Texas Rangers, Winchester 1886's, Saloon Token.

[rangerider7]

I just picked up this rare token from Shafter, Texas. It is a "Good for a Drink" token from the Lightner and Vance Saloon in the now Ghost Town of Shafter, Texas in the 'Big Bend" area. They were the proprietors from the late 1880's to the late 1890's. In is famous for its great silver mines. In the 1890's the Texas Rangers were sent there to stop thieves from stealing silver from the mine owner. In the 1890 photo taken in Shafter is Bob Speaker standing on the left, Jim Putnam standing on the right, Lon Odom sitting on the left and John R. Hughes sitting on the right. They were sent to stop the thievery. Hughes set up an informer, an ex-ranger named Ernest "Diamond Dick" St. Leon to infiltrate the Mexican gang of outlaws. The outlaws were all killed in the act of stealing the Silver. The entire story is told in the book "Border Boss" the story of Texas Ranger Capt. John R. Hughes. I thought y'all might like to see the token. St. Leon went in the saloon to act drunk and get in with the outlaws. Included is a photo of the Ghost town of Shafter and another photo of Hughes, Putnam, and Odom. The El Paso grave photo is of St. Leon.

[KirkD]

I'd love to have one of those '86 carbines!

[rjohns94]

Very Kewl. Another corner of the "museum" revealed. I love your posts!!

[J Miller]

rangerider7,

OK, now I wanna see some more pics of Shafter, Texas. Also where is or was Shafter? I don't know where the Big Bend area is so that don't help much.
Can you post a map of Texas with the location of Shafter?

I only ask this cos although I've driven across Texas many times, I've never seen a mountain. Only flat flat flat flat .... well flat land.

Joe

[gamekeeper]

Interesting post as usual RR. I have seen the photo of the four Rangers in Joesph G. Rosa's book "Age of the Gunfighter" Nice to put names to the Rangers in that picture.

[1886]

You always seem to find the most interesting "stuff". Thanks for sharing, 1886.

[RIHMFIRE]

They look like they are ready to take care of business!

[rangerider7]

J Miller, here is a good site for more photos. http://www.lobo-texas.com/lobohome/en/shaftergal-1.php It is between Marfa and Presidio Texas. It is rough country.

[J Miller]

J Miller, here is a good site for more photos. http://www.lobo-texas.com/lobohome/en/shaftergal-1.php It is between Marfa and Presidio Texas. It is rough country.

I'll check out the link. I did a Google on it earlier and found out where it was. Then I remembered the mountainous areas in western Texas as we crossed through Van Horn on I-10 some years back. It was 1990 and we were on our way back to Phoenix from Jacksonville, FL and my FIL's funeral. Just past Van Horn I pulled to the side of the road and coasted to a stop. The wife and kids wanted to know what in the heck I was up to.
I told 'em I wanted them to experience a new 1969 Buick Electra. Then I pointed to the odometer; 000000. I told them that meant it was new again. I dug out the camera and took a picture. First time I've ever been driving when the odo rolled over.
I also found a half dozen bottles of Scheaffer fountain pen ink at the drug store in Van Horn. Bought 'em all. Still have some left.

Yeah, I'm rambling. The memories coming back do this sometimes.

Joe

[hkfrost]

I gotta grow one of those moustaches

[20cows]

Part of the first Andromeda Strain movie was filmed in Shafter. It was the little town where everybody died.

My f-i-l played one of the dead people. They tied a buzzard near his head, but lucky for him, it wasn't hungry.

[rangerider7]

I went with my cousin and uncle on a trip to Big Bend over fifty years ago. We camped out for a week. I thought my uncle was kidding when he took his rifle and revolver with us, for protection. While we were at our camp I saw some men riding up on horses. I told my uncle and he told us to get in the tent and stay there. He got his rifle out and laid it across the hood aimed at the men as they road up. They said something to him in spanish and he just waived for them to ride on. They didn't move until he fired a round from his 35 Remington up in the air. The horses balked and they rode off. After he was sure it was okay, he told us to come on out. We were shook up but asked him what they wanted. He said "everything we had". He was a big man and had a mean look about him, and I was glad. We talked about it when I grew up to be an adult. I asked him if he knew there might be bandits in the Big Bend area before we went. He said "sure but that's part of the adventure in the trip". He said he would have killed them all with that auto Remington before they could have got their old guns out. I never doubted it.

[DixieBoy]

rangerider - Love the photos and your story at the end of the page here too. Great stuff. You add a real flavor to this forum with these great pics and goodies. More power to ya ! - DixieBoy

[Ysabel Kid]

Always great stuff rr7 - keep 'um coming!