Water In A Thirsty Land.

RUTH R. EALY

Publication: Privately printed by Ruth R Ealy, 1955, N P

First edition. 8vo. Red cloth, [5], 243 pp., preface, introduction, illustrated from photographs. The author's father, Dr. T. F. Ealy, was a medical missionary in Indian Territory and New Mexico Territory. His first assignment was Fort Arbuckle, Chickasaw Reservation, Oklahoma Territory; his second was in Lincoln, New Mexico Territory; and his final assignment was Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico Territory. Dr. Ealy arrived in Lincoln the day after John Henry Tunstall was murdered and so, officiated at Tunstall's funeral. The murder of Tunstall kicked off the bloody Linclon County War. Much on the Lincoln County War, information of the burning of McSween's home, new material on Billy the Kid, and with information of the cattle industry in New Mexico. From Lincoln, Dr. Ealy went to Zuni Pueblo. His keen observations are one of the primary, early sources of life in Zuni in 1878. An unusual copy with an inked inscription on the front free fly leaf the reads :"To top expert Jeff Dykes with all good wishes of Bob Mullen, 12/1/55." Laid-in are four letters; two letters from 1955 and 1956 between R. N. Mullin and Jeff Dykes about Mullin's attempts to purchase a copy of the book from Ealy; a letter from Ealy to Jeff Dykes dated May 9, 1956; plus a letter from Mullin to W. M Morrison about the attempt to purchase a copy of Ealy's book. Jeff Dykes' Rare Western Outlaw Books says that 100 copies were printed with only 33 copies being for sale. Dykes provides additional information about the book. Robert N. Mullin (1893–1982) was a writer of Western history and the author of several publications about Billy the Kid, and the Lincoln County War. One of 100 copies (33 for sale) in fine and bright condition of a rare book. Housed in a modern cloth slipcase.