Christmas Eve, 1871: stories told of a holiday with six-shooters

  • courtesy photo | jeff jackson The Aten College building may or may not have been the scene of a shoot-up-the-town type of Christmas celebration in 1871. It was an active school from 1869 until sometime in the 1890s.
    courtesy photo | jeff jackson The Aten College building may or may not have been the scene of a shoot-up-the-town type of Christmas celebration in 1871. It was an active school from 1869 until sometime in the 1890s.
  • courtesy photo | jeff jackson collection Benjamin F. Horrell (c. 1851-1873) was known as the rowdiest of the Horrell brothers.
    courtesy photo | jeff jackson collection Benjamin F. Horrell (c. 1851-1873) was known as the rowdiest of the Horrell brothers.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Lampasas historian Jeff Jackson has researched a number of history topics. The following offers his research on events said to have occurred on Christmas Eve, 1871. The following story may be true in one form or another. It was not derived from newspaper reports at the time. The story did not get to print until long after the fact. It probably has no historical value. No author…

Premium Content is available to subscribers only. Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription.