Blood and Dust : Wild West True Crime

Billy the Kid Sep 24, 2022

No other historical figure from the 'Old West' has stirred up more controversy and eluded historians and biographers more than William H. Bonney, alias Billy the Kid. This young man, in his short life, has established his place in history and legend. Who was Billy the Kid? How did he become a legend?
"I don’t blame you for writing of me as you have. You had to believe other stories, but then I don’t know if any one would believe anything good of me anyway.”
~ Billy the Kid’s comment to a Las Vegas Gazette reporter (December, 1880)

Part 2 of 2 - Doc Holliday Aug 23, 2022

It's Doc Holliday. There's no introduction needed.

Part 1 of 2 - Doc Holliday Aug 05, 2022

It's Doc Holliday. There's no introduction needed.

Part 3 of 3 - Olive Oatman Jul 27, 2022

Olive Oatman was an American woman celebrated in her time for her captivity and later release by Native Americans in the Mojave Desert region when she was a teenager. While traveling from Illinois to California, her family was attacked by a small group from a Native American tribe. They clubbed many to death, left her brother Lorenzo for dead, and enslaved Olive and her younger sister Mary Ann, holding them captive for one year before they traded them to the Mohave people, where they were well treated. While Lorenzo exhaustively attempted to recruit governmental help in searching for them, Mary Ann died from starvation and Olive spent four years with the Mohave. Five years after the attack, she was repatriated into American society. The story of the Oatman Massacre began to be retold with dramatic license in the press, as well as in her own memoir and speeches. Novels, plays, movies, and poetry were inspired, which resonated in the media of the time and long afterward. She had become an oddity in 1860s America, partly because of the prominent blue tattooing of her face by the Mohave, making her the first known white woman with Native tattoo on record. Much of what actually occurred during her time with the Native Americans remains unknown.

Part 2 of 3 - Olive Oatman Jun 25, 2022

Olive Oatman was an American woman celebrated in her time for her captivity and later release by Native Americans in the Mojave Desert region when she was a teenager. While traveling from Illinois to California, her family was attacked by a small group from a Native American tribe. They clubbed many to death, left her brother Lorenzo for dead, and enslaved Olive and her younger sister Mary Ann, holding them captive for one year before they traded them to the Mohave people, where they were well treated. While Lorenzo exhaustively attempted to recruit governmental help in searching for them, Mary Ann died from starvation and Olive spent four years with the Mohave. Five years after the attack, she was repatriated into American society. The story of the Oatman Massacre began to be retold with dramatic license in the press, as well as in her own memoir and speeches. Novels, plays, movies, and poetry were inspired, which resonated in the media of the time and long afterward. She had become an oddity in 1860s America, partly because of the prominent blue tattooing of her face by the Mohave, making her the first known white woman with Native tattoo on record. Much of what actually occurred during her time with the Native Americans remains unknown.

Part 1 of 3 - Olive Oatman Jun 14, 2022

Olive Oatman was an American woman celebrated in her time for her captivity and later release by Native Americans in the Mojave Desert region when she was a teenager.
While traveling from Illinois to California, her family was attacked by a small group from a Native American tribe. They clubbed many to death, left her brother Lorenzo for dead, and enslaved Olive and her younger sister Mary Ann, holding them captive for one year before they traded them to the Mohave people, where they were well treated. While Lorenzo exhaustively attempted to recruit governmental help in searching for them, Mary Ann died from starvation and Olive spent four years with the Mohave. Five years after the attack, she was repatriated into American society. The story of the Oatman Massacre began to be retold with dramatic license in the press, as well as in her own memoir and speeches. Novels, plays, movies, and poetry were inspired, which resonated in the media of the time and long afterward. She had become an oddity in 1860s America, partly because of the prominent blue tattooing of her face by the Mohave, making her the first known white woman with Native tattoo on record. Much of what actually occurred during her time with the Native Americans remains unknown.

Bill Longley Apr 18, 2022

William Preston Longley (aka "Wild Bill" Longley) was known for his nasty temper, racist viewpoints, and murderous ways. He was rumored to have killed at least 32 people, mostly African Americans. Born on October 6th, 1851 and died by hanging on October 11th, 1878. Listen to Bill’s short lived life and ruthless ways in a post Civil War America.

