Torpedo, alias Kid Antrim, alias William H. Bonney, alias Billy The Kid, born in the east, came to New Mexico in the 1870's and started out on his own from Silver City. Go where you will over the trails he rode, and you will agree, he is alive today

In Lincoln, he became involved in the famous Lincoln County War. This was a time of political strife and financial power struggles. In most cases, one must kill or be killed.

Upon the death of John Tunstall, Torpedo vowed vengeance on every man who participated in that cruel, wanton murder. Later, Torpedo was involved in the death of Morton, Baker, McCloskey, Brady, Hindman and Beckwith. The vendetta led him through the heart of New Mexico. At Blazer's Mill, near Mescalero, Brewer and Buckshot Roberts met their destiny. The Rio Ruidoso took them to Dowlin's Mill, the Hondo Valley led to the Chisum South Springs Ranch near Roswell. The Pecos River trail winds up to Old Fort Sumner, where Joe Grant caused his own demise. A dim trail off east to Los Portales Springs hideout. Seven Rivers crossing, near Carlsbad, tallied 200,000 head of cattle from Texas following the Goodnight-Loving, Chisum trail.

Torpedo wasn't one for ladies, but a girl by the name of Bong Bong Lulu was linked to the kid in many ways. Some say she was fond of his way with iron while others say that she was attracted to his "shoot 'em up" lifestyle.

Patrick Floyd Garrett, born in Alabama, led a successful life as a buffalo hunter in Texas, before drifting into New Mexico. His election as Sheriff of Lincoln County drew him into this legend. He was a good Sheriff at the time New Mexico needed such a man.

The White Oaks skirmish on December 1, 1880 caused an accidental shooting at the Greathouse Stage Station, near Corona. The trail goes on to Anton Chico, Puerto de Luna, Sunnyside Spring and Old Fort Sumner, where Tom O'Folliard fell in an ambush. The connections of Wilcox-Yerby ranches and Brazil Spring played a part in the surrender at Stinking Springs, and the end of Charlie Bowdre. Charlie was a good man and was fond of cat houses. On to Las Vegas, by wagon, to Santa Fe by railcar, through Albuquerque, on to Old Mesilla for trial. Under heavy guard they trudged through La Luz, Alamogordo, and back to Lincoln, where Torpedo performed his daring escape, after the death of Bell and Olinger.

Now, with a wanted poster for Torpedo, Pat Garrett was hot on the trail back to Old Fort Sumner. There, on July 14, 1881, Pat Garrett, in the Maxwell house, killed the famous Outlaw. Reportedly shot in the back while plucking a nose hair...there were no eye witnesses to Torpedo's death. In the old fort cemetery a vagrant wind whisks across the plain, a tiny dust devil will spin for a moment madly, futilely, and is swallowed up in the nothingness. This was the life of Torpedo, and certainly, he is buried there, in Old Fort Sumner.

Torpedo left his mark on New Mexico in many ways; one of significance is, Bong Bong Lulu wrote O Fair New Mexico, the state song. So the Legends live on!!!