The Wild West Extravaganza

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. Buy Me A Coffee – https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2025

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?   Buy Me A Coffee – https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Check out the website https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 July 2025

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?   Buy Me A Coffee – https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2025

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.   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2025

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? 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

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? 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2025

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.   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Stagecoach Mary | Black Cowboys - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PLVtMGwyLGnm7MLBtdcrT?si=92XhBIToT22kOAS7alGWPQ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

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?   Check out the website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2025

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?    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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Street Dogs | San Patricios - https://youtu.be/1asy-BWEaAM?si=V7s4M49Yf7kdP7Zc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

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.   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

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.   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

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.  This episode is brought to you by Huel. New customers get 15% off plus a FREE gift at huel.com when you use my code: WILDWEST. Don’t miss out—try it today!   This episode is brought to you by Mint Mobile: Mintmobile.com/wildwest   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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Al Swearengen - https://youtu.be/ISZ32OkTP6Q?si=trcioIggdHSp9dvf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

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.   Today’s sponsor is QUINCE! - quince.com/wildwest 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

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.   Get Huel today with this exclusive offer for New Customers of 15% OFF + a FREE Gift with code wildwest at https://huel.com/wildwest (Minimum $75 purchase)   Get your money’s worth at ExpressVPN.com/wildwest for an extra four months of ExpressVPN for free!    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/   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   Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

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. 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Was Billy the Kid’s Death a Hoax - https://youtu.be/MUZ-Rc9Pt3I?si=KisNYDCGY5L2PCoA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

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. 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

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! 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

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. This episode is sponsored by Mint Mobile – www.mintmobile.com/wildwest Frank James | The Old Shoe Salesman - https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-james-the-old-shoe-salesman/ 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Shot All To Hell by Mark Lee Gardner – https://a.co/d/2WdVlSF Jesse James Last Rebel by TJ Stiles – https://a.co/d/c8hmQcl Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

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. This episode is sponsored by ExpressVPN - https://www.expressvpn.com/wildwest 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Shot All To Hell by Mark Lee Gardner – https://a.co/d/2WdVlSF Jesse James Last Rebel by TJ Stiles – https://a.co/d/c8hmQcl Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

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) 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/ Shot All To Hell by Mark Lee Gardner – https://a.co/d/2WdVlSF Jesse James Last Rebel by TJ Stiles – https://a.co/d/c8hmQcl Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

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? This episode is sponsored by ExpressVPN! https://www.expressvpn.com/wildwest 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Shot All To Hell by Mark Lee Gardner – https://a.co/d/2WdVlSF Jesse James Last Rebel by TJ Stiles – https://a.co/d/c8hmQcl Frank and Jesse James by Ted Yeatman – https://a.co/d/6ddj5ye Writing The West –https://open.spotify.com/show/6Hj5ZlH6XlZaWADHkffwld?si=0cec01d120e643b6 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

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. This episode is sponsored by DraftKings. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app & use code WILDWEST Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/ Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War by T.J. Stiles - https://www.worldofbooks.com/products/jesse-james-book-t-j-stiles-9780224069250 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025

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. This episode is sponsored by ExpressVPN - http://expressvpn.com/wildwest 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

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. Sponsored by Mint Mobile - https://mintmobile.com/wildwest Sponsored by DraftKings – Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use code: WILDWEST 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

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! This episode is sponsored by ExpressVPN! https://www.expressvpn.com/wildwest This episode is sponsored by DraftKings! Download DraftKings Sportsbook App and use code WILDWEST Billy the Kid series | https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-compilation/ Check out the Wild West Extravaganza 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 for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2025

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. This episode is brought to you by Quince! https://www.quince.com/wildwest This episode is also sponsored by DraftKings! https://sportsbook.draftkings.com Code: WILDWEST 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2025

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. 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2024

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.   Check out today’s sponsor, Mint Mobile! – https://www.mintmobile.com/wildwest   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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 December 2024

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.  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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Silas Soule: A Short, Eventful Life of Moral Courage by Tom Bensing - https://a.co/d/6K9IyRh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2024

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

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2024

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

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2024

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 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Series on Pat Garrett – https://youtu.be/CMp1GayD4-4?si=qd21rAyKNgOTpjq0 Series on John Wesley Hardin – https://youtu.be/MiPA_9R2mys?si=98ktgNz6nStyo1Rg Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2024

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. 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/   Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2024

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? 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 Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

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/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   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/   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Join Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Become a YouTube Paid Member for bonus content! https://www.youtube.com/c/WildWestExtravaganza   Listen to Texas History Lessons for Texas History! https://www.texashistorylessons.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2024

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 This episode is sponsored by Manscaped! Get 20% off + free shipping with the code WILDWEST at Manscaped.com 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Merch! https://wildwestextramerch.com/ 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2024

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. HELLOFRESH sponsors this episode!!! For FREE breakfast for life, go to HelloFresh.com/freewildwest. One free breakfast per item, per box, while subscription is active!!!! This episode is sponsored by PRIZEPICKS!!! Download the PrizePicks app today and use code WILDWEST and get $50 instantly when you play $5! That’s code WILDWEST on PrizePicks to get $50 instantly when you play $5! You don’t even need to win to receive the $50 bonus, it’s guaranteed!   Check out the Wild West Extravaganza website for more true tales from the Old West https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   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/   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/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 September 2024

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? 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Merch! https://wildwestextramerch.com/ 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/ This episode is sponsored by Manscaped - get 20% off and free shipping with code WILDWEST at https://manscaped.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2024

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/ 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Merch! https://wildwestextramerch.com/ 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 This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp - Give online therapy at try at betterhelp.com/WildWest and get on your way to being your best self! This episode is sponsored by Manscaped - get 20% off and free shipping with code WILDWEST at https://manscaped.com !!! This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh - For a limited time, kids eat FREE! Go to HelloFresh.com/wildwestkids to unlock this exclusive offer !!!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 September 2024

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. 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2024

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! 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2024

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. 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra 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/ 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2024

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. 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Carson’s Autobiography - https://archive.org/details/kitcarsonsautobi0000cars/page/106/mode/2up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2024

“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.   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/   Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 August 2024

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. 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/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Dangerous Dan Tucker: New Mexico’s Deadly Lawman by Bob Alexander - https://www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Dan-Tucker-Mexicos-Deadly/dp/094438353X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 July 2024

Thank you for all the well wishes! New content resumes next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 July 2024

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/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   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     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2024

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! 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/ 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 Join Into History for ad-free and bonus content! https://intohistory.supercast.com/ Join Patreon for ad-free and bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Merch! https://wildwestextramerch.com/ Book Recommendations! https://www.amazon.com/shop/wildwestextravaganza/list/YEHGNY7KFAU7?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2024