The Santa Fe New Mexican Reports on the Activities of Las Gorras Blancas
Background: In San Miguel County, New Mexico, cattle ranchers privatized large stretches of previously communal lands enclosing thousands of acres with barbed wire and often restricting access to key water sources. Subsistence farmers and sheep ranchers with claims to communal land rights responded by cutting fences during the night, often hiding their identities beneath white hoods. The local newspapers closely followed the events and denounced the vigilante actions.
White Cap Outrages
The Outlaws Again at it About Las Vegas—Arms Sent to the Vegas Militia Companies.
Las Vegas advices say that agreeable to their threat the fences of Mr. Milleiser were cut near the town a few nights ago by the White Caps. Night before last the gang cut several miles of fences for Jose Albino Baca, in upper Las Vegas, and they have given warning that tomorrow night they will pay a visit to Los Alamos and cut the fences in that vicinity, especially those of Messrs. Porter and Harold, of Denver, who have large land interests there.
Sam B. Davis cam over from Las Vegas last night to consult the governor about these matters.
To-day sufficient arms and ammunition will be shipped to Las Vegas to equip the two companies of territorial militia organized there, and it is said to be the intention of the authorities to send out the militia to open fire upon the out-laws in case they attempt in the future to carry into effect their threats to destroy private property.
A private dispatch from Denver this morning announced that word from Washington had been received there to the effect that the governor had “called upon the secretary of the interior for troops to suppress the White Caps.” Gov. Prince was seen in reference to this today and stated that such was not the case. He Said, however, that he had, by request, suggested to the secretary of the interior that it might have a pacifying effect if a company of regular troops could be sent on a few weeks summer practice march through San Miguel county; not for the purpose of exercising any force, but simply for the purpose of impressing upon the leaders of these outrages the fact that there is abundant resources at hand, which if necessary, could be called upon to preserve law and order.
White Caps Demonstrate
Appended is a literal translation of a notice written in Spanish that has been posted by White Caps at the McAlister charcoal ovens, managed by Savio Bros. at Lamy [New Mexico]:
“All who have work for the ovens are required to receive the sum of per cord for cutting and hauling wood, to haul and deliver in the yard, and all choppers to receive per cord, and all persons hiring men at less than this are required to raise these rates at once or accept the consequences from an indignant public.
[Signed] THE PEOPLE, 150 persons who meet every day.”
White Caps to the number of 100, on horseback, made a demonstration at Lamy Saturday night. They wore white clothes over their heads and shoulders and a white strip of cloth over the loins of their horses. They paraded through the town and posted notices. As the main line train on in the A., T & S. F. came along they could be plainly seen, and as a result several passengers whose destination was Santa Fe passed on down the road to Albuquerque. Such demonstrations do Santa Fe county no good.
Source: Santa Fe Daily New Mexican, August 13, 1890, and October 27, 1890.