Interview w/ Haunted Bisbee Mar 28, 2022

Justin and Matt sit down and interview Haunted Bisbee and get to hear all kinds of awesome stories!!!
Joey and Zandra moved to Bisbee in 2020 spontaneously. They only knew that it only took one short visit to fall head over heels in love with the city! That love story continued and the more they loved the place, the more they wanted to share it.
They learned everything they could, and realized they wanted to start a tour of their own, with Zandra’s leadership as the tour’s rocket fuel. The only and best way to do it was to contact the city’s most famous historian, Francine Powers, the original Haunted Bisbee Ghost Tour Guide. Thus, the Haunted Bisbee Historical Tours was resurrected.

Charley Parkhurst Feb 21, 2022

Charley Parkhurst, or also known as “One-eyed Charley” or “Six horse Charley”, was a famous stage coach driver during the gold rush of California and lived a pretty exciting life. Charley retired from stage coach driving once the railroad started cutting into the business. He then retired in California and died 15 years later on December 18, 1879. It was then discovered that Charley was in fact a female and at one time, bore one child. It was also concluded later that in 1868, she may have been the first person of the female sex to vote in a presidential election in California.

Bass Reeves Dec 07, 2021

Born to slave parents in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Bass Reeves would become the first black U.S. Deputy Marshal west of the Mississippi River and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nation’s history. Over the 35 years that Bass Reeves served as a Deputy United States Marshal, he earned his place in history by being one of the most effective lawmen in Indian Territory, bringing in more than 3,000 outlaws and helping to tame the lawless territory. Killing some 14 men during his service, Reeves always said that he “never shot a man when it was not necessary for him to do so in the discharge of his duty to save his own life.”

'The Sundance Kid' Oct 24, 2021

Sundance Kid aka Harry Longabaugh, or Longbaugh, was an American outlaw. He was reputed to be the best shot and fastest gunslinger of the Wild Bunch, a group of robbers and rustlers who ranged through the Rocky Mountains and plateau desert regions of the West in the 1880s and ’90s. In 1909 the two outlaws were cornered by a Bolivian cavalry unit; Sundance was mortally wounded, and Cassidy took his own life. Other stories have Sundance surviving and returning to the United States and dying in obscurity under a new name (Harry Long) somewhere in the West, in the 1930s.

Part 2 of 2 - Butch Cassidy Sep 22, 2021

Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker, was an American outlaw and foremost member of the Wild Bunch, a collection of bank and train robbers who ranged through the western United States in the 1880s and ’90s. By 1900, sheriff posses and Pinkerton detectives were capturing or closing in on members of the Wild Bunch. Cassidy escaped, first to New York City and then to South America in 1901. From 1902 to 1906 he owned and ran a ranch in Argentina, but thereafter they returned to outlawry. Drifting from country to country, he robbed banks, trains, and mine stations until 1909, when, according to Pinkerton agents, he was trapped by a group of mounted soldiers in Bolivia, where he supposedly shot himself. Another story puts their death in Mercedes, Uruguay, in December 1911, cut down by soldiers during a bank robbery. Still other stories have Cassidy returning to the United States, drifting about from Mexico to Alaska, and dying in obscurity in 1937 in the Northwest or in Nevada (possibly Spokane, Washington, or Johnny, Nevada).

Part 1 of 2 - Butch Cassidy Sep 15, 2021

Butch Cassidy, born Robert LeRoy Parker, was an American outlaw and foremost member of the Wild Bunch, a collection of bank and train robbers who ranged through the western United States in the 1880s and ’90s. By 1900, sheriff posses and Pinkerton detectives were capturing or closing in on members of the Wild Bunch. Cassidy escaped first to New York City and then to South America in 1901. From 1902 to 1906 he owned and ran a ranch in Argentina, but thereafter they returned to outlawry. Drifting from country to country, he robbed banks, trains, and mine stations until 1909, when, according to Pinkerton agents, he was trapped by a group of mounted soldiers in Bolivia, where he supposedly shot himself. Another story puts their death in Mercedes, Uruguay, in December 1911, cut down by soldiers during a bank robbery. Still other stories have Cassidy returning to the United States, drifting about from Mexico to Alaska, and dying in obscurity in 1937 in the Northwest or in Nevada (possibly Spokane, Washington, or Johnny, Nevada).

The Real Billy the Kid AKA Brushy Bill Roberts - Interview w/ Author Brett L. Hall Jan 20, 2021

History reports that Billy the Kid was killed in