Gunfight of Blazer's Mills

The Gunfight of Blazer's Mills (April 4, 1878) was a shootout between what were known as the Lincoln County Regulators and buffalo hunter Buckshot Roberts.

What do you know about The Gunfight of Blazer's Mills? Try this Old West History Trivia quiz. Answers at the bottom of the page.

1) The Regulators, to include Billy the Kid, Charlie Bowdre, and led by Dick Brewer, were in the process of hunting down anyone believed to have been associated with a murder, which had sparked the Lincoln County War. Who was murdered?

• John Tunstall
• Mark Reynolds
• Tim Putemout

2) Blazer's Mill was located on a hillside between Lincoln, New Mexico and Mesilla, and was owned by Dr. Joseph H. Blazer, a dentist.

• True or False?

3) Blazer's Mill included a large two story house, a large square office building, a sawmill, a grist mill, several one story adobe structures and houses, a post office, a general store, and a number of corrals and barns.

• True or False?

4) On April 1, 1878, who was NOT ambushed and killed by the Regulators?

• Sheriff William J. Brady
• Deputy George W. Hindman
• Deputy Jack Lord

5) The Regulators were actually in Blazer's Mill to have a good meal. What was the restaurant?

• Mrs. Godfrey's Restaurant
• Idama�s Restaurant
• McDonalds Family Restaurant

6) Buckshot Roberts wanted no part in the Lincoln County War and had made plans to leave the area, selling his ranch and waiting for the check from his buyer. Who sat with Roberts on the steps of the main house and tried to talk him into surrendering.

• Frank Coe
• Billy the Kid
• Dick Collins

7) Regulator chief Dick Brewer grew impatient with the stand-off and sent a few of his men outside to take Roberts into custody. At the sight of the armed, quickly walking cowboys, Roberts jumped up, aiming his Winchester. Both he and Charlie Bowdre fired at the same time. Where was Roberts hit?

• Right arm
• Left leg
• Stomack

8) Dangerously wounded, Roberts kept pumping bullets at the Regulators as he retreated to the doorway. John Middleton was seriously wounded in the chest. One slug grazed Doc Scurlock and another struck George Coe in the right hand, costing him his trigger finger. Once the magazine of Roberts' rifle clicked empty, Billy the Kid dashed from cover to finish off the wounded gunman, only to be knocked senseless by the barrel of the Winchester.

• True or False?

9) Barricading himself in the house, Buckshot Roberts ignored both his painful wound and the Regulators� gunshots, arming himself with a single-shot Springfield rifle and readied himself.

• True or False?

10) Roberts, seeing the cloud of gun smoke from the log pile, sighted in and opened fire when the cowboy put his head up again, striking the cowboy in the eye. Who was the cowboy shot and killed by Buckshot Roberts?

• Bill Kelly
• Bill Carson
• Dick Brewer

Gunfight of Blazer's Mills
Answers

1. John Tunstall
2. True
3. True
4. Deputy Jack Lord
5. Mrs. Godfrey's Restaurant
6. Frank Coe
7. Stomack
8. True
9. True
10. Dick Brewer

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