Photos from The Pintada Kid

If you've never heard of the Pintada Kid, go to the top of this blog, right under the header photo, and click on "The Pintada Kid" tab. There you will find links to the posts on this blog telling his unique life story, starting with growing up in a sheep camp in central New Mexico; and the tale of his life's work, the investigation of one of New Mexico's unsolved murder mysteries, The Heberer-Lorius Case.

The Pintada Kid is a unique New Mexico character; I can't imagine anyone like him anywhere else. He recently sent me some photos, which I am passing on to you. Descriptions of each photo are in his own words (in italics). 

The Pintada Kid at the Historical Indian Writings. 

Note the Big Snake called a Vivoron by the Old People.

The Area of the Longwalk, [known as] the Pintada Trail, the shortest route from Ft Defiance to Ft Sumner. It is also the Playground of the Pintada Kid. 

(Note from ClairZ: You can read about the Navajo "Long Walk" in this article from the Office of the New Mexico State Historian).

My Lady Friend [Rose Keaton] Holding a Big Rattlesnake that was Guarding the Resting Place of the Heberer Lorius People.

Vaughn City Park after a Blizzard Snowstorm

[You can see that PK takes the road less traveled!]

 The Pintada Kid at a Sacred Indian Ground. 

The Old People called these Rocks Los Paragues; the Pintada Kid named them the Mushroom Rocks. 

I named the one on my right shoulder E.T.  

Pintada Kid Stories, an Index

Tales of living history from the center of New Mexico...

Part 1: Growing up, grandparents

Part 2: Origin of his name, rattlesnake lore

Part 3: Folk remedies, what to do with a dead rattlesnake

Part 4: More about his grandparents

Part 5: San Isidro

Part 6: Traveling around New Mexico

The Pintada Kid, Part 6

The Pintada Kid on traveling around New Mexico, and the sights to be seen:

I've spent a lifetime in the Mountains and Back Roads of New Mexico and always have a Sleeping bag in back of my Chevy 4x4 so i travel into places few people get to see and i sometimes will be talked into giving people tours into these Secluded places where you usually don't see anyone for hours on some of the Backroads where there are Ghost Towns and Indian Petroglyphs and Sheepherder Writing and Old Churches and cemeteries, underground caves where the Indians use to live down in the Ground and graves and some good quiet fishing Spots which are Scattered all over N.M. I like to find Dinosaur Bones and Arrowheads and Artifacts and beautiful Rocks. My latest Discovery is a human Skull Staring at me from 20 foot high Arroyo Wall and the rest of his Bones sticking out of the wall along with other Skeletal Remains possibly over a Dozen other Skeletons in that area probably from the 1800s.

Also Willard has the Salt Lakes a few Miles to the East and it's a Great Place to take pictures of Sunsets and go hiking. At night a couple of times i've seen some Giant Fireballs fall into the Salt Lakes. The last Fireball that i saw in that area was a couple of years ago. I was driving through about 10 at night and i thought i had left my interior light on and it was a Giant Fireball of all Colors about to Crash into me while i was Driving and then it just Disappeared there around MP 222. The guys from Willard say that sometimes at night they would get up on the Highest Hill or Mesa and Watch these weird lights at night. I use to think that the Salt Lakes all over that area had Giant Spaceports miles underneath the Salt Lakes and when these Fireballs hit the Water it douses the Flames and doesn't leave a Trace when they go in and it bakes the Salt. I'm Curious why these Fireballs like that area where there isn't anything for miles around.

The little town in between Ancho and White Oaks is called Jicarilla. Used to be Population 5 but the people living there were moved out i think. All that Land around there is Federal Land and great for hiking and hunting and searching for Gold.

If you want to know who owns what in White Oaks go to the No Scum Allowed Saloon. I'm not sure who owns it now i heard some women had bought it and they have live music and Dances there once in awhile. I'm not sure about the Museum [called] My House of Old Things in Ancho but it's Closed now and i'm not sure if will be open again. If you keep going on the Road through White Oaks it turns into dirt and farther on they have places for Sale with plenty of Land and if you keep going you'll pass through a small school house and cemetery in Jicarilla pop.5 and keep going and you end up in Ancho and back out on 54. This is Beautiful Country and lots of Mountains and Forests and Wildlife. I was through there about 2 weeks ago and saw about 10 Wild Turkeys on the Road and Antelope and Deer at Jacks Peak. I know all those Roads. Had a Friend that was a Hermit up there around Jacks Peak his name was Lloyd Hoskins a Goldminer he was over 90 years old and i found him Dead in his Cabin on his Mountain and had been Dead about 10 days when i found him. It's a favorite Place to Hike and search for Gold but watch out for the Bears and Mountain Lions and Rattlesnakes.

