 On December 2, 1914, Mercer and a local rancher named Robert Fenton were out investigating a police report for some stolen cattle.According to the report, a Mexican rancher named J. Padilla was in possession of a stolen calf, so the two men headed for Padilla's ranch, which was located just north of what is now the ghost town of Pantano.As Mercer and Fenton approached the little ranch, Padilla began walking towards them.