Bloody Beaver

On June 27th, 1874, a handful of buffalo hunters found themselves surrounded by hundreds of Comanche at a place called Adobe Walls. Outnumbered more than twenty to one, the odds of survival looked slim. Nevertheless, it was here that Billy Dixon stepped forward and made what’s become known as the “shot of the century,” dropping a mounted warrior at nearly 1,500 yards. Join me as we examine the life of Billy Dixon, from his hardscrabble childhood to his time as a buffalo hunter, scout, and Medal of Honor recipient. Also discussed are how Dixon and his companions survived the siege at Adobe Walls, what really happened in the infamous buffalo wallow fight, and how these events helped shape the final days of the Southern Plains tribes.   Merch! https://wildwestextramerch.com/   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

What really happened to Jesse Evans, the outlaw who once rode with Billy the Kid and helped ignite the Lincoln County War? He shot up dance halls, rustled cattle, and left a bloody trail from New Mexico to Texas, only to vanish without a trace. And to this day, nobody knows his true fate. Was Jesse Evans really a childhood friend of Billy the Kid? Did he spend his final years as Joseph Hines in Florida, or die hiding out on a Texas ranch? Join me as I attempt to separate fact from fiction and explore every wild theory about Jesse’s origins, his crimes, and his legendary disappearance. Buy Me A Coffee!  https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwest   Check out the website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/   Email me! https://www.wildwestextra.com/contact/ Billy the Kid - https://www.wildwestextra.com/billy-the-kid-compilation/   Free Newsletter! https://wildwestjosh.substack.com/   Join Patreon for ad-free bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a

For generations, rumors have swirled that Old West outlaw Billy the Kid’s grave at Fort Sumner was swept away by a massive flood. But is there any truth to the legend, or does Billy still rest beneath his famous gravestone? Also discussed are fellow Lincoln County Regulators Charlie Bowdre and Tom Folliard. Chasing Billy YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@chasingbilly Billy the Kid’s Grave by David G. Thomas - https://www.abebooks.com/9781542404723/Billy-Kids-Grave-History-Wild-154240472X/plp 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 bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was José Chavez y Chavez really part Navajo? And what about Billy the Kid’s famous escape from Lincoln? Was that Young Guns 2 scene with the pistol in the outhouse true, or did he overpower his guard? Who actually killed Deputy Carlyle at White Oaks? These are just a few of the questions I discussed with historian and author James B. Mills. His book, Billy the Kid: Bandido Simpatico, is one of the most definitive biographies on William H. Bonney, and his new release, In the Days of Billy the Kid, explores the lives of Chavez y Chavez, Juan Patron, Yginio Salazar, and the underrated Martin Chavez. We cover everything from the Society of Bandits to the Battle of Lincoln, whether Billy and Jesse James ever met, John Chisum, and even the White Caps uprising. Order In the Days of Billy the Kid NOW!!! – https://www.amazon.com/Days-Billy-Kid-Ch%C3%A1vez-Salazar/dp/1574419625 Order Billy the Kid: El Bandido Simpatico NOW!!! – https://a.co/d/bpg9ocJ   Check out the website! https://www.wildwestextra.com/  

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

Did Pat Garrett receive the $500 bounty on Billy the Kid’s head? For years, rumors have spread that Garrett was denied payment because he failed to prove the Kid’s death. But how true are these claims? 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 bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/wildwestextra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 N