Moments of Enchantment; 111; Black Jack Ketchum

Moments of Enchantment brought to you by the New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs and 770 K-O-B Radio. Northeast New Mexico was a tough place in the 1890s. Among its most notorious residents was Black Jack Ketchum, the train robber who lost his head. More in a moment. Black Jack Ketchum, a big rugged stranger with black eyes and a black mustache, dressed in black clothes and wearing a wide black hat, came to Folsom New Mexico one night to gamble. He started the evening in Kent Saloon, and in a few hours, he had lost over $1,000. He left in an angry mood and in need of ready cash. Several hours later, engine number one left Folsom. As the train lumbered up the steep grade outside the town, the engineer felt a jab in his back. He learned and saw Black Jack Ketchum with his Winchester drawn and ready to fire. The engineer pulled the train's brakes, and the sudden jolt of the train alerted others

on board to trouble. After the shooting began, Black Jack Ketchum disappeared. Later he was captured and convicted under a law which called for hanging for all train robbers. On April 26, 1901, the news was placed over Black Jack Ketchum's head. Defiant to the end, Ketchum shouted to the hangman, why don't you hurry? I'd like to eat my dinner in hell. When the trap was sprung, the heavy body fell with such force that Black Jack Ketchum's head was jerked from his body. It was no wonder that for a long time afterward, New Mexicans believed that the hanging of Black Jack Ketchum put an end to train robberies and hold ups all across the state. To learn more about outlaws in the New Mexico territory, visit the New Mexico State Library in Santa Fe. Prince of Enchantment brought to you by the New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs. For moments of Enchantment, I am David Griffin.