Page 96 - 4093-BOOK1

94
Texas newspapers listed his report: “Eagle Springs, February 2d. Lieut. Nevilles and I surprised a party of Indians
in the Sierra Diablo mountains on the 29th, and killed six and captured three Indians and sixteen head of stock.
Several of their trails were bloody where they ran off. These are the same Indians that massacred Mrs. Graham,
in Bass canyon, soldiers at Hot Springs and the state driver and passengers in Quitman canyon.” The Austin
American-Statement reported “The above fight occurred not far from Eagle Springs, and the result of it will
probably teach the festive Indian that it is exceedingly unhealthy to have Texas rangers after them.” This proved
to be partially true. Though some thefts and attacks by Indians continued in the area, other Apaches groups
conducted raids and battled with the U.S. military in New Mexico and Arizona until 1890, and the Apache
battled in Mexico into the 20th century, Baylor’s raid on the Apache camp is considered the last Indian battle
fought in Texas. As such, it marks an end to decades of bloody conflict between Texans and the
various tribes of the region. Baylor’s men continued to scout and watch for
hostile Apaches. His company was disbanded in 1885.
A clipping of Finn’s obituary is included and provides details of his later life. His
family moved to Kansas early in his life and were associated with the railroads.
After leaving the Texas Rangers, he moved to Halstead, Kansas, in 1884 and
was master of the railroad yards and studied medicine under Dr. Hoover. He
graduated from the Washington Medical College in 1890 and practiced in Webb
City, Missouri, and multiple towns in Kansas. In 1904, he married May Drumm of
Cedar Vale, and the two traveled extensively, including to Alaska were Dr. Finn
was a chief surgeon at a hospital. In 1918, the government called on him to travel
to Denver, Colorado, during the influenza epidemic, and he remained for several
years in his own practice and managed a drug store. He moved to Los Angeles
and was the ship surgeon on the initial voyage of the S.S. City of Los Angeles.
While at sea in 1927, he suffered from a “heart ailment” which ultimately led to
his death at the Veterans Administration hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on
August 23, 1943. He had been living in Albuquerque for 20 months. He was buried
in Garden City, Kansas, where his son was living at the time and where May D. Finn
was also buried in 1961 after dying at the age of 78. The revolver was purchased by
Brig Pemberton from Robert E. Townsend in 1967.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with crisp engraving and markings, 75% plus
untouched nickel plating, light nitre blue on the screws, gray and brown patina
on the balance, some mild pitting, and generally mild overall wear. The grip is very
fine and has attractive natural aged patina and grain, minor age lines, and a couple
of small flakes on the right at the toe. The action functions but does not allow the
cylinder to rotate for loading. The holster is very good with mild wear. Do not miss
your opportunity to get your hands on one of the rarest and most historic engraved
Sheriff Model Colt Single Action Army revolvers ever made. This revolver has been
tucked away in the Brig & Louis Pemberton Collection for over half a century and may
never appear again on the market in our lifetimes!
Provenance: Texas Ranger Benjamin Franklin Finn; May D. Finn; The Robert E.
Townsend Collection; The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 90,000 - 160,000