NM History: What Lies Below Bonito Lake

Original Article by Julie Carter | FocusNM.com

Bonito Lake lies in Lincoln National Forest, near Ruidoso, and to most, it seems like just a normal reservoir. The wind blows across the top of the calm waters and as the leaves rustle, it sounds like the perfect place for a day of fishing or a picnic by the lake. If you knew the history though, the winds through the hillside of trees might sound a little more like whispers of a century-old murder mystery that now lies buried at the bottom of the New Mexican lake.

This story began long before the lake was there.

In fact, the area once was home to a town called Bonito City, which sprang up as a mining town in the late 1800s. By the mid-1880s, the town had a school, hotel, stores, and even a post office. It was bustling with families who relocated to join in the mining rush. The log-building filled town boasted joy at every turn. Those living there had high hopes for the gold they sought after. On May 5, 1885 however, the joy of the little town was destroyed by a mass murder. Stories have circulated for years around the massacre, and as they’ve been retold, history has been altered some. However, there is still a grain of truth, and that’s where we begin sharing this piece of New Mexico History.

That dreadful May day in 1885 a man named Martin Nelson went on a shooting rampage killing 7 people. The motive has never been determined, but many say it was because of greed, pure madness or unrequited love. Nevertheless, the day was a tragedy.

Nelson came to Bonito City for the local mining, and was staying in the hotel in Bonito City which rested in the center of the town. It was owned and managed by the Mayberry family, who had 3 children, Johnny, Nellie, and Eddie (focusnm.com). On the night of the murders, the only 2 guests at the hotel were Nelson and a Dr. RE Flynn. The Mayberry family and the 2 guests spent the evening playing cards and around 10 PM all turned in for the night. Around 1 AM, for an unknown reason, Nelson arose and knocked on the door of the 2 Mayberry boys, Johnny and Eddie. When Johnny, the older of the two, sleepily opened the 2nd story door, Nelson shot him point blank with a .38 caliber rifle. Johnny tried to resist, which angered Nelson who clubbed the boy over the head, and then shot him again. Eddie, the younger of the boys at only 7 years old, was sat screaming in his bed watching the horror unfolding, as Nelson turned the gun and shot him also.

As the commotion was going on, Dr. Flynn heard the gunshots and rushed to the boys’ aid. He was met with the rifle pointed his direction, and Nelson shot him once in the head, then bludgeoned him and threw his body on top of the other 2.

Stories say that John Mayberry, the boys’ father and owner of the hotel, heard the screaming and gunshots and came rushing up the dark stairway and was shot in the heart before he even made it to the 2nd floor (focusnm.com). His wife followed, still in her nightgown, and was met with a shot to the chest from Nelson’s rifle. He also managed to get a shot off and into the Mayberry daughter, Nellie. She, fortunately, survived the incident, but the rest of the family died due to their severe injuries.

Before Mrs. Mayberry died however, she was able to stumble out into the street, leaving a trail of bloody footsteps behind her. Unfortunately for Mrs. Mayberry, the neighbors had heard the commotion and saw Nelson chasing after her, so they wouldn’t open their door. With one more bullet, Nelson killed Mrs. Mayberry.

The story continues that a saloon owner, Pete Nelson (no relation), ran from his business and tried to wrestle the gun away from Martin Nelson. The younger man was able to overtake Pete, and ended up shooting him also, then bashed in his head with the butt of his gun. Another bystander, Herman Beck, is said to have been Nelson’s final victim as he heard the commotion and came out to see what had happened. He was shot in cold blood and the remaining townspeople barricaded themselves in their homes, fearful for their own lives.

It’s said that Nelson then wandered around town for hours before leaving. Later in the morning, 3 townsmen who were standing in the street discussing the massacre saw Nelson climbing down the mountain towards Bonito City, and as Nelson raised his rifle to fire at the men, one of them was able to shoot him first, killing him instantly.

All of the victims were buried in Bonito City Cemetery (except Dr. Flynn who was sent back to his family in another state). Nelson, however was buried outside of the town, away from those he took the lives of. The town eventually became a ghost town as the gold rush slowly ended. Families moved out just as they had moved in, and the streets of Bonito became scarce.

In 1930, a dam was built which caused the waters of Bonito Lake to rise and the buildings of Bonito City were dismantled. Locals tell legends of the church steeple being seen just beneath the waters of the beloved lake (focusnm.com)

Perhaps the history continues to live on in a ghostly sort of way beneath the waters of Bonito. Only those who come to enjoy the area can really say, after all they are the ones who hear the whispers in the trees.