Greathouse Station and Tavern

Accidentally covers a good deal. When the White Oaks posse surrounded the ranch, Jimmy Carlyle went inside to talk while Greathouse came out as a hostage. Late in the evening a shot went off outside; believing his men had killed Greathouse, Carlyle crashed through a window and was shot down by his own posse. The posse scattered, the outlaws walked away, and the house was burned behind them. The posse put the killing on Billy the Kid, who denied it for the rest of his life, including in a letter to Governor Lew Wallace.

What the plaque says

Official Scenic Historic Marker Greathouse Station and Tavern In late November, 1880, William "Billy the Kid" Bonney, David Rudabaugh and William Wilson were hiding out near here at a store and tavern oper- ated by James Greathouse and a partner named Kuch. The night of No- vember 27, they were surrounded by a posse. Duputy James Carlyle was accidentally killed when he attemped to negotiate the outlaw's surrender. Bonney and his companions escaped unharmed.

Where it stands

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