Eight Against One

William Roberts used remarkable skills and guts to even the odds.

It’s called the Battle of Blazer’s Mill, one of the most remarkable gunfights ever. It happened during the Lincoln County War on April 4, 1878. William Roberts stopped by the Blazer place to pick up a check before leaving the area, tired of the violence. But he ran into some enemies—Billy the Kid and seven of his Regulators. They began harassing Roberts, and then guns were pulled. Roberts was mortally wounded. But he managed to route his opponents, killing one and wounding four before they ran. Roberts died the next day.