meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Wild West Extravaganza

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

The Wild West Extravaganza

Wild West Josh

Education, History

4.8667 Ratings

🗓️ 11 July 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is History's heroes, people with purpose, brave ideas, and the courage to stand alone,

0:07.0

including a pioneering surgeon who rebuilt the shattered faces of soldiers in the First World War.

0:13.0

You know, he would look at these men and he would say,

0:15.0

Don't worry, Sonny, you'll have as good a face as any of us when I'm done with you.

0:19.0

Join me, Alex von Tunzelman, for History's Heroes.

0:24.8

Subscribe to History's Heroes wherever you get your podcasts.

0:29.0

In the late 19th century, oil was discovered on the Osage Reservation in northern Oklahoma.

0:35.5

Strike was so rich that by the early 1920s, the Osage Nation were the wealthiest people

0:40.2

per capita on planet Earth.

0:42.7

You know how it goes, though.

0:43.9

More money, more problems.

0:46.0

As their affluence grew, so did the jealousy and greed of outsiders, including the federal

0:50.6

government.

0:51.9

They ruled that the Osage were incapable of managing their own money

0:55.0

and appointed white male guardians to, air quotes, protect their head rights. Head rights, by the way,

1:01.2

that could neither be bought nor sold. The only way someone could get their greedy little hands on them

1:06.1

was that the original owner passed away. You know what happens next. The span of just a little over a decade,

1:12.5

at least 60 members of the OSage nation, possibly as many as 100, were murdered, and especially

1:18.2

dark chapter of American history known as the reign of terror. If this sounds familiar,

1:23.3

you've probably seen killers of the flower moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Molly Burkart.

1:28.9

But did you know that it was based on a true story?

1:31.9

One that we will be discussing today in full with my friend and yours, Amber Hunt.

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 6 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Wild West Josh, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Wild West Josh and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.