Doug Hocking's Blog: Way Out West - Writing about the West, page 5
January 8, 2016
Pirates of the San Pedro, Dams and Paddlewheel Boats on the River
We’ve all heard about the paddlewheel steamboats that used to ply the San Pedro. Some of us have even seen old photographs. The only problem is that it never happened. Arizona was for many years supplied by steamboats on the … Continue reading →
January 4, 2016
Jeffords Arrested by Billy the Kid Near the Brunckow Mine Arizona Murder House
This is one of my favorite stories from the Old Wild West and this is the best version of it that I’ve found. It comes from the Tucson Citizen September 11, 1881, and that paper attributes it to the Tombstone … Continue reading →
December 29, 2015
The Life and Times of Tom Jeffords
Tom Jeffords was portrayed by Jimmy Stewart in the 1950 classic film Broken Arrow. Although he did ride alone into Cochise’s Stronghold to make the peace, events were not quite as portrayed in film, legend and popular history. The real … Continue reading →
November 24, 2015
Californio Lancers a book review
Californio Lancers: The 1st Battalion of Native Cavalry in the Far West, 1863-1866. By Tom Prezelski, Norman: The Arthur H. Clark Company/University of Oklahoma Press, 2015. Maps, illus., appendixes, table, notes, biblio., index, 248 pages. ISBN 978-0-87062-436-0. $32.95. This is … Continue reading →
Fall Roundup at Empire Ranch
On November 7, the Cochise County Corral of the Westerners took a trail ride to our mother county, Pima, to be there for Fall Roundup at the Empire Ranch. Empire Ranch under Walter Vail was the largest in Arizona and … Continue reading →
October 18, 2015
Bisbee Corral of the Westerners trip around the Great Loop to Patagonia, Tubac, Tumacacori, San Xavier del Bac and the Museum of the Horse Solider
On October 17, 2015, the Bisbee Corral of the Westerners made a trip down the great loop – Sonoita, Patagonia, Tumacacori Mission, Tubac, San Xavier del Bac Mission and the Museum of the Horse Soldier in Tucson with dinner at … Continue reading →
October 15, 2015
Tom Jeffords, Sutler at Fort Huachuca, life after the Chiricahua Agency
Tom Jeffords was played by Jimmy Stewart in Broken Arrow, the man who rode alone into Cochise’s Stronghold and became the chief’s friend. When peace was negotiated between General O.O. Howard and the Chiricahua Apache, Cochise retained a reservation that … Continue reading →
September 19, 2015
Thoughts on Genocide, Plagues, Invasions and the destruction of Native arts, religion and culture
The last speaker of my native language died two hundred years ago. The language is gone, erased, a genocide of sorts. The native religion of my people was ruthlessly stamped out by foreign invaders, its practitioners punished, whipped, drowned, tortured … Continue reading →
September 11, 2015
Zozobra, Old Man Gloom, Unique Cultural Events, Leather Jackets, Being Laid Back in Santa Fe and Murdering Mariachis
A friend of mine absolutely hates the Burning of Zozobra, Old Man Gloom, during the Labor Day Weekend Fiesta in Santa Fe. I have always suspected that this had something to do with getting pushed over the railing on the … Continue reading →
September 7, 2015
Steampunk in Tombstone, Jules Vern, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Science Fiction and Shoot Outs in the Street
A friend of mine was on a rant the other day about Steampunk. How dare they come to Tombstone with their silly costumes that aren’t at all authentic 19th century. Get some real 19th century clothing. Besides Steampunk is so … Continue reading →
Way Out West - Writing about the West
Some folks says they can see my love of the Southwest - its peoples, cultures, food, terrain and traditions - in my writing. They're right.
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