[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E987]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E987]]
                         TRIBUTE TO ELFEGO BACA

                                 ______


                          HON. BILL RICHARDSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 1995
  Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, many of us have spoken at great length 
about the cowards responsible for the bombing of the Federal building 
in Oklahoma City. With all this talk about cowards, I thought it might 
be helpful to remind my colleagues that while our country is plagued 
with cowards from time to time, we have a rich history of heros and 
famous sons and daughters. One such famous son is Elfego Baca who to 
this day--more than 110 years after his remarkable feat in New Mexico--
is still remembered fondly by New Mexicans.
  An encounter between Elfego Baca and some Texas cowboys in the fall 
of 1884 has to many in the New Mexico Hispanic community resulted in 
the elevation of Baca to heroic status.
  Elfego Baca was born the youngest child to a family of Spanish 
ancestry in 1865. During his youth, he held a job as a clerk in a 
merchant's store in Socorro County, NM. Several years later in 1883, 
Baca experienced his first introduction to the legal side of law 
enforcement.
  Socorro County was undergoing rapid economic growth with the 
development of the Santa Fe Railroad. This expansion brought new faces 
to the area--laborers, miners, and ranchers to name a few. Many of the 
Texan newcomers held the local native community in low esteem. These 
cattlemen would often ride inebriated through town while shooting their 
guns. Obviously this posed a dangerous problem to the safety of the 
community so Sheriff Simpson called on Baca to help chase the cowboys 
out of town. Consequently, Elfego was appointed deputy sheriff for 
Socorro County.
  It is still a mystery why Baca travelled to San Francisco Plaza in 
October 1884, but his confrontation with some Texas cowboys is what 
made him a legend. Shortly after arriving, deputy Baca encountered 
Charles McCarthy who was firing his pistol in a local saloon. Baca 
quickly took control and brought McCarthy to the justice of peace. 
McCarthy paid a fine and was released, but again repeated his lawless 
actions and was again arrested by Baca. McCarthy had fired his gun 
directly at Baca, so the deputy decided to guard the drunk prisoner in 
a private house in town. This enraged the other Texas cowboys and 
created an enormously tense scenario between them and deputy Baca. That 
night, a mob of stockmen threatened Baca for the release of McCarthy, 
but the deputy declined and held off their advances. It finally came to 
a head when Baca fired shots to disperse the mob and shot a horse which 
one of the cowboy's was riding, pinning the rider and crushing him to 
death.
  The cattlemen used the following day to muster up their forces in 
retaliation of their comrade's death. Baca meanwhile hid in a small 
shack just outside town. When the cowboys finally tried to storm the 
house, Baca fired at the intruders, hitting one man in the chest and 
killing him. The infuriated gang of Texas cowboys that had congregated 
outside returned fire at the house but were unable to dislodge Baca 
from his fortification.
  Finally after nearly a day of hiding out, the justice of peace issued 
an arrest warrant for Deputy Sheriff Baca. Baca surrendered under the 
condition that his life be spared from the cowboy mob and that he 
receive a fair trial in Bernalillo County with an Hispanic jury. Baca 
was acquitted under the grounds of self-defense.
  The story of Elfego Baca demonstrates a man's will to preserve 
justice in a land and time of rampant corruption and bullying. Baca's 
bravery instilled hope to the native New Mexican people who upheld the 
laws of the land and refused to succumb to racial injustices.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in paying special tribute to Elfego 
Baca and the countless numbers of other American heros and famous sons 
and daughters who have helped make this country great.


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