Lonesome Dove plot based on actual incident

[AtlLaw]

I had the History Channel on the TV while I was working in the house this weekend.  I think they were doing some historical series on America.  Anyway, I was half listening when things started to sound familiar.  2 friends on a cattle drive, one rides off sightseeing with another drover, they get jumped by indians, one is shot through the wrist, the other swims for help - the Pacos River I believe - he finally staggers into the herd bare foot and dressed only in longjohns, then the other friend rides to resque the one left behind but that one is gone when he gets to the river, he finally finds him in a town, gangreen has set in but the arm is amputated, too late - the friend dies after asking the survivor to haul his dead butt off somewhere, they pack the box with salt, then I had to leave, the wife mate was callin.   

I forget the two friend's names, Lovejoy and Peterson or something like that.  But I couldn't believe that part of the Lonesome Dove plot was based on a true incident!  Interesting! 

[Dee]

Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving are whom you speaking about Richard. In the museum in Canyon, Texas there is much about the two, especially Charles Goodnight. He was a salty individual indeed, and not to be messed with. He virtually STARTED cattle ranching in the Texas Panhandle,and was before, and from time to time a Ranger.
Mr. McMurtry did not plagiarize a book, he plagiarized a LIFE. Every where you go in the Texas Panhandle you will see Goodnight mark on the history there. He is even in the sequel to Lonesome Dove, called "Dead Man's Walk".

[mcwoodduck]

I would not call it plagerizing.  Enhancing, taking history and making a bigger story about it.  Many books do this.  Tom Clancey, Steven Hunter, and well most of the books I read have some grain of truth that got the author thinking and developing a story and plot.  Fiction with a touch of realism.  I can see the problem when some think the story is real history.  
Much like Clinton that rewrote history and called it the truth in "My Life" "My Lies" should be the real title.  Of coures I move the book when  in the bookstore from Biography or History to the science fiction section.

I saw the same show the other day, it was interesting.  The two were trying to skirt and cross Comanche territory and sell cattle to A fort in Comanche territory.
Talked more about the Henry Rifle and how great it was, but he did not make any hits with it to end the fight.

[mrbigtexan]

Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving are whom you speaking about Richard. In the museum in Canyon, Texas there is much about the two, especially Charles Goodnight. He was a salty individual indeed, and not to be messed with. He virtually STARTED cattle ranching in the Texas Panhandle,and was before, and from time to time a Ranger.
Mr. McMurtry did not plagiarize a book, he plagiarized a LIFE. Every where you go in the Texas Panhandle you will see Goodnight mark on the history there. He is even in the sequel to Lonesome Dove, called "Dead Man's Walk".

yes, goodnight has a mark on alot of things around here. the canyon museum is one of the best museums i have ever seen. he started a ranch in palo duro canyon as well as a buffalo herd. if you ever make it to these parts, look at the quarter horse museum here in amarillo as well.

[Dee]

mrbigtexan I lived up around Dumas for many years, and have prowled the canyons around Alabates, Plum Creek. ect. Have been to Adobe Walls are and so on. Love that Texas History.

duck, I didn't mean in a negative way that McMurtry had plagiarized Goodnight and Loving's lives. I suppose I could have used a different term, such as MODELED it after.

[Duke0313]

Canyon, Texas??? My uncle used to run a Baptist summer camp in Canyon, Texas. Can't remember the name of the place...it was the mid '70's. Wonder if it's still there??

[mrbigtexan]

mrbigtexan I lived up around Dumas for many years, and have prowled the canyons around Alabates, Plum Creek. ect. Have been to Adobe Walls are and so on. Love that Texas History.

duck, I didn't mean in a negative way that McMurtry had plagiarized Goodnight and Loving's lives. I suppose I could have used a different term, such as MODELED it after.

Dee, it would make you sick to see how low meredith is now. only 2 boat ramps are open now. whereabouts you at now?

[Dee]

I'm down around Sherman. Meredith according to a nephew is pretty well on the endangered list as far as the Corp of Engineers is concerned. New Mexico is havin water problems and is holding on to it. At one time I have thrown my canoe into the Canadian at US287, and my oldest son picked me up in Alabates Canyon. Pretty country all the way.

[Rancher]

New Mexico is always having water problems.  I thought they were on the right track when they started spraying salt cedars.  It would have worked if they had adopted a systematic, logical approach to the problem.  As usual, poiticians got involved and messed up the deal and what little progress was made is pretty much gone.