The Wild West Extravaganza

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James Beckwourth: From Slave to Mountain Man

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

James Beckwourth lived one of the most extraordinary lives in American frontier history. Born the son of a white plantation owner and an enslaved Black woman, Beckwourth was freed by his father and set out to make his own way in the West. He trapped beaver alongside legendary mountain men like Jim Bridger and Kit Carson, fought in battles ranging from the swamps of Florida to the Pacific coast, and rose to prominence as a leader among the Crow Nation. Beckwourth, also known as Bloody Arm, became known not only for his courage and skill but also for his gift of storytelling. Some saw him as a hero, others as a braggart, and many as a man whose tales blurred the line between fact and fiction. His legacy remains controversial, from accusations of involvement in the Sand Creek Massacre to the mystery surrounding his death near the Bighorn River. Was James Beckwourth a fearless frontiersman, a dangerous opportunist, or simply a legend much too large to pin down? Historians still debate the truth, but what’s undeniable is that Beckwourth left a mark on the Old West that cannot be ignored.

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Sheriff Pat Garrett & the $500 Controversy

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Did Pat Garrett receive the $500 bounty on Billy the Kid’s head? For years, rumors have spread that Garrett was denied payment because he failed to prove the Kid’s death. But how true are these claims?

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Bigfoot Wallace: Texas Hero or Villain?

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 14:46:00 -0000

Bigfoot Wallace is one of those figures who looms so large in Texas history that it can be tough to separate the facts from the tall tales. Born in Virginia and hardened by tragedy, Wallace headed to Texas with vengeance on his mind. What followed was a life filled with brutal frontier battles, narrow escapes, and enough wild stories to fill volumes. As a Texas Ranger, Wallace faced down Comanche warriors, Mexican soldiers, and all the hazards the wild country could throw at him. He was captured, imprisoned, and forced to gamble his own life in a deadly lottery. Somehow, he always managed to survive, becoming both a folk hero and a figure of controversy along the way. But who was the real Bigfoot Wallace? Was he truly the courageous defender that Texans have celebrated for generations, or was there something darker beneath the surface? How much of his legend is built on truth, and how much is the result of years spent spinning yarns on a front porch?

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The Widow's Secret: Was Billy the Kid's Death a Hoax?

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 21:09:00 -0000

Did Pat Garrett’s widow really claim that her husband helped to fake the demise of Billy the Kid? What about Garrett’s daughter, Elizabeth? Did she really give an interview in the 1980s saying the same thing? Endless online debates and unreliable sources have fueled questions such as these. But what does the historical evidence actually say? Today, we’ll examine the affidavit of Homer Overton, the stories about Elizabeth Garrett, the primary sources, eyewitness testimony, and the coroner’s inquest records. And hopefully, once and for all, put the rumors to rest.

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John Tornow | Wild Man of the Wynoochee

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

John Tornow, also known as the Wild Man of the Wynoochee, became one of the most feared and hunted men in the Pacific Northwest during the early 1900s. Born in Iowa in 1880, he grew up in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where he developed an unmatched skill with a rifle and a deep love for the wilderness. What began as the life of a quiet hermit spiraled into a story of family feuds, tragic deaths, wild rumors, and a scandal so shocking it still defies belief. Branded a monster by newspapers and pursued in one of the largest manhunts in Washington history, Tornow’s legend continues to blur the line between truth and myth. Was John Tornow a cold-blooded killer or just a misunderstood loner forced into violence?

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Frank "Pistol Pete" Eaton

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton was more than a mascot. He was a real man who claimed to have lived one of the most violent and extraordinary lives of the Old West. Born in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, Eaton moved with his family to Kansas, where he witnessed his father’s murder at the hands of six vigilantes. From that moment on, young Frank dedicated his life to revenge. By the time he was fifteen, he was a crack shot with a revolver and began hunting down his father’s killers one by one. He later served as a deputy under Judge Isaac Parker before settling in Oklahoma as a blacksmith. In time, his larger-than-life reputation turned him into a local hero and eventually the inspiration for Oklahoma State University’s official mascot, Pistol Pete. Today, we'll explore the facts, the myths, and the legacy of Frank Eaton. Was he really a teenage avenger turned US Marshal, or just an old cowboy spinning stories that grew taller with time?

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Young Guns 2: Fact vs Fiction

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

If you grew up watching westerns in the late 80s and early 90s, Young Guns II was probably on your list, but how much of what we saw on screen was true? Today, we dig into the real history behind Billy the Kid and Young Guns II with Dan LeFebvre, the award-winning host of the Based on a True Story Podcast. Together, we explore questions such as whether cattle baron John Chisum actually placed a bounty on Billy the Kid, if Pat Garrett really rode with Billy before becoming a lawman, and whether the legendary showdown at White Oaks actually took place. We also dive into the myths of Brushy Bill Roberts and uncover the truth about Dave Rudabaugh’s infamous nickname. Also discussed are Billy the Kid’s gang, the offer of a pardon, dime novels, vigilante justice, and other enduring legends that have kept Billy’s story alive for more than 140 years. If you’re a fan of westerns, historical movies, or the true tales behind the legends of the Old West, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.

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Series on Billy the Kid! https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-compilation/

Series on Pat Garrett! https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-compilation/

The REAL Lincoln County Regulators! https://www.wildwestextra.com/doc-scurlock-the-lincoln-county-regulators/

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Archie Clement's Bloody Last Stand

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Archie Clement was one of the most notorious guerrilla fighters to emerge from Missouri during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Barely over five feet tall and weighing around 130 pounds, Clement quickly became feared across the state for his ruthlessness and intensity. Riding with William “Bloody Bill” Anderson, Jesse James, and Frank James, he participated in some of the most infamous raids of the war, including the Centralia Massacre, where unarmed Union soldiers were executed and scalped. After Anderson’s death, Clement took command and refused to surrender even after the Confederacy collapsed. Instead, he escalated his attacks, intimidating towns, influencing elections with violence, and masterminding the very first daylight bank robbery in American history. His defiance of Reconstruction authorities eventually brought him into direct conflict with Major Bacon Montgomery’s militia, leading to a violent showdown in Lexington. Reportedly carrying up to eleven revolvers, Clement fought ferociously, even after being riddled with more than thirty bullets, attempting to cock a pistol with his teeth before finally succumbing just days shy of his 21st birthday.

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Jack Hinson: Civil War Sniper

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:11:00 -0000

Jack Hinson, known as “Old Jack,” began the Civil War as a wealthy Tennessee planter with no intentions to enlist in the Civil War. That changed in 1862 when Union troops executed his sons and displayed their heads on his plantation gateposts. At 57 years old, Hinson armed himself with a custom .50 caliber rifle and launched a one-man war of revenge. From hidden ridges above the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, he targeted Union officers, disrupted gunboats, and carved his legend as one of the deadliest guerrilla snipers of the Civil War. Some claim his tally reached 100 men, while his rifle bore 36 notches. Whether avenger or violent secessionist, Jack Hinson became a symbol of how personal tragedy could fuel relentless warfare.

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Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War: The Fight Begins

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0000

The Battle of White Bird Canyon was one of the most lopsided defeats the U.S. Army ever suffered in the American West. On June 17, 1877, Captain David Perry led roughly one hundred soldiers and scouts into Idaho’s White Bird Canyon, believing they could quickly subdue the Nez Perce. Instead, the Nez Perce delivered a crushing defeat. In less than an hour, 34 soldiers lay dead as dozens more were forced to flee on foot. The Nez Perce, fighting for their very survival, lost not a single warrior. This stunning victory was only the beginning. Just two weeks later, Nez Perce warriors annihilated Lieutenant Rains and his command of ten men, once again without suffering a single casualty. These early triumphs showed the tactical brilliance and determination of the Nez Perce people, who had long endured broken treaties, land seizures, and violence from settlers. Once a peaceful nation led by figures such as Chief Joseph and Looking Glass, they were pushed into war after decades of betrayal and deception. The conflict would span several states, involve thousands of soldiers and volunteers, and claim hundreds of lives. But at White Bird Canyon, the Army met a devastating and unforgettable defeat. Join us as we explore the story of the Nez Perce, the opening battles of the war, and how a peaceful people were forced into one of the most legendary struggles of the Old West.

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Elfego Baca & the Frisco Shootout (Encore)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 12:42:00 -0000

In October of 1884, 19-year-old Elfego Baca made history during the legendary Frisco Shootout. After pinning on a fake badge and arresting a drunken cowboy named Charlie McCarty, Baca found himself surrounded by dozens of angry ranch hands. The standoff escalated into a 33-hour siege in which as many as 80 cowboys fired more than 4,000 rounds into the adobe building where Baca took cover. Remarkably, not a single bullet struck him. Acquitted of murder on multiple occasions and later serving as sheriff, U.S. marshal, lawyer, and politician, Baca became a folk hero of the New Mexico frontier.

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They're Remaking Lonesome Dove!?

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:34:00 -0000

Teton Ridge has snagged the film and TV rights to Larry McMurtry’s legendary Lonesome Dove series, promising a fresh take on the Pulitzer Prize-winning saga of retired Texas Rangers on a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Montana. The original adaptation in 1989 became a Western classic, but will the remake live up to its legacy? And did you know that many of the characters and events in Lonesome Dove were inspired by real-life people and events? Today, we explore the remake rumors as well as the true history behind Lonesome Dove: Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving, Bose Ikard, Nelson Story, and more! We’ll also share our favorite Lonesome Dove quotes and a bit of behind-the-scenes trivia.

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Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War: Genesis

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0000

The Nez Perce War erupted in 1877 after decades of broken treaties, stolen land, and violent confrontations between settlers and the Nez Perce people. At the center of this struggle was Chief Joseph, a leader who had spent years trying to keep peace, only to be forced into leading his people on one of the greatest fighting retreats in American history. This is not just a story of betrayal, courage, and survival; it’s about the final stand of a people fighting for their very existence and the man who became their reluctant war leader. Who was Chief Joseph? What was his early life like? And what events led to the Nez Perce War?

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Mysterious Dave Mather: The Gunfighter Who Vanished Without a Trace

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0000

Mysterious Dave Mather was one of the Old West’s most elusive figures. Born in Connecticut and orphaned at a young age, Mather drifted west, where his life became a blur of gunfights, gambling halls, and questionable alliances. He wore a badge in towns like Dodge City and East Las Vegas, but just as often found himself standing trial for murder. Known for surviving situations that should have ended him, Mather’s story takes an even stranger turn at its end. At the height of his notoriety, he vanished completely. Theories about his fate range from the believable to the bizarre: that he fled to Canada, started over under a new name, or died in some forgotten corner of the frontier. And then there are the claims that Dave Mather was abducted by a UFO in northern Mexico.

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Tom "Bear River" Smith: Abilene's Forgotten marshal

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Tom “Bear River” Smith tamed one of the wildest towns in the Old West without firing a single shot. Armed with nothing more than a badge, a banjo, and a pair of fists that made even the toughest cowboys think twice, Smith brought order to Abilene, Kansas, at a time when cattle drives and rowdy trail hands turned the streets into chaos. But how did a man who hated using guns manage to subdue some of the most dangerous men on the frontier? And what chain of events led to one of the most brutal and shocking killings in frontier history? Who exactly was Bear River Smith? Could his no-guns approach to law enforcement have worked long-term? And how famous would he be nowadays had he not been replaced by the legendary Wild Bill Hickok?

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King Fisher: Outlaw, Sheriff, Dead Man

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 14:31:00 -0000

King Fisher was no ordinary Texas gunfighter. This is a man who once killed a circus tiger so that he could make a pair of chaps from its hide. He boasted of killing 37 men, and at the height of his power, commanded over 100 armed bandits, ruling South Texas like his own personal kingdom. Known for his gold-embroidered jackets, rattlesnake hatbands, bells on his spurs, and those infamous tiger-skin chaps, Fisher was equal parts deadly and flamboyant. Who was King Fisher? How does a man go from outlaw warlord to wearing a sheriff’s badge, only to end up gunned down in one of the most mysterious ambushes in Old West history? From cattle raids in the lawless Nueces Strip to a bloody night inside San Antonio’s Vaudeville Theatre, this is the strange, violent, and unforgettable story of John King Fisher.

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The Battle of Lovelock Cave

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0000

For centuries, the Northern Paiute have told of the Si-Te-Cah, a mysterious tribe said to have lived on tule rafts across Nevada’s Lake Humboldt. Described as fierce warriors with red hair and even cannibalistic tendencies, the Si-Te-Cah were eventually trapped and wiped out at Lovelock Cave. Skip ahead to 1911, and miners discovered thousands of artifacts and mummified remains buried deep inside the cave, including a body reportedly over six feet tall with striking red hair. Some claim this proves the Si-Te-Cah were giants, while others argue the legend grew over time from real but ordinary conflicts. Who were the Si-Te-Cah? Did they truly exist, or are they just another Wild West tall tale?

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The Lost Dutchman's Mine

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 21:19:00 -0000

The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is one of the most enduring legends of the American Southwest. Said to be hidden somewhere in the Superstition Mountains east of Apache Junction, Arizona, this mythical mine is named after Jacob “Dutchman” Waltz, who supposedly discovered a rich vein of gold in the 19th century and concealed its location before his death in 1891. Over the decades, thousands of treasure hunters have searched the rugged terrain of the Superstition Wilderness in hopes of finding Waltz’s fabled treasure. The legend blends fact and fiction: Waltz did exist and was known to carry gold, but geological evidence casts doubt on the existence of a true vein of precious metal in the volcanic range. Which begs the question: Does the lost mine really exist, or is it just another tall tale of the Old West?

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Clay Allison vs Wyatt Earp (Part 2)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Clay Allison was one of the lesser-known yet deadlier of the Old West gunslingers. Join me today as we follow Allison on his adventures in Dodge City, his encounters with Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, and finally his tragic demise in Pecos, Texas.

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Clay Allison by Chuck Parsons – https://www.abebooks.com/9780933512368/Clay-Allison-Portrait-Shootist-Parsons-0933512368/plp

The Colfax County War by Corey Recko – https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-colfax-county-war-violence-and-corruption-in-territorial-new-mexico-volume-22-ac-greene-series_corey-recko/51761961/#isbn=1574419323

Tall Tales and Half Truths of Clay Allison by Donna Blake Birchell – https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/tall-tales-and-half-truths-of-clay-allison/37921850/#isbn=1467151033

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The Reign of Terror: Osage Nation Murders w/ Crimes of the Centuries

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0000

This is a special bonus episode from the excellent Crimes of the Centuries podcast. When members of the incredibly wealthy Osage Nation started dropping dead of mysterious ailments in 1920s Oklahoma, few people in state power paid it much mind. After all, many of those who could do something about it were benefiting from the deaths. Eventually, with the help of a still-evolving agency called the FBI, federal authorities uncovered an unthinkable conspiracy known today as the Reign of Terror. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. Crimes of the Centuries - https://www.centuriespod.com/

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Clay Allison & the Colfax County War (Part 1)

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Clay Allison might not be as famous as Billy the Kid or Jesse James, but he was every bit as deadly. He was also just a tad bit insane. Clay got his start riding for Nathan Bedford Forrest during the Civil War. Then, after a brief career as a Texas Cowboy, Clay drifted west and found himself knee-deep in the Colfax County War. From New Mexico to Colorado and beyond, Allison left a trail of bodies in his wake. But unlike many of the other notable gunmen of the time, Clay was not an outlaw. He just refused to back down. Who was the real Clay Allison? How’d the son of a preacher become one of the most feared gunfighters of the Old West? And are the stories of him tying a ribbon around his Johnson and severing the heads of his enemies true?

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Clay Allison by Chuck Parsons – https://www.abebooks.com/9780933512368/Clay-Allison-Portrait-Shootist-Parsons-0933512368/plp

Tall Tales and Half Truths of Clay Allison by Donna Blake Birchell – https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/tall-tales-and-half-truths-of-clay-allison/37921850/#isbn=1467151033

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Stagecoach Mary

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 22:45:00 -0000

Stagecoach Mary Fields worked hard, she drank hard, and if the situation called for it, she fought hard. And despite being born a slave, Mary lived to become one of the freest souls ever to draw a breath. Or a .38 revolver.

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Stagecoach Mary | Black Cowboys - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PLVtMGwyLGnm7MLBtdcrT?si=92XhBIToT22kOAS7alGWPQ

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The Mountain Meadows Massacre

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0000

On September 11th, 1857, over a hundred men, women, and children were brutally slaughtered. The victims belonged to a wagon train that had left Arkansas months prior, bound for California. They followed the Cherokee Trail before cutting north till they reached Fort Bridger. Up until then, things had gone relatively well. They were making good time and figured they’d reach their destination by late fall. Little did they know they were headed straight to their deaths. You see, to get to California from Fort Bridger, they’d need to first pass through Utah. Where, as fate would have it, a war was brewing between the United States government and the Church of Latter-day Saints. A conflict that would ultimately lead to Mormon militiamen and their Paiute allies committing one of the most horrendous atrocities in all of American history. But why? What could have possibly motivated such an attack against a peaceful wagon train? And who gave the command? Was it just a militia leader gone rogue, an attempted robbery gone wrong, or did the orders come from the top dog himself, Brigham Young? And just how accurate was the massacre’s portrayal on the Netflix series American Primeval?

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Pierre Delacote! https://www.delacote.ca/

American Massacre | Sally Denton – https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/american-massacre-the-tragedy-at-mountain-meadows-september-1857_sally-denton/442012/#isbn=0375412085

Blood of the Prophets | Will Bagley – https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/blood-of-the-prophets-brigham-young-and-the-massacre-at-mountain-meadows_will-bagley/338626/#isbn=0806136391

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The Battle of Beecher Island

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:47:00 -0000

The late summer of 1868 found Major George Forsythe and his scouts fighting for survival. For nine long days, they hunkered down on a little sand bar as they faced off against an overwhelming force of Cheyenne Dog soldiers. Fierce warriors who were joined on the battlefield by none other than the legendary Roman Nose. But why? Why did Major Forsythe go kicking a hornet’s nest deep in the heart of Cheyenne territory? And who exactly was Roman Nose? What made him such a formidable opponent? And what’s horse meat taste like anyway?

This is an encore presentation. This episode originally aired January 25, 2021.

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John Riley & the San Patricios

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0000

The Saint Patrick’s Battalion, also known as the San Patricios, was a hard-fighting unit of foreign soldiers, mostly Irish, who deserted the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War. From the Siege of Fort Texas to the Battles of Monterey, Buena Vista, Cera Gordo, and beyond, these Irishmen served with valor and distinction. Surrounded, outgunned, far from their homeland, and branded as traitors, the men of the Saint Patrick’s Battalion had nothing to lose. But why? Why’d they turn their backs on their adopted country and join forces with the enemy? What would become of the San Patricios who were ultimately captured? And who exactly was their leader, John Riley?

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Street Dogs | San Patricios - https://youtu.be/1asy-BWEaAM?si=V7s4M49Yf7kdP7Zc

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Whisperin' Jim Smith | Avenging Nemesis

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Whisperin’ Jim Smith was a deputy and railroad detective who was said to have written more red history with his pistol than any two men of his time, who had enough dead outlaws to his credit to start a fair-sized graveyard. Despite having a bestselling novel and several movies bearing his name, Whisperin’ Jim remains a relatively unknown figure. Join me today as we discuss a man who a contemporary described as the “very incarnation of a relentless, inexorable, indomitable, avenging Nemesis.” Also discussed are Bat Masterson, Pat Garrett, and horse thief extraordinaire Doc Middleton.

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Deadly Dozen Vol 3 by Robert K. DeArment - https://www.abebooks.com/9780806140766/Deadly-Dozen-Forgotten-Gunfighters-Old-0806140763/plp

Whispering Jim Smith by Allen P. Bristow - https://books.google.com/books?id=m1okARB4qCgC

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Mart Duggan | Leadville's Deadly Marshal

Wed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0000

For a brief period in the 1870s, Mart Duggan served as the lone vestige of law and order in the violent boomtown of Leadville, Colorado. Originally from Ireland, Duggan got his start out West prospecting for gold. He quickly garnered a deadly reputation, and by the time he arrived in Leadville, he had a total of 7 notches already on his gun. And when the town marshal was shot dead in April of 1878, it was Duggan who took his place. Despite being fearless, Duggan just couldn’t adjust to an ever-changing landscape. As the West became more and more civilized, Dugan failed to adapt. And it was this failure, along with his somewhat heavy-handed tactics, that would ultimately lead him to an early grave.

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Seth Bullock | Deadwood's Sheriff

Wed, 21 May 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Seth Bullock first pinned a badge in Montana, where he presided over the territory’s very first legal execution. That’s in addition to serving as a territorial senator and establishing Yellowstone National Park. Bullock then drifted east to the Black Hills and helped tame the lawless boom town of Deadwood. And let’s be honest, Bullock’s time in Deadwood is what he’s mostly known for, thanks to the HBO drama of the same name. But how accurate was that portrayal? What was Bullock’s life like before Deadwood? How’d he go from being a frontier Sheriff to serving as a bodyguard for the President of the United States? And is it true he raised an entire regiment of cowboys to fight in World War I? Join me today as we discuss the real-life Seth Bullock, a man Teddy Roosevelt once described as a true westerner and the finest type of frontiersman. And yes, we’ll also take a look at whether or not Bullock had any run-ins with the notorious Al Swearengen.

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Richard "Two Gun" Hart | Gangsters VS Cowboys

Wed, 14 May 2025 05:00:00 -0000

By the mid-1920s, Al Capone was the undisputed kingpin of Chicago and was working feverishly to expand his empire. The only thing standing in the way of his ambitions was an overzealous Nebraska lawman known as Richard “Two Gun” Hart. The mysterious Hart claimed to be half Native American and appeared like something straight out of a Hollywood Western. Still, he was said to be both fearless and incorruptible, going down in history as one of the most effective Prohibition Agents of all time. But Richard Hart harbored a dark secret that even his wife and children were unaware of. The straight-shooting lawman and the notorious gangster were connected in more ways than one.

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Dallas Stoudenmire | El Paso Marshal

Wed, 07 May 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Dallas Stoudenmire was a soldier, mercenary, Texas Ranger, gunfighter, and extremely capable El Paso marshal. He was also a mean drunk. However, despite coming out victorious in the “Four Dead in Five Seconds” gunfight, Stoudenmire quickly spiraled out of control. It wasn’t long before the citizens of El Paso had to rein in their rogue Marshal.

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Dallas Stoudenmire: El Paso Marshal by Leon Metz - https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/dallas-stoudenmire-el-paso-marshall-western-frontier-library_leon-claire-metz/669809/#isbn=0806124873

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Young Guns 3: PLOT REVEALED

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Regulators: Mount up! The Governor of New Mexico issued a press release on March 13th stating that Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive will be filmed in New Mexico, and that Emilio Estevez will be reprising the role of Billy the Kid, “alongside original cast members Lou Diamond Phillips

and Christian Slater.” This is great news for Western fans! Join me today as I share what we know about the plot of Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive, as well as a few predictions (just for fun). Also discussed are Jim French, José Chávez y Chávez, Arkansas Dave, Rudabaugh, Henry Newton Brown, and Pat Garrett. The plot reveal is at the 16:50 mark.

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Emilio Estevez interview | Josh Horowitz - https://youtu.be/DUPaP1Lv8Xo?si=c1qZfwfLWCJlzVKd

Brushy Bill is a Lying Liar - https://youtu.be/M5s5zuDlxfM?si=bB4_7QY0r3J6bonz

Billy the Kid: Debunked - https://youtu.be/wtMtQE3Q0gk?si=0H0FdwNTcwXtE8Hb

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State of the Wild West Extravaganza 2025

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0000

My name’s Josh, and this is the Wild West Extravaganza, a history podcast where we discuss all the real-life people and events from the Old West. Today’s show is somewhat different. Rather than talk history, I thought I’d share a few announcements. Sort of a State of the Podcast address, just my way of touching base and letting you know what’s going on and what to expect going forward.

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Jesse James | Resurrection (Part 8)

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

In the late 1940s, a man calling himself J. Frank Dalton made a startling announcement: He said that the outlaw Jesse James had not been killed by Bob Ford in 1882. According to Dalton, the entire thing was a hoax, and he – Dalton – was the REAL Jesse James. Join me today as we examine the validity of Dalton’s claims. We’ll also take a look at other Jesse James

imposters, as well as the 1995 DNA test. Also discussed are Al Jennings, Alfred Packer, Frank James, and my willingness to accept bribes!

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Jesse James | Assassination - https://youtu.be/QIuUjHBXSa8

A Voice for the Dead | James E. Starrs - https://archive.org/details/voicefordeadfore0000star

Targets West | Scott McCrae - https://a.co/d/dOCpLgc

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Jesse James | Assassination (Part 7)

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

Join me as we discuss the final days of Jesse James. From the aftermath of Northfield to his untimely demise at the hands of Bob Ford. Also discussed are the Knights of the Golden Circle, along with the fate of Frank James, Dick Liddil, Jim Cummins, and the Ford brothers.

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Frank James | The Old Shoe Salesman - https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-james-the-old-shoe-salesman/

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Shot All To Hell by Mark Lee Gardner – https://a.co/d/2WdVlSF

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Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye

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Jesse James | Too Tough To Die (Part 6)

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0000

The aftermath of the Northfield raid as Jesse James and the James-Younger gang are shot to pieces and attempt to flee Minnesota. Also discussed are the many injuries of Cole Younger, Jesse James, his alleged jump across Devil’s Gulch, and the mysterious fate of outlaws Clell Miller, Charlie Pitts, & Bill Chadwell.

