Stinking Springs
On December 23, 1880 Sheriff Pat Garrett and his determined posse tracked Billy the Kid and his gang through the freezing winter snow to this deserted rock shack said to have been built by Alejadro Perea. Garrett and his men took up position in a nearby arroyo and waited for dawn to brake on a very cold New Mexico morning, Billy's pal Charles Bowdre stepped outside to feed his horse.
According to Garrett he believed that Charlie Bowdre was Billy, because of the sombrero he wore, which was said to be similar to what Billy had been wearing. Garrett gave the order to fire, thinking that if he killed the Kid that the rest of the gang would quickly surrender.
However, Garrett was wrong and Charlie Bowdre as fatally wounded. Bowdre fell back into the rock house only to stumble back outside a few moments later. Charlie Bowdre walked towards the posse and plunged forward into the snow stating, "I wish, I wish". He died a moment later and his lifeless body remained where it had fallen for the remainder of the siege.
Billy and the rest of the gang boldly continued to refuse to surrender. However, later in the afternoon, Garrett sent some of the posse to the nearby Brazil/Wilox ranch for food and supplies. The smell of roasting meat and the dropping temperatures quickly softened the determination of the Outlaw Gang. History says that Dave Rudabaugh was the first to surrender and that the rest of the gang quickly followed.
Garrett quickly shackled the men and gave them a warm meal before returning to Fort Sumner to release Charlie Bowdre's body to his wife Manuela Bowdre.
The foundation of Stinking Springs as it looked in 1995.
Stinking Springs as it appears today.
BTKOG President Lucas Speer showing the aproximate
location of the doorway in which Charlie Bowdre was shot.
The arroyo in which Garrett and his posse were camped in.