2. Frisco Shootout (1884)

Frisco Shootout (1884)

Reserve, New Mexico

What has been stated as the most unequal gunfight in the history of the American West unfolded when a young lawman named Elfego Baca stood his ground against overwhelming odds. The story began when Baca, serving as a deputy sheriff in the Upper Frisco Plaza (modern-day Reserve in New Mexico), arrested an intoxicated cowboy named Charlie McCarty for recklessly firing his gun inside a saloon. Baca’s swift action to restore order didn’t sit well with the locals, as McCarty was part of the infamous John B. Slaughter ranch, a place known for its lawless outlaws and rough, rowdy lifestyle.

Rumors of a brewing conflict, dubbed the Frisco War, spread quickly through the town, with many believing that Baca had started a personal vendetta against McCarty. The situation escalated when a mob of more than 80 angry cowboys, intent on freeing McCarty, descended on the small town the next day. They confronted Baca, demanding that he release McCarty from custody.

Realizing the danger, Baca retreated to the home of a local resident, a simple hut, where he prepared to make his stand. Despite being outnumbered and surrounded, Baca refused to back down and ignored the mob’s demands to release McCarty, even as their tensions soon boiled over into violence. Armed with a variety of weapons, the mob opened fire on the hut, determined to kill the lone lawman.

What followed was an incredible spectacle of gunfire. Over the course of 36 hours, the mob unleashed a reported 4,000 bullets at the small hut, riddling it with holes. Despite the overwhelming firepower, Baca remained remarkably unscathed, taking cover behind the walls within the hut. His determination and sharpshooting skills allowed him to fend off the attackers, killing four men in the process.

When the gunfight finally ended, Baca miraculously emerged unharmed. He was later arrested and charged with murder for the deaths of the men he had shot during the standoff. He faced two separate trials and was acquitted both times. During one of the trials, the defense introduced the door of the hut as evidence, showing 367 bullet holes—proof of the extreme danger Baca had faced on his own.

The Frisco War solidified Elfego Baca’s reputation as a fearless and resilient lawman, unafraid to stand up to a mob, no matter the odds.