Bronco Sue Yonkers – Wild Woman of the West
The annals of the American West are filled with tales of rugged individuals, daring pioneers, and larger-than-life characters who carved their names into the landscape of history. Among these figures stands Bronco Sue Yonkers, a woman who defied societal expectations and lived a life as wild and unpredictable as the frontier itself. Known by various aliases – Sue Warfield, Sue Rapier, Sue Stone, and Sue Black – she was a Welsh immigrant who possessed both captivating beauty and a sharp shooting skill that rivaled any man of her time. Bronco Sue Yonkers navigated the treacherous terrain of the Wild West, leaving behind a trail of captivated admirers and a few unfortunate souls who crossed her path.
Susie Warfield, as she was originally known, was born in Wales on September 11, 1854. Her family immigrated to the United States while she was still a child, seeking opportunity and a new beginning in the burgeoning nation. The Warfield family eventually found their way to the bustling mining camps of Nevada, a landscape teeming with prospectors, adventurers, and a relentless pursuit of fortune. It was here, amidst the dust and clamor of the mining boom, that young Susie began to develop the skills and spirit that would later define her as Bronco Sue Yonkers.
In the rugged environment of the Nevada mining camps, Susie Warfield blossomed into a daring and capable young woman. She quickly learned to master the art of horsemanship, riding with skill and confidence across the vast landscapes. More remarkably, she honed her skills with a pistol, becoming a formidable shot who could hold her own in a world dominated by men. These abilities, combined with her natural charisma and striking looks, made her a captivating figure in the rough-and-tumble atmosphere of the mining camps.
At the tender age of fifteen, Susie Warfield embarked on the first of several marriages, wedding a mine promoter named Thomas Rapier. The couple had two sons together and moved to California, where Rapier sought his fortune in the state’s own mining endeavors. During this time, Sue demonstrated her unwavering loyalty and bravery when her husband was wounded during an Indian raid. Without hesitation, she risked her own safety to rescue him, showcasing the courage and devotion that lay beneath her fiery exterior.
However, the allure of adventure and the promise of greater opportunities proved too strong for Sue to resist. When Thomas Rapier’s Downieville mine played out, and his fortunes dwindled, Sue made the decision to leave him and return to the familiar landscapes of Nevada. This marked a turning point in her life, as she embraced a more independent and unconventional path, shedding the constraints of traditional domesticity.
Back in Nevada, Sue quickly found herself involved in the company of a cattle rustler known as Colonel Robert Payne in Elko County. This association thrust her into a world of lawlessness and danger, where she learned to navigate the murky waters of the criminal underworld. During these years, she survived numerous gunfighting scrapes, demonstrating her quick wit and deadly accuracy. Remarkably, despite her involvement in questionable activities, she was brought before the court several times but was never convicted, perhaps due to the persuasive charm and strong presence she had on all-male juries. Even at such a young age, Bronco Sue Yonkers was a force to be reckoned with.
Restless and ever seeking new horizons, Sue moved on to Colorado, where she adopted the alias Susie Stone. Here, she took on the challenging role of operating a stage line between Conejos and San Antonio, managing the daily operations, handling passengers, and ensuring the safe passage of her stagecoaches through the often-perilous terrain. This venture demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit and her ability to adapt to new environments and challenges.
By 1882, Sue’s life took another turn when she married a man named Jack Yonkers. The couple relocated to Wallace, New Mexico, where they established a saloon, catering to the needs of the local population and the influx of travelers passing through the town. However, the stability of this life was short-lived. Just a year later, Sue moved again, this time to the more bustling settlement of White Oaks, New Mexico.
Upon her arrival in White Oaks, Jack Yonkers was nowhere to be found. Instead, Sue was accompanied by a man named Robert Black. Her explanation for her husband’s absence was that Yonkers had succumbed to smallpox and that Robert Black had assisted her in burying him at Alkali Flat. However, this story was met with skepticism, as there was no record or widespread knowledge of a smallpox outbreak in the area at that time.
Despite the questions surrounding Yonkers’s fate, Sue and Robert Black established a successful saloon in White Oaks. Their business prospered, and the couple soon acquired a ranch, solidifying their presence in the community. However, as the mining boom in White Oaks began to wane, the pair once again sought greener pastures, relocating to Socorro, New Mexico.
In Socorro, Sue ran a boarding house, providing lodging and meals to travelers and residents alike. Black, meanwhile, opened another saloon, hoping to replicate their previous success. However, fortune did not favor them this time around. In August 1884, Black lost his saloon, leading to a drunken argument with Sue that resulted in his arrest and overnight detention.
Upon his release the following morning, the town marshal warned Black to avoid returning home, cautioning him that Sue was heavily armed and prepared to use her superior shooting skills. Black, however, disregarded the warning and returned to their residence, where he was shot and killed by Bronco Sue Yonkers.
Following her arrest for Black’s murder, Sue claimed that he had attacked her with an ax, forcing her to act in self-defense. This claim, coupled with her undeniable charm and perhaps a degree of sympathy from the all-male jury, led to her release without any indictments being made. Sensing the precariousness of her situation, Sue fled town, leaving behind yet another chapter of her tumultuous life.
Sue next surfaced in Tularosa, New Mexico, where she became acquainted with a Texan rancher named Big John Good, who had recently arrived with a large herd of cattle. Good was known for his bullying behavior and tendency to throw his weight around, but his relationship with Sue was cut short by the arrival of his wife and children.
Undeterred, Sue moved on and became involved with a rancher named Charley Dawson, assisting him in training horses. It was during this period that she earned the moniker "Bronco Sue," a testament to her skill and expertise in handling wild horses.
However, John Good’s jealousy was reignited by Sue’s involvement with Dawson, leading him to challenge Dawson to a duel at La Luz. On December 8, 1884, Good shot and killed Dawson, claiming self-defense. He was subsequently arrested but acquitted on the same grounds.
Sue’s presence at the duel reminded authorities of her involvement in the Robert Black case, leading to her arrest on outstanding murder warrants from Socorro. In 1886, she was finally brought to trial for Black’s murder. The newspapers sensationalized the case, referring to her as the "Lucretia Borgia" of the West, a comparison to the infamous Italian noblewoman known for her cunning and ruthless nature. Despite the intense media scrutiny and the gravity of the charges, Sue was defended by the famed attorney Alfred J. Fountain. Once again, she was found not guilty by an all-male jury and released.
The day after her acquittal, Bronco Sue Yonkers, ever the elusive wanderer, departed for Arizona and vanished from the historical record. Her life, a tapestry woven with threads of adventure, danger, and controversy, remains a captivating enigma, a testament to the untamed spirit of the Wild West and the extraordinary women who dared to defy its conventions. Her story continues to be retold, solidifying her place in the legends of the American West.