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Shot All To Hell by Mark Lee Gardner – https://a.co/d/2WdVlSF

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Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye

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Jesse James | Northfield Raid (Part 5)

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

On September 7th,1876, three heavily armed men entered the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota. They immediately pulled their guns and hopped over the counter, demanding that the clerk open the safe. When he refused, he was viciously beaten. And when one of the other employees made a break for freedom, the bandits shot him in the back. Meanwhile, their

companions outside were likewise facing resistance. And within just a matter of a few short minutes, the gang was riddled with bullets. The good folks of Northfield weren’t quite as docile as the outlaws had assumed. And they definitely weren’t in the mood to have their bank robbed. This raid was supposed to be Jesse James’ most daring robbery to date, but instead, it proved to be an abject failure, one that spelled the end for the infamous James Younger gang. But what really occurred there in Northfield? Why’d Jesse James choose Minnesota as a target to begin with? What went wrong during the robbery, and, more importantly, who exactly were those brave citizens who stood up and declared NOT TODAY?

Northfield Timestamp – (23:00)

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Jesse James | Perdition (Part 4)

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Today, we’re going to examine the war between the Pinkertons and Jesse James, a bloody feud that would culminate in an ill-advised attack on the James farm, along with the tragic death of Jesse’s eight-year-old brother. We’ll also be talking about that “special device” that was thrown through the window. Was it really a bomb or something else entirely? What the heck is Greek fire, anyway? And just how far would Jesse James go to exact revenge?

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Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye

Writing The West –https://open.spotify.com/show/6Hj5ZlH6XlZaWADHkffwld?si=0cec01d120e643b6

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Jesse James | Cross-Dresser? (Part 3)

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Was the outlaw Jesse James a cross-dresser? Probably not, but an interesting story claims he dressed as a young lady on at least one occasion. Also discussed is how Jesse earned his nickname (Dingus!), Jim Lane and the Osceola massacre, the Lawrence massacre, how to properly pronounce Glassgow, American Primeval, Jim Bridger, and whether

or not the Missouri guerrillas were on team good guy or team bad guy.

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Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War by T.J. Stiles - https://www.worldofbooks.com/products/jesse-james-book-t-j-stiles-9780224069250

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Jesse James | Bank Robber (Part 2)

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:33:00 -0000

The outlaw Jesse James got his start during the Civil War as

a young bushwhacker, fighting with William Quantrill and Bloody Bill Anderson.

He killed his first man at the age of 16 and continued doing so even after the

war was officially over. Today, we’ll discuss Jesse’s rise from a mere

bushwhacker to an outlaw as he and his brother Frank begin robbing banks and

have their first brush with the infamous Pinkerton Detective Agency. Also

discussed are Cole Younger, Clell Miller, and Little Archie Clement.

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Jesse James | Bushwhacker (Part 1)

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

According to many, Jesse James was a hero, a freedom fighter

who continued resisting Northern aggression long after the Civil War came to an

end. But to his victims, Jesse was nothing more than a cold-blooded killer, one

who used the war as a convenient excuse to lead a life of violence and

destruction. But where does the truth lie? What occurred during Jesse’s

childhood that turned him to a life of crime? How old was he when he first went

to war? How’d he survive two separate gunshot wounds to the chest before his 18th

birthday? And is it true he married his own cousin? Join me today as we explore

the life and times of Jesse James! Also discussed are Bloody Bill Anderson,

William Quantrill, the Lawrence Massacre, & the Missouri Bushwhackers.

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Buckshot Roberts

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

On April 4, 1878, Andrew L. “Buckshot” Roberts took on the

Lincoln County Regulators in what’s now known as the Gunfight at Blazer’s Mill.

Today, we’ll dive into Roberts’ background and discuss who really killed him –

Billy the Kid or Charlie Bowdre. Also mentioned are Dick Brewer, John Tunstall,

and one of the greatest westerns ever made, Young Guns. Let’s dance, Mary Ann!

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Billy the Kid series | https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-compilation/

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Black Jack Ketchum

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Thomas “Black Jack” Ketchum was an Old West cowboy turned outlaw. He and his gang robbed trains and stole livestock all throughout the American Southwest before coming to a disastrous end. And that’s when things went from bad to worse. Before it was all said and done, Ketchum would go down in history as the only person ever executed for ATTEMPTING to rob a train. Also discussed are Black Jack Christian, the Wild Bunch, Will Carver, Ben Kilpatrick, and Elzy Lay.

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Dynamite and Six Shooter by Jeff Burton - https://a.co/d/802o5Z9

Thomas “Black Jack” Ketchum essay by Jeff Burton - https://www.seibelfamily.net/ketchum-black-jack.html

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Doc Scurlock & the Lincoln County Regulators

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 11:00:00 -0000

Josiah "Doc" Scurlock was a poet, philosopher, intellectual, and hardened killer long before he met Billy the Kid. His mysterious past in Mexico, rumors of dead men from New Orleans to Texas, penchant for vigilantism, and several close calls with hostile Natives all made Doc a man to be both feared and respected. However, the trials he would face after the Lincoln County War made Scurlock the man his family would remember.

Jose Chavez y Chavez was a constable in San Patricio and an ally of the Tunstall McSween faction during the Lincoln County War. Jose was a full participant in the troubles and was present during the Battle of Lincoln, making a getaway from the burning McSween home alongside Billy the Kid. But who was Jose Chavez y Chavez, really? Was he a Navajo, as popularly believed? And how did he become a hired assassin? Also discussed in this episode is Chavez’s encounter with Bob Ford and the other Regulators and friends of Billy the Kid, guys like Henry Newton Brown, George and Frank Coe, Ab Saunders, John Middleton, Billy Wilson, Tom Pickett, and more! I also give my opinion on what really happened there at Fort Sumner on the night of Billy’s alleged death and discuss The Kid’s “body count”. This is a mashup of two previously released episodes on the pals of Billy the Kid.

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ENCORE: An Old West Christmas Miracle

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:15:00 -0000

On Christmas Day 1851, Lieutenant Amiel Whipple and his men find themselves outnumbered and facing certain death at the hands of the Quechan people. What happens next is what many would consider a Blood Meridian Christmas miracle.

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The Escape of Chief Satanta

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Chief Satanta, the great orator, was an extremely influential Kiowa leader. A participant in both battles of Adobe Walls, Satanta was eventually tried for murder and sentenced to life in prison. This is the story of his escape.

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Silas Soule | Bleeding Kansas to Sand Creek

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Silas Soule moved to Kansas as a teenager. He and his family joined the Underground Railroad, and when it came time to arm up against the border ruffians, Silas didn’t hesitate. Later, during the Civil War, he was commissioned as an officer in the Union Army and served with distinction during the battle of Glorietta Pass. Afterward, he did all he could to protect the Colorado frontier from hostiles. At least, he did until Colonel Chivington ordered him to attack the peaceful village of Black Kettle at Sand Creek. Silas Soule may not be a household name or the subject of movies, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised and inspired by his story. So please, join me today as we recognize a true American Hero, one who wasn’t afraid to spill a little blood but at the same time was willing to sacrifice it all for what was right. And in the end, this integrity cost him his life. Also discussed are Bleeding Kansas, John Brown and the raid on Harpers Ferry, the Colorado gold rush, Tom Tobin and the murderous Espinosa brothers, the Cheyenne and Arapaho, and finally, the Sand Creek massacre.

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Silas Soule: A Short, Eventful Life of Moral Courage by Tom Bensing - https://a.co/d/6K9IyRh

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Harry Tracy | The Last Outlaw

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Considered by some to be the last of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, Harry Tracy blasted his way out of prison in the summer of 1902. What followed was one of the most desperate man hunts in all of U.S. history. Over the course of the next two months, Tracy would lead hundreds of lawmen, including the National Guard, on a deadly game of chase that would see at least 7 men gunned down. According to the papers of his time, “In all of the criminal lore of the country, there is no record equal to that of Harry Tracy for cold-blooded nerve, desperation, and a thirst for crime. Jesse James, compared with Tracy, is a Sunday School teacher.” But who was the real Harry Tracy? Where’d he come from? What started him on a life of crime? And did he really ride with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? This is a compilation of previously released material.

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The Saga of the Outlaw Harry Tracy by James Nystrom - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1456373501?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1456373501&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

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Billy the Kid's Brother?

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Billy the Kid had a brother, Joseph Antrim. This is his story, including a brand-new revelation. Stick around to the end for a special announcement.

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Finding Joe Antrim | Culz Paranormal - https://youtu.be/tLyPrdPh-rc?si=RhtlnHo-xH-CqbHh

Finding Joe Antrim and his Final Resting Place by Keegan Cool - https://btkcoalition.com/billy-the-kid-blog/f/finding-joe-antrim-and-his-final-resting-place

Billy the Kid | Stig Ostgaard - https://stigostgaard.com/billy-the-kid/

The Last Gunfighter Ballad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnfRcUdblJ0

The Antrim Family - http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/antrim_family.htm

Billy the Kid’s Brother | TrueWest - https://truewestmagazine.com/what-can-you-tell-me-about-billy-the-kids-brother/

The Birth of an Outlaw | TrueWest - https://truewestmagazine.com/the-birth-of-an-outlaw/

Miss Catherine’s Boys - https://thoughtsfromafar.blog/2021/03/08/miss-catherines-boys/

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Deacon Jim Miller | Old West Hitman

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 11:00:00 -0000

Deacon Jim Miller, also known as Killin’ Jim Miller, was an Old West assassin-for-hire. Chances are, if you wanted someone gone, Jim Miller could make it happen…for the right price, that is. Also discussed are John Wesley Hardin, Pat Garrett, Sheriff Bud Frazer, and a bullet deflecting steel plate!

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp – http://www.betterhelp.com/wildwest

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Series on Pat Garrett – https://youtu.be/CMp1GayD4-4?si=qd21rAyKNgOTpjq0

Series on John Wesley Hardin – https://youtu.be/MiPA_9R2mys?si=98ktgNz6nStyo1Rg

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The Bloody Benders

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The Bender family, often referred to as America’s first serial killer family, settled in Labette County, Kansas, in 1870. They built a cabin near the Osage Trail that served as an inn for weary travelers. And that’s when things got weird. Join me today as we discuss the Bloody Benders! We'll discuss their various crimes, their true identity, and their (probable) fate. Also discussed are another Old West family of serial killers known as the Kelly family.

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Dirty Dave Rudabaugh

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

They say the only man Billy the Kid ever truly feared was Dave Rudabaugh. They also say that Rudabaugh taught Doc Holliday how to use a gun. But how accurate are these stories? And just who was Dave Rudabaugh? Join me today as we attempt to separate fact from fiction. We’ll examine Dave’s short-lived career as a train robber and find out what caused Wyatt Earp to describe him as the "most notorious outlaw in the range country." While we’re at it, we’ll also discuss Rudabaugh’s time as a hired gun for the railroad, his association with Billy the Kid, what it was like being arrested both by Pat Garrett and Bat Masterson, his involvement in the shooting of Morgan and Virgil Earp, and a ton more! We’ll even take a look at his various nicknames. Was it Arkansas Dave or Dirty Dave? Did he REALLY kill sixty-five men? Whose gang was it anyway? And what became of Dave down in Old Mexico?

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Series on Billy the Kid – https://youtu.be/J3yBXIa7ZuQ?si=2E1NbfsfAkjwRbLK

Series on Pat Garrett – https://youtu.be/CMp1GayD4-4?si=zkdMOC9fu7H0qkRg

Dirty Dave Rudabaugh by David G. Thomas – https://a.co/d/4GZ0TFk

David G. Thomas Interview | Mankind Media – https://www.youtube.com/live/gF3o5lvrYE4?si=Jcp4wBX6mGe3dC2d

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John Wayne & Wyatt Earp

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Did John Wayne learn his iconic onscreen persona from the legendary Wyatt Earp? Let’s discuss! We'll also examine Earp’s life after Tombstone!

Check out the website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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David Lambert Art Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart

David Lambert Original Thread on Wyatt & Hollywood - https://twitter.com/davidlambertart/status/1440606380860186629

David Lambert archives on the Wrong Reel Podcast - https://wrongreel.com/tag/david-lambert/

Wyatt on the Set by Allen Barra - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/wyatt-on-the-set/

The Fix by Garner A. Palenske - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-fix/

William S. Hart & Wyatt Earp Correspondence - https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/hart-earpletters.htm

Scurrilous LA Times article from 1922 - https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/hart-earpletters.htm

Alan Dwan & The Rise & Decline of the Hollywood Studios - https://www.amazon.com/Allan-Dwan-Decline-Hollywood-Studios-ebook/dp/B00C7C2EDK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=28EADZ4B8LD93&keywords=allan+dwan+and+the+rise+and+decline+of+the+hollywood+studios&qid=1672673971&sprefix=allan+dwan+and+the+ris%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1

Helldorado – Bringing the Law to the Mesquite by William M. Breakenridge - https://www.amazon.com/Helldorado-Bringing-Mesquite-William-Breakenridge/dp/0803261004

Wyatt Earp Frontier Marshal by Stuart Lake - https://www.amazon.com/Wyatt-Earp-Frontier-Stuart-Lake/dp/0671885375

Law and Order (1932) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRFPBVG65LU

The Half Breed (1916) - https://www.cinematheque.fr/henri/film/32090-the-half-breed-allan-dwan-1916/

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Olive Oatman & the Blue Tattoo

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0000

When Olive Oatman was just 14 years old, she was forced to witness the slaughter of nearly every single member of her family. Only she and her 8-year-old sister were spared, and for the next several years, they’d be held as captives. When Olive finally emerged from the desert she was forever marked, both physically and mentally; a young lady not truly belonging to either culture, or as a friend would describe her, a “grieving, unsatisfied woman, who somehow shook one’s belief in civilization.” Who was Olive Oatman? Why did her family decide to head west? What was life like for her in captivity? What about afterward? What did her tattoos mean? Are the rumors about Olive marrying into the tribe true, and did she really leave children behind when she was rescued?

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp! BetterHelp.com/wildwest

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

Did Olive Oatman Have Children While She Was A Captive? Bob Boz Bell -http://blog.truewestmagazine.com/2017/06/did-olive-oatman-have-children-while.html

Olive Oatman | True West Magazine - https://youtu.be/CNZ7qSJbgaY?si=jKZQy8iQ-vk2lM5T

The Blue Tattoo | Margot Mifflin - https://a.co/d/4myZxhN

The Oatman Massacre | Brian McGinty - https://a.co/d/8AxyTgo

Blood Meridian Christmas Miracle - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jt8o8NKUNYoOnkgX233W8?si=_P7BGPi-RUS69Dg9y3PyGQ

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The Lewis & Clark Expedition (Compilation)

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 13:13:58 -0000

In the Spring of 1803, the United States acquired the Territory of Louisiana, a largely uncharted tract of wilderness stretching from Canada down to New Orleans. Over 800,000 square miles that, as far the maps were concerned, remained a mystery. President Thomas Jefferson then ordered an expedition to explore this newly purchased land all the way west to the Pacific Ocean. Tasked with leading this endeavor – officially known as the Corp of Discovery – were Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Corp of Discovery was to travel some 8,000 miles, navigating their way up the Missouri River before turning west and crossing the Rocky Mountains. From the Oto to the Mandan and from the Shoshone to the Clatsop, Lewis and Clark would encounter dozens of tribes along their way, navigate hostile rivers and mountain passes, and even a few unfriendly grizzlies. But what about the rumors of woolly mammoth and a lost tribe of Welshmen? What became of Lewis and Clark after the expedition? What about Sacagawea and Clark's slave York? This is a compilation of previously released material.

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Check out the Wild West Extravaganza website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976

Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

Explorers Podcast - https://explorerspodcast.com/lewis-and-clark/

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Kit Carson | Adobe Walls (Part 6)

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In November of 1864, famed frontiersman Kit Carson picked a fight with the Lords of the Southern Plains – the Comanche. The bloody engagement that followed, known as the first Battle of Adobe Walls, saw Carson and his men outnumbered 10 to 1 against the Comanche and their allies, the Kiowa. But why? Why did Carson pick a fight with the Comanche on their own home turf? What exactly is Adobe Walls, and what did Kit Carson do with the rest of his limited time alive? How did Kit Carson die? What sort of legacy did he leave behind?

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides - https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Thunder-Carson-Conquest-American/dp/1400031109

Kit Carson Home Restoration - https://www.kitcarsonhouse.org/

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Kit Carson | Long Walk of the Navajo (Part 5)

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0000

During the summer of 1863, the U.S. Government sent the legendary Kit Carson to reign in the Navajo. As such, the former Mountain Man adopted a scorched earth policy, burning crops and villages, restricting access to water, and pretty much annihilating everything he could find that belonged to the Navajo. What resulted is an incredibly dark chapter in American history known as the Long Walk, as thousands of refugees were marched from their homeland and forced to live in conditions more akin to a concentration camp than a reservation. But who were the Navajo? Why were they targeted? How much of a role did Kit Carson truly play in the Long Walk? Why’d he get involved in the first place? And how did the Navajo fare once they found themselves on the Bosque Redondo?

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides - https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Thunder-Carson-Conquest-American/dp/1400031109

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Kit Carson | The Apache (Part 4)

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Following the Mexican-American War, Kit Carson returned home and attempted to start a ranch. The former Mountain Man had been out west with the Pathfinder – John C. Fremont – for several years as they tried to conquer California. This was followed by a series of transcontinental trips that saw Kit ferrying dispatches overland from the west coast to Washington D.C. and then back again. For the next decade, Kit would serve three stints as an Indian Agent while continuing to work his land and guide for the Army: his days of being gone for years at a time seemingly over, especially after a nasty fall with his horse that resulted in serious injuries. Ah, but duty called yet again. When the Civil War reached New Mexico, Carson enlisted with the Union Army. He’d face off with the Confederates at the Battle of Valverde before setting his sights on the Jicarilla and Mescalero Apache.

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Billy the Kid | Wild West Extravaganza - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-compilation/

Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

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Kit Carson | Bear Flag Revolt (Part 3)

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0000

By 1845, tensions were high in the Mexican territory of California. Not only were the U.S. and Mexico on the brink of war, but even the native Hispanic Californios were looking to separate themselves from the official government down in Mexico. Into this social and political turmoil came the Pathfinder – John C. Fremont. At his helm was a small battalion of Mountain Men and Delaware scouts under the leadership of famed frontiersman Kit Carson. Join me today as we discuss Carson’s role in the Bear Flag Revolt, the Mexican-American War, the battle of San Pasqual, and his numerous transcontinental trips from the West Coast to Washington, D.C. Also, how do you pronounce Fremont’s name? Let's talk about acute accents!

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Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

Battle of San Pasqual | SD Reader - https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1985/mar/07/cover-bloody-battle-san-pasqual/

Kit Carson | Photo Gallery - https://wildwestnewsletter.com/p/kit-carson

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Kit Carson | Pathfinder (Part 2)

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Kit Carson ventured west as a teenager, looking to escape the drudgery of civilization. And in the years to come, he’d find all the excitement a youngster could hope for in the life of a mountain man. For over a decade, Carson would embark on a series of fur-trapping expeditions from New Mexico and Arizona up to present-day Montana and as far west as California. According to Carson, these were the happiest days in his life – there in the mountains, far from the habitations of civilized man, with no other food than that which he could procure with his rifle. Sadly, the good times never last forever. By the early 1840s, the beaver trade was played out, Carson’s Arapaho wife passed away, and he soon found himself embarking on a brand new career as a guide for up-and-coming explorer John C. Fremont. This partnership would elevate both men to the status of living legends. What was life like for Kit Carson post-fur trade? Who exactly was John C. Fremont guy? Why’d they call him the Pathfinder? And how much of Fremont’s success stemmed from his association with Kit Carson? We’re going to discuss all this and more, including Fremont’s expeditions, Carson’s family life, and a couple of bloody massacres that have largely remained forgotten even to this day.

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Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

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Kit Carson | Mountain Man (Part 1)

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0000

When it comes to the Old West, they don’t get much more legendary than Kit Carson. Although soft-spoken and physically small, this larger-than-life mountain man would go on – during his own life – to become a national hero, and in death, he’d be immortalized in bronze. But who was Kit Carson? What sort of a man was he? What was his childhood like, and what events shaped him into the legend he’d become? Was Carson a courageous hero or a bloodthirsty killer and the living embodiment of manifest destiny? Or just somewhere in between? And just how short was he anyway? Also discussed are the Blackfeet, Jim Bridger, the Mountain Man rendezvous, and Carson’s encounter with a giant known as the bully of the mountains.

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Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up

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John Glanton & the REAL Blood Meridian

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0000

“It makes no difference what men think of war. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner.” – Blood Meridian

Blood Meridian, set mainly in the American Southwest during the late 1840s, tells of an unnamed protagonist known only as the Kid. We follow the Kid as he runs away from home and makes his way to Texas before becoming involved in an ill-fated adventure into Mexico. He survives a massacre at the hands of the Comanche and is eventually recruited into a gang of scalp hunters led by John Glanton and his second in command – the absolutely terrifying Judge Holden. The gang then proceeds to cut a murderous swath of destruction throughout northern Mexico before reaping their just rewards. Here’s the fun part: Blood Meridian is loosely based on real-life people and events, including John Glanton and Judge Holden. Today, we’re going to focus mostly on Glanton, an ex-Texas Ranger and War hero turned homicidal maniac. What was John Glanton’s life like before he became a scalp hunter? And how did Glanton really die? Was it as gruesome as portrayed in Blood Meridian? We’ll also take a look at a young soldier by the name of Samuel Chamberlain, as well as discuss the true identity of the honorable Judge Holden.

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Victory and Death: The Battle of San Jacinto - https://youtu.be/pHPsnHlEAdM?si=5LLlsXv2CSfqPO0J

Blood Meridian Christmas Miracle - https://youtu.be/QqHZOzbPvDQ?si=mSIqWjCR6T09PGl5

The Night Does Not End | Professor Gwyn - https://bloodmeridian.substack.com/

My Confession: Recollections of a Rogue - https://openlibrary.org/works/OL3290424W/My_confession

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Dangerous Dan Tucker

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Dangerous Dan Tucker would arrive in the southwest in the mid-1870s, pin on the badge of a Sheriff’s Deputy, and, in a very short amount of time, tally up a body count surpassed only by the likes of John Wesley Hardin and Deacon Jim Miller. To quote historian Leon Metz, Tucker was a better lawman and more dangerous than high-profile figures like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok. But who was he really? Is it true that Dan Tucker once took out half a dozen of the Tombstone Cowboys in one fell swoop? And what about the stories of Doc Holliday giving Dan a wide berth due to his deadly reputation? FYI: The photo used in the thumbnail is NOT Dan Tucker. There are no known photos of Tucker. Pictured instead is disgraced Dodge City marshal Billy Brooks.

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Dangerous Dan Tucker: New Mexico’s Deadly Lawman by Bob Alexander - https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Dan-Tucker-Mexicos-Deadly/dp/094438353X

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State of the Wild West Extravaganza

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Thank you for all the well wishes! New content resumes next week!

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John Wesley Hardin | COMPILATION

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In November of 1868 – at just the tender age of fifteen – John Wesley Hardin killed his first man. And, a few weeks later, he’d kill yet again; this time, three soldiers who came looking for him. Fearing a hangman’s noose, Wes struck first, dispatching two troopers with a shotgun and finishing the third with an old cap and ball colt. And you better believe the hits just kept on coming. Before it was all said and done, Hardin would be responsible for anywhere between twenty to possibly as many as fifty killings, each of which – according to him – were justifiable. But how true is that? Was John Wesley Hardin a persecuted hero or a homicidal killer? How’d the son of a minister become one of the deadliest gunmen of the Old West? And did he REALLY kill someone just for snoring? Also discussed are Wild Bill Hickok, the Bloody Bender family, the Sutton-Taylor Feud, and John Selman Sr.

*This is a compilation of a previously released series. My apologies to those who've already heard it, but I experienced a few setbacks this past week due to a dadgum hurricane! Do not despair, brand new content is coming your way next Wednesday!*

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Bill Longley | The Deadliest Gun in Texas - https://www.wildwestextra.com/bill-longley-the-deadliest-gun-in-texas/

Wild Bill Hickok - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok/

Shootout at Hide Park aka Newton Massacre - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-newton-massacre/

The Life of John Wesley Hardin by John W. Hardin - https://www.amazon.com/Life-John-Wesley-Hardin/dp/1545102228/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N2NHCZI3QKV5&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1704831121&sprefix=john+wesley+hardi%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1

John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas by Leon Metz - https://www.amazon.com/John-Wesley-Hardin-Angel-Texas/dp/0806129956/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N2NHCZI3QKV5&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1704831176&sprefix=john+wesley+hardi%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-3

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How Wild Was The Wild West?

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0000

How wild or violent was the Wild West? Were gunfights a daily occurrence, or is that just a byproduct of Hollywood and dime novels? Also discussed are the murder rates for Deadwood and Dodge City, Red Dead Redemption, cowboys sharing toenail clippers, the mysterious Last Stand note, and fighting grizzly bears with a tomahawk!

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Billy the Kid’s Last Stand - https://youtu.be/1dC5USI0ZgI?si=w8OoKrp1-7jey0UV

Homicide Rates in the Old West | University of Ohio - https://cjrc.osu.edu/research/interdisciplinary/hvd/homicide-rates-american-west

Historias Unknown - https://open.spotify.com/show/1YRxl7bTBqM4jfm8P4fGCd?si=8aad41518c4e4e6c

E Spooky Tales - https://open.spotify.com/show/58BqtCJ2nNwruHRuZIM8Ax?si=1f714ac66d3f42e6

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Billy the Kid Debunked

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0000

There is a lot of misinformation about Billy the Kid's death. This is your comprehensive guide to cut through the noise and determine fact from fiction. Thank you to all of the historians whose research I rely upon.

