I didn't shoot, for there was no use to waste ammunition then.”

Jim East

“Bowdre came out to feed the horses, so we all took a shot at him. He fell back into the house. We all thought it was Billy the Kid."

Louis Bousman

"Charlie turned and went into the house, and we heard the Kid say to him, Charlie,they have murdered you! Go out and see if you can't get one of the sons of a bitches before you die.Charlie then walked out with his pistol in hand, but was unable to shoot. We didn't shoot, for we could see he was about dead. He stumbled and fell on Lee Hall. He started to speak, but the words died with him”.

Jim East

Deputy Cal Polk tells a different account

"We put some blankets down on the snow under the bowl of the hill and lay down on them we could raise our heads one foot and see right in the front door inside the Rock House the first to awaken was Charlie Bowdre. He started a small fire, picked up a feedbag and stepped outside to feed his horse. He was wearing a hat similar to the kids. Pat told him to throw up his hands. Bowdre turned from his horse, jerked out two pistols and fired. He was immediately struck by three bullets one in the leg and two in the body and stumbled back inside. Afterwards someone (Billy Wilson) hollered and said Bowdre wanted to come out there to us. Pat told him to come ahead and leave his guns in the house. But he came out with his gun right in front of him with his hands up. And when he got there, I raised up and got him and laid him down on my blanket. He was shot in three places and was bleeding. He did not live but a few minutes and then froze”.

Cal Polk

Billy cried out “is that you out there Pat?”
Pat replied “yes”.
Pat why don’t you come up like a man and give us a fair fight?”
Pat replied, “I don’t aim to.”
Billy: “That is what I thought of you, you old long legged son of a bitch!”
After hearing the gang inside digging at the rock walls, sheriff Garrett backed his posse up a little further down the arroyo for more planning.
Sheriff Garrett made a strategic decision to bring half his posse back to Brazil-Wilcox Ranch headquarters for breakfast. Following the meal, he engaged in negotiations with Thomas Wilcox to provide adequate sustenance for his men and their horses, as well as firewood. Once arrangements were finalized and the wagon loaded, Garrett returned to Stinking Springs to relieve Stewart. Together, they gathered the rest of the posse and proceeded to breakfast. This seamless transition allowed the posse to refuel and prepare for their ongoing mission with minimal delay. Garrett’s efficient planning and execution reflect his commitment to ensuring the well-being of his team while continuing the pursuit of justice.
Once back in place, Garrett called out to the Kid and invited him out for coffee.
“Go to hell, Pat!”
Pat asked the kid how he was fixed there…
“Pretty Well, but we have no wood to get breakfast” replied Billy.
“Come on out and get some and be a little sociable.” replied Pat”
“Can’t do it Pat, business is too confining… no time to run around!”
At around 3 p.m, the two horses that were being held inside the rock house were released by the gang and were subsequently picked up by the posse. At 4 p.m, the Wilcox wagon arrived, and the men proceeded to build a large fire and began cooking supper. The scent of roasting meat was particularly challenging for the trapped boys, who were starving in the house. Dave Rudabaugh then waved a dirty white handkerchief on a stick and made a call for surrender. Garrett instructed them to come out of the house with their hands up, but only Dave walked out of the house to converse with him. Rudabaugh requested a “guarantee of protection from violence,” and Garrett agreed. Rudabaugh then returned to the house.

“Billy said he smelt that bacon frying and he was right hungry. We took them back to the ranch house and guarded them all night, and the dead man too. Then we pulled out to Fort Sumner with them the next morning.".

Cal Polk

"We took the prisoners and the body of Charlie Bowdre to the Wilcox ranch, where we stayed until the next day. Then to Fort Sumner, where we delivered the body of Bowdre to his wife. Garrett asked Louis Bousman and I to take Bowdre in the house to his wife. As we started in with him, she struck me over the head with a branding iron, and I had to drop Charlie at her feet. The poor woman was crazy with grief. I always regretted the death of Charlie Bowdre, for he was a brave man, and true to his friends to the last."

Jim East

“If it hadn’t been for the dead horse in the doorway I wouldn’t have been captured. But I couldn’t ride out over that, for my horse would have jumped back and I would have got it in the head.”

William H. Bonney

Las Vegas Gazette

Mr. Charlie was found with a portrait of himself and his spouse tucked in his shirt pocket, with bloodstains left from the unfortunate incident. After the occurrence, Mr. Charlie was respectfully taken to Fort Sumner and laid to rest alongside his acquaintance, Mr. Tom O’Folliard. The Post Cemetery at Old Fort Sumner holds the graves of these men, and a monument has been erected in their honor.