Note: Here is an index to all the Pintada Kid stories on this blog.

The Pintada Kid, Part 4

Making tortillas (Library of Congress)

A bit more about the Pintada Kid's grandparents, in his own words. My Parents both Died when i was a little kid and my Grandparents raised me... My Grandfather grew up in the Mountains of N.M. and couldn't read or write or talk in English but he was VERY intelligent and knew animals better than anyone. My Grandfather was like a Mountain man and very strong and if anyone was making trouble or laughing at him he would grab his Rope or Long Whip from his Pickup and Men would Scatter in all Directions. The Wealthy Spanish and Italian and German Ranchers from all around came to ask him for Advice on Ranching and taking care of sick animals. My Grandmother was the Greatest Cook and all these Ranchers at Branding time would come in, some Landing their Airplanes out in the Pastures just to come and taste my Grandmother's Cooking more than to Work. I only had [my grandfather] in my life a few years. Him and my Grandmother were married for over 50 years and took care of a lot of his Grandkids on a 200 a month salary and he was an honest man and always paid his Bills. He was working into his 70s when he died of a Disease from taking care of a Sick cow. My grandmother died a month after my Grandfather Died, she was very religious and never missed mass on Sunday.

Next: Pintada Kid, Part 5--A story told to the kid by the Governor

The Pintada Kid, Part 3

Photo from an old editorial cartoon (Library of Congress)

Here are some of the Pintada Kid's folk remedies and techniques, in his own words, as always.

I grew up in the Mountains with the Old people and learned lots of the Old ways including Medicinal Plants and Water Dousing etc. Can even tell you how far down the water is right down to the Foot.

My Suggestion to anyone who is afraid of Snakes is to see them at a Snake Roundup or even eat the Meat its good for High Blood Pressure and save that 400 or more Bucks you would pay a Therapist plus you could eat a Rattlsnake Burger and feel BETTER.

im still trying to Go to a Rattlesnake Roundup in Alamogordo and find some Rattlesnake Fat for Arthritis and some Bear Fat to Predict the weather

Rattlesnake meat is good for High Blood Pressure. The Fat is used for Arthritis and Rhemeutism it REALLY Works almost Immediately or for leg or toe Cramps or back pain or growing pains. You can also use Skunk fat but i prefer Rattlesnake Fat.

The Rattlesnake fat takes away the pain from Arthritis for months with one or two Applications. The Bear Fat you put in a Jar and put it on your South facing Window and if its Clear its a nice day and if it breaks up into little pieces its Windy and if it Drift like Snow in a Certain Direction its telling which direction a Snow storm is coming. Somewhere i have a Chart showing about over a half dozen weather patterns for Bear Fat.

You can Tan the [rattlesnake] Hide with Glycerine and Alcohol and the Bones of the Rattlesnakes can be made into necklaces.

Next: Pintada Kid, Part 4--More about his grandparents

The Pintada Kid, Part 2

Pintada means painted. The Pintada Kid tells me that he was given his name by the "original" Pintada Kid. Our P.K. was born near Pintada, NM, located in Guadalupe County. It was given that name for either the petroglyphs or the colored mesas in the area.

The Pintada Kid has a great deal of knowledge about the natural world. He learned from the old people he grew up with and through his own observations and experience. Here is what he has to say about rattlesnakes.

"When you kill a Rattlesnake remember to Cut off the Head and bury it. A Rattlesnake can still Strike Hours after its dead so dont leave the Head on. Also if you bury the head you wont step on it or have an animal or bird pick it up and drop it somewhere else. When it rains the Rattlers on the Rattlesnake get wet and dont rattle so watch out when you go for a walk in the rain. Just because its winter and theres snow on the Ground does not mean all snakes are hibernating. I know places in the center of N.M....when i was out there around March there was snow on the Ground but around the Cliffs it was very warm and i almost stepped on an over 5 foot rattlesnake which i killed with my Ski Pole Walking Stick."

"I spend lots of time out in the Backroads in the center of New Mexico and have been doing this for over 40 years. 30 years ago or more i use to head out to the mountains and kill maybe 2 or 3 good size Rattlersnakes in a Day just on the Road. Today it can take me all Summer to Kill that Many and even then i might not kill 3 some Summers. TIP if you kill a Rattlesnake use a Long handled Shovel Preferably."

"TIP if your worried about snakes and you will probably never get Bit if you Never walk close to bushes or shady spots in the summer without being extra Careful were talking about out in the Country anywhere in N.M. Dont walk close to mounds or holes in the Ground and nests of sticks and if you smell and awful smell like a Dead animal try to get away from that area. Remember any snake can give you an infection if it bites you."