(1:15) – Did Pat Garrett receive the bounty?

(8:13) – Did Pat Garrett’s deputy say that he shot the wrong man?

(10.33) – Did Garrett bury the body before anyone could see it?

(19:15) – Why was there not a photograph?

(22:39) – Did Billy the Kid have a beard? Did Garrett accidentally kill a Mexican?

(25:32) – Billy Barlow

(26:02) – Were Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid friends?

(27:49) – Was Billy too smart to be killed by Pat Garrett?

(30:50) – Were the residents of Fort Sumner in on the hoax?

(33:23) – Anecdotal stories

(34:50) – Brushy Bill’s history of tall tales

(38:12) – Brushy Bill’s scars

(39:26) – Brushy Bill Roberts Autopsy

(41:15) – Did Brushy Bill know things nobody could have known?

(42:36) – Was Billy the Kid left-handed?

(43:10) – The Billy the Kid Historical Coalition

(44:12) – Brushy Bill Roberts affidavits

(46:40) – Jesse Evans

(47:46) – 1990 Photo Comparison Study

(55:08) – Valid questions concerning the death of Billy the Kid

(56:30) – Who was Brushy Bill Roberts?

(60:29) – Cousin Ollie theory

(65:04) – Why would Brushy lie?

(67:48) – Jim Miller

(68:41) – Why did Billy the Kid speak Spanish?

(80:04) – Did Pat Garrett accidentally kill the wrong men?

(86:55) – Did Garrett’s widow say he killed the wrong man?

(89:35) – Did Brushy Bill have the same eyes as Billy the Kid?

(103:34) – Was Billy already dead in the tintype photo?

(104:21) – Was Billy the Kid a woman?

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Was Billy the Kid’s Death a Hoax? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUZ-Rc9Pt3I&t=1s

The Billy the Kid Historical Coalition – https://btkcoalition.com/

Chasing Billy YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@chasingbilly

Debunking Brushy: Were People Allowed to View Billy’s Dead Body | Billy the Kid Historical Coalition - https://btkcoalition.com/btk-history-blog/f/debunking-brushy-were-people-allowed-to-view-billys-dead-body

Petition by Dr. Robert Stahl - http://doc45.com/pleading/tenth-court-pleading-by-dr-robert-stahl-for-kid-death-certificate.pdf

Brushy Bill Saves Texas Rangers from Certain Death | Michael Anthony Giudicissi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBOGtnWS1is

Grand Saline Sun article on Brushy Bill saving the Texas Rangers - https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1016104/m1/8/?q=brushy

Debunking Brushy: How Did He Know So Much? | Billy the Kid Historical Coalition - https://btkcoalition.com/btk-history-blog/f/debunking-brushy-how-did-he-know-so-much

Was Brushy Bill Roberts Really Billy the Kid? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5s5zuDlxfM&t=1094s

Billy the Tintype | True West Magazine - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/billy-the-tintype/

Was Billy the Kid a girl? Wild West Newsletter featuring cart de visite - https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/p/was-billy-the-kid-a-girl

Billy the Kid Compilation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3yBXIa7ZuQ

Pat Garrett Compilation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMp1GayD4-4&t=14s

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John Bull | The Duke of Death

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Although John Bull remains relatively unknown today, the English-born gambler is considered one of the deadliest gunmen of the Old West.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Deadly Dozen Vol. 1 by Robert K. Dearment - https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Dozen-Twelve-Forgotten-Gunfighters/dp/080613559X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JK493YH4C89U&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QGna202QisyEY7OQCkSOd5OPt0qxbYaurRTjH1x02NaxEKQC1YbQ5eAvYVONnlGCJelVs2ixVH3Wq1DAIhRtn50qFv2XrHabFqWhLwPhLko.PyNkpU5z0i6iNdZMpageYgxXVeXnBGFgmi2Cn3yFxS8&dib_tag=se&keywords=deadly+dozen+robert+k+dearment&qid=1718635339&sprefix=deadly+dozen+robert+k+dearment%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1

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Pat Garrett | COMPILATION

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0000

On the night of July 14th, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid. In doing so, he helped create a legend and ensured that his legacy would forever be intertwined with the notorious outlaws.

And let’s be honest – it isn’t that great of a legacy.

Many consider Garrett a coward, at best, a no-good backstabbing Old West Judas who betrayed his friend for a handful of silver. Moreover, Pat is also labeled as a rank liar and an egomaniac. A glory seeker would turn on his mother if that meant earning a little dough and building up his reputation.

And, over 26 years after he gunned down The Kid, Pat himself would be shot and killed under similar circumstances. A murder that to this day remains unsolved.

Who killed Pat Garrett? How accurate is the narrative surrounding the former Sheriff of Lincoln County? Is all the hate deserved?

And who was Garrett anyway? What was his life like before he met the Kid? And what became of Pat in the decades following that fateful night at Fort Sumner?

This is a compilation of a previous series released on Garrett. Enjoy!

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Pat Garrett: The Story of a Western Lawman by Leon Metz - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806118385?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0806118385&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

To Hell on a Fast Horse by Mark Lee Gardner - https://www.amazon.com/dp/006136827X?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=006136827X&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life by Robert Utley - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0803295588?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0803295588&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Were Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Friends? https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/p/were-pat-garrett-and-billy-the-kid

The First Battle of Adobe Walls - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-first-battle-of-adobe-walls/

Billy the Kid series part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

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Tom Horn | Execution (Part 4)

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In July of 1901, 14-year-old Willie Nickell was shot dead in an ambush. He had been less than a mile away from home attempting to open a gate when two bullets struck him in the back. A little over two years later, noted assassin Tom Horn was executed for Willie’s murder. In years prior, Tom had been an enforcer for various cattle barons throughout the state of Wyoming, and at the time of Willie’s death, he was employed as a Range Detective on John C. Coble’s Iron Mountain Ranch. And, well, let’s say that John Coble did not get along with the dead boy’s father, Kels Nickell. Not only had Kels filed a homestead on land that Coble considered his own, but he then had the absolute gal to begin fencing it off. And, if that isn’t bad enough, Kels nearly killed Coble during the summer of 1890. The two had been arguing at a train depot when Nickell whipped out a knife and slashed the rancher’s belly wide open. Coble pulled through, and despite charges being filed, Kels Nickell pretty much got off scot-free. At least, he did until nearly a decade later when he committed the grave sin of introducing several thousand sheep there on the Iron Mountain Range. Word on the streets of Cheyenne was that Coble hated Kels Nickell like the devil hates holy water. Ever since the knifing incident, he held a grudge, and now that Nickell had brought in all those sheep, Coble finally had a strong enough reason to go after him and his land. Like many other small homesteaders who opposed the larger spreads, Kels Nickell received an anonymous letter ordering him and his family to leave the area or suffer the consequences. And I reckon those consequences came to fruition on July 18th when his son, Willie, was murdered. The only question that remains is whether or not Tom Horn was genuinely guilty of the crime. And I’ll be honest, it isn’t looking good. After all, Tom was in the area of the Nickell homestead at the same time as the murder. He even admitted as much, saying he was checking to ensure Nickell sheep weren’t straying onto land owned by his employer, John Coble. What’s more, we know with near certainty that Tom had killed men on behalf of the cattle barons in the past. And these men were gunned down in the same fashion as 14-year-old Willie Nickell. Shot from a distance with a rifle. There was even a flat rock that had been placed under the dead boy’s head – a calling card of sorts that Tom often left in the field to let the bosses know that it was he who completed the job. And then, of course, you’ve got the words of Tom Horn himself. In January of 1902, less than six months after the killing, Tom confessed to a deputy Marshal that he was 300 yards away from Willie when he opened fire, saying that it was quote “the best shot that I ever made and the dirtiest trick I ever done.” End quote. Sounds pretty cut and dry. Like I said, Tom would ultimately be found guilty in a court of law and sentenced to hang for the murder of Willie Nickell. That said, many, to this day, including historians, believe Horn was an innocent man, at least in that particular killing. And, despite everything you just heard, they may be on to something. As it turns out, someone other than John Coble and Tom Horn had an even stronger motive for going after Kels Nickell.

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Tom Horn | Assassin (Part 3)

Wed, 29 May 2024 12:00:00 -0000

Tom Horn first arrived in Wyoming in 1892. He had spent most of a decade chasing Apache down in Arizona before diving headfirst into a feud known as the Pleasant Valley War. Although Tom’s actions during the feud remain unclear, he most likely fought on the side of the Tewksbury’s against their avowed enemies, the Grahams. And despite wearing the badge of a Gila County Sheriff’s deputy, Horn would participate in the lynching of at least three men. This was followed by a stint with the Pinkertons, a job that saw Tom working on the behest of the cattle barons up in Johnson County, Wyoming. Once again, Horn’s involvement is somewhat shrouded in mystery, but he is suspected of assassinating at least two men on behalf of the large ranchers. Whether or not that’s true is unknown, but Tom did help to put an end to the notorious Red Sash Gang. Next, Horn would drift south and find employment as a Range Detective at John Coble’s Iron Mountain Ranch, doing pretty much the same work he had done in Johnson County: investigating stock theft and working as an enforcer for large spreads. The only difference was that Horn had lost all faith in the judicial system by this point. Rather than waste time arresting criminals only for the courts to set them free, Tom resolved to handle business his way, and it just so happened that his way entailed a whole helluva lot of killing. Also discussed: The Apache Kid, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, the Spanish American War, Matt Rash, Isom Dart, and Black Jack Ketchum.

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Bronco Apache - https://youtu.be/SXAQ4jTT2kQ?si=ZOOc_0xkwPyQkxnm

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Tom Horn | Range Wars (Part 2)

Wed, 22 May 2024 18:35:08 -0000

Regarding Old West feuds, Arizona’s Pleasant Valley War ranked among the most violent. Also known as the Graham-Tewksbury feud, this conflict would rage on for over a decade and see a death toll from between twenty to fifty men, some of whom fell at the hands of a notorious up-and-coming killer by the name of Tom Horn. And, of course, this would not be the last feud that Tom was involved in. After leaving Arizona, he’d hire on with the Pinkertons, and it wouldn’t be long before they sent him up to a little place in Wyoming known as Johnson County. The cattle barons seemed to be getting fed up with the rustlers and looking for men like Tom Horn, who weren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty.

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Commadore Perry Owens | Texas History Lessons - https://youtu.be/GLxTmx3w7VY?si=-og4PtxwZTJYtBxu

Frank Canton | Johnson County War - https://youtu.be/psestaX_qqY?si=nKUg7w7ngdGdChMR

Tom Horn: In Life & Legend by Larry D. Ball - https://www.amazon.com/Horn-Life-Legend-Larry-Ball/dp/0806151757/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EYOCZ7IPMJ8A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LnF9Ra8txfb9_U0HIcm8ug.Fhby2anYEnNBJIUwsl1JZR721EEnwP-Zz0y5nEO3A2s&dib_tag=se&keywords=larry+d+ball+tom+horn&qid=1716395499&sprefix=larry+d+ball+tom+horn%2Caps%2C158&sr=8-1

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Tom Horn | Apache Wars (Part 1)

Tue, 14 May 2024 10:00:00 -0000

“Killing men is my specialty. I look at it as a business proposition, and I think I have a corner on the market.” – Tom Horn, scout, lawman, detective, and assassin.

As a young man, Tom Horn walked the rough cow towns of Dodge and Newton before cutting his teeth and fighting Apache down in Arizona. Graduated to the Range Wars, and in time, Horn would put his talents to use for the wealthy cattle barons of Wyoming, possibly killing as many as 17 men in the process.

Or at least he did before being executed for a murder that many believe he did not commit.

Today, we’ll discuss Tom’s background, his early life as a cowboy, and his time working for the Army in Arizona and Mexico. Also discussed are the Apache, Al Sieber, Geronimo, and the Pleasant Valley War.

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The REAL Lonesome Dove

Wed, 08 May 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Lonesome Dove, the 11th novel of famed author Larry McMurtry, was published in 1985. Four years later, the characters Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call were immortalized on screen by actors Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. But did you know that much of Lonesome Dove was inspired by real-life people and events? Today, we discuss the real history behind Lonesome Dove—Charles Goodnight, Oliver Loving, Bose Ikard, Nelson Story, and more! We also discuss favorite Lonesome Dove quotes and a little behind-the-scenes trivia.

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Satanta | Kiowa - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_tbWm_hDh0

Remembering Larry McMurtry | Texas History Lessons -https://www.texashistorylessons.com/remembering-larry-mcmurtry/

Texas Cattle Drives | Texas History Lessons -https://www.texashistorylessons.com/the-texas-cattle-drives-of-1866-to-1/

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Legends of the Wild West | Outlaws, Gunfighters, & Lawmen

Wed, 01 May 2024 10:00:00 -0000

There is no new episode this week. Instead, I thought I'd share a compilation of previously released material. In this collection of true stories from the Old West, we’ll discuss Comanche Jack Stilwell, his heroics during the Battle of Beecher Island, and his brother’s time in Tombstone. Afterward, we’ll join Billy the Kid and his pals over at White Oaks and discuss the Kid’s arrest at Stinking Springs. We’ll take some sage advice from the legendary Wyatt Earp, delve into the lives of Alabama outlaw Rube Burrow and Old West conman Soapy Smith, join Kit Carson as he faces off against the Comanche at Adobe Walls, draw inspiration from sharpshooter Annie Oakley and finally, we’ll take a look at the circumstances surrounding the death of Billy the Kid.

(0:00) Comanche Jack vs Wyatt Earp

(10:27) Billy the Kid & the White Oaks Standoff

(14:17) Wyatt Earp Speaks

(26:59) Rube Burrow

(1:15:43) Billy the Kid’s Arrest at Stinking Springs

(1:20:49) First Battle of Adobe Walls

(1:45:54) Soapy Smith

(2:31:41) Billy the Kid’s Escape from Lincoln

(2:37:07) Cullen Baker

(3:21:58) Annie Oakley

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John Colter | The First Mountain Man

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Considered by many to be the first Mountain Man, John Colter first came west with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. When they head back to civilization, Colter instead chooses to stay behind. He’d live with the Crow tribe and go on to be the first American to cast eyes on the Teton Mountains, Colter’s Hell, and what’s now known as Yellowstone National Park. Later, as a fur trapper, Colter would survive numerous close calls with the Blackfeet. At one point, he’d be stripped naked and forced to run for his life. What was Colter’s early life like? Was he really a Ranger under Simon Kenton? And how would Colter finally die?

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Looking for the Lewis & Clark series? Start here - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/

Mountain Man: John Colter by David Marshall - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1682684423?ref=yb_qv_ov_prnt_dp_rw

11 Bang Bang on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Real11BangBang

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Lewis & Clark | The Journey's End (Part 6)

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Today, we’ll follow the Lewis and Clark Expedition as they return to civilization. We’ll also discuss the lives of a few key figures post-expedition. What ever happened to Sacagawea? What about her son, Pomp? How about George Drouillard? Finally, we’ll examine the mysterious death of Captain Meriwether Lewis.

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Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/

Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/

Part 3 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-shoshone-part-3/

Part 4 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-york-fort-clatsop-part-4/

Part 5 in the Lewis & Clark series -

The Explorer’s Podcast Lewis & Clark Ep 8 - https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/ADL4434397541

Discover Lewis & Clark - https://lewis-clark.org/

American History Tellers Lewis & Clark Pt 1 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ghh9ScQAN1zQAFi7HzrZd

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Lewis & Clark | The Blackfeet (Part 5)

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In July of 1806, Captain Meriwether Lewis and three of his companions had a violent confrontation with the Blackfeet, resulting in at least one dead warrior. This encounter would lead to strained relations between the United States and the Blackfeet Confederacy and result in decades of bloodshed. But is the official story – as told by the Corps of Discovery – truly what occurred? The Blackfeet don’t think so! Also discussed is the re-crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains, the splitting up of command, and the curious pronunciation of the Marias River. This is part 5 in the series on Lewis and Clark—links below for the previous four installments.

Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/

Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/

Part 3 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-shoshone-part-3/

Part 4 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-york-fort-clatsop-part-4/

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Missouri River Outfitters - https://www.youtube.com/@TalesoftheTrailsPodcast

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Lewis & Clark | York & Fort Clatsop (Part 4)

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Despite being a slave, York enjoyed unprecedented freedom during the Lewis and Clark expedition. Unfortunately, this would not last, and once back in Missouri, York returned to a life of bondage. Unlike the other men of the Corps of Discovery, York was not paid for his services, and William Clark refused to grant him his freedom. What was York’s ultimate fate? Are the rumors true of him returning west and living among the Crow? And what’s it like eating almost nothing but boiled elk meat for months at a time? Also discussed are the Corps of Discovery’s time at Fort Clatsop and their journey east back to the Nez Perce.

Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/

Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/

Part 3 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-shoshone-part-3/

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976

Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

York: Terra Incognita - https://www.lclark.edu/visit/features/york/

Casual Criminalist - https://www.youtube.com/@TheCasualCriminalist

The Shortest History of the Universe by David Baker - https://www.amazon.com/Shortest-History-World/dp/1760643610?ref_=ast_author_mpb

The Shortest History of Sex by David Baker - https://www.amazon.com/Book-9781913083519-author/dp/1913083519/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Texas History Lessons | One Person’s Activist - https://www.texashistorylessons.com/one-persons-activist-is-another-persons-voice-part-1/

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Lewis & Clark | The Shoshone (Part 3)

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In the spring of 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition departed from the Mandan and followed the Missouri River west into Montana. They would need to cross the Rocky Mountains before the snow began to fall, and to that, they would need to find the Shoshone. Also discussed are the hunting on the upper Missouri, the portage of the Great Falls, and a fortunate encounter with the Nez Perce. This is part 3 in the Lewis and Clark series; links below for the previous two installments.

Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/

Part 2 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-sacagawea-daniel-boone-part-2/

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Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976

Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

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Lewis & Clark | Sacagawea & Daniel Boone (Part 2)

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

One aspect of the Lewis and Clark expedition that’s often overlooked is that much of their success hinged largely on the good graces of the various Indigenous people on whose land they were crossing. Today, as we follow the expedition up Missouri, we’ll take a look at several such encounters, first with the Oto and Missouri tribes, then Arikara, the Yankton, and finally a near-disastrous confrontation with the Lakota – one that had the potential to significantly alter history as we know it. We’ll also examine the Corp of Discovery’s time among the Mandan, a possible meeting with the legendary Daniel Boone, and introduce a young girl who turned out to be one of the most valuable members of the expedition – a teenage mother known as Sacagawea. By the way, how exactly is her name pronounced? And was she really Shoshone? This is PART 2 in a series on Lewis and Clark - link down below for PART 1! Part 1 in the Lewis & Clark series - https://www.wildwestextra.com/lewis-clark-the-corps-of-discovery-part-1/ Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Hugh Glass - https://www.wildwestextra.com/hugh-glass-frontiersman/ Jim Bridger | Ashley’s 100 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/ Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976 Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/ Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

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Lewis & Clark | The Corps of Discovery (Part 1)

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0000

In the Spring of 1803, the United States acquired the Territory of Louisiana, a largely uncharted tract of wilderness stretching from Canada all the way down to New Orleans, over 800,000 square miles that, as the maps were concerned, remained a mystery. President Thomas Jefferson ordered an expedition to explore Louisiana west to the Pacific Ocean to understand this new purchase better. Tasked with leading this endeavor – officially known as the Corp of Discovery – were Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The Corp of Discovery was to travel some 8,000 miles, navigating their way up the Missouri River before turning west and crossing the Rocky Mountains. If everything went as planned, they’d locate an all-water route linking the Missouri to the Pacific and return to civilization as heroes. Sounds great in theory, but would Lewis and Clark be able to pull it off? Who exactly were Lewis and Clark? What exactly was the Louisiana Purchase? How’d they choose the men who would accompany them on the expedition? What sort of supplies would Lewis and Clark bring on the expedition? Is it true that Lewis and Clark were searching for wooly mammoths? And were they really the first to explore these new lands?

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - https://www.amazon.com/Undaunted-Courage-Meriwether-Jefferson-American/dp/0684826976

Journals of Lewis & Clark - https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/

Explorers Podcast - https://explorerspodcast.com/lewis-and-clark/

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Introducing American Criminal

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

From Airship, the studio behind American Scandal, American History Tellers, and History Daily, comes a new true crime history podcast that takes you inside the minds of some of our most notorious felons and outlaws, exploring the dark side to the American dream. The debut season tackles one of the country’s most sensational cases: The Menendez Murders. In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez brutally shot their parents. Prosecutors said it was a million dollar inheritance that led two greedy kids to murder. But the picture-perfect facade this family built hid troubling abuse; could these teenagers have been driven to kill, or was it even in self-defense?

Episode one is out now! Go to americancriminal.com, or search for and follow American Criminal wherever you get your podcasts.

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Claude Dallas | Killer Cowboy

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 20:51:00 -0000

They say Claude Dallas was the last of the Mountain Men; A modern-day cowboy and fur trapper just living life on his terms. A throwback to the Mountain Men like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith, and Kit Carson. The only thing was the authorities just wouldn’t let Dallas be. First, it was the FBI, then the Bureau of Land Management, and finally, a pair of Game Wardens out of Idaho. Dallas had sworn he’d never be arrested again, and sure enough when the smoke cleared, both Game Wardens lay dead on the ground. For over the next year, Claude Dallas was the subject of a nationwide manhunt. He would be captured and sentenced to prison, but he escaped, causing yet another manhunt – this time making it on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted. Believe it or not, Claude Dallas is still alive and free. Considered a hero to many – a living, walking, talking embodiment of the old motto, live free or die. But just how accurate are these sentiments? Is Claude Dallas truly a hero, a good man who refused to be victimized by an oppressive government, or just a criminal turned cold-blooded killer? And where is Claude Dallas now? This episode is dedicated to the memories of William Harlan Pogue, Wilson Conley Elms, and their families.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Give A Boy A Gun by Jack Olsen - https://www.amazon.com/Give-Boy-Gun-Disorder-American-ebook/dp/B014085Q2E

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Black Cowboys

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In this collection of true stories from the Old West, we’ll discuss Bass Reeves, one of the first black deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi. We’ll also take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum with Cherokee Bill – the son of a buffalo hunter who became one of the deadliest outlaws of Indian Territory. Finally we’ll celebrate the life and death of Brit Johnson, a former slave who’s quest to retrieve his wife and children from the clutches of captivity would inspire John Wayne’s The Searchers.

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Legends and Outlaws | An Old West Marathon

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In this collection of true stories from the Old West, we’ll discuss George Parrot, aka Big Nose George – a lesser-known outlaw who had a noose around his neck more times than you'd believe. And that’s just half the story! You’ll never guess how this one ends! Afterward, we’ll hop over to El Paso for a legendary showdown between madams Big Alice Abbot and Etta “The Grasshopper” Clark before discussing the legendary gunfight in Newton, Kansas. And don’t forget about legendary Joaquin Murrieta – the supposed inspiration for the likes of Zorro and Batman. Was Murrieta a righteous freedom fighter or simply a charismatic bandit? Then we’ve got Ed Scarborough, a fearless lawman whose biggest enemies turned out to be himself and a rabid skunk. With cross-dressing, shootouts with bicycles, and daring prison escapes, Ed’s story is about as wild as the West gets. Following Scarborough, we’ll delve into the Colorado cannibal Alfred Packer and his eyebrow-raising story of survival. Finally, we’ll pay a visit to Winslow, Arizona, where an armed robbery by down-and-out cowboys resulted in a literal trip to hell, a bloody gunfight, and an Old West Lazarus rising from the dead for one last sip of whiskey!

(0:00) Big Nose George

(23:10) Alice Abbott & the Battle of the Bordellos

(45:04) The Newton Massacre

(73:15) Billy the Kid's Brother

(88:12) The Bandit Joaquin Murrieta

(144:48) Arizona Ranger Ed Scarborough

(157:25) Colorado Cannibal Alfred Packer

(212:04) The Devil's Canyon

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John Wesley Hardin's Final Stand (Part 4)

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

John Wesley Hardin killed his first man at the age of 15, and for the next decade, he would continue to kill. The exact number of victims is unknown, but it’s estimated that anywhere from twenty to forty men fell before Hardin’s guns, making him one of the deadliest shootists of the Old West. Then, at the age of 25, Hardin went to prison. After numerous attempts at escape and several lashings, Wes finally settled down and became a model inmate. And, upon his eventual release, Hardin truly seemed to be a changed man. Believe it or not, he would even receive a license to practice law and begin working as an attorney. But how long would this last? Would Hardin continue to walk the straight and narrow in the rowdy border town of El Paso, or would he return to his old vices? And what about those rumors of indiscretions in prison? Also discussed are John Selman Sr., Jeff Milton, Deputy George Scarborough, Deacon Jim Miller, and Reconstruction Texas.

