Posey became the leader of a renegade bunch in this part of San Juan County. (Black 2.) Then he met Turah, a young Indian girl whom he soon grew to love very much. Turah had a brother named Poke, and he didn't want Posey near Turah.

Poke and the Dutchie boys kept moving Turah from one camp to another, trying to keep her from Posey.

Posey kept searching for her and soon came upon their camp at night. Poke and the Indians were playing Duckeye, a type of poker game. Posey crept into camp and kidnaped Turah from Poke and rode off with her. They spent day after day with each other, moving from one camp to another, trying to stay away from Poke.

One day, in a playful quarrel, Posey accidentally shot Turah. He did everything he could do for her as she lay in his arms, but he was unable to save her. Three days later she died, still in his arms.

John D. Rogers said that it was after Turah was accidentally shot and killed, without Posey's being able to do anything, that was the start of Posey's war. This was when Posey's anger and hatred began.

LaWana Eubanks wrote the research paper that this it taken from when she was a junior at San Juan High School in Blanding, Utah.

This story correlates closely with the song "Posey" written and recorded by Stan Bronson in the album, Down From the Mountain.

Works cited:

(Black, Chauncey. Interview on July 10, 1972 by Louise Lyne in Blanding, Utah.)

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