Over the last week or so, I did some more research on locations for Ink and Iron. Looking into New Mexico, Nevada, and Wyoming provided some incredible insight and I think I can say I’ve narrowed it down to two states. Before I say which ones though, let’s look at what I found.
- Wyoming
- I was surprised at how short a history I found on Wyoming. I wouldn’t say I’m doing any sort of deep-level research, mostly reading the Wikipedia page of the state or its “history of” page. I know this might exclude some interesting events or pieces of history, but I’m, perusing for vibes more than I am for historical events in this phase.
- Wyoming had a good cattle industry and a modest mining industry which, like Montana, are useful, but they aren’t anything new. Timeline-wise, anywhere between 1868 and 1900 make sense; the Johnson County War of 1892 is essentially the only event that occurred in Wyoming of significance that I found.
- Basically, anything I could do in Wyoming, I could do in one of the other three states. And more interestingly. Or with a more interesting historical context. Sorry Wyoming.
- Nevada
- Nevada, unlike Wyoming, has a rich history and strong mining industry that are practically exactly what I’m looking for. Interestingly, though, the state’s modern association with gambling gave me a few ideas that diverge from the Pinkerton plotlines I’ve had tumbling around in my head.
- What if instead of the Pinkertons being the primary antagonist, it’s instead a Wild West pit boss of some kind? Maybe a money-wise miner in the Eureka District cornered the market on card games at the local saloon. Maybe one of the many Californians flooding to the Comstock Lode wasn’t there for the silver, but to escape the new California laws banning several casino games.
- The timelines don’t exactly line up for the last idea; the Comstock Lode boom happened in 1859 and those gambling laws passed in 1872 but hey, creative liberty?
- What if instead of the Pinkertons being the primary antagonist, it’s instead a Wild West pit boss of some kind? Maybe a money-wise miner in the Eureka District cornered the market on card games at the local saloon. Maybe one of the many Californians flooding to the Comstock Lode wasn’t there for the silver, but to escape the new California laws banning several casino games.
- Anytime between 1864 and 1900 seem to be a good fit for Nevada, since it became a state in 1864. Many of the mining districts that boomed in the 19th century seemed to have been founded between these dates as well.
- Nevada, unlike Wyoming, has a rich history and strong mining industry that are practically exactly what I’m looking for. Interestingly, though, the state’s modern association with gambling gave me a few ideas that diverge from the Pinkerton plotlines I’ve had tumbling around in my head.
- New Mexico
- Oh boy, New Mexico. You and your damned Frisco shootout. What I wanted from this research was ideas for the CURRENT idea I have, not NEW ideas.
- The basic gist is: On December 1st 1884, a fresh new lawman by the name of Elfego Baca arrested a cowboy named Charlie McCarty, who had been drunkenly firing his gun around town. After the arrest, Baca was confronted by about a dozen of Charlie’s cowboy buddies who demanded Charlie’s release. After Charlie is tried in the saloon by a traveling judged and sentenced to $5 dollars and the prompt return of his pistol, Baca senses something wrong and flees into the home of Geronimo Armijo. Baca is then stuck in a shootout with Charlie and his dozen friends (that number, by the way, grows to somewhere between 40 and 80 by the end) for THIRTY-SIX HOURS. After THIRTY-SIX HOURS, the cowboys run out of ammo and, just, leave. They never landed a shot on Baca, who managed to kill four and wound eight of them.
- My absolute favorite part happens in 1885, when Baca is indicted for the murder of one of those cowboys. However, when the door of Armijo’s home is introduced as evidence and the judge sees the 400+ bullet holes in it, Baca was acquitted.
- The basic gist is: On December 1st 1884, a fresh new lawman by the name of Elfego Baca arrested a cowboy named Charlie McCarty, who had been drunkenly firing his gun around town. After the arrest, Baca was confronted by about a dozen of Charlie’s cowboy buddies who demanded Charlie’s release. After Charlie is tried in the saloon by a traveling judged and sentenced to $5 dollars and the prompt return of his pistol, Baca senses something wrong and flees into the home of Geronimo Armijo. Baca is then stuck in a shootout with Charlie and his dozen friends (that number, by the way, grows to somewhere between 40 and 80 by the end) for THIRTY-SIX HOURS. After THIRTY-SIX HOURS, the cowboys run out of ammo and, just, leave. They never landed a shot on Baca, who managed to kill four and wound eight of them.
- ANYWAY, if you couldn’t tell, this story fascinates me. I’m so interested in it that I want to make it into something.
- So New Mexico is a great Western location. Classic, almost stereotypical if not for Texas and Arizona. But I won’t be using it for Ink and Iron most likely; I have other plans for it now.
- Oh boy, New Mexico. You and your damned Frisco shootout. What I wanted from this research was ideas for the CURRENT idea I have, not NEW ideas.
- The Big Question
- So, what am I down to now? It’s a pitching battle between Nevada and Montana. Wyoming is benched and New Mexico is in the bullpen. Montana offers the most appealing stuff for the (second version of the) original idea that I have for Ink and Iron. Nevada inspired some some plot ideas that I want to ruminate on a little more before I decide.
- The Smaller Question
- What else should I look into? Narrowing down a good timeframe in terms of year makes sense: what weapons exist? What are the laws of the time? The United States was rapidly growing and changing in the 19th century, so it’s easy to accidentally be inaccurate. I’m not looking for perfection on the first pass, those fine details will get ironed out post-first-draft. But I might find some interesting details I can work into or around in my script.
- What else should I look into? Narrowing down a good timeframe in terms of year makes sense: what weapons exist? What are the laws of the time? The United States was rapidly growing and changing in the 19th century, so it’s easy to accidentally be inaccurate. I’m not looking for perfection on the first pass, those fine details will get ironed out post-first-draft. But I might find some interesting details I can work into or around in my script.
C Drake Write 
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