A stranger rode out of the heart of the great glowing West, into the small Wyoming valley in the summer of 1889.
It was Shane, who appeared on the horizon and became a friend and guardian to the Starrett family at a time when homesteaders and cattle rangers battled for territory and survival.
In my youth, it was stories and novels like Jack Schaefer's classic 'Shane' and the comprehensive works of Louis L'Amour that sparked what has become a lasting historical fascination with the Wild West and the notable characters, both heroes and villains, that it produced. While Western novels and Hollywood films about the 'Wild West' continue to be highly entertaining, I find myself increasingly drawn to historical accuracy rather than fiction.
When Jane and I visited Tombstone A.Z and Boothill back in 2015, you could tell that a lot of work had gone into restoring the Boothill site, it was immaculate. Apart from noticing how tidy the place was, I also saw and noted what appeared to be some relatively newer (restored) markers, one of which belonged to a Wells Fargo employee named Les Moore - "HERE LIES LES MOORE, FOUR SLUGS FROM A44, NO LES, NO MORE". For a dead cowboy`s epitaph, I thought it doesn`t get any better.
According to the Tombstone Chamber of Commerce website (tombstonechamber.com) Lester Moore worked at a Wells Fargo office in Naco, Arizona, along the Mexican border. Hank Dunstan arrived one day to claim a package. The package was damaged and Dunstan disapproved, letting the lead fly at Lester. Les took four shots to the chest but managed his own special delivery to Dunstan as he fell - he shot Dunstan and Dunstan died too.`
Receiving four slugs in the chest over a damaged parcel does seem excessively harsh. Indeed, people in the past, as today, often met their end for seemingly trivial reasons—such was the nature of the Wild West. Upon returning to the UK, I conducted some research and stumbled upon information that, to me, casts doubt on the existence of Les Moore, particularly regarding his epitaph.
An online publication featured a response to an inquiry about Les Moore sent to Wells Fargo. The reply indicated that Wells Fargo's Naco agency was established in 1904, and the Wells Fargo representative noted they have no records of a Lester Moore. They proposed that he `might indeed be a creation of someone's inventive mind with a penchant for puns and poetry` - a sentiment I share 😊. If true, then Les Moore has earned the most renowned epitaph on Boothill, all without ever having existed!
For those who are eager to delve into it, a wealth of historical information awaits, albeit some of it may be contradictory. As a keen enthusiast who is not a historian and resides in the UK, I was astonished at the plethora of resources available online. Even a beginner can unearth a multitude of fascinating details. This blog post, as well as those to follow, will endeavor to disseminate and share any insights, that I subsequently discover from my ongoing research.
"Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes." – Peter Drucker
Every great story has its genesis, and the Wild West is no exception. I considered penning a historical prelude to how it all began, that is, until I discovered the YouTube channel `Footprints of The Frontier`. The producers have crafted an exceptional documentary, that surpasses anything I could envision creating. No need to reinvent the wheel when such a commendable work already exists. If you haven`t watched it yet, then I highly recommend it.
This is the first post, of many more to come. I openly welcome constructive feedback, alternative perspectives and opinions, and recommendations for enhancing this site. Your thoughts and ideas, whether they are affirming or critical, are encouraged and appreciated.
Cheers, Mac.
P.S Next Post - Edward Lawrence Scheiffelin (The West`s Most Famous Prospector)