"Ive Killed Big Rattlers all my life or ever since i can Remember. My biggest was over 6 foot long and i was inside my Pickup when i shot it. On My Knees behind the Steering Wheel and the Window half way rolled up the Fricking Rattlesnake was half way up my door i put 4 shots from my Pistol into its head before it dropped. My Suggestion to anyone who is afraid of Snakes is to see them at a Snake Roundup or even eat the Meat its good for High Blood Pressure and save that 400 or more Bucks you would pay a Therapist plus you could eat a Rattlsnake Burger and feel BETTER. I know about being afraid of Snakes especially when your out on a Cliff or Hiking and they Rattle Off and you have no idea where the noise is coming from or what direction you are going to be hit. The Big Rattlesnakes can Drown out a Loud Car Stereo and it seems like theres a Dozen Rattling at once. To Me the Sound of the Rattlesnake is the Most Chilling Sound in the WORLD."

*****

Next: Pintada Kid, Part 3--Some folk remedies

The Pintada Kid, Part 1

When I first read a comment on the City-Data New Mexico Forum from "The Pintada Kid," I sensed that I was "hearing" a truly unique voice. Here is part of the comment that so caught my imagination:

"I grew up in the Mountains of N.M. amongst the Old Sheepherders and Ranchers and as a Kid in Grade School i was elected to be the cook for all the Ranch Hands whether i wanted to or not. So i guess cooking is a passion i grew up with plus playing guitar and singing. I like my cooking better then that Tasteless expensive food in some Restaurants."

I just couldn't get that picture out of my mind--a little kid cooking for ranchers and sheepherders... I tried to imagine what his life had been like, but his experiences were so far from mine, that I couldn't really fill in the blanks. So, instead, I watched for more posts that might tell me more, and was eventually rewarded with this one:

"...they didnt have the Child Labor Laws at 8 and 9 years old back then. While all the other little kids in Grade School were looking forward to Summer Break it would mean more Hard Work for me in the Summer and i dreaded it. I would pack my little Bedroll and go work out in the Surrounding Ranches working from Sunup to Sundown Herding Sheep for miles out in the New Mexico Prairies and Milking cows and fixing fences from Sunup to Sundown sometimes late into the Night for 4 dollars a day....

My Grandfather threw me on the Back of a Horse at 8 or 9 years old and hit the horse on the back with a Board and thats how i learned to ride.......... I remember i was about 12 or 13 and we saddled the horses out in the middle of a Pasture early in the Morning and when i got on the Huge Horse that i got on Reared up and came down on top of me and knocked me out. When i got up i looked down at my Feet and my Foot and Toes on my right Foot were Pointing Backwards. I Could hear my Grandfather say the Dam Horse Broke his leg and he picked me up and loaded me on the Truck and we bounced over miles of Rough Country to get to the Nearest Dirt road to get me to a Doctor. My grandfather said i was about to bend the Gear in the Truck with all the Pain i was in. Anyway i woke a couple of days later in the Hospital in Mountainair and spend like 3 months in Traction without getting up from bed at the hospital there. I broke the femur bone the biggest bone in your body in a couple of places it was a compound fracture. After a few more months on Crutches i was back on my feet and riding horses again and back to doing back breaking ranch work.

P.S. As a kid i remember all the Feed Sacks weighed like 100 lbs not like the 40 or 50 lbs they weigh today. My first time deerhunting while i was in Grade School i killed 3 good size buck Deer in less then 24 hours."

Eventually, I found another tantalizing bit:

"My Parents both Died when i was a little kid and my Grandparents raised me and my Grandfather was like a Mountain Man who Could pick up a Truck while my Grandmother changed the Tire and my Grandfather who knew the Mountains and Animals well taught me about the Mountains and animals and hard Work and my Grandmother taught me and my two sisters about Cooking, Gardening and Medicinal Plants etc.

My Grandfather and Grandmother both Died years ago after being married over 50 years they died about a month apart. My Grandmother told my sisters to take her to get her hair done and she died a month after my Grandfather died...

My Grandmother went to Mass every Sunday and like my Grandfather worked every day of their lives without a Vacation. My Grandfather use to tell that when they were fencing out the Land in New Mexico in the early 1900s that they were paying 50 cents a day to do hard work building fences from Sunup to Sundown.

My Grandfather couldnt read or write or talk in English but he knew animals and hard work and whenever a College Educated person would come to the Ranch on some job he would say to me..... AQUI VIENE UNO DESOS QUE SABES MAS Y ENTIENDE MENOS." [Here comes one of those who knows more and understands less. Translation courtesy of The Pintada Kid].

Next: Pintada Kid, Part 2: Origin of The Pintada Kid's name; and some things you didn't know about rattlesnakes.

******

Note: All quotes used with permission.