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John Wesley Hardin | First Blood (Part 1) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/john-wesley-hardin-first-blood/

John Wesley Hardin vs Wild Bill Hickok (Part 2) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/john-wesley-hardin-vs-wild-bill-hickok-part-2/

John Wesley Hardin | Sutton-Taylor Feud - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-sutton-taylor-feud-john-wesley-hardin-part-3/

John Selman Sr | Killer With A Badge - https://www.wildwestextra.com/john-selman-sr-killer-with-a-badge/

John Wesley Hardin by John Wesley Hardin - https://www.amazon.com/Life-John-Wesley-Hardin/dp/1545102228/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1NBYY662EX0R1&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1706053895&sprefix=%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-2

John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas by Leon Metz - https://www.amazon.com/John-Wesley-Hardin-Angel-Texas/dp/0806129956/ref=pd_bxgy_img_d_sccl_1/146-3827527-8314802?pd_rd_w=4V28q&content-id=amzn1.sym.839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf_rd_p=839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf_rd_r=J9AVPF1V2SFTSHHQW493&pd_rd_wg=cmshz&pd_rd_r=b5b6e080-3cb8-4021-8b7a-8d055614deaa&pd_rd_i=0806129956&psc=1

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The Sutton-Taylor Feud | John Wesley Hardin (Part 3)

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

The Sutton-Taylor feud was one of the deadliest of the Old West. On one side you had the Taylor clan – descendants of Virginian Josiah Taylor, who settled near Cuero in DeWitt County. Tough-as-nails patriarchs Pitkin and Creed, along with their many sons and nephews, formed the backbone of their faction. Their adversaries, initially tied to the nefarious Texas State Police, rally under the name of William E. Sutton and Sheriff Jack Helm. Ambushes, assassinations, and betrayals became the norm, with each party vying for dominance. But who’s side would gunman John Wesley Hardin fight on? Also discussed is John Wesley Hardin’s time on the run, his arrest at the hands of Texas Rangers, and his murder trial.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

John Wesley Hardin Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/john-wesley-hardin-first-blood/

John Wesley Hardin Part 2 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/john-wesley-hardin-vs-wild-bill-hickok-part-2/

Bill Longley | Deadliest Gun in Texas - https://www.wildwestextra.com/bill-longley-the-deadliest-gun-in-texas/

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John Wesley Hardin vs Wild Bill Hickok (Part 2)

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

John Wesley Hardin – the Old West gunfighter who not only faced down Wild Bill Hickok but also gained infamy for (allegedly) shooting a man merely for snoring! Join me as we examine both of these incidents, as well as Hardin’s encounter with the Bloody Bender family of Kansas, the time a belt buckle saved his life, and the lead up to the infamous Sutton-Taylor feud. Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ John Wesley Hardin Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/john-wesley-hardin-first-blood/ Wild Bill Hickok - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok/ Shootout at Hide Park aka Newton Massacre - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-newton-massacre/ The Life of John Wesley Hardin by John W. Hardin - https://www.amazon.com/Life-John-Wesley-Hardin/dp/1545102228/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2N2NHCZI3QKV5&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1704831121&sprefix=john+wesley+hardi%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-1 John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas by Leon Metz - https://www.amazon.com/John-Wesley-Hardin-Angel-Texas/dp/0806129956/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2N2NHCZI3QKV5&keywords=john+wesley+hardin+books&qid=1704831176&sprefix=john+wesley+hardi%2Caps%2C223&sr=8-3 Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza

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The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger | Interview with Rib Hillis & Paul Epstein

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

Join me in a discussion with actor Rib Hillis and producer Paul Epstein as we discuss the upcoming premiere of INSP’s The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger!

As a fur trapper, legendary mountain man Jim Bridger explored the entire distant West and survived countless hair-raising adventures. Now, he's a respected trail guide and army scout who knows every river, mountain, and trail of the frontier. As a new generation of settlers, soldiers, and speculators crowd the Bozeman Trail, Bridger's hard-won wisdom is more valuable than ever, even if his famous tall tales sound more like fiction than fact. But the West is still a perilous place, and with danger just around every bend, the greenhorns heading west quickly realize they need Bridger's guidance for much more than the trail.

Rib Hillis is an accomplished actor, host, producer, and model known for his work across primetime television, non-scripted reality television, and films spanning multiple genres. Hillis has worked on many notable titles, such as Ugly Betty, Two and a Half Men, and CSI, and has even showcased his talent as a designer on the Emmy-winning ABC show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. His most recent venture is INSP's The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger, in which he plays the titular legend, Jim Bridger himself.

Paul Epstein is an Emmy-nominated producer, writer, and director known for his work across scripted, factual, and news television. Epstein has worked with many major TV networks and streamers, including Peacock, Discovery, and MSNBC, and has amassed approximately 40 credits across his 20-year-long career. He has worked on titles such as the true-crime documentary series Who Killed Robert Wone? and the factual drama series Into the Wild Frontier, the most-watched TV series on INSP in 2021. Most recently, Paul directed The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger, a historical drama series due to premiere on INSP on January 11th, 2024.

The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger - https://www.insp.com/shows/tall-tales-of-jim-bridger/

Learn more about Jim Bridger here - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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John Wesley Hardin: Dark Angel of Texas (Part 1)

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0000

In November of 1868 – at just the tender age of fifteen – John Wesley Hardin killed his first man. And, a few weeks later, he’d kill yet again; this time three soldiers who came looking for him. Fearing a hangman’s noose, Wes struck first, dispatching two troopers with a shotgun and finishing the third with an old cap and ball colt. And you better believe the hits just kept on a coming. Before it was all said and done, Hardin would be responsible for anywhere between twenty to possibly as many as fifty killings, each of which – according to him – were justifiable. But how true is that? Was John Wesley Hardin a persecuted hero or a homicidal killer? How’d the son of a minister become one of the deadliest gunmen of the Old West? And did he really kill someone just for snoring?

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Bill Longley | The Deadliest Gun in Texas - https://www.wildwestextra.com/bill-longley-the-deadliest-gun-in-texas/

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Wyatt Earp In His Own Words

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Today we hear from the legendary Wyatt Earp, in his own words, as he dispenses sage advice on the art of gunfighting. We’ll also examine the legitimacy of these statements. The passages quoted are from Stuart Lake's biography Wyatt Earp Frontier Marshal, a work deemed by historians as mostly fiction. Examine Lake's admission of embellishment and invention and consider the impact of his storytelling on Wyatt Earp's legacy. Share your thoughts on the authenticity of Earp's wisdom and the influence of Hollywood adaptations on his iconic status. Regardless of fact or fiction, I certainly acknowledge Stuart Lake for contributing captivating narratives that have entertained generations!

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A Blood Meridian Christmas Miracle

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Uncover the dark history of the Yuma Crossing and the infamous John Joel Glanton's reign of terror. Learn how Glanton's brutality led to a massacre that sparked the Yuma War and a tense standoff on Christmas Day 1851. Lieutenant Amiel Whipple and his men find themselves outnumbered and facing certain death at the hands of the Quechan people, still angry at Glanton's many abuses. What happens next is what many would consider a Blood Meridian Christmas miracle.

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Wooden Leg | Life After Custer

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

On June 25th, 1876, George Armstrong Custer rode into battle for the last time. He and his troops faced an overwhelming force of Lakota and Cheyenne along the banks of the Little Bighorn, and before the sun sank into the horizon, every man in his command was dead. When General Terry arrived two days later, the victorious warriors were already gone. The soldiers on Reno Hill had watched in awe as the large progression, stretching for more than two miles, passed them by. And when Terry and his men approached, their first question was “Where’s Custer?” They’d been so busy just trying to stay alive that they had no idea their commander was dead. This news not only shook the surviving troopers to the core, but also the entire Nation. A Republic getting ready to observe its centennial now had to contend with its most celebrated hero slaughtered at the hands of so-called “savages.” As you can imagine, the reaction was swift. And in less than a year the Great Sioux War would be over, and those who defeated Custer would be relegated to life on the reservation. But what transpired immediately after the battle of Little Bighorn? What events would cause the Northern Cheyenne to finally lay down their arms? And what would Wooden Leg get up to in the years following? I think the answer might surprise you. Also discussed are the Battle of Wolf Mountain, the Dull Knife Fight, the Cheyenne Exodus, and the Massacre at Wounded Knee.

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Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1539063747?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1539063747&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

The Earth Is All That Lasts by Mark L. Gardner - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062669907?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0062669907&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

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Wooden Leg & the Battle of Little Bighorn

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 10:00:00 -0000

“All around, the Indians began jumping up, running forward, dodging down, jumping up again, down again, all the time going toward the soldiers. Right away, all of the white men went crazy. Instead of fighting us, they turned their guns upon themselves. Almost before we could get to them, every one of them was dead. They killed themselves.” - Wooden Leg, a Northern Cheyenne who faced off against Custer and his 7th Cavalry at the Battle of Little Bighorn; a fight we will examine today from this young warrior’s point of view. But who was Wooden Leg? How credible of a source is he when it comes to Custer’s Last Stand? And what really kicked off the Great Sioux War of 1876? Also discussed are the battles of Powder River and the Rosebud.

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Alias Soapy Smith: The Life of a Scoundrel by Jeff Smith - https://klondikeresearch.com/product/alias-soapy-smith-paperback/

The Reno-Benteen Defense Site | The Story Out West - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GKrZH6Qucs

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Soapy Smith | King of the Frontier Con Men

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 18:52:00 -0000

“It’s just as easy to make big money as little money. In my profession, a hundred dollars is just chicken feed. We think in thousands, not tens. Experience has taught me that it is as easy to separate a sucker – the right sucker – from five thousand dollars as from fifty. We always offered our services to well-to-do men, holding out the promise that their investments were certain to net them profit in three to four figures, at least – and that’s the real bait for the sucker – particularly if he’s the close-fisted kind that always wants something for nothing. Yes, there always was a lot of satisfaction as well as cash profit in trimming some old skin flint who would rob his grandmother if he had a chance.” - Doc Bags; a legendary con artist and frontier gambler who plied his trade throughout the West. Although Doc is largely forgotten today, his lasting legacy was his most notorious apprentice, a young man from Georgia who’d come to be known as Soapy Smith. You see it's on the streets of Denver that Smith learned all Doc Bags had to teach. And when it came time for Doc to move on, young Soapy took his spot as the undisputed kingpin of the mile-high city. But he wasn’t a gunman, at least not really. Instead of colt revolvers, Soapy’s weapon of choice was a quick wit coupled with a silver tongue, a whole helluva lot of charisma, and the magical ability to make people see and believe things that did not exist; all of which would earn him the title of King of the Frontier Conmen. That said, Soapy certainly wasn’t afraid of resorting to violence if the situation called for it. With an army of thugs at his disposal, Smith would face down more than a few deadly killers. And like many other icons of the Old West, Soapy would ultimately go down in a blaze of gunfire. They say fortune favors the bold and they don’t get much bolder than Soapy Smith, a charming rogue who spent his life operating in the shadows, leaving behind a legend as complex as the frontier he called home. Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ King Con: The Story of Soapy Smith by Jane G. Haigh - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0962753076?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0962753076&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

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Harry Tracy | Desperado (Part 2)

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

This is Part 2 and the final installment in the series on Harry Tracy. In the previous episode we discussed Tracy's early life, his various scrapes with the law, and his dramatic prison escape. On today's episode we'll follow Tracy as he eludes the authorities, culminating in his ultimate showdown.

Miss Part 1? Listen here - Harry Tracy | The Last of the Wild Bunch (Part 1) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/harry-tracy-the-last-of-the-wild-bunch-part-1/

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Billy the Kid (COMPILATION)

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:26:00 -0000

In the summer of 1881, Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett. The lawman had been on the hunt ever since Billy broke out of jail in Lincoln and finally caught up to the bandit at Old Fort Sumner. It was around midnight, and Pat was waiting inside Pete Maxwell’s darkened bedroom when the Kid stepped in. “Quien es?” Billy asked, noticing the large shape looming in the shadows. “Who is it?” Pat answered in the form of two shots from his 44-40 Colt revolver and just like that Billy the Kid was over. At least in his mortal form. His body may have been stuck in the ground the next day, but can’t no pine box contain the legend that soon emerged. And make no mistake about it, Billy the Kid has taken on mythical proportions unrivaled by any other character of the old West over the decades that followed. But who was he REALLY? This is the definitive guide to Billy the Kid, a remastered compilation from a previously released five-part series, along with a look at the mystery surrounding the Kid’s death.

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Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life | Robert Utley - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0803295588?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0803295588&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride | Michael Wallis - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393060683?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0393060683&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Were people allowed to view Billy’s dead body? https://btkcoalition.com/btk-history-blog/f/debunking-brushy-were-people-allowed-to-view-billys-dead-body

Dr. Robert Stahl | Pleading for Death Certificate - http://doc45.com/pleading/tenth-court-pleading-by-dr-robert-stahl-for-kid-death-certificate.pdf

Billy the Kid’s Grave by David G. Thomas - https://www.amazon.com/dp/154240472X?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=154240472X&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Looking for the series on Pat Garrett? Start here - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-origin-story-part-1/

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Harry Tracy | The Last of the Wild Bunch (Part 1)

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:39:00 -0000

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Bass Reeves | Lawman (Part 2)

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Make no mistake about it, the exploits of escaped slave-turned-lawman Bass Reeves are legendary.

Described in the papers of his day as a holy terror and one of the greatest manhunters to ever grace Indian Territory, Bass Reeves served as a deputy U.S. Marshal for over three decades; routinely traveling into no man’s land and returning with wagonloads of prisoners. With over 3,000 arrests and over a dozen kills to his name, Reeves was not only one of the most effective lawmen of the Old West but also one of the most deadly. But who was Bass Reeves really? What kind of man was he? Where’d he come from? How does a mere mortal grow such an amazing mustache? And did he really inspire the Lone Ranger?

This is part 2 and the final installment of the Bass Reeves series. Link below for episode 1. Today we cover Reeves’ hunt for Ned Christie, his transition from frontier marshal to town police, and we examine whether Bass truly inspired the Lone Ranger.

Bass Reeves | Lawman (Part 1) - https://open.spotify.com/episode/77j3n69HzvPBrWuTMzhOWO

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This Country Life with Brent Reaves - https://www.themeateater.com/listen/this-country-life

Ned Christie | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://open.spotify.com/episode/505f6O0eOusbjG40HjSnNM

Black Gun Silver Star by Art T. Burton - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1496233425?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1496233425&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

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Bass Reeves | Lawman (Part 1)

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0000

Make no mistake about it, the exploits of escaped slave-turned-lawman Bass Reeves are legendary.

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Snapper’s Antique Firearms | 45 Colt in a 73 Winchester 44-40 - https://youtu.be/xa9WMMlSWlU?si=KuXpcq1q-aQUs57b

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This is NOT Doc Holliday

Sat, 21 Oct 2023 17:28:00 -0000

There are many purported photos of the legendary Doc Holliday but only two are authenticated. This is a VISUALY DEPENDENT episode. Check the video out here: https://youtu.be/FvIDvi5NdMo?si=P1mn9Byw4Lte9Vun

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Doc Holliday Picnic Photo - https://www.lotsearch.net/lot/1881-doc-holliday-and-morgan-earp-picnic-tintype-photograph-44737126

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Uncontacted

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

There’s just something about uncontacted tribes that’s always piqued my curiosity. Perhaps you’ve heard of Ishi, who, as the last of his people, emerged from California’s Sierra foothills in the summer of 1911. It’s estimated that Ishi was around 50 years of age and spent the vast majority of his life completely cut off from modern society. And for good reason, after all his tribe was literally slaughtered in a series of massacres.

Then there’s the Bronco Apache I covered here on The Wild West Extravaganza way back when. Link in the description. These guys and gals were still making raids into Arizona and New Mexico as late as 1926. Hell, even a decade later they themselves were being hunted in the mountains of northern Mexico. According to Jason Betzinez, an Apache who rode with Geronimo, those Broncos were still out there as recently as 1959.

Now I don’t know how accurate that is, but if true that’s still quite a long time ago. I think it’s safe to say that as of this recording, there are no remaining uncontacted tribes anywhere in North America.

South America is a different story, though. And let’s not forget about Africa or India. Per the experts at Survival International, there are currently over one hundred uncontacted tribes worldwide. A number that absolutely blows my mind.

If that seems like a lot, I will say that the term uncontacted is a little misleading. Generally speaking, it’s used to describe certain indigenous peoples who AVOID all contact with outsiders. Doesn’t mean they’ve never met anyone else or that they’ve never physically touched or owned modern objects. So long as they continue to avoid all contact with outsiders, they are considered uncontacted.

And today you’re going to hear about a group who, in my opinion, are about as uncontacted as you can possibly get. They have no trade with neighboring tribes, they brook no interference from outsiders and we don’t even know what language they speak, much less what they call themselves.

The following is courtesy of Rich Napolitano and his podcast, Shipwrecks and Seadogs:

North Sentinel Island is a remote and largely isolated island located in the Bay of Bengal, belonging to the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago of India. The island is known for its indigenous inhabitants, the Sentinelese, who have fiercely resisted contact with the outside world, maintaining their traditional way of life and avoiding interactions with modern society. Due to their isolation and the limited knowledge about their language and culture, the Sentinelese people remain one of the last uncontacted tribes on Earth, making North Sentinel Island a unique and heavily restricted area for anthropological study and preserving their autonomy. Over recorded history, a number of ships have wrecked near the island, causing unpleasant confrontations with the native people of North Sentinel Island.

Seadogs and Shipwrecks - https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/

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Original theme music for Seadogs and Shipwrecks by Sean Siegfried - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgBMxexyt1grjt6G1gHHwZA

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The Bronco Apache - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-last-wild-apache/

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Wild Bill Hickok

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok was the epitome of the Wild West. Soldier, spy, scout, gambler, lawman, and yes – gunfighter. Friends with other Old West legends like Buffalo Bill Cody, Kit Carson, Calamity Jane, and George Armstrong Custer, Hickok also brushed shoulders with his fair share of notorious outlaws like John Wesley Hardin. This is a comprehensive look at Wild Bill’s life, from his early days growing up in Illinois, to his time in the Civil War, and his various exploits as a frontier lawman. And finally, we’ll accompany Hickok to the black hills boomtown of Deadwood and his ultimate destiny. You’ve never heard Wild Bill’s story quite like this! THIS IS A COMPILATION FROM A PREVIOUS SERIES ON HICKOK.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

https://www.amazon.com/They-Called-Him-Wild-Bill/dp/0806115386

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They called him Wild Bill by Joseph G. Rosa -

Bloody Bill Anderson - https://www.wildwestextra.com/46-bloody-bill-anderson-the-missouri-bushwhackers/

Making the Hickok Tutt Shot | duelist1954 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7gGgHs2lPU

1867 Harper’s Article - https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-wildbill/

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Johnny Ringo's Mysterious Fate

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0000

The mysterious, oftentimes sullen gunfighter Johnny Ringo celebrated July 4th, 1882, by going on a bender. And judging by the liquor bottles stashed in his saddlebags he wasn’t planning on the festivities ending any time soon. Few days later Ringo shows up at a ranch about 20 miles to the north and he’s still drinking. Likewise even later when he runs into Cochise County Sheriff’s deputy Billy Breakenridge. According to Billy it was barely past midday and Johnny was having trouble staying in the saddle. What happened next is a mystery, but the following day Johnny Ringo’s lifeless body was discovered by a teamster; his feet wrapped in a torn shirt, his cartridge belt upside down, his horse gone, and a noticeable piece of his scalp missing, seemingly cut away with a knife. The official coroner’s report would rule Johnny’s death as self-inflicted but is that really what happened? Why would a veteran of so many battles choose to take his own life? And Where was his horse? Why was he barefoot? And who the hell cut off a piece of his hair? And while we’re at it, who the hell was Johnny Ringo anyway, and could he really speak Latin?

"Eventus stultorum magister."

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Huckleberry vs Hucklebearer – https://www.wildwestextra.com/huckleberry-or-hucklebearer/

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Texas Rangers vs Comanche | The Battle of Antelope Hills

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0000

In early 1858, John “RIP” Ford led a detachment of Texas Rangers, along with their Native American allies, on a punitive expedition deep in the heart of Comancheria. Their mission was to catch the Comanche unaware and prove that they could strike them in their own backyard. What followed is known as the Battle or Campaign of Antelope Hills aka the Battle of Little Robe Creek. Also discussed in this episode are the Tonkawa & their Chief Placido, the Comanche chief Iron Jacket, Peta Nocona, and the astonishing raiding capabilities of the Comanche.

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John Selman Sr | Killer with a Badge

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In the summer of 1895 John Selman Sr gunned down John Wesley Hardin. Considered one of the deadliest shootists of the Old west, Hardin killed his first man at the tender age of fifteen. In the decade that followed dozens of others would fall to the young man’s guns, including – if the legend is true – a victim whose only crime was snoring too loud. Yet despite all this, Hardin’s killer with a badge – John Selman – was far worse. Also discussed is the Lincoln County War, Jesse Evans, George Scarborough, Bass Outlaw, and Hulk Hogan.

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David Lambert on John Selman Sr – https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1351688141178978304

David Lambert’s artwork - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart/posts

David Lambert Wrong Reel Podcast | Jesse James - https://wrongreel.com/podcast/wr470-jesse-james-american-outlaw/

David Lambert Wrong Reel Podcast |Wyatt Earp - https://wrongreel.com/podcast/wr450-wyatt-earp-and-the-gunfight-at-the-o-k-corral/

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Devil Canyon Shootout

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In the spring of 1905, a couple of down-and-out cowboys robbed a dice game in Winslow, Arizona. What followed was a literal pursuit to hell, a bloody gunfight, and an Old West Lazurus rising from the grave for one final sip of whiskey.

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David Lambert on the Canyon Diablo shootout - https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1525570484514848768

David Lambert’s drawing of Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia - https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1698242129171304810

David Lambert’s artwork - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart/posts

David Lambert Wrong Reel Podcast | Jesse James - https://wrongreel.com/podcast/wr470-jesse-james-american-outlaw/

David Lambert Wrong Reel Podcast |Wyatt Earp - https://wrongreel.com/podcast/wr450-wyatt-earp-and-the-gunfight-at-the-o-k-corral/

Devil’s Canyon Shootout by Bob Boz Belle - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/devil-canyon-shoot-out/

Texas History Lessons - https://open.spotify.com/show/6o5AIqdtjbzY9VctfRArOT

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Ed Scarborough | The Skunk Fighting Arizona Ranger

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Ed Scarborough cut his teeth chasing outlaws like Black Jack Ketchum when he was still a teenager. He’d go on to become a deputy sheriff, constable, Arizona Ranger, and according to those who knew him, Ed was born to a saddle, an excellent marksman, and did not know the meaning of the word fear. Make no mistake about it, Ed Scarborough took down many a sassy bandit over the course of his career. Be that as it may, the toughest opponents he’d ever face turned out to be himself and a rabid skunk. Toss in a little bit of cross-dressing, a shootout with a bicycle, some good ole fashioned homicide and a daring prison escape, and we’ve got what may be the most absurd tale I’ve ever had the pleasure to share. Trust me; you’re not going to want to skip this one.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

David Lambert on Ed Scarborough - https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1431153148618440704

David Lambert’s drawing of Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia - https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1698242129171304810

David Lambert’s artwork - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart/posts

David Lambert Wrong Reel Podcast | Jesse James - https://wrongreel.com/podcast/wr470-jesse-james-american-outlaw/

David Lambert Wrong Reel Podcast |Wyatt Earp - https://wrongreel.com/podcast/wr450-wyatt-earp-and-the-gunfight-at-the-o-k-corral/

Bringing a Bike to a Gunfight by Mark Boardman | True West Magazine - https://truewestmagazine.com/bringing-a-bike-to-a-gunfight/

Texas History Lessons - https://open.spotify.com/show/6o5AIqdtjbzY9VctfRArOT

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Wyatt Earp vs Comanche Jack

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Comanche Jack Stilwell worked as a teamster on the Santa Fe Trail, hunted buffalo on the southern plains, and participated in the famous Battle of Beecher Island – all before the age of 19 years of age. Jack continued scouting for the Army against the Cheyenne, Comanche, Apache, Kiowa, and Arapaho before pinning on a badge and chasing down outlaws in Indian Territory. Despite these accomplishments, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Comanche Jack. But what about his brother, Frank? While the name Frank Stilwell likewise may not ring a bell, I’m willing to bet you’ve seen Frank’s death portrayed on film on more than one occasion; an incident that saw frontiersman extraordinaire Comanche Jack come gunning for the famous Wyatt Earp.

The Battle of Beecher Island - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-battle-of-beecher-island/

Liver Eating Johnson - https://www.wildwestextra.com/liver-eating-johnson/

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On The Warpath | My Sixty Years on the Plains

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

War is hell. I know that sounds cliché but there’s a simple, irrefutable truth in that short yet powerful statement, one that is unchanging through time. Although our modern weapons may not be the same now as they were in the past, the end result is the same. Death, dismemberment, chaos, and pain. Grieving families, survivor guilt, and, sometimes, an elation that borders on the euphoric. For tribes like the Shoshone, Cheyenne, Blackfeet, and the Crow, war was an unfortunate yet necessary part of life. And for centuries untold these tribes clashed with their enemies on battlegrounds with no names, in skirmishes long forgotten. And the warriors who emerged victorious are likewise lost to history. Well, on today’s episode we’ll take a glimpse behind the curtain. Find out what it was like to accompany the Shoshone into battle, to hear the cries of victory mixed with the agonizing wails of mourning. This is the fourth installment William T. Hamilton’s My Sixty Years on the Plains, chapter’s 7 and 8 if you’re reading along at home. Also discussed is Hamilton’s comparison between the Shoshone and Cheyenne, his opinion on the bravery of mountain lions, tips on shot placement when hunting any animal, and the most dangerous aspect of bear hunting. Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Join Into History! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Merchandise! https://www.teepublic.com/user/wild-west-extravaganza Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d My Sixty Years on the Plains by W.T. Hamilton - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1695768930?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1695768930&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_d_asin

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Harriet Tubman | Her Half of History

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 22:46:00 -0000

This bonus episode comes to us from Lori Davis and her excellent podcast Her Half of History. Brand new episode of The Wild West Extravaganza still scheduled for Wednesday but I thought I'd go ahead and share this as well. Enjoy!

This woman is a superhero. She escaped herself and then put herself in danger many times to help others do the same. During the Civil War, she served as a nurse and educator and spy and commanded a charge of armed men. All without any formal education herself. After the war she continued to find so many ways to help her fellow human beings that if she were anybody else, that would be the story. As it is, it all feels like an afterthought to her underground railroad and civil war work. My major source for today was Kate Clifford Larson’s biography Bound for the Promised Land. The first biography of Tubman was written in 1869 by Sarah Bradford, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman.

Her Half of History - https://herhalfofhistory.com/

Bound for the Promised Land by Kate Clifford Larson - https://www.amazon.com/Bound-Promised-Land-Portrait-American/dp/0345456289

Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman by Sarah Bradford - https://web.archive.org/web/20161216040502/http:/docsouth.unc.edu/neh/bradford/bradford.html

The Library of Congress has an article about spirituals and their history: https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200197495/

The Charleston Mercury’s account of the Combahee River raid: https://web.archive.org/web/20111004194604/http://www.cw-chronicles.com/blog/the-enemy%e2%80%99s-raid-on-the-banks-of-the-combahee/

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Was Billy the Kid's Death a Hoax?

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 21:04:00 -0000

How can we be so certain that Pat Garrett really killed Billy the Kid? Today we take a look at all of the evidence – the eyewitness accounts, official documentation, coroner’s jury report, etc. – all proving that Billy did indeed come to his demise at Fort Sumner in 1881. We also dispel a few myths, discuss why there was no reason for Garrett to take a photo of the Kid, define what the term anecdotal means, and why – at the end of the day – I think it’s ok for us to disagree.

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Were people allowed to view Billy’s dead body? https://btkcoalition.com/btk-history-blog/f/debunking-brushy-were-people-allowed-to-view-billys-dead-body

Dr. Robert Stahl | Pleading for Death Certificate - http://doc45.com/pleading/tenth-court-pleading-by-dr-robert-stahl-for-kid-death-certificate.pdf

Looking for the series on Billy the Kid? Start here - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Looking for the series on Pat Garrett? Start here - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-origin-story-part-1/

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Pat Garrett | Murder (Part 5)

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 11:55:00 -0000

From investigating the Fountain disappearance to working as Sheriff of Dona Ana County, and appointed as the Collector of Customs by Teddy Roosevelt himself, Pat Garrett seemed to be living up to the notoriety gained from killing Billy the Kid. Unfortunately it would all come crashing down. Just a few years after the turn of the century, an aging Garrett would find himself out of a job and deeply in debt. Things would even get so bad that Pat’s family property was seized and auctioned, and the once proud lawman was reduced to begging friends for money in order to feed his family. And then came the goats. Ah, the goats. Pat leased his remaining land to an easy-going cowpoke named Wayne Brazel; a decision that would ultimately cost Garrett his life. Who killed Pat Garrett? The answer might surprise you! This is part 5 and the final installment in the Pat Garrett series. Links below for previous episodes.

Pat Garrett | Origin Story (part 1) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-origin-story-part-1/

Pat Garrett | Pat vs Billy the Kid (Part 2) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-pat-vs-billy-the-kid-part-2/

Pat Garrett | The End of Billy the Kid (Part 3) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-the-end-of-the-kid-part-3/

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Looking for the Billy the Kid series? Start here: https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

The Killing of Pat Garrett by Mark Boardman - https://truewestmagazine.com/the-killing-of-pat-garrett/

The Curious Murder of Manny Clements by Mark Boardman - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-curious-murder-of-manny-clements/

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Pat Garrett | The Vanishing of Albert Jennings Fountain (Part 4)

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

In February of 1896, Albert Jennings Fountain and his 8-year-old son Henry vanished off the face of the earth, never to be seen again.

The pair had been travelling near the present day white sands missile range in New Mexico when disaster struck; an abandoned wagon and blood stains the only clues alluding to their fate. To this day no bodies have been discovered and, although suspects abound, ultimately nobody will be held responsible.

Who was Albert Jennings Fountain? What dark secrets did he uncover that made him a target for the unthinkable? What does all of this have to do with Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid?

Strap in for this one as we delve into one of the greatest mysteries of the Old West, a whodunnit involving everyone from crooked politicians to notorious outlaws. This is part 4 in a series on Pat Garrett. Links below for the previous installments.

Pat Garrett Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-origin-story-part-1/

Pat Garrett Part 2 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-pat-vs-billy-the-kid-part-2/

Pat Garrett Part 3 -

Looking for the Billy the Kid series? Start here: https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

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Pat Garrett | The End of the Kid (Part 3)

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Pat Garrett, along with deputies John W. Poe and Kip McKinney, make one final push into Fort Sumner in search of Billy the Kid. In doing so, they immortalize themselves. Also discussed in this episode is whether or not Pat Garrett was a coward. Was Billy the Kid armed when he met his end? How do we know for sure that Billy was indeed killed that night at Fort Sumner? Why wasn’t a photograph taken of the Kid’s body and why was he so quickly buried? This is part 3 in the series on Pat Garrett. Link to previous installments below.

Pat Garrett | Origin Story (part 1) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-origin-story-part-1/

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Looking for the Billy the Kid series? Start here: https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid’s Trigger Finger - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kids-trigger-finger/

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Pat Garrett | Pat vs Billy the Kid (Part 2)

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 01:47:00 -0000

Pat Garrett is now the Sheriff of Lincoln County and he’s got one job – to put an end to his old friend, Billy the Kid. And you better believe he wastes no time in starting on the hunt. Aiding him in these efforts are Secret Service Agent Azariah Wild and Texas cattleman investigator Frank Stewart.

Also discussed in this episode: Barney Mason, the raid on Fort Sumner, Pat Garrett’s confrontation with two Puerto de Luna badmen, his refusal to be arrested, the standoff with an armed mob in Las Vegas, Bob Olinger’s likely affliction, Billy’s escape from the jail in Lincoln, Sheriff Garrett’s immediate reaction, the Kid’s reasons for sticking around Fort Sumner, and more!

This is the 2nd installment in a series on the life of Pat Garrett. Link to the previous episode below.

Pat Garrett | Origin Story (part 1) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/pat-garrett-origin-story-part-1/

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Looking for the Billy the Kid series? Start here: https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid | Quien Es? (Part 5) - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-quien-es/

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Pat Garrett | Origin Story (Part 1)

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:25:00 -0000

On the night of July 14th, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett killed Billy the Kid. In doing so he not only helped create a legend, but he also ensured that his legacy would forever be intertwined with that of the notorious outlaw.

And let’s be honest – it ain’t that great of a legacy.

Many consider Garrett to be a coward, at best; a no-good backstabbing Old West Judas who betrayed his own friend for a handful of silver. What’s more, Pat is also labeled as a rank liar and an ego maniac. A glory seeker would turn on his own mother if that meant earning a little dough and building up his own reputation.

And, over 26 years after he gunned down The Kid, Pat himself would be shot and killed under similar circumstances. A murder that to this day remains unsolved.

Who killed Pat Garrett? How accurate is the narrative surrounding the former Sheriff of Lincoln County? Is all the hate deserved?

And who was Garrett anyway? What was his life like before he met the Kid? And what became of Pat in the decades following that fateful night at Fort Sumner?

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Into History - https://intohistory.supercast.com/

Were Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid Friends? https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/p/were-pat-garrett-and-billy-the-kid

The First Battle of Adobe Walls - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-first-battle-of-adobe-walls/

Billy the Kid series part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

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Scalping & Trading | My Sixty Years On The Plains

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 02:25:00 -0000

Who invented scalping? The Native Americans? Or did the Europeans introduce the atrocious behavior to the New World? The answer – like much of history – is complicated. In this latest installment of My Sixty Years, we join the young fur trapper William Hamilton as he, Old Bill Williams, and the others embark upon the Wind River Country where they make contact with both the Blackfeet and the Shoshone. Brutality and trade ensues.

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My Sixty Years On The Plains by W.T. Hamilton - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1695768930?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1695768930&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_d_asin

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Old Solitaire | My Sixty Years On The Plains

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 20:24:00 -0000

Before he became known as Old Bill Williams, the gaunt and scarred Mountain Man was a Methodist preacher who attempted to bring the gospel to the Osage people. Bill lived among the Osage, married into the tribe, helped them negotiate a treaty, and even translated the Bible into their language. It’s said, however, that it was the Osage who ultimately ended up converting Williams. Sadly, Bill’s Osage wife passed away and he pressed further west to the Rockies, becoming a free trapper and trader (as well as a prolific horse thief). Often known as “Old Solitaire”, Williams rode with the likes of Jed Smith, Kit Carson, and Joseph R. Walker and scouted for both Bonneville and Fremont. And, according to rumors, Bill would do whatever it took to survive, including dining on human flesh during starving times. Luck would have it that Bill Williams was also the mentor of William T. Hamilton. In this installment, young Hamilton joins the Lakota in an attempt the retrieve horses stolen by the Pawnee and in doing so has his first taste of combat on the Great Plains. Also discussed are coup sticks, the act of counting coup, competing traders, and encounters with the Arapaho and the Crow.

Part 1 of My Sixty Years On The Plains - https://www.wildwestextra.com/sixty-years-on-the-plains-wt-hamilton/

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My Sixty Years On The Plains by W. T. Hamilton - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1695768930?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1695768930&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_d_asin

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The Plainsman W.T. Hamilton | My Sixty Years On The Plains

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0000

In the year 1842, a sickly 19-year-old named William T. Hamilton embarked on a journey to the Rocky Mountains accompanied by famed frontiersman Old Bill Williams. Over the course of the next several decades, Hamilton worked as a fur trapper, trader, lawman, guide, hunter, and scout. He’d ride with other notable figures such as George Armstrong Custer and General George Crook, take part in numerous engagements with hostiles, travel the west extensively, and finally – as a very old man – write a book titled My Sixty Years On The Plains: Trapping, Trading, and Indian Fighting. It's not too often on The Wild West Extravaganza that we hear from first-hand accounts but that’s exactly what we’re going to do today. Join me as Mr. Hamilton talks of leaving St. Louis and falling in with the fur trappers, of their encounters with Kiowa and Cheyenne and he describes, in glorious detail, taking part in a buffalo hunt. And, just as a bonus, if you’ve ever thought about making pemmican, Hamilton gives a pretty detailed recipe as well.

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My 60 Years on the Plains by William T. Hamilton - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1695768930?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1695768930&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ons_d_asin

Dépouille/Depuyer recipe - https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/Blackfeet.html

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The Execution of Cherokee Bill (Part 2)

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 22:49:00 -0000

This is part 2 in a two-part series. Please check out the link below for the first installment. And please check out the book Cherokee Bill: Black Cowboy Indian Outlaw by Art Burton!

Cherokee Bill, notorious outlaw of the Indian Territory, met his fate on March 17, 1896, when he was executed at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Following his death, his family took his body to Fort Gibson and buried him at the Cherokee National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, known today as the Citizens Cemetery of Fort Gibson. And less than a year following the execution, Bill’s young brother Clarence squared things up with Ike Rogers, the former Deputy who betrayed and captured Cherokee Bill. Also mentioned in this episode: Hanging Judge Isaac Parker, Henry Starr, The Harder They Fall, Johnny Cash, and Frank Canton.

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Cherokee Bill Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/cherokee-bill/

Cherokee Bill: Black Cowboy Indian Outlaw by Art T. Burton - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1681791307?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1681791307&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Recalling the death of Isaac Rogers | Nicka Smith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtnYBXnW_tw

Nicka Smith Ike Rogers Archive - https://www.whoisnickasmith.com/tag/ike-rogers/

Thirteen | Johnny Cash - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkfmaeZsWyE

The Harder They Fall trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKz5kZr8mrg

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Cherokee Bill (Part 1)

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 23:40:00 -0000

Despite his young age, Cherokee Bill’s boldness and audacity surpassed that of many outlaws on the Western frontier, making him a truly exceptional badman. What set Bill apart, first and foremost, was his status as an African American residing in the Indian Territory. Additionally, he was a Native American and a member of the Cherokee Nation through his mother’s lineage, making his background all the more unique. And when Bill joined forces with the Cook brothers, he displayed a fatalistic mindset, seemingly expecting to meet his demise at every turn and leaving a trail of dead men in his wake. Many of the desperados who aligned themselves with the Cook gang during the summer of 1894 came to an early grave, Cherokee Bill included. And when asked if he had any final words his reply was “I came here to die, not make a speech.”

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Frederic Remington “How The Worm Turned” - https://poulwebb.blogspot.com/2014/12/frederic-remington-part-5.html

Nicka Smith Ike Rogers Archive - https://www.whoisnickasmith.com/tag/ike-rogers/

Nicka Smith YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@whoisnickasmith

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Liver Eating Johnson

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:17:00 -0000

John “Liver Eating” Johnson was the inspiration behind 1972’s Jeremiah Johnson but the real man’s life was even more extraordinary than portrayed on film. Johnson/Johnstone was a sailor, soldier, fur trapper, prospector, scout, Indian fighter, and lawman. Sometimes a good guy, sometimes a bad guy, and always larger than life. Dubbed "Liver-Eating" due to a chilling tale of vengeance, he allegedly killed Crow warriors and consumed their livers, but are these stories true? Later in his life, Johnston assumed the role of constable in Coulson, Montana, and served as a town marshal in Red Lodge. However, his journey came to an end in 1900 when he passed away in a veteran's hospital in Los Angeles. Decades later his remains would be relocated to Cody, Wyoming, where they now rest alongside other legendary figures of the Old West.

Top of Form

Top of FormCheck out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

My Sixty Years On The Plains – https://www.amazon.com/My-Sixty-Years-Plains-Trapping/dp/1695768930/ref=pd_bxgy_vft_none_img_sccl_2/131-5929166-2843024?pd_rd_w=aMzMc&content-id=amzn1.sym.26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_p=26a5c67f-1a30-486b-bb90-b523ad38d5a0&pf_rd_r=2G4YK0C7TGNVQGY20DW5&pd_rd_wg=VSzZE&pd_rd_r=d6dd0333-1490-4b37-bdbd-2e7d55ba1e1e&pd_rd_i=1695768930&psc=1

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

The Never Ending Lives of Liver-Eating Johnson by D.J. Herda – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1493074423?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1493074423&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Crow Killer, New Edition: The Saga of Liver-Eating Johnson by Thorpe, Bunker, & Bender – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FIYWNIY?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=B01FIYWNIY&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2H6WTE0CNW87P&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0893012513?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0893012513&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2H6WTE0CNW87P&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

The Avenging Fury of the Plains by Dennis J. McLelland – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T8THVDS?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=B08T8THVDS&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Liver-Eating Johnston: The Dust Never Settles On A Legend by Dennis J. McLelland – https://www.amazon.com/dp/1694786447?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1694786447&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

I Buried Hickok: The Memoirs of White Eye Anderson – https://www.amazon.com/buried-Hickok-memoirs-White-Anderson/dp/0932702074/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37PK7ONM1TY1Q&keywords=i+buried+hickok&qid=1686027582&s=books&sprefix=i+buried+hickok%2Cstripbooks%2C156&sr=1-1

My Life As An Indian by James W. Schultz – https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486296148?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0486296148&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Liver-Eating Johnson’s Hawken Rifle and Bowie Knife - https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/outdoors/2017/09/12/legend-liver-eating-johnson-keeps-getting-taller/657762001/

Dorman Nelson Website - http://johnlivereatingjohnston.com/

EHUNTR Podcast - https://hodwxv.podbean.com/

Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/chief-joseph-the-nez-perce-war/

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The Last Wild Apache

Tue, 30 May 2023 23:42:00 -0000

On September 4th, 1886, the mighty Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to the U.S. Army. The last American Indian warrior to formally surrender to the United States. And with him, so went the Indian Wars. The buffalo were gone, the railroads and churches were here to stay, and the wild west was – for the most part – over. But what if I were to tell you that not all of the Apache surrendered and that there were a few holdouts that not only continued to live free but continued to make war with their enemies as well? For the next 45 years! This is the true story of the last of the free and wild Apache.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

Time Magazine article from 1929 on Francisco Fimbres - https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,738252,00.html

White Chief May Have Led Last of the Free Apache into 20th Century | Santa Fe New Mexican - https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/trail_dust/white-chief-may-have-led-last-free-apaches-into-20th-century/article_34e715fd-fb8c-534d-a437-c51256507e54.html

Mexicans Recall Last Apaches Living in Sierra | Seattle Times - https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19970907&slug=2558969

A Savage Land | Thesis by Margery Hunt Watkinson - https://keep.lib.asu.edu/items/158479

The Last Apache “Broncho” | Thesis by Leah Candolin Cook - https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1015&context=hist_etds

Meet the Geronimos | Indian Country Today - https://ictnews.org/archive/meet-the-geronimos-descendants-talk-about-living-with-the-legacy

The Last Free Apaches | Cowboys & Indians Magazine - https://www.cowboysindians.com/2016/02/the-last-free-apaches/

Tribe by Sebastian Junger - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1455566381?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1455566381&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.371PYP4VWVHQJ&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_qv_asin

Streets of Laredo by Larry McMurtry - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0684857537?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0684857537&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2H6WTE0CNW87P&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_qv_asin

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Billy the Kid's Trigger Finger

Wed, 24 May 2023 14:39:00 -0000

Just a few days following the death of Billy the Kid a newspaper out of Las Vegas, New Mexico reported that they had, in their possession, the notorious bandit’s severed trigger finger. Others claimed to have Billy’s skull, and clumps of his hair, and one scoundrel was even peddling a skeleton he declared to be the recently deceased Billy Bonney. How true were these claims? Was Pat Garrett telling the truth when he declared that Billy the Kid was buried fully intact at Fort Sumner? And is Bonney still resting at Fort Sumner undisturbed? And how do we know where he’s actually buried, anyway?

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

The Mysterious Journey of Billy the Kid’s Trigger Finger | Robert J. Stahl - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-mysterious-journey-of-billy-the-kids-trigger-finger/

The Finger of Billy the Kid | Mark Lee Gardner - https://youtu.be/rAPV_19dKMI

The Earth is All That Lasts | Mark Lee Gardner - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062669907?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0062669907&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_qv_asin

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The Big Fight at Jenkins Saloon

Wed, 17 May 2023 04:03:00 -0000

Tascosa, Texas, in those turbulent times of the 1880s, epitomized lawlessness and chaos. It was a place where legends were born, and outlaws roamed freely. The echoes of Billy the Kid's footsteps still reverberated through its dusty streets, mingling with the shadowy presence of Dave Rudabaugh, John Selman, Henry Newton Brown, Charlie Siringo, and countless other fabled figures who had left their indelible mark on the annals of the Old West. And by the time of the “Big Fight” aka the Gunfight at Jenkins Saloon, Tascosa was still as wild as ever. The LS Ranch, located on the outskirts, harbored a band of ex-Rangers whose reputations preceded them. These LS boys were known for their heavy-handedness and soon were bestowed with the moniker of barroom gladiators. It all came to a head on the fateful day of March 21st, 1886. It was then that Ed King, a bona fide barroom gladiator, rendezvoused with his paramour and dance-hall gal, Sally Emory, just beyond the threshold of Jenkins Saloon. Unbeknownst to King, Sally’s ex-boyfriend was waiting. Also mentioned in this episode: Tascosa’s Boot Hill, Hogtown, the music of Charley Crockett, and a saloon girl with a heart of gold by the name of Frenchy McCormick.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Charley Crockett | Paint it Blue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abf8hijakx8

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Al Swearengen & the Gem Saloon

Wed, 10 May 2023 02:13:00 -0000

Al Swearengen was the notorious owner of Deadwood’s Gem Theatre, which quickly became one of the boom town's most popular entertainment venues. Swearengen’s business practices, however, were far from ethical. He coerced desperate women into becoming prostitutes, often through bullying and physical violence, and wasn’t exactly gentle with the menfolk, either.

Despite the Gem Theater burning down in 1879 as part of a larger fire that destroyed much of Deadwood, Swearengen was undeterred. He rebuilt the Gem even bigger and better than before only to have it burn again 5 years later.

Once again, Swearengen rebuilt the Gem, but you can’t stop what’s coming. After a series of setbacks and lawsuits, the theatre caught fire a final time, under somewhat mysterious circumstances.

Swearengen eventually left Deadwood for Colorado, but his body was found near a streetcar track in Denver a few years later. The cause of his death was never determined, leaving open the possibility of foul play.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Jim Bridger Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/

Wild Bill Hickok Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-one/

Deadwood’s Al Swearengen by Jerry Bryant - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1560377232?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1560377232&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_qv_asin

Deadwood Saints and Sinners by Jerry Bryant - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1560376465?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1560376465&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_qv_asin

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Jim Crow Chiles | The Dancing Missouri Bushwhacker

Wed, 03 May 2023 02:12:00 -0000

You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your family. An old adage that the 33rd President of the United States Harry S. Truman knew all too well. Every family has that one black sheep, right? In the case of the Trumans, that shameful distinction fell on James John Chiles, aka Jim Crow Chiles, Harry’s Uncle by marriage; a violent Missouri Bushwhacker who fought alongside Bloody Bill Anderson and Jesse James described by author David G. McCullough as universally hated and the stuff of children’s nightmares. And believe it or not, Chiles got the nickname Jim Crow due to his talent as a dancer. Minstrel dancing, to be precise.

Apparently in the 1830s and 1840’s there was a popular white entertainer by the name of Thomas Dartmouth Rice who performed a song-and-dance routine in blackface while mimicking African Americans. The persona he put on during his act was known as Jim Crow. Rice went on tours all over the country, even in England, and it wasn’t long before “Jim Crow” was just a common phrase used to describe all white comedians who did these degrading black-face type performances. And of course, years later the term would be adopted as the identifier for laws reinstating white supremacy in the South.

And evidently, Truman’s uncle was one hell of a Jim Crow dancer. Not exactly the type of association you’d want to have as a politician, right? Even in 1945 when Truman was elected. Oh, and don’t worry – it gets much worse. Uncle Chile’s comedy routine was the least of the future President’s worries.

Who was Jim Crow Chiles? A true menace to society or just a poor misunderstood soul just dancing away his sorrows? How did he fall in with Bloody Bill Anderson and William Quantrill? And did he really serve with General Shelby’s Iron Brigade?

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Bloody Bill Anderson | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://www.wildwestextra.com/bloody-bill-anderson-the-missouri-bushwhackers/

Woe to Live On by Daniel Woodrell - https://archive.org/details/woetoliveon0000wood/page/n7/mode/1up

Ride With The Devil clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Yc2RUw2WE

Truman by David McCullough - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671456547?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=0671456547&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Quantrill in Texas by Paul Peterson - https://www.amazon.com/dp/158182582X?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=158182582X&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Missouri Outlaws by Paul Kirkman - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1625859155?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=1625859155&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

Hat Creek Audio - https://hatcreekaudio.com/

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Jose Chavez y Chavez

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 03:45:00 -0000

One of the more memorable characters from Young Guns 1 and 2 was Chavez y Chavez, portrayed by the talented Lou Diamond Philips. And yes, Chavez was real! He was a constable in San Patricio and an ally of the Tunstall McSween faction during the Lincoln County War. Jose was a full participant in the troubles, and he was present during the Battle of Lincoln, making a getaway from the burning McSween home right alongside Billy the Kid. But who was Jose Chavez y Chavez really? Was he a Navajo as popularly believed? And how did he become a hired assassin? Also discussed in this episode is Chavez’s encounter with Bob Ford and the other Regulators and friends of Billy the Kid, guys like Henry Newton Brown, George and Frank Coe, Ab Saunders, John Middleton, Billy Wilson, Tom Pickett, and more! I also give my opinion on what really happened there at Fort Sumner on the night of Billy’s alleged death and discuss The Kid’s “body count”.

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West! https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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1899 News Article on Vicente Silva - https://www.newspapers.com/clip/20885528/vicente-silva-law-vegas-new-mexico/

Dirty Sexy History | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6FMMKMemXFFOkEgxWAqnvb#:~:text=The%20book%20focuses%20on%20intersex,fiction%2C%20and%20permits%20for%20pants!

Dirty Sexy History | Website - https://dirtysexyhistory.com/

Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh - https://www.wildwestextra.com/arkansas-dave-rudabaugh/

Frederick Tecumseh Waite article - https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/p/frederick-tecumseh-waite

Billy the Kid episode 1 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid episode 2 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-prelude-to-war/

Billy the Kid episode 3 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-lincoln-county-war/

Billy the Kid episode 4 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-desperado/

Billy the Kid episode 5 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-quien-es/

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Doc Scurlock | The Thinking Man's Outlaw

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 03:26:00 -0000

Josiah "Doc" Scurlock was a poet, philosopher, intellectual, and a hardened killer long before he ever met Billy the Kid. A mysterious past in Mexico, rumors of dead men from New Orleans to Texas, a penchant for vigilantism, and several close calls with the hostile Natives all made Doc a man to be both feared and respected. However, it was the trials he would face after the Lincoln County War that made Scurlock the man his family would remember.

Also discussed: J.J. Dolan, John Riley, Billy Campbell, John Kinney & Jesse Evans.

Blood on the Saddle: The Life of Doc Scurlock - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084DG17FT?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzjoshta02-20&creativeASIN=B084DG17FT&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

Billy the Kid ep 1 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid ep 2 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-prelude-to-war/

Billy the Kid ep 3 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-lincoln-county-war/

Billy the Kid ep 4 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-desperado/

Billy the Kid ep 5 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-quien-es/

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Billy the Kid | Quién es (Part 5)

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:06:00 -0000

By 1880 The Kid was not only being hunted by Sheriff Pat Garrett and the Texas Panhandle Stock Association, but the federal authorities as well. He’d be arrested, sentenced to hang, and then make one of the most daring escapes of the Old West. Little did Billy know how numbered his days truly were. In this final chapter of the Billy the Kid series, we’ll delve into the gritty details of the standoff at White Oaks, the Stinking Springs standoff, the daring escape from the Lincoln jail, the shotgun full of dimes rumor, and more! This is part 5 in a series of 5. Links below for the previous 4 installments.

Check out the Wild West Extravaganza website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Billy the Kid pt 1 | Orphan - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid pt 2 | Prelude to War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-prelude-to-war/

Billy the Kid pt 3 | Lincoln County War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-lincoln-county-war/

Billy the Kid pt 4 | Desperado - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-desperado/

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Billy the Kid | Desperado (Part 4)

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 23:56:00 -0000

This is part four in the series on Billy the Kid. See the links below for the previous three installments.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Lincoln, Billy and the Regulators sought to acquire much-needed horses by striking the Mescalero Reservation. Although successful, they left a man dead in their wake; a killing ultimately pinned on The Kid. Moving on to Fort Sumner, they drove a herd of stolen Chisum horses to the Texas Panhandle, after which many of Billy's friends decided to call it quits. This left The Kid as the undisputed leader of those who remained. Over the next year, Billy attempted to make peace with his old enemy, J.J. Dolan, but their short-lived truce was shattered when Dolan murdered Susan McSween's lawyer. Seeking amnesty, The Kid offered to testify for the new governor, Lew Wallace, in return for a pardon, but his enemies went free and the pardon never came. Still a wanted man, Billy returned to stealing cattle – and killing – as his reputation continued to grow. It wasn’t long before one of his acquaintances from Fort Sumner, Pat Garrett, was charged with taking Billy out. Also discussed in this episode: Texas Red Joe Grant, Doc Scurlock, Jesse James, The Kid's various love interests, why Texans should stop bragging so much, and more!

Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Arkansas Dave Rudabaugh - https://www.wildwestextra.com/arkansas-dave-rudabaugh/

Doc Scurlock: The Thinking Man’s Outlaw - https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/p/doc-scurlock

Billy the Kid episode 1 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid episode 2 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-prelude-to-war/

Billy the Kid episode 3 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-lincoln-county-war/

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Billy the Kid | Lincoln County War (Part 3)

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 01:29:00 -0000

Lincoln County, New Mexico Territory was the setting of a brutal conflict between rival factions vying for control of the county's dry goods and cattle interests. The Lincoln County War, as it came to be known, began in 1878 and persisted until 1881, a time of lawlessness and bloodshed in the Old West.

One side of the feud was led by James Dolan, a powerful figure who wielded a monopoly over dry goods through his establishment "The House". The other faction was established by English-born John Tunstall and his partner Alexander McSween, who opened their own competing store with support from established cattleman John Chisum. Both sides gathered lawmen, businessmen, and criminal gangs to their aid, setting the stage for a violent and deadly confrontation.

The Dolan faction was aligned with Sheriff William J. Brady and supported by the notorious Jesse Evans Gang. The Tunstall-McSween faction organized their own armed posse, the Lincoln County Regulators, with their own lawmen in the form of town constable Richard M. Brewer and Deputy US Marshal Robert A. Widenmann. And of course the notorious Billy the Kid.

The War was characterized by a series of brutal revenge killings, starting with the murder of Tunstall by members of a Dolan authorized posse and the Evans Gang. The Regulators retaliated by killing Sheriff Brady and others in a series of violent incidents. The conflict continued to escalate for several months, culminating in the epic five-day battle of Lincoln, which resulted in the death of McSween and the dispersal of the Regulators.

William H. Bonney rode into Lincoln County a teenager on the run from a noose. By the time he came out of McSween’s burning home, guns blazing, he was well on the way to becoming the legend known as Billy the Kid.

This is part three in the series on Billy the Kid. For the previous two installments see the links below.

Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Billy the Kid part 1 | Orphan - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

Billy the Kid part 2 | Prelude to War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-prelude-to-war/

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Billy the Kid | Croquet Photo

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 20:49:00 -0000

Is the croquet photo legit?

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Croquet Photo | CNN - https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/15/living/billy-the-kid-photo-feat/index.html

Identifying Old West Photos | Dan Buck - https://wildwesthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/wwhajournal1809-adventures-in-wonderland.pdf

WSJ Facial Recognition Meets Its Match With Old West Photos WSJ | Parmy Olsen - https://www.wsj.com/articles/facial-recognition-software-old-west-outlaw-photos-11606922350?st=phdce06ntg07x9b&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

The Croquet Kid | Mark Boardman - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-croquet-kid/

The Brutal Truth About Most Billy the Kid Wannabes | Bob Boze Bell - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-brutal-truth-about-most-billy-the-kid-wannabes/

Billy the Kid Experts Weigh in on the Croquet Photo (Jeff Aiello rebuttal included)| True West Magazine - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/billy-the-kid-experts-weigh-in-on-the-croquet-photo/

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Billy the Kid | Prelude to War (Part 2)

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 21:30:00 -0000

Fleeing a potential hangman’s noose in Arizona, Kid Antrim returns to New Mexico, taking on the alias William H. Bonney as he begins riding with the outlaw Jesse Evans and his Boys. The Kid would soon find legitimate work elsewhere, however, coming into the employ of English rancher John Tunstall just as tensions are at an all time high with the rival Murphy Dolan faction. Also discussed on this episode is the famous tintype and why it probably didn’t do The Kid justice. This is part 2 in the series on Billy the Kid. Link for the first installment below.

Part 1 | Orphan - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-orphan/

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The Many Faces of Billy the Kid | True West Magazine - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-many-faces-of-billy-the-kid/

David Lambert on Billy’s hat - https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1326715488622190592

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Billy the Kid | Orphan (Part 1)

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 22:57:00 -0000

In the summer of 1881, Billy the Kid was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett. The lawman had been on the hunt ever since Billy broke out of jail in the town of Lincoln and finally caught up to the bandit at Old Fort Sumner. It was around midnight, and Pat was waiting inside Pete Maxwell’s darkened bedroom when the Kid stepped in. “Quien es?” Billy asked, noticing the large shape looming in the shadows. “Who is it?” Pat answered in the form of two shots from his 44-40 colt revolver and just like that Billy the Kid was over. At least in his mortal form. His body may have been stuck ground the next day but can’t no pine box contain the legend that soon emerged. And make no mistake about it, over the decades that followed Billy the Kid has taken on mythical proportions unrivaled by any other character of the old west. But who was he REALLY?

In this episode we’ll take a look at the Kid’s origin story; what we know about his family and his early life. We’ll dive into Billy’s time in Silver City, his first brush(es) with the law, his time in the mining camps of Arizona, and – of course - his first time with Francis “Windy” Cahill.

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Old West Books

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:17:00 -0000

Just a short update. No new episode today but next week we’ll kick off the Billy the Kid series. In the meantime, check out some of these book recommendations and give a listen to a few of my friends! Topics include: Louis L’Amour, Larry McMurtry, Cormac McCarthy, William W. Johnstone, Terry C. Johnston, rebelliousness, awesome YouTubers, mushrooms, western cinema, and vampires. Yeah, vampires.

Fiction Books | Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/2H6WTE0CNW87P?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

11 Bang Bang featuring The Wild West Extravaganza - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0UYgXf78SM

11 Bang Bang YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZW1XuaZrR92BhXE09AOd5Q

Duke Frazier Productions – https://www.youtube.com/user/dukefrazier

Snapper’s Antique Firearms - https://www.youtube.com/@snappers_antique_firearms

To Be A Rebel Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3MB010NPTevGamVDMF4kqW

Wrong Reel Podcast w/ David Lambert | Winchester ’73 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/7H5Cy2rOAh25Oacag8h2D0

How The West Was Cast – https://open.spotify.com/show/2X2OXWe8P0czZOlJG3DyTj

Texas History Lessons - https://www.texashistorylessons.com/

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Jim Bridger | The Scout (Part 5)

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:20:00 -0000

Gold was discovered in Montana in 1862, ushering in a flood of prospectors straight through the heart of Lakota territory on a new road called the Bozeman trail, further straining tensions between settlers and Natives. Jim Bridger opened up his “Bridger’s Trail”, a much safer – and popular - alternative but the powers that be were dead set on erecting forts on the Bozeman. Violence erupted across the Great Plains as the Lakota, Arapaho, and Cheyenne took to the war path, vowing to drive the whites from their land forever. These new tensions saw Bridger return to military duty once again, first guiding the Army during the Powder River campaign and again as he led Colonel Carrington to the Bighorn country and establishing Fort Phil Kearny. Jim Bridger, now in his sixties, was still riding the prairie, rifle across the saddle, and still blazing new trails.

This is episode five and the last installment in this series on Jim Bridger. Links below for the previous four. In this episode we’re going to explore the Powder River Campaign, the Fetterman Massacre, Jim’s eventual retirement and death, and a quick look at the massive change that occurred during Bridger’s lifetime.

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Jim Bridger Pt 1 | Ashley’s 100 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/

Jim Bridger Pt 2 | Bugs Boys - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-bugs-boys/

Jim Bridger Pt 3 | Mormons - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-mormons/

Jim Bridger Pt 4 | The Guide - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-the-guide/

Jim Bridger Trailblazer of the American West | Jerry Enzler - https://www.amazon.com/Jim-Bridger-Trailblazer-American-West/dp/080619197X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39712IOHTJVTB&keywords=jim+bridger+jerry+enzler&qid=1675001445&s=books&sprefix=jim+bridger+jerry%2Cstripbooks%2C120&sr=1-1

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Jim Bridger | The Guide (Part 4)

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 11:36:00 -0000

In the 1850s, Jim Bridger put his extensive knowledge of the West to use by guiding wealthy adventurers, geological surveyors, and the U.S. military. Then, in 1862, the discovery of gold in Montana sparked yet another gold rush, leading thousands of prospectors to illegally trespass on Lakota and Cheyenne land via the Bozeman trail, resulting in violence. The Army intervened and hired Bridger once again as their guide. Additionally covered in this episode is the Mountain Meadows massacre, the Utah War, and the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851.

This is part four in the Jim Bridger series. Links for the previous three installments below.

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Jim Bridger Pt 1 | Ashley’s 100 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/

Jim Bridger Pt 2 | Bugs Boys - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-bugs-boys/

Jim Bridger Pt 3 | Mormons - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-mormons/

To Be a Rebel | David Loos https://open.spotify.com/show/3MB010NPTevGamVDMF4kqW

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Trailer

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 20:21:00 -0000

The Wild West Extravaganza is a history podcast that delves into the fascinating and often tumultuous world of the American Old West. From outlaws like Billy the Kid and Jesse James to lawmen like Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok to trailblazing pioneers, Native Americans, and frontiersmen, The Wild West Extravaganza tells the stories of those who shaped this iconic period of American history. So, saddle up and discover the true history of the American frontier – the good, the bad, and the ugly.

https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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Jim Bridger | Mormons (Part 3)

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 13:14:00 -0000

This is part 3 of the series on Jim Bridger. For the previous 2 installments see the links below.

Fur trading no longer lucrative, Jim Bridger and a business partner decide to open up a trading post of their own, dubbing it Fort Bridger. Wasn’t long before Jim began doing brisk business, both to travelers along the Oregon Trail and those brave enough to try their luck on the Hasting’s Cutoff; migrants like the ill-fated Donner Party. Bad luck aside, Bridger’s fort – and his Green River ferry – did so well financially that his new neighbors, the daggum Mormons, decided to take it from him. By force! Also discussed in this episode: Magic underwear, Sister wives, the Whitman Massacre, Joseph Meek, Henry Fraeb, and Louis Vasquez!

Jim Bridger Pt 1 | Ashley's 100 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/

Jim Bridger Pt 2 | Bugs Boys - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-bugs-boys/

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Whitman Massacre Pt 1 | How the West Was Fucked – https://open.spotify.com/episode/2avEWulV7wwe5LRnDaaoy5

Whitman Massacre Pt 2 | How the West Was Fucked – https://open.spotify.com/episode/29TFAPU6WBYF18VgiwFWyQ

Jim Bridger (Just kidding, please listen to this!) | How the West Was Fucked - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6c5v7MdIJemcr7Jir2hCYB

Jim Bridger & Brigham Young | Jerry Enzler Q&A - https://www.fromthedesk.org/jim-bridger-brigham-young/

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Jim Bridger | Bugs Boys (Part 2)

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:00:00 -0000

Some of the richest beaver country was in the heart of territory claimed by the Blackfeet Confederacy; a tribe known to the fur trappers as Bug’s Boys, or the Sons of Satan. Needless to say there was no love lost between the American trappers and the Blackfeet, and violence became a given any time the two groups would meet with mercy rarely extended by either side. Nevertheless, the mountain men – piloted by Jim Bridger - persisted season after season, staking their fortunes and lives on Blackfeet Beaver.

This is part 2 in the Jim Bridger series. Link below for part 1.

Jim Bridger Pt 1 | Ashley's 100 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/jim-bridger-ashleys-100/

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Eagles Ribs - https://americanart.si.edu/artwork/peh-pe-kiss-eagles-ribs-piegan-chief-4044

Trapped in History Wyoming Beaver | MeatEater - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9c6Rwj_IgQ

Kit vs Goliath | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://open.spotify.com/episode/72FelJNKF8ETYNqm4F80vb

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Jim Bridger | Ashley's 100 (Part 1)

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 06:05:00 -0000

Jim Bridger would join the ranks of Ashley’s One Hundred while still a teenager and - alongside other future old west legends like Hugh Glass, Jedediah Smith, and James Beckwourth - head up the Missouri river in search of beaver. From present day northern Montana all the way down to the Gulf of California, from the Mississippi on west to the Pacific Ocean, the iconic Mountain Man Bridger saw it all; discovering and blazing trails that still bear his name to this day while at the same time facing off with some of the deadliest warriors who ever strung a bow.

This is the first episode in a series of five, discussing Jim Bridger's childhood, his time as a fur trapper with Ashley's Rocky Mountain Fur Company, his possible involvment in the Hugh Glass affair (the Revenant) and his "discovery" of the Great Salt Lake.

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Hugh Glass | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1bICSRkDkPkKVVF5KUpJmE

To Be A Rebel | David Loos - https://open.spotify.com/show/3MB010NPTevGamVDMF4kqW

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Wyatt Earp in Hollywood

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 02:44:00 -0000

My Darling Clementine is considered the greatest Wyatt Earp film of all time. It also just so happens to be the least accurate, despite legendary director John Ford having known Wyatt personally. Contrary to popular belief – and Ford’s own claims - this film was NOT based on Earp’s own account of his days in Tombstone, but rather an earlier film whose director also knew the now famous lawman.

I say now famous because Wyatt wasn’t exactly what you would call a household name prior to the 20th century. His time in Dodge City - as well as his actions in Tombstone - certainly garnered Earp a reputation in certain circles. However, his introduction to the nation at large wouldn’t be as a lawman at all, but rather as the corrupt boxing referee who threw the fight for heavyweight champion of the world; a fiasco that saw Wyatt turn to Hollywood in an effort to redeem his sullied reputation.

More true tales from the wild and woolly west!

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David Lambert Art Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart

David Lambert Original Thread on Wyatt & Hollywood - https://twitter.com/davidlambertart/status/1440606380860186629

David Lambert archives on the Wrong Reel Podcast - https://wrongreel.com/tag/david-lambert/

Wyatt on the Set by Allen Barra - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/wyatt-on-the-set/

The Fix by Garner A. Palenske - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-fix/

William S. Hart & Wyatt Earp Correspondence - https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/hart-earpletters.htm

Scurrilous LA Times article from 1922 - https://scvhistory.com/scvhistory/hart-earpletters.htm

Helldorado – Bringing the Law to the Mesquite by William M. Breakenridge - https://www.amazon.com/Helldorado-Bringing-Mesquite-William-Breakenridge/dp/0803261004

Wyatt Earp Frontier Marshal by Stuart Lake - https://www.amazon.com/Wyatt-Earp-Frontier-Stuart-Lake/dp/0671885375

Law and Order (1932) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRFPBVG65LU

The Half Breed (1916) - https://www.cinematheque.fr/henri/film/32090-the-half-breed-allan-dwan-1916/

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Huckleberry or Hucklebearer?

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 13:18:00 -0000

We all know the "scene", right? Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan Earp are walking the streets of Tombstone when they’re confronted by a visibly inebriated Johnny Ringo. He informs the trio that he wants their blood and their souls, and he wants them now. Wyatt refuses to fight, says there ain’t no money in it and tells Ringo to sober up, as he and his brothers turn and walk away. At this point Johnny really begins to rage. “Don’t any of you have the guts to play for blood?” And that’s when Doc steps out; fingers dancing close to the butt of his holstered revolver with another pistol concealed behind his back. He’d been watching the events unfold from a nearby barber’s chair and once Ringo blurts out his bold invitation, Holliday decides he wants to play. And you know what he says next. Or at least I should say you THINK you know.

1994’s Tombstone remains an iconic movie that produced many an iconic phrase, one in particular that people have been quoting nonstop for the past 3 decades. A simple idiom now emblazoned on t shirts, hoodies, whiskey tumblers, key chains, shot glasses, bottle openers, beanies, baseball caps, hell…even fuzzy socks. In my kitchen right now is a coffee mug with this famous expression printed on it in big bold letters.

But are those letters wrong? Are we wrong? Is this some sort of Mandela effect, did our ears betray us? Or are there simply some among us pretending to be smarter than they really are? What the hell did Val Kilmer aka Doc Holliday really say? And what SHOULD he have said?

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I’m Your Huckleberry by D.T. Christensen | Oldwest.org - https://www.oldwest.org/im-your-huckleberry-meaning/

David Lambert on the old west - https://twitter.com/DavidLambertArt/status/1526547092864258048?cxt=HHwWgMCiscafsa8qAAAA

David Lambert Art - https://www.patreon.com/davidlambertart

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Frank Canton | The General (Part 5)

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 13:36:00 -0000

This is the fifth and final installation in the Frank Canton series. Link below for the previous four.

In the early morning hours of June 2nd, 1899, five masked men held up a Union Pacific Train near Wilcox, Wyoming. In what would become one of the more famous robberies of the old west, the bandits used dynamite to blast their way into a mail car and after another detonation took care of the safe, they’d ride away with an estimated 50,000 dollars. Nearly 2 million in today’s money.

And if this sounds familiar well maybe you’ve seen a little film called Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

Contrary to what’s portrayed in the movie, there’s a very good chance that Butch Cassidy himself had nothing to do with this particular hold up. Be that as it may, it’s next to certain that those who did were members of his gang – the Wild Bunch. Harry Longabaugh, aka the Sundance Kid, was likely one of the masked men. So was the deadly Harvey Logan and his brother Lonnie, the Tall Texan Ben Kilpatrick, and last but certainly not least was a land pirate by the name of George Flat Nose Curry.

The banditti were headed for a remote pass in the Bighorn mountains they called the Hole-in-the-wall, a sort of outlaw stronghold they used as a headquarters of sorts. And the hole-in-the-wall was located in Johnson County; the same Johnson County we’ve been discussing dang near this whole series.

Now the Wild Bunch did not exist when Frank Canton was Sheriff thereabouts and by the time the Wild Bunch came into being Frank had already moved on and when the Wild Bunch robbed that train at Wilcox, Canton was still up in Alaska. But he’d soon be returning. And, after a bit of comeuppance damn near a decade in the making – a little bit of Johnson County Justice if you will – Frank would saddle up and go on the hunt for the Wild Bunch. At least what was left of ‘em.

Got a lot to cover on this episode. An averted assassination, an epic ass whoopin, Canton’s career as a bounty hunter, his return to Indian Territory – his debut on the silver screen - and finally his ascension to the highest ranks of power. Something the man had been in pursuit of – one way or another - his entire life.

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Alias Frank Canton by Robert DeArment - https://www.amazon.com/Alias-Frank-Canton-Robert-DeArment/dp/080612900X

The Johnson County War by Bill O’Neal - https://www.amazon.com/Johnson-County-War-Bill-ONeal/dp/1571688765/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2K65FLR05BSV1&keywords=johnson+county+war&qid=1670763630&s=books&sprefix=johnson+county+war%2Cstripbooks%2C132&sr=1-2

The Bank Robbery (1908) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbX4ekoVBDg

Frank Canton Pt 1 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-1-the-outlaw-years/

Frank Canton Pt 2 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-2-sheriff/

Frank Canton Pt 3 – https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-3-johnson-county-war/

Frank Canton Pt 4 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-4-alaska/

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Frank Canton | Alaska (Part 4)

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 03:09:00 -0000

This is part 4 in the series on Frank Canton. Link to previous episodes below.

When we left off, Frank was laying low in Nebraska following the aftermath of the Johnson County War. On this episode we’ll take a look at Canton’s next job – that of Undersheriff in a newly formed county down in Indian Territory. We’ll discuss his relationship with the famed Three Guardsmen – Heck Thomas, Bill Tilghman, & Chris Madsen, as well as Frank’s efforts to put an end to the notorious Doolin Gang as well as Cattle Annie & Little Britches. And we’ll also discuss Canton’s time in Alaska. Spoiler alert, he built Wyatt Earp’s cabin!

All this PLUS Frank’s explosive return to Johnson County!

Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west

https://open.spotify.com/episode/04X4DO7USW9EzqK0xFNhSJ

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Alias Frank Canton by Robert K. DeArment - Alias Frank Canton by Robert K. DeArment - https://www.amazon.com/Alias-Frank-Canton-Robert-Dearment/dp/0806128283/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3LOG09V4NKLP9&keywords=frank+canton&qid=1670421988&sprefix=frank+cannon%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2

Frank Canton Pt 1 | Outlaw Years - https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-1-the-outlaw-years/

Frank Canton Pt 2 | Sheriff - https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-2-sheriff/

Frank Canton Pt 3 | Johnson County War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-3-johnson-county-war/

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Frank Canton | Johnson County War (Part 3)

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 13:32:00 -0000

This is Part 3 in the Frank Canton series. See links below for Parts 1 2.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Nh2kWENOVK8xwZgy5SLf6

Things in Johnson County, Wyoming had finally come to a head. After the Wyoming Stock Growers Association allegedly lynched James Averell and Ella Watson, there was a series of repercussion killings. When respected cowboys Orly Jones and John A. Tisdale were also found brutally murdered, all eyes were cast on Frank Canton (Although many now suspect noted assassin, Tom Horn).

Opting to not take his chances in a Johnson County courtroom, Canton fled temporarily to Chicago as his legal team worked on his behalf. But he would return and return with a vengeance. Frank came riding back into Johnson County with a small army of cattle barons and hired guns from Texas, a kill list in their hands. And their first target was a little someone known as Nate Champion.

How the West was Fucked | Granville Stuart - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3O5I1gQpOPrBnzYNotc9VA

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https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-1-the-outlaw-years/

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Alias Frank Canton by Robert K. DeArment - https://www.amazon.com/Alias-Frank-Canton-Robert-DeArment/dp/080612900X

The Johnson County War by Bill O’Neil - https://www.amazon.com/Johnson-County-War-Bill-ONeal/dp/1571688765/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1ODICTBSEA038&keywords=johnson+county+war&qid=1668567269&s=books&sprefix=johnson+coun%2Cstripbooks%2C155&sr=1-2

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Frank Canton | Sheriff (Part 2)

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 03:10:00 -0000

This is Part 2 in the Frank Canton series. See link below for Part 1.

During Canton’s time as Johnson County Sheriff, he sent over a dozen men to prison – mostly for horse theft – and even executed a murderer. He wasn’t very trigger happy, though. Frank was a tough, intimidating lawman who was happy to let his reputations speak for him. But why did he soon lose the support of the people? And what happened when Frank and his WSGA buddies decided to take the law into their own hands?

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Alias Frank Canton by Robert K. DeArment - https://www.amazon.com/Alias-Frank-Canton-Robert-DeArment/dp/080612900X

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Frank Canton | The Outlaw Years (Part 1)

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 02:47:00 -0000

Frank Canton was not born; he was created. The mental fabrication of a notorious outlaw and escaped convict by the name of Joe Horner.

After possibly killing his first man at the tender age of 15, Horner would spend the next several years as a cowboy and ranch hand before forming the infamous Horner gang, that would terrorize north Texas during the mid-1870’s. After a full-on gun battle with the United States military in broad daylight, Horner is arrested but escapes. And, following the successful robbery of at least one bank, Horner was once more apprehended and jailed – this time in San Antonio – and once more escaped. Arrested again after yet another gunfight, Horner would be tried, found guilty and sentenced to 15 years hard labor in Huntsville State penitentiary. He would only do two of these years, escaping once more – this time never to be seen again. At least not as Josiah Horner.

The escaped convict would travel north, to Wyoming, and reinvent himself. Becoming Frank Canton, the epitome of law and order and a relentless pursuer of neerdoells. First as an inspector and detective for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association and then Sheriff of Johnson County, before being a key player in a little something called the Johnson County War. Canton would then mosey on down to Indian Territory, and once again pin on a badge, first as a sheriff and then as a deputy U.S. Marshal, chasing bad guys Rooster Cogburn style. This was at a time when the Territory was nearly overrun with outlaws and the area Canton was initially stationed in was so bad the county commissioners were asking for martial law. Turns out all they needed was Frank Canton. But then a new frontier beckoned. What some were taking to calling the last Frontier. Alaska. There was gold up there in the great white north and with gold comes crime. More than enough to keep a man such as Canton busy. But what about Frank’s past as an outlaw? The former life of Josiah Horner, the escaped convict? Would this ever catch up with him? And was he really Mr. Law and Order, humble public servant or was this just a façade? A way of him ensuring that he was always aligned with the powerful and influential.

Believe me when I say, this story has it all. Cowboys, outlaws, moral quandaries, Buffalo soldiers, female rustlers, questionable morals, cattle drives, stampedes, a damn range war, a mercenary army, assassinations, murder, a whole lot of hangings, Tom Horn, the Pinkertons, Teddy Roosevelt, hell – even vampires! Yes vampires.

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Alias Frank Canton by Robert K. DeArment - https://www.amazon.com/Alias-Frank-Canton-Robert-DeArment/dp/080612900X

Wild Bill Hickok | Part 2 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-two/

Britt Johnson & the Searchers - https://www.wildwestextra.com/britt-johnson-the-searchers/

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Frank James - The Old Shoe Salesman

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 08:59:00 -0000

It’s safe to say that a career as an outlaw doesn’t lend itself to a long life. Billy the Kid was only twenty-one years old when he was killed. Cherokee Bill a year younger. The notorious Bloody Bill Anderson not yet twenty-five. Jesse James, Joaquin Murrieta, Rube Burrow, Bill Longley, the list goes on. Not a one of them over the age of forty. But of course, there are exceptions. Not ALL of the west’s most dangerous men died young. Nor did they simply disappear at the turn of the 20th century. Some of ‘em stuck around and tried to adapt.

This is one such story - someone you have most definitely heard of. A true legend of the old west; a killer. And yes, a shoe salesman.

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An Execution Gone Wrong - The Terrifying Story of Clemente Apolinar

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 11:58:00 -0000

Happy Halloween! Clemente Apolinar was the last person publicly hanged in Texas. Not only did his execution go horribly wrong but you won’t BELIEVE what the location is currently being used as.

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Listen to Texas History Lessons for more Texas History! https://www.texashistorylessons.com/

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Captain Jack & the Modoc War | The Last Stand of Captain Jack (Part 3)

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 15:59:00 -0000

Fifty Modoc warriors defied the U.S. Army for nearly a year; outwitting and outfighting them on more than one occasion, & killing a General in the process.

This is Part 3 of the series on Captain Jack and the Modoc War.

Captain Jack & the Modoc War Pt 1 – https://open.spotify.com/episode/08Z5EY1dTdb9vTGRm1OoTb

Captain Jack & the Modoc War Pt 2 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aveLbPW47jLSlqdeqvUkW

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Captain Jack & the Modoc War | The Battle of the Stronghold (Part 2)

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 15:28:00 -0000

This is part 2 in the series on the Modoc war. If you haven’t already listened to part 1, you may want to do so. Captain Jack & the Modoc War | Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/captain-jack-the-modoc-war/

We’ve already discussed the Modoc people, a bit of their history, and the unfortunate events leading up to the war. About how Captain Jack and his band weren’t content with the living conditions on the Klamath reservation, so they simply left and headed south, back to their homeland around Tule lake. And we ended that episode with the first shot of the war and the beginning of the Battle of Lost River. This episode we’ll cover the first Battle of the Stronghold, the Peace Commission, months of negotiations, and finally – treachery.

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The Story Out West | The Stronghold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCJ35JYWecA

The Modocs and Their War by Keith A. Murray - https://www.amazon.com/Modocs-Their-Civilization-American-Indian/dp/0806113316/ref=sr_1_8?crid=2PZDA5FRSWSOS&keywords=modoc+war&qid=1664153682&s=books&sprefix=modoc+war%2Cstripbooks%2C130&sr=1-8

Remembering the Modoc War by Boyd Cothran - https://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Modoc-War-Redemptive-Directions/dp/1469633345/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2PZDA5FRSWSOS&keywords=modoc+war&qid=1664153623&s=books&sprefix=modoc+war%2Cstripbooks%2C130&sr=1-3

Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/joseph/

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Captain Jack & the Modoc War | The Drums of War (Part 1)

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 15:50:00 -0000

In 1874 Kintpuash – better known as Captain Jack - led his small band of the Modoc people off of a reservation in southern Oregon and back to their homeland in Northern California. What occurred after would be one of the most expensive wars ever fought on U.S. soil; one which pitted just 50 to 60 Modoc warriors against nearly a thousand U.S. troops and volunteers.

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Modoc Nation - https://modocnation.com/

The California Genocide - https://fullertonobserver.com/2020/07/07/the-california-native-american-genocide/

Bloody Point sources - https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/labe/endnotes.htm

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Kit vs Goliath

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 11:48:00 -0000

What happens when a young Kit Carson faces off against a mountain of a man at the annual fur trapper’s rendezvous? What IS a rendezvous, anyway? And who gets the girl???

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Blood and Thunder – Hampton Sides - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1400031109?tag=onamzjoshta02-20&linkCode=ssc&creativeASIN=1400031109&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

They Called Him Wild Bill – Joseph D. Rosa - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0806115386?tag=onamzjoshta02-20&linkCode=ssc&creativeASIN=0806115386&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

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Wild Bill Hickok | Death in Deadwood (Part 3)

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 14:54:00 -0000

This is part 3 and the final installment of this series on Wild Bill Hickok. If you have not already listened to the first two episodes, please do so. Links below. We’ve already pretty much covered Bill’s entire life; his childhood, his adventures during the war, his time as a lawman, and - finally - his decline. If you’ll recall we left off with Hickok in St. Louis, attempting to organize an expedition bound for the black hills. And there we shall begin. What events led to Bill's premature death in Deadwood at the hands of Jack McCall? And what happened after?

Research for this series heavily relied upon biographer Joseph G. Rosa, his book They Called Him Wild Bill in particular.

Part 1 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-one/

Part 2 - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-two/

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https://www.amazon.com/They-Called-Him-Wild-Bill/dp/0806115386

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They called him Wild Bill by Joseph G. Rosa -

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Wild Bill Hickok | Legendary Lawman (Part 2)

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 05:15:00 -0000

Wild Bill leaves Independence after killing Davis Tutt and pursues employment as a scout and U.S Deputy Marshal. As Hickok’s notoriety increases, he goes on to serve as Marshal in the rough Kansas towns of Hays and Abilene before joining Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro in New York City. This is part 2 of Wild Bill series. In part one we covered Hickok’s childhood, his time in Bleeding Kansas, his first known gunfight with David McCanles, time spent serving the Union during the war, and the famous duel with Davis Tutt. If you haven’t already, please give it a listen and stick around for the 3rd and final installment!

Wild Bill Hickok | Part One - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-one/

Wild Bill Hickok | Part Three - https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-three/

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Wild Bill Hickok | Unveiling the Legend (Part 1)

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 13:20:00 -0000

Few names associated with the old west are as recognizable as Wild Bill Hickok. And for good reason. In many ways, Wild Bill was the quintessential Westerner of the later 19th century. Wagon master, scout, soldier, spy, lawman, gambler, actor, and yeah…gunfighter. A man capable of extraordinary feats of daring and bravery, yet courteous and soft-spoken when left alone, and kind to children. One of the few frontiersmen who was willing to take his guns off and go toe to toe with anyone looking for a fight. But also, a man who – even by generous accounts – was a bit too quick when it came to pulling the trigger. He could cuss like a sailor, consorted with ladies of ill repute, and would rather gamble than eat. He was friends with other notable frontiersmen like Buffalo Bill Cody, George Armstrong Custer, Kit Carson, and Calamity Jane, and Inspired future legends like U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman and countless others.

A celebrity in his own time, Hickok continues to tickle the imagination of millions. From the early silent film era till now, everyone from Gary Cooper to Charles Bronson to Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliot, and Keith Carradine has portrayed this icon on the big screen. But who was Hickok really? What sorta man was he? As with many notorious characters of the old west, much of the legend is built on exaggerated claims and outright lies. In Hickok’s case, the truth is even more fascinating fiction. And the truth is what aiming for today.

Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west

Wild Bill pt 2 https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-two/

Wild Bill pt 3 https://www.wildwestextra.com/wild-bill-hickok-part-three/

https://www.noiser.com/history-daily

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Bloody Bill Anderson - https://www.wildwestextra.com/46-bloody-bill-anderson-the-missouri-bushwhackers/

Making the Hickok Tutt Shot | duelist1954 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7gGgHs2lPU

1867 Harper’s Article - https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-wildbill/

History Daily Saturday Matinee | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1xSO0ZZ8yg1BkteXiYo7IH

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History Daily Presents - Jesse James & the Kid

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 16:44:53 -0000

Unfortunately due to technical difficulties there will be no new episode of The Wild West Extravaganza today. But don't you worry none, I'll be leaving you in the very capable hands of Lindsay Graham, the host of History Daily.

You may know Lindsay from the excellent audio drama 1865. Or maybe American History Tellers. American Scandal, American Elections: Wicked Game, Dirty John, Doctor Death, Business wars. And on and on. Lindsay Graham knows how to make a great podcast and he most definitely knows his history, as is evidenced by my personal favorite work of his, History Daily. If you’re not familiar, at History Daily - a co-production from Airship and Noiser - they do history, daily. Every dang weekday, Lindsay Graham takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Whether it’s to remember the tragedy of December 7th, 1941, the day “that will live in infamy,” or to celebrate that 20th day in July 1969, when mankind reached the moon, or of course important events from the old west, History Daily is there to tell you the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world—one day at a time. So, if you’re stuck in traffic, bored at work, —wherever you are, listen to History Daily to remind yourself that something incredible happened to make that day historic.

Listen to History Daily!!!!

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Cullen Baker | The West's First Fast Draw?

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 16:49:00 -0000

Said to have killed hundreds of people – although the true number is likely far less than that – Cullen Baker was one of the more deadly men of the old west; a guy who didn’t blink when it came to dropping that hammer, a man to whom killing seemed to come naturally. Who was Cullen Baker? A proud rebel who continued to defy federal authority long after the Civil War was officially over? A true hero of the cause or just a homicidal maniac? Did he really invent the quick draw? And what’s the story with him carving a life size effigy of his dead wife?

We’re going into the backwoods of northeast Texas on this one and no, we won’t be stopping at Buc-ees. My name’s Josh and you’re listening to the Wild West Extravaganza.

Check out my website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/

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2nd Battle Adobe Walls part 1 | Texas History Lessons https://open.spotify.com/episode/74Lv8LALNvGIdFIngvo4wO

2nd Battle Adobe Walls part 2 | Texas History Lessons https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wGeXThB9GKhDlefmxfBqk

Bill Longley | The Wild West Extravaganza - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GRRMVFHR1V5tT4is7UjgU

Book & Gear Recommendations - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7

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Joaquin Murrieta | California Bandit

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:02:00 -0000

Imagine for a second that you’re a young immigrant, lured to a foreign land with hopes of creating a better life for yourself and your family. Upon arrival, however, things don’t turn out quite like you dreamed and those in power decided to take everything from you that you hold dear. Your land is stolen, your brother murdered by so called vigilantes without benefit of a trial and you yourself tied up, horse whipped, and forced to watch your beautiful wife beaten and raped, raped to the point that she would die in your arms shortly thereafter. Sounds like a nightmare. I imagine most of us, under similar circumstances, would be looking for revenge.

And, according to legend, vengeance is exactly what the fabled bandit Joaquin Murrieta exacted. Story goes that he waited till nightfall and slid into the camp of his tormentors, dressed all in black. Dispatched one of ‘em with a blade, silently chopping up the body and leaving the dismembered limbs scattered around camp to be found in the morning. And the next night he repeated this action. And again, the night after that. Once Joaquin’s immediate thirst for retribution was satisfied, he moved on to other such men, the type who preyed on his kind. He soon formed a group of likeminded compadres, dubbed bandits, who dedicated their lives to protecting the innocent, robbing from the rich and righting various wrongs.

A compelling story that is said to have been the real-life inspiration behind Zorro and possibly even Batman. A tale found repeated all over the world wide web both in print and song. But how true is it? Historian Susan Lee Johnson summed it up best when she wrote “so many tales have grown up around Murrieta that it is hard to disentangle the fabulous from the factual”.

Who was Joaquin Murrieta? I mean who was he REALLY? Why is there so much misinformation about the man? Was he a freedom fighter - righteous avenger of injustice – or simply a blood thirsty bandit who preyed on the weak? How badly will I butcher any Spanish names I attempt to pronounce?

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Joaquin Murrieta | Literary Fiction or Historical Fact? https://www.cocohistory.org/essays-murrieta.html

Chasing the Elusive Joaquin Murrieta - https://www.historynet.com/chasing-elusive-joaquin-murrieta/

Judge Roy Bean | Wild West Extravaganza - https://www.wildwestextra.com/32-judge-roy-bean/

California Ranger Rosters - https://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/california_rangers/joaquin_murieta.html

California Bandidos: Social Bandits or Sociopaths | John Boessenecker - https://dokumen.tips/documents/california-bandidos-social-bandits-or-sociopaths-california-bandidos-social-bandits.html?page=16

Joaquin Murrieta | Los Alegras de Teran - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6rbNjy6PjI

The Bandit Joaquin | Dave Stamey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-5hhfNKCTY

The Ballad of Joaquin Murrieta | Sons of the San Joaquin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWfHWFMPSjU

Book & Gear Recommendations - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7

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Dewey Beard - Veteran of Little Bighorn & survivor of Wounded Knee

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 16:57:00 -0000

This is a tale of two survivors. One, affectionately known as Comanche, was an 8-year veteran of the U.S. military. He was first wounded in battle against hostiles on the southern plains in 1868. And, when Custer led the charge at the Battle of Little Big Horn, our veteran was right there with him. Wounded an astonishing seven times, he somehow survived and spent the next year recuperating. And, as you can imagine, he was showered in respect for the rest of his life and, upon his death, was sent off with full military honors. The other survivor was Dewey Beard, also known as Iron Hail. A teenager during the Battle of the Greasy Grass. He fled to Canada with Sitting Bull but eventually returned to the U.S. and settled upon a reservation. Unfortunately, the Army came calling again. Once again it was the 7th Cavalry and once again, it was a massacre. This time on a little creek called Wounded Knee.

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The Song of Dewey Beardy by Philip Burnham https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MVDSZOC?asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

Comanche the Horse - https://biodiversity.ku.edu/exhibits/comanche

Dewey Beard | Indian Country Today - https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/from-little-big-horn-to-wounded-knee-the-true-legend-of-dewey-beard

Book & Gear Recommendations - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7

The Brothers McCarty - https://www.wildwestextra.com/the-brothers-mccarty/

Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War - https://www.wildwestextra.com/joseph/

Can You Don’t - https://open.spotify.com/show/2H5vQIYhxLo3fWoDowAYf3

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The Brothers McCarty

Wed, 25 May 2022 13:06:00 -0000

The Gambler lived his life as did many of his kind, quietly and in the shadows. Never making a mark nor desiring to do so. His long life spanned from the wild and rough days of Tombstone and Silver City to a modern era of airplanes, automobiles, and jazz, yet our Gambler would never make the history books. His brother, however…

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Book & Gear Recommendations - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7

Billy the Kid | Stig Ostgaard - https://stigostgaard.com/billy-the-kid/

The Last Gunfighter Ballad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnfRcUdblJ0

The Antrim Family - http://www.aboutbillythekid.com/antrim_family.htm

Billy the Kid’s Brother | TrueWest - https://truewestmagazine.com/what-can-you-tell-me-about-billy-the-kids-brother/

The Birth of an Outlaw | TrueWest - https://truewestmagazine.com/the-birth-of-an-outlaw/

Miss Catherine’s Boys - https://thoughtsfromafar.blog/2021/03/08/miss-catherines-boys/

Rube Burrow - https://www.wildwestextra.com/rube-burrow-robin-hood-of-alabama/

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Brushy Bill is a Lying Liar

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 01:09:00 -0000

The outlaw Billy the Kid was allegedly killed at the age of 21 by Sheriff Pat Garrett in the year 1881. Skip ahead another 70 years and you have an elderly man known as Brushy Bill Roberts coming forward shattering the common historical narrative. He claimed to be the kid, said that he had escaped Pat Garrett all of them years before and had been living under the radar ever since. Brushy - with the help of an attorney named William V. Morrison - spent around two years compiling evidence, conducting interviews, researching, documenting all kinds of stuff for the purpose of both proving these claims and obtaining a pardon for Mr. Roberts; the same pardon that Billy the Kid was promised back in the day.

Brushy was able to obtain a meeting with the then Governor of New Mexico but it was a no use. The whole ordeal was a media circus and Roberts ended up having a stroke right there in the Governor’s mansion. Less than a month later on December 27th, 1950, Roberts would suffer a fatal heart attack and needless to say, the pardon never came. And we’ve been arguing about the man’s true identity ever since!

Brushy Bill has piqued my curiosity since I was a little kid, ever since I first watched Young Guns 2. My friends and I played Young Guns at recess. I owned more than one copy of the Bon Jovi Soundtrack over the years and I’m excited beyond words to see Young Guns part 3 on the big screen when it finally comes out – more on that towards the end of this episode. I can’t stress this enough - I WANT Brushy Bill to be Billy the Kid. I truly do. I’m not some sort of wild west grinch just trying to suck the fun out of everything. It would be so cool if arguably the most famous outlaw of all time had really escaped death and lived to be an old man. If we could prove that it’d be massive!

Unfortunately, I don’t think it can be proven. Matter of fact, I’m pretty positive the opposite is true. It’s my opinion that this episode will demonstrate, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Brushy Bill Roberts was NOT Billy the Kid.

Abandon all hope and join me if you dare! My name’s Josh and you’re listening to the Wild West Extravaganza!

Check out my website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest

Book & Gear Recommendations - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7

Brushy Bill Roberts Original Episode - https://www.wildwestextra.com/4-brushy-bill-roberts/

Confessionals Podcast featuring Daniel A. Edwards - https://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/theconfessionals/307-billy-the-kid-the-man-who-died-twice

Billy the Kid: An Autobiography: The Story of Brushy Bill Roberts by Daniel A. Edwards - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692437258?asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

Alias Billy the Kid by Morrison & Sonnichsen - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692534040?asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

Santa Rosa NM Supplemental Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd34jMnXMFU

Blood and Dust Podcast featuring Brett L. Hall - https://open.spotify.com/episode/29w5ZlvON8n86XKyTQpshx

The Real Billy the Kid aka Brushy Bill Roberts by Brett L. Hall - https://www.amazon.ae/Real-Billy-Brushy-Bill-Roberts/dp/1257177133

Brett Hall’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/brushybret/videos

Brushy Bill Proof that his Claim was a Hoax by Roy L. Haws - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1632930552?asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

Brushy Bill Discussion Forum - https://brushybill.proboards.com/

Bear Grease – The Myth of the Southern Mountain Lion - https://www.themeateater.com/listen/bear-grease/ep-1-the-myth-of-the-southern-mountain-lion

Young Guns 3 - https://www.looper.com/598520/guns-3-alias-billy-the-kid-release-date-cast-plot/

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Alfred Packer | Colorado Cannibal

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 18:34:00 -0000

April 1874. Present day Colorado. A half-starved weather-beaten Alfred Packer came limping into the Los Pinos Indian Agency seeking refuge. Feet covered in rags he claimed he had a harrowing story to tell. The man was ushered in and given food which he vomited up almost as soon as he got it down. Too long without he explained, asking instead for whiskey. Anything that would calm his stomach and hopefully his trembling hands. Finally, Alfred spoke. Said he had been a guide up in the mountains for some prospectors. They hit some bad weather and worse luck. He himself got snow-blinded and the other five would-be miners abandoned him.

For the next two months this survivor somehow scrapped by - living by his wits, surviving the hellish winter, and making it to civilization all on his own, with almost no supplies. An amazing tale of endurance, for sure. There’s just one catch - Alfred Packer didn’t seem all that malnourished. Matter of fact, the man seemed pretty well fed. And his story? Well, it had holes. Who was Alfred Packer? Was he truly guilty of the crimes that would see him spend nearly two decades behind bars? And what’s human flesh taste like, anyway?

Pass the chianti and crack open the fava beans as we delve into the life and times of the Colorado Cannibal, Alfred Packer.

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Man-Eater: The Life and Legend of an American Cannibal by Harold Schechter - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1503944212?asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.YEHGNY7KFAU7

What Does Human Meat Taste Like | The Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2010/sep/05/human-meat-taste-cannibal

The Body Trade | Reuters - https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-bodies-brokers/

Guy Serves Friends Tacos Made From Amputated Foot | Vice - https://www.vice.com/en/article/gykmn7/legal-ethical-cannibalism-human-meat-tacos-reddit-wtf

More Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza?listId=2H6WTE0CNW87P

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The Bandit Killer

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 18:12:37 -0000

When future General George S. Patton saw his first taste of combat, he was a young officer on the Mexican border. But was this REALLY his first fight?

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The Shootout at Hide Park

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 16:47:00 -0000

There are two things you just don’t discuss in a beer joint: politics and religion. The reason being these topics tend to be a bit divisive. You add alcohol to the mix and things could get downright ugly. As was the case one sweltering August evening in Newton, Kansas. 1871. Two lawmen named Mike McCluskie and Billy Bailey got into a heated argument that turned physical and – ultimately – deadly. What followed was a quest for revenge that led to one of the deadliest gunfights of the Old West – the Newton Massacre, also known as the Shootout at Hide Park. Also discussed: John Wesley Hardin and Doc Middleton.

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Newton, Kansas | Hide Park - https://hchm.org/author/hchm-curator/

Newton’s General Massacre - https://hchm.org/newtons-general-massacre-truth-myth/

A Boy Named Riley - https://hchm.org/fact-fiction/

Who Was Allegro? - https://hchm.org/many-of-our-readers-will-remember-allegro-the-bloody-duel/

What Happened to Hugh Anderson? - https://hchm.org/texas-cowboy-desperado-businessman-hugh-anderson/

Fiction Book Recommendations - https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza?listId=2H6WTE0CNW87P

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BONUS - Obscure History | The Lawless Horrel Brothers

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:27:11 -0000

In a remote corner of Oregon’s northeastern territory exists a mysterious and foreboding village. This is the legend of Sammyville.

Listen and subscribe to Obscure History wherever you get your podcasts!

Obscure History - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/obscure-history/id1496667775

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La Matanza - The Slaughter

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 18:43:00 -0000

The 1919 Texas Ranger Investigation - and the Canales Hearing that followed - shed light on misconduct and atrocities committed by one of the most legendary branches of law enforcement between the years 1910 and 1920. An era known to some as La Mantanza - The Slaughter. What events unfolded to cause the darkest hour of the Texas Rangers? And who was Jose Canales, the man brave enough to stand up against them?

Today we remember the victims.

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Dark History of the Texas Rangers - https://www.npr.org/2020/06/08/871929844/cult-of-glory-reveals-the-dark-history-of-the-texas-rangers

Porvenir Massacre Descendants - https://time.com/5682139/porvenir-massacre-descendants/

Big Wonderful Thing Excerpt | Sediciosos - https://www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/big-wonderful-thing-excerpt-sediciosos/

The Murder of Bazan & Longoria - https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/family-members-reflect-on-tragedy-that-occurred-back-in-1915/

How ‘The Highwaymen’ whitewashes Frank Hamer & the Texas Rangers - https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/03/31/how-highwaymen-whitewashes-frank-hamer-texas-rangers/

Photo of Texas Rangers with Dead Mexicans - https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/history-culture/article/Early-1900s-photos-recount-horrific-bloodshed-on-6815938.php

Entire Transcript of Canales Hearing - https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/researching-rangers/1919-canales-investigation/

Refusing to Forget - https://refusingtoforget.org/

Refusing to Forget lecture by John Moran Gonzalez - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uFN8r9Cng0

The Injustice Never Leaves You lecture by Monica Munoz Martinez - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pXy7yb6O7Q

Lone on the Range | Texas Monthly - https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/lone-on-the-range-texas-lawmen/

Jose Canales’ Grave - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80921621/jos_-tom_s-canales

Johanna July & the Black Seminoles | Texas History Lessons - https://www.texashistorylessons.com/johanna-july-and-the-black-seminoles/

The Lawless Horrel Brothers Pt 1 | Obscure History - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lawless-horrel-brothers-the-legend-of-sammyville-part-1/id1496667775?i=1000551740459

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Britt Johnson & the Searchers

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 17:44:00 -0000

In October of 1864 Britton Johnson’s son was murdered and his wife and two surviving children were taken captive by a Kiowa War Party. Not willing to just sit back and hope for the best, Britt took matters into his own hands. Set out, alone, into Indian Territory. Determined to get his family back, one way or another. And believe it or not, he was successful. Unfortunately he made some enemies along the way, a desperate savage foe who were just biding their time until they could catch up with Johnson once again. John Ford’s 1956 masterpiece starring John Wayne, The Searchers, is said to be inspired by Britt Johnson.

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The First Battle of Adobe Walls - https://www.wildwestextra.com/firstadobewalls/

Satanta’s Flight - https://www.wildwestextra.com/satantas-last-flight-kiowa/

Elm Creek Raid - https://www.frontiertimesmagazine.com/blog/the-indian-raid-in-young-county-written-henry-c-williams-newcastle-texas

Brit Johnson, The Real Searcher - https://www.historynet.com/brit-johnson-real-searcher.htm

Britton Johnson, Christy Claridy - https://www.texasranger.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Artifacts-Britton-Johnson.pdf

Indian Depredations in Texas, J. W. Wilbarger - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89060391521&view=1up&seq=7&skin=2021

The Mystery of Millie Durkin - https://myrahmcilvain.com/2014/09/26/the-mystery-of-millie-durkin/

Big Wonderful Thing, Stephen Harrigan - https://www.amazon.com/Big-Wonderful-Thing-audiobook/dp/B0821VZX7D

The Captured, Scott Zesch - https://www.amazon.com/Captured-Story-Abduction-Indians-Frontier/dp/0312317891

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The Arrest of Annie Oakley

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 04:13:00 -0000

August 1903. The famous Annie Oakley is arrested in Chicago for theft, a crime committed in order to obtain money to fuel her cocaine habit. And what a headline that made. America’s original sweetheart, the tiny sharpshooter who once entertained kings and queens, now reduced to petty thievery. Wasn’t long before newspapers throughout the country began to report on this fall from grace.

Enter in William Randolph Hearst, son of mining tycoon George Hearst, who ruled a media empire and had his eye on the white house. There was no story too sensational or salacious for him to print, the truth be damned.

What happened when the darling of the Wild West Show goes to war with one of the most powerful men in the country? A man with very deep pockets and an army of Pinkertons? Did Annie Oakley even have a chance at clearing her name? Find out on this girl power episode of The Wild West Extravaganza!

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Obscure History | William Randolph Hearst’s Bloody Legacy https://open.spotify.com/episode/7vBSujGzkf6eXytfTwIjgp

Texas History Lessons https://www.texashistorylessons.com/

Annie Oakley vs Hearst https://www.historynet.com/annie-oakley-vs-hearsts-worst.htm

Why Annie Got Her Gun https://www.ontheissuesmagazine.com/1996spring/Spring1996_CGAGE.php

The Tragic Real-Life Story of Annie Oakley https://www.grunge.com/181925/the-tragic-real-life-story-of-annie-oakley/

Conversation with the Devil | Ray Wylie Hubbard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygTsN_sr4k8

Timesuck 219 | Annie Oakley https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rqHBvgvOdSdCjEiubJWFv

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Kit Carson's Failure

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 03:51:00 -0000

In 1849 a trader named James White decided to break from his wagon train and push on ahead with just his family and a few men. The outcome was about as bad as anything you could imagine; the men were dead, and the women taken captive. The subsequent rescue mission was led by none other than Kit Carson. But this time could the hero save the girl? Also, I rant about history!

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Tom Tobin & The Bloody Espinosas: https://www.wildwestextra.com/tobin/

Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Thunder-Carson-Conquest-American/dp/1400031109

Meat Eater Podcast | Hampton Sides: https://www.themeateater.com/listen/meateater/ep-298-cooking-captain-cook

Kit Carson’s Rescue Ride | True West Magazine: https://truewestmagazine.com/article/history-and-the-myth/

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Big Alice & the Battle of the Bordellos

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0000

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, ain’t that what they say? But what happens when it’s also a woman doing the scorning? And what happens if that hell is just El Paso, Texas? One helluva girl fight, that’s what! Join me as we take a look at Old West madam Fat Alice Abbot and the fight she got into with rival brothel owner, Etta Clark. This episode has a little bit of everything. Listener discretion advised!

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What’s a “pubic arch”?: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pubic_arch

Clash of the Mad Madams | True West Magazine: https://truewestmagazine.com/clash-of-the-mad-madams/

Big Nose George: https://www.wildwestextra.com/big-nose-george-wyoming-bandit/

The Battle of Beecher Island: https://www.wildwestextra.com/40-the-battle-of-beecher-island/

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Big Nose George | Wyoming Bandit

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 03:54:00 -0000

George Parrot - aka Big Nose George – was a basic run-of-the-mill road agent. Trains, stagecoaches, general stores – they were all fair game for Big Nose and the boys. Sometimes he was successful and sometimes he wasn’t, but he was always down to try. Unfortunately for George the long arm of the law eventually caught up with the man; permanently and prematurely ending his outlaw career. And that’s only HALF the story! How many times did George have a noose placed around his neck before it finally stuck? What happens when a couple of old west sawbones get their hands on a criminal cadaver? And what’s all this have to do with nipple shoes? Find out on this Farrah Fawcett inspired episode of The Wild West Extravaganza!

Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west:

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Who Were Those Masked Men? | Texas Observer: https://www.texasobserver.org/2552-who-were-those-masked-men/

A Grisly Frontier Tale | WyoHistory: https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/big-nose-george-grisly-frontier-tale

The Grisly Tale of Big Nose George | Notes From the Frontier: https://www.notesfromthefrontier.com/post/the-grisly-tale-of-big-nose-george

Does Nose Size Matter? | BioMedCentral: https://bacandrology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12610-021-00121-z

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Jim Clyman | Iconic Fur Trapper

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:45:06 -0000

Jim Clyman is a name that pops up consistently in all the books I’ve read on mountain men and fur trappers, but I never really dived into the guy until now. Veteran of the War of 1812, General Ashley’s 1824 Expedition, AND the Black Hawk War, as well as friend and contemporary to guys like Jedediah Smith, Broken Hand Fitzpatrick, Hugh Glass, and Jim Bridger. From the shinning mountains to the great plains to the high desert, from the wild and woolly days till the twilight of the west, Jim Clyman was THERE! And he most definitely had his fair share of close encounters of the historical kind! Donner Party ring a bell?

LISTEN TO THE END FOR AN IMPORTANT UPDATE!

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Listen to my friends at Obscure History and Texas History Lessons!!!!

https://open.spotify.com/show/7gpVCWNeSxwDpZGWdEMvsl

https://www.texashistorylessons.com/

Journal of a Mountain Man by Win Blevins https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Mountain-Man-Clymans-Adventures/dp/069220380X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=jim+clyman&qid=1634536857&sr=8-2

How the Donner Party was Doomed by a Disastrous Shortcut https://www.history.com/news/donner-party-route-cannibalism

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Bill Longley | The Deadliest Gun in Texas

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 16:24:00 -0000

There's just no denying that Texas produced its fair share of stone-cold killers in the latter part of the 19th century. Men like John Wesley Hardin, King Fisher, Clay Allison, and of course the notorious Deacon Jim Miller. And then there’s Bill Longley, considered by some to be one of the deadliest gunmen of the west. A tall brooding shootist credited with 32 kills once described as the worst man in Texas. “I still alone tread the living land destitute of friends but damn the world and every sons of a bitch that don’t like me for I am a wolf, and it is my night to howl.” – Bill Longley

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Listen to Texas History Lessons!!! https://www.texashistorylessons.com/

Boastful Bill Longley https://www.historynet.com/boastful-bill-longley-cold-blooded-texas-killer.htm

Bad Bill Longley https://truewestmagazine.com/bad-bill-longley-2/

Bill Longley DNA https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mistaken-myth-of-wild-bill/

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Chief Joseph & the Nez Perce War

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 10:01:00 -0000

In the summer of 1877 Chief Joseph and the peaceful Nez Perce went to war with the U.S. Government in a running fight that spanned four states and 1,170 miles. Who was Chief Joseph? Why’d Buffalo Bill call him “the greatest Indian ever produced?” And why did the Nez Perce go to war? I’ve been looking forward to this episode for a long time so without further ado, let’s dive into Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War!

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Chief Joseph and the Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Nerburn https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Joseph-Flight-Nez-Perce/dp/B07D8CNG6K/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=kent+nerburn&qid=1626877161&sr=8-6

Nez Perce War Battle Map https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nez_Perce_War_battle_map-1877.jpg

Nez Perce War Timeline – University of Lethbridge https://www.ulethbridge.ca/lib/digitized_collections/ourheritage/index_page_stuff/Following_Trails/Chief_Joseph/Chief_Joseph_Timeline.html

Aftermath of Nez Perce War – Nps.gov https://www.nps.gov/nepe/learn/historyculture/1877-aftermath.htm

NezPerce.org https://nezperce.org/

That scene from 28 Weeks Later https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVnz6hlC3pQ

Daytime Smoker https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/object/1991.258.11

The Nez Perce continue fighting for their land https://www.wallowa.com/land-returned-to-nez-perce/article_0a4ec5ee-85bc-528b-95d8-52fabd2e729b.html

Liver Eating Johnson Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr-fBiIdfGA

Liver Eating Johnson Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rY3HyGEeVk

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Billy the Kid's Last Stand

Mon, 05 Jul 2021 17:56:00 -0000

Discovered sometime prior to 1952 in the Florida Mountains of Southwestern New Mexico, the “Last Stand Note” - written on a piece of tobacco paper and stuffed inside an empty shell case - reads as follows: This is our last shell and about 10 Indians left so our chances look slim, but we are going to take a chance. Yours truly, Wm Bonney. Did Billy the Kid REALLY write this note? Did he ever have any close encounters with the Apache? Find out all of this and more on this newest episode of the Wild West Extravaganza!

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Billy the Kid and the Apaches – True West Magazine https://truewestmagazine.com/article/billy-the-kid-and-the-apaches/

The Last Stand Note https://www.oldwestevents.com/highlights/2019/1/18/last-stand-note-on-cigarette-paper-signed-wm-bonney

Cooke’s Canyon https://www.desertusa.com/desert-new-mexico/cookes-canyon.html

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Tom Tobin & The Bloody Espinosas

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 19:16:00 -0000

When Felipe Espinosa and his younger brother Vivian were feeling bloody, the bodies were sure to follow. And in the spring and summer of 1863, there was certainly no shortage of bodies. Some victims were shot at long distances while others were casualties of more close-in work with blades or axe. And most were mutilated; beheaded, disemboweled, desecrated, or otherwise molested. After several failed attempts, the U.S. Army finally hired mountain man Tom Tobin to hunt down Felipe Espinosa. Tobin had been out west since he was a 14-year-old and had a unique set of skills that made him invaluable when it came to being a manhunter.

Who were the Bloody Espinosa brothers? What caused their murderous tirade? Who was Tom Tobin and was he successful? My name’s Josh and your listening to the Wild West Extravaganza!

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Listen to my episode of Texas History Lessons!!! https://www.texashistorylessons.com/jose-canales-and-the-texas-rangers-investigation-of-1919/

The Bloody Espinosas by Adam James Jones https://adamjamesjones.com/2010/12/14/the-real-story/

Out of Vengeance or Just Plain Madness, another great article by Adam James Jones https://www.historynet.com/vengeance-plain-madness-felipe-espinosa-led-murder-spree.htm

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Commodore Perry Owens & The Pleasant Valley War

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 13:47:00 -0000

This is a Podcast Swap, hosted by my friend Michael from the podcast Texas History Lessons! After you give this a listen make sure you check out his website for the latest episode of Texas History Lessons - hosted by yours truly - on the 1919 Texas Ranger Investigation!

https://www.texashistorylessons.com/jose-canales-and-the-texas-rangers-investigation-of-1919/

Any mention of the Wild West brings up many images that books and film have ingrained in the American mind over decades. Cowboys trailing cattle up the trail. Bold Native American warriors fighting to preserve their way of life. Settlers and soldiers determined to fight back and take the land that they felt they, somehow, deserved. Surely many more can be listed but there are two that will definitely pop up. The confident gunman that had a steady hand and a sure shot that would lay his opponent or opponents in the dust and the feuding families or associations of cattlemen that resorted to bloody violence to establish their control over the use of water and land. In this episode of the Wild West Extravaganza we are taking a look at one of the steadiest and best shots of all gunmen, Commodore Perry Owens, and his role in the bloodiest range feud in American history, Arizona’s Pleasant Valley War.

Don't forget to check out Texas History Lessons Podcast!

https://www.texashistorylessons.com/

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The First Battle of Adobe Walls

Mon, 31 May 2021 16:25:00 -0000

In 1864 famed frontiersman Kit Carson took a force of several hundred soldiers into the heart of the Llano Estacado in an attempt to punish the Comanche for their recent raids. What followed was a bloody fight now known as the first Battle of Adobe Walls, as Carson and his men kicked the hornet’s nest and quickly found themselves outnumbered 10 to 1.

This episodes got something for everyone! We’re gonna talk Kit Carson, we’re gonna talk army tactics, Billy the Kid, the Navajo, the Apache, and - of course - the Comanche.

For further reading check out Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides.

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Elfego Baca & The Frisco Gunfight

Mon, 17 May 2021 16:58:00 -0000

Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid, Doc Holliday, Jesse James, Wild Bill Hickok - These are the names of legends. Names I think most people – even those with no interest in old west history – will find familiar. But for every one of these guys, there were a dozen others who were every bit as deadly and capable with a firearm, if not more so. Men who didn’t flinch in the face of death. Men who knew the smell of the black powder smoke and the crack of a bullet snapping past their heads; men who for whatever reason are largely lost to history. Or at the very least just not that well known. Men like Elfego Baca. The young store clerk pinned on a fake mail order badge and single-handedly took on an overwhelming force of gunmen. The over 30-hour gunfight that ensued is considered, by some, to be the most lopsided of the wild west. All at the tender age of 19! And don’t you worry your pretty little head, the rest of Elfego’s life was chock full of excitement as well, including a run-in with Pancho Vila.

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

The Life and Truth of Elfego Baca by Richard Duree - http://www.phantomranch.net/bwestern/DureeArticles/life_truth_elfego_baca_duree.htm

The Legend of Elfego Baca | True West Magazine - https://truewestmagazine.com/legend-elfego-baca/

Following Elfego Baca | True West Magazine - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/following-elfego-baca/

The Frisco War | Legends of America - https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-elfegobaca/

Elfego Baca: A Very Brave Man by Dr. Joe Sweeney - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av85NzYZhms

The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca | Disney TV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0BZhIraAmE

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Bloody Bill Anderson & the Missouri Bushwhackers

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 10:31:00 -0000

“I will show you that I can kill men with as much skill and rapidity as anybody. From this time on I ask no quarter and I will give none” – these were the words spoken by Bloody Bill Anderson, shortly before he executed and scalped over twenty men. According to those who rode with Anderson he was “a desperate man and a reckless fighter, the worst devil in the bunch. Human life meant nothing to him. He could shoot a man who was on his knees begging for mercy as easy as most men kill a chicken. He feared no man alive and believed heart and soul in the southern cause.”

Who was Bloody Bill Anderson? What events transpired that caused him to devote his entire life to war? A life that he once spoke of saying “If I cared for my life I would have lost it long ago. Wanting to lose it, I cannot throw it away.” Was Bill Anderson a reluctant hero caught up in the passions of civil war or just a bloodthirsty villain, using any excuse he could to terrorize the countryside?

Find out all of this and more on this you gonna pull those pistols or whistle dixie episode of The Wild West Extravaganza!

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/

Arikara Language in The Revenant

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Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d

The Tactical Genius of Bloody Bill Anderson by Sean McLachlan - https://www.historynet.com/tactical-genius-bloody-bill-anderson.htm

Bloody Bill Anderson bio by Mathew C. Hullbert - https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/assets/files/pdf/ECWC TOPIC Anderson Bloody Bill Essay 2.pdf

Bloody Bill: The Infamous Symbol of a Savage Time - https://www.columbiatribune.com/article/20140706/News/307069871

Paul R. Peterson’s version of the death of Bloody Bill’s father - https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-bloodybill/

Quantrillsguerillas.com - http://www.quantrillsguerrillas.com/en/articles/178-welcome-to-quantrillsguerrillas-com.html

The Bush Smith rabbit hole of speculation - http://www.history-sites.com/cgi-bin/bbs62x/mocwmb/arch_config.pl?md=read;id=6281

Did Bloody Bill Anderson escape the ambush and settle in Brown County, Texas? - https://www.brownwoodnews.com/2017/12/27/bloody-bill-anderson-escape-ambush-missouri-settle-brown-county/

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Hugh Glass | Frontiersman

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 16:56:00 -0000

Frontiersman Hugh Glass was mauled by a grizzly bear in 1823. Left for dead, stripped of his belongs, and covered in maggots, he defied all odds and made a 250-mile journey on foot through hostile territory. But that’s only half the story. On this episode we’re going to talk pirates, we’re going to talk about mountain men and the fur trade, we’re going to talk a whole bunch about Native Americans. And - most importantly – we’re going to talk some Leonardo DiCaprio.

Who was Hugh Glass? Where’d he come from? Was he born with the bark on, or did he have to work at it? How many pirate jokes can I fit into one episode? Find out all of this and more on this newest if any of this sounds familiar then you’ve been listening to this podcast for a long time edition of The Wild West Extravaganza!

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Bonus Content Available at Patreon!!!

The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 86 – The Meat Tree Part 1

The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 87 – The Meat Tree Part 2

The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 236 – Crawling Back From the Dead with Michael Punke

HughGlass.org

Leonardo DiCaprio and the Bear???

Who Started The Leonardo DiCaprio Bear Rumor?

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Luther James Dorsey & The Buffalo Soldiers

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 17:54:00 -0000

Sergeant Luther James Dorsey was a member of the buffalo soldiers, the all-black cavalry regiments who served on America’s frontier. From the Indian Wars to the Korean war, these men bravely – and against all odds and prejudice – cemented their legacy into the fabric of American History.

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Seattle Times article – Complicated and Controversial Role

Buffalo Soldier Links!

Buffalo Soldier Museum

Conroe Community Cemetery Restoration Project

Cemetery Dedication Ceremony - KPRC 2

Luther James Dorsey Bridge Dedication - CW39

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The Battle of Beecher Island

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 16:42:00 -0000

In the summer of 1868 Major George A. Forsyth, under orders from General Sheridan, raised a company of fifty "first-class hardy frontiersmen" to seek out and engage hostile Native Americans. These scouts soon found themselves outnumbered and surrounded by hundreds of Cheyenne warriors as they took refuge on a little sandbar in the middle of the Arikaree river. What followed is now known as the battle of Beecher Island.

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Contrary - Little Big Man

List of Forsyth's Scouts

Excerpt from Indian Yell, by Michael Blake - True West Mag

Indian Yell: The Heart of an American Insurgency by Michael Blake

The Battle of Beecher Island, by George A. Forsyth

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Frank Hamer's First Fight

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 14:36:00 -0000

It’s not every day that your boss offers you a hundred and fifty dollars to murder somebody. I think we can all agree that’s not a normal occurrence.

But then again, the tough kid wasn’t normal.

The real story behind legendary Texas Ranger Frank Hamer's first gunfight, at the age of 16.

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Bonus content available on Patreon!

Texas Ranger: The Epic Life of Frank Hamer by John Boessnecker

Fact Checking Highwaymen: USA Today

Frank Hamer vs KKK?

Washington Post article by Monica Munoz Martinez

Frank Hamer's First Gunfight by Mark Boardman

Houston Chronicle Article on Hamer attacking journalist

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Bill Tilghman | Frontier Lawman

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 12:16:00 -0000

Bill Tilghman - the legendary lawman best known for hunting down bad guys in Indian Territory - got his start as a teenaged buffalo hunter on the Kansas frontier. After that he spent years patrolling the tough streets of Dodge City with the likes of Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, and Charlie Bassett before moving on to Oklahoma where he did more of the same. Friends with guys like Luke Short and Doc Holliday. Rubbed shoulders with outlaws like Dave Rudabaugh and J.J. Webb, Tilghman wore many hats throughout his life.

Senator, husband, father, scout, Rancher, saloon owner, movie producer, actor, and then finally – at the ripe ole age of 70 – Tilghman pinned on a badge yet again to take on the corrupt boom town of Cromwell, Oklahoma.

Maybe. Or Maybe not.

Join me today as we find out more about the man who - according to Teddy Roosevelt - would charge hell with a bucket. The man who Bat Masterson once said was “the best of all of us” on this newest don’t kill the messenger history is complicated and sometimes our heroes are flawed and this is probably the last ever episode OF The Wild West Extravaganza!

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Texas History Lessons Podcast

Bat Masterson on Bill Tilghman

Was Bill Tilghman Honest? – True West Magazine

How Accurate Was You Know My Name? – True West Magazine

The Man Who Shot Bill Tilghman - True West Magazine

The Killing Of Bill Tilghman – True West Magazine

Dodge City – Book by Tom Clavin

Bill Tilghman's Biography – Written by his widow, Zoe Agnes Stratton Tilghman

The Trial of Wiley Lynn – Edmond Life & Leisure

Wiley Lynn's Last Days - Edmond Life & Leisure

Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws (1915)

Oklahoma Land Rush Scene – Far and Away (1992)

Great Murder Trials of the Old West – Johnny D. Boggs

Shoot From The Lips – Nancy B. Samuelson

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Medicine Crow | War Chief

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 18:20:00 -0000

Joe Medicine Crow was a mighty war chief amongst his people, the Crow. The Apsáalooke. The Children of the large beak bird.

Joe was raised in the traditional way of the Crow and fulfilled all four requirements to become a War Chief of the Crow Nation. The last War Chief. But Joe Medicine Crow was much MUCH more.

“With an education, you’re the white man’s equal. Without an education, you’re the white man’s victim” – Joe Medicine Crow

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Celebrating 100 Years with Dr. Joe Medicine Crow

Medicine Crow War Chief Story (Joe Sings)

Joe Receives Medal of Freedom

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Ned Christie | Indian Outlaw

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 23:27:00 -0000

Ned Christie: Ruthless Cherokee outlaw or courageous hero? Murderer or innocent man?

If someone had asked me a year ago who Ned Christie was, I’d have probably said he was just another Indian Territory outlaw. In the same vein as Cherokee Bill or Henry Starr. And I don’t think I’m the only person out there with this misconception.

Back in the 1970’s Time Life put out a series of books on the old west. And I personally have – in my possession - a copy of the one titled Gunfighters. I’ve had it since I was a wee little lad, and it has seen better days. The pages are no longer bound, they’re all loose and out of order. A testament to the countless hours I spent flipping through its pages when I was a kid.

There are a couple of pictures of Ned Christie in the book. There’s the one when he was still alive - long hair, holding a rifle in one hand, a revolver in the other, and another pistol strapped around his waist.

Looking like an outlaw.

And then there’s the other one, where he’s dead. Propped up against a door, lever action rifle resting in his lifeless hands.

There’s not a whole lot written in the book about Ned Christie, though. He’s simply referred to as an “elusive Cherokee outlaw who roved the territory as a train robber, horse thief, and whiskey peddler. Christie had built himself a log fort high on the rim of the cliff sided canyon, and when a 16-man posse tracked him there, he showed no inclination to surrender.”

That was really the extent of my knowledge when it came to Ned Christie. That and the pictures.

But what if I were to tell you that almost everything that was published about Ned Christie in that Time Life book was untrue?

Join me today as we look at just who the real Ned Christie was and try to separate the man from the myth on this most recent Indian Outlaw, 100% Cherokee and zero Choctaw, & nobody’s baby was a Chippewa edition of Bloody Beaver Podcast.

Ned Christie: The Creation of an Outlaw and Cherokee Hero by Devon Mihesua

The Real Lonesome Dove

Nate Champion

Glanton, John Joel by Sloan Rodgers - TSHAonline.org

Excerpt From Ned Christie: The Creation of an Outlaw and Cherokee Hero - OUpress.org

Ned Christie - OkHistory.org

Cherokee.org

The True Story of Ned Christie - OsiyoTv

Family, Historians Share Ned Christie Insights - CherokeePhoenix

Ned Christie as told by Great-Great-Niece - CherokeePhil

Canton Indian Insane Asylum - Indianz.com

Native American Stats

Issues and Problems Facing Native Americans Today - Powwows.com

American Indian Veterans Have Highest Record of Military Service

Native American Veterans 5 Facts You May Not Know

Native American Veterans Have Always Answered The Call to Serve

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Luke Short & The Dodge City War

Sat, 24 Oct 2020 21:14:00 -0000

In the spring of 1883, a group of very dangerous men began gathering outside of Dodge City, Kansas. Men with names like Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Shotgun Collins, and Doc Holliday. Killers, all of ‘em. Men familiar with the weight of a revolver in hand and the smell of black powder smoke.

They gathered to rally around one man, their compadre who had recently been forced out of town by a crooked mayor and a small army of vigilantes. That man’s name was Luke Short.

A cowboy turned scout turned gambler who earned himself quiet the reputation as a man handy with the iron.

What events transpired that forced Luke out of the rough cow town of Dodge City?

How did he come to be friends with the likes of Wyatt Earp?

How short was Luke Short, anyway? And is it true that if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it?

Find out all of this and more on this newest “if your gonna get into a gunfight, make damn sure you shoot first” edition of The Wild West Extravaganza!

Check out this article via the good folks at Legends Of America to see exactly what Bat Masterson wrote about Luke Short's days as a whiskey runner.

Check out this Spartacus Educational collection of newspaper articles and letters regarding the Dodge City War.

Listen to Texas History Lessons Podcast!!!!!

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Judge Roy Bean | The Law West of the Pecos

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:06:00 -0000

When one thinks of the great judges of Yore, certain names stand out above the rest. Names like Judge Harold T. Stone. Judge Judith Sheindlin. Judges Wapner, Mathis, and Joe Brown. Judge Reinhold, Judge Dredd and Mike Judge all bear remembering. But towering over these colossal judicial minds stands one man, one legend so interwoven into the fabric of modern-day jurisprudence you’d be remise not to pay him homage. And that man’s name was Roy Damn Bean. That’s right - Judge Roy Bean - to be exact. The law west of the Pecos known for serving up both justice as well as tasty beverages from his courtroom/saloon known as the Jersey Lilly located in a little fart of a town in west Texas known as Langtry. All rise! Court is now in session on this newest OVERRULED edition of the Wild West Extravaganza!

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Roy Bean's Hanging, an excellent article written by Marshall Trimble, that I referenced on this episode.

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Black Bart | The Poet Bandit

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 02:22:00 -0000

"I've labored long and hard for bread, For honor, and for riches, But on my corns too long you've tread, You fine-haired sons of bitches."

These are the words of Black Bart, the gentleman bandit who preferred to leave poems at the scene of the crime rather than dead bodies. Black Bart wasn’t a killer and he never really hurt anyone, except maybe for Wells Fargo, who’s stagecoaches he robbed at least 28 times throughout his career, taking thousands of dollars in the process. Black Bart would pay for his crimes by doing a stretch in California’s notorious San Quentin prison and upon his release he vanished. Or did he? Who was the mysterious Black Bart? Where’d he come from? Where did he disappear to? Why did he hate Wells Fargo so much?

Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/