From 1995, which is probably the year we went with the kids to Pageant. We had to cut the trip a little short because of my daughter’s medical issues. On the back of the shirt is a bit of dialogue from the pageant relating to this scene, which was the bloody climax to the Lincoln County War. After several days of stalemate between the Murphy-Dolan faction and the Tunstall-McSween party, Colonel Dudley’s troops arrived in Lincoln, camping on what is now Becky and Matt’s property. The “non-interference” of the federal troops allowed the Murphy-Dolan group to set fire to McSween’s home. The besieged Regulators retreated from room to room as the conflagration slowly spread. Under the cover of darkness they made a desperate escape, guns blazing. McSween, Romero, Zamora and Morris were killed by the Murphy-Dolans. Yginio Salazar was left for dead, later crawling away to safety. The Kid and several others escaped with little or no harm. Then the victors inspected the corpse of McSween:
Mathews: “Why, what’s this he was a-carryin’? Looks like a book. Well, boys, he died with a Bible in his hand.” (examines book) Where’s his gun, ya reckon?”
Long: ” ‘pears like, he warn’t a-carryin’ one.”
