47008: Pat F. Garrett Autograph Letter Signed "P.F. Gar

Pat F. Garrett Autograph Letter Signed "P.F. Garrett." One page, 8.25" x 11", Las Cruces, New Mexico; March 2, 1896. A letter written to his daughter, Ida, on Rio Grande Hotel letterhead. Garrett writes for information on his business at home and for news of his family. It reads in part: "I wrote your mama that I would leave here yesterday but was kept on business. I will start out in a few minutes. I, glad your mama is getting along all right, but it scares me to know the Babys eyes are sore tell your mama to have the doctor to come and see him at once. I would not have such an accident to happen him as happened Lizzie for nothing in the world. All I was Mr. Dale to do is...take good care of the stock. See that the stock in the pasture does not suffer for water. I dreamed last night your mama had a blue eyes Baby Boy." On verso Garrett has written: "Write me here at Las Cruses." Pat Garret was a well-known sharpshooter and frontiersman, best remembered for killing Billy the Kid. His mention to an accident involving his daughter Elizabeth is in reference to the fact that she became blind shortly after her birth. It is unknown whether this was caused by an infection or by the blue vitriol (a copper sulfate chemical) used to treat eye infections, but the matter obviously weighed heavily on Garrett. He would face more tragedy when his daughter Ida passed away at the end of the year. Condition: Flattened mail folds. Minor uneven toning throughout. There is a small tear at the left edge at one of the folds. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved