The Time Ranger: 8 tourists were almost killed by Cowboy Stuntmen

A warm and appropriate Western howdy, especially since we’re with the West Ranch Beacon this fine Thursday in March of 2010. We’ve a most interesting trailride ahead, saddlepals and saddlepalettes. There’s a local who made history as one of the state’s most incompetent governors (and if you know a little about the scalawags who have been governor, that’s not an easy task!). We’ve got community icons who today would be lynched as child molesters and there’s the story of how eight tourists were almost killed by cowboy stuntmen. (Photo: Henry Gage owned gold mines in the SCV and was famous for being one of California’s worst governors in a state known for its pie-throwing clowns holding the top office.)

C’mon. Hop in the saddle and let’s head toward that spinning vortex of yesteryear. We’re burning daylight… 

WAY, WAY BACK WHEN —

• On March 30, 1880, Ignacio del Valle, former Mayor of Los Angeles, state assemblyman and owner of the great Rancho San Francisco died. Why mention an old L.A. alcalde? The Rancho San Francisco was the name of the Santa Clarita Valley back in the early 19th century. Times are different today and I’m not so sure that Iggy would have been very popular. In 1852, he married Ysabel Varela. His bride was 15. Iggy was 44. I heard a story that as a wedding present, Ygnacio gave his teen sweetheart a stuffed doll. I know. I know. Ewe. 

MARCH 25, 1920 —

• R.C. Gibson’s Eggland Ranch in Happy Valley was tops in the state for egg production. Each hen in the contest averaged 16.5 eggs per. Don’t blame me. That was big news back then… 

MARCH 25, 1930 —

• The local gas war came to an end and the dime a gallon prices went back up to 15 cents. Folks heard about the price hike and filled up one last time. Fifteen cents a gallon. Foof. Can you imagine either one of those prices today? I could fill up by big 4 by 4 for $2.50 as opposed to $80. 

MARCH 25, 1940 —

• Horatius Manley of old Sand Canyon found a note in the ranch kitchen from his recent wife that she was leaving him. Manley noted that he had taken her to her first coffee shop, first movie, first play, bought her sheer underthings and gifts galore. She ran off with one of the hands. Seems when they got hitched, Horatius was 46 and the missus, 16. Hmm. Do you think that Horatius was related to Ygnacio del Valle? 

MARCH 25, 1950 —

• It was the most famous mine in Los Angeles County during the 19th and midway into 20th century. The Governor Gage mine in upper Canyon Country was sold on this date to the Milton J. Wershow Co. Francis Gage, son of California governor (from 1899-1903) Henry T. Gage, ran it for all of the 1940s, taking about $1.5 million in gold. Gage also owned another gold mine. Today, it’s under the Bouquet Reservoir.

The 20th governor of California, Gage would have probably felt right at home today with all the political shenanigans. After a newspaper ran a cartoon depicting him being led on a leash by railroad tycoon C.P. Huntington, Gage signed legislation that forbid the press from criticizing politicians. When San Francisco was hit by the bubonic plague brought in by rats from the ship Australia, Gage led an effort to deny any outbreak of the deadly disease (Gage ended up blaming the federal government and a hospital administrator for the plague). We are all complicated people and while Gage was incompetent (like that’s a problem in holding office) he did show some courage. When deadly labor strikes erupted, Gage disguised himself as a teamster and wandered San Francisco to unearth the causes.

By the way. Gage had a mine superintendent in Acton who had a daughter named Lou Henry, who married a dour engineering and geology major named Herb. They wed and Lou became Mrs. Herbert Hoover and the 31st First Lady. Besides holding a loose attraction as being the SCV’s only First Lady, Lou is the subject of another interesting trivia. At a party at Stanford, she backed her car over student Richard Boone, who would later become a movie star and lead in the eclectic series, “Have Gun, Will Travel.” 

MARCH 25, 1960 —

• Over at Baker Canyon, young Linda Berryman was riding her bicycle when a pack of a dozen Fox terriers chased her down, caused her bike to flip and severely mauled her. Neighbors ran out with rocks to save the girl, but not before she sustained dozens of bites and scratches. 

MARCH 25, 1970 —

• Around this time next month, we’re having our big Cowboy Fest at the Veluzet’s Melody Ranch (thanks, guys for the hospitality!). Forty years ago at Callahan’s Old West Museum on Sierra Highway (the former home of the Canyon Theatre Guild) several tourists were shot during a stuntman gunfight performance. One of the cowboy actors had accidentally put real bullets in his gun, perforating two children, two adults and four gunfighters. Being pro-local, may I state that on the bright side, at least the eight unseriously injured were all from out of town. 

MARCH 25, 1980 —

• Thirty years back, Sheriff’s commander Bill Fairchild retired on this date, replaced by Captain Ed Coffeen. Odd story about Bill. He had decided to become a sheriff after a near-fatal run-in with poison oak. As a young man, he accidentally rolled in some and was one blister from head to toe, and, was in a coma for 10 days. Must have been one of those religious vision/duty calling things… 

Thanks for the company, Santa Clarita neighbors. See you next week with another exciting Time Ranger adventure in the West Ranch Beacon. Until then, vayan con Dios, amigos!