It all began when four men on horseback carried out a stagecoach robbery that was en route to the Vallecito Station. The bandit leader, O’Hara, shouted, “This is a holdup.” O’Hara, riding a beautiful white horse, proceeded to take the valuables from the passengers, while his partners pointed their guns at them. The robbery was believed to be worth over $65,000. As the men fled, the driver of the stagecoach fired one shot, killing one of the four men. But when the driver of the coach caught up the one he shot, he found two dead men. O’Hara, it is presumed, shot one of his own men. O’Hara and his partner continued on, burying their loot before reaching Vallecito Station. There, they had several shots of whiskey and began to argue. O’Hara claimed he was going to attend to his horse and come back, so they could continue their disagreement. When O’Hara kicked open the door, he was mounted on his great white horse and he shot his partner. But as his partner fell, he drew his gun and returned fire, mortally wounding O’Hara and spooking his white horse. The white horse fled into the valley, near the camp where they buried their cache. It is said that many who have gone in search of the loot, have seen the ghost of “The Great White Horse,” galloping through the sand, from afar, but then it disappears without a trace, leaving a gust of cold air.
