Killed By Bandits
Daniel Bustamante, blacksmith and Deputy Sheriff killed alongside Sheriff Frank Vigil by the infamous Bronco Bill and Kid Johnson May 24, 1898.
The last great train robbery in the west took place in Socorro County in May 1898. The Santa Fe Express heading south was robbed by train robbers Bronco Bill (William Walters) and Kid Johnson (Bill Johnson Smith). They escaped with $50,000 in notes and coins After burying the coins they fled west. A posse rode out from Belen in pursuit of the robbers. Two of the posse members, Sheriff Vigil and Deputy Sheriff Daniel Bustamante continued to pursue the robbers even after other posse members had to turn back as their horses gave out. Vigil and Bustamante rode on into the Alamo Navajo Reservation and were joined by a group of Navajo men. The sheriff, deputy and the Navajo men still in pursuit arrived at Alamosa Creek where the outlaws were hiding. They surrounded the outlaws and called for them to surrender. The two outlaws seemingly complying stood with their arms at their sides and their rifles leaning against a tree some 10 feet away. The officers approached them but when they got to within 35 yards the outlaws grabbed their rifles ran behind some cottonwood trees and opened fire. Sheriff Frank Vigil and Deputy Daniel Bustamante unable to return fire and fell to the ground mortally wounded. Their handguns being no match for the outlaws ‘improved” Winchester Rifles. The other posse members recovered the bodies of Vigil and Bustamante and took them to the mining village of Santa Rita. They were both buried there in the cemetery. Vigil’s remains were later removed to be interred in Belen. Deputy Bustamante was left to rest in Santa Rita cemetery. As for Bronco Bill and Kid Johnson, Bronco Bill was eventually arrested, tried and given a life sentence. He escaped from prison, recaptured and then pardoned and set free. Kid Johnson was mortally wounded during his arrest. The money from the train robbery was never recovered.
Santa Rita also known as Riley, Socorro County, NM
Killed By Bandits
Daniel Bustamante, blacksmith and Deputy Sheriff killed alongside Sheriff Frank Vigil by the infamous Bronco Bill and Kid Johnson May 24, 1898.
The last great train robbery in the west took place in Socorro County in May 1898. The Santa Fe Express heading south was robbed by train robbers Bronco Bill (William Walters) and Kid Johnson (Bill Johnson Smith). They escaped with $50,000 in notes and coins After burying the coins they fled west. A posse rode out from Belen in pursuit of the robbers. Two of the posse members, Sheriff Vigil and Deputy Sheriff Daniel Bustamante continued to pursue the robbers even after other posse members had to turn back as their horses gave out. Vigil and Bustamante rode on into the Alamo Navajo Reservation and were joined by a group of Navajo men. The sheriff, deputy and the Navajo men still in pursuit arrived at Alamosa Creek where the outlaws were hiding. They surrounded the outlaws and called for them to surrender. The two outlaws seemingly complying stood with their arms at their sides and their rifles leaning against a tree some 10 feet away. The officers approached them but when they got to within 35 yards the outlaws grabbed their rifles ran behind some cottonwood trees and opened fire. Sheriff Frank Vigil and Deputy Daniel Bustamante unable to return fire and fell to the ground mortally wounded. Their handguns being no match for the outlaws ‘improved” Winchester Rifles. The other posse members recovered the bodies of Vigil and Bustamante and took them to the mining village of Santa Rita. They were both buried there in the cemetery. Vigil’s remains were later removed to be interred in Belen. Deputy Bustamante was left to rest in Santa Rita cemetery. As for Bronco Bill and Kid Johnson, Bronco Bill was eventually arrested, tried and given a life sentence. He escaped from prison, recaptured and then pardoned and set free. Kid Johnson was mortally wounded during his arrest. The money from the train robbery was never recovered.
Santa Rita also known as Riley, Socorro County, NM