Bloody Beaver

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.   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.c

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! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contac

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 o

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 Tex

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://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 bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Bec

This is Part 3 in the Frank Canton series. See links below for Parts 1 2. https://open.spotify.com/episode/04X4DO7USW9EzqK0xFNhSJ 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

This is Part 2 in the Frank Canton series. See link below for Part 1. https://www.wildwestextra.com/frank-canton-part-1-the-outlaw-years/ 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?   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly 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 bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Become a YouTube Paid Member for bonus content! https://www.youtube.com/c/WildWestExtravaganza   Alias Frank Canton by Robert K.

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 or

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.   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Join Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Become a YouTube Paid Member for bonus content

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

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   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Join Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Become a YouTube Paid Member for bonus content! https://www.youtube.com/c/WildWestExtravaganza   Subscribe to the Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Join Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildw

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.    Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Join Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Become a YouTube Paid Member for bonus content! https://www.youtube.com/c/WildWestExtravaganza   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 Learn more about your ad choices.

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???   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Join Patreon for bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra   Become a YouTube Paid Member for bonus content! https://www.youtube.com/c/WildWestExtravaganza   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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee

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/   Check out my website for more true tales from the wild and woolly west https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wild

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 earl

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

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.   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/   Check out my website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   2nd Battle Adobe Walls part 1 | Texas History Lessons https://open.spotify.com/episode/74Lv8LALNvGIdFIngvo4wO   2nd Battle Adobe Walls

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 nigh