Elmer Thomsen's survival after Apache attack

Hans A. Thomsen's family was attacked by Apaches at their ranch near Pacheco, Mexico. The father was away. Two sons (Hyrum, 17, and Elmer, 14) and a 10-year-old granddaughter were outside when Hyrum was shot and killed. Elmer was shot in the side and fainted; he later hid in a chicken coop. Despite being wounded and exhausted, he and the little girl traveled to seek help. His survival is implicitly attributed to his dramatic escape from the massacre site while his mother and brother were killed.

The massacre occurred on September 19, 1892, at a ranch leased from Helaman Pratt near the Piedras Verde Rio area. According to accounts provided by Elmer to his daughter Nathala and son Floyd, Elmer and Hyrum were carrying a copper tub of whey to the hog pen when they were confronted by Indians. Elmer reported that he was shot in the chest after stopping and squaring himself, following his father's advice that taking a deep breath would minimize fatal injury; he subsequently 'played dead' to escape notice. Elmer and the granddaughter, Annie (age 6), later successfully hid together in a chicken coop, where Elmer prepared to defend them with a large rock and his knife. When Elmer grew too weak to walk further toward the Williams ranch, he instructed Annie to continue on her own for help. He was eventually found by Johnnie Mortenson, who transported him to the Mortenson home for recovery.