Campbell Hardy, Boston Jeweler, Recalls Near-Death Ambush in New Mexico
Campbell Hardy is a Boston, Massachusetts, jeweler who related his ten-year-old experiences in New Mexico while in Chicago [1]. Hardy earned money peddling through western states [1]. While at the house of a man named Moody, Hardy became distrustful of his host [2]. When Moody tried to lure him into the barn to see blooded stock, Hardy refused, believing he would never come out alive, and left [3][4]. He then saw Moody and his son emerge from the barn armed with rifles, convinced they intended to ambush him [6]. Hardy changed direction, met two trappers about half a mile from Moody’s, and confided his fears [5]. The trappers later showed Hardy the bodies of Moody and his son, both dead—the old man shot through the temple, his son’s back broken [7].
Sources
- Campbell Hardy, a Boston, Mass… (1891)Campbell Hardy, a Boston, Mass., jeweler, is reported to have related, while in Chicago, 111., recently, some of the experiences he had ten years ago in New Mexico. Mr. Hardy made the money that gave him a sta…
- The appearance of the old man caused Mr… (1891)The appearance of the old man caused Mr. Hardy to distrust him, and he heartily wished
- Mr… (1891)Mr. Hardy felt that if he ever went into that barn he would never come out of it alive, so he made a weak excuse and started down the road, keeping a sharp lookout. The old man was much enraged, and just …
- Silver City Enterprise — 1891 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1891-05-08 (1891). He quickly swallowed a cup of coffee, took a few mouthsful of bread and slipped what he could into his pockets. Then he prepared to leave. “But you must see the blooded stock I have before you go,” said…
- Instead of going the way he intended Mr… (1891)Instead of going the way he intended Mr. Hardy went in the opposite direction, passing the house in the woods so the women could not see him. He kept close to the road, and when about half a mile from Mood…
- Mr… (1891)Mr. Hardy went into a grove a little further down the road and stood where he could see what was going on at the barn. He saw Moody and his son come out of the barn, each armed with a rifle. They walked i…
- Mr… (1891)Mr. Hardy’s friends called him from his hiding place, and showed him lying behind a fallen tree, the bodies of Moody and his son. The old man was shot through the temple as he was looking over a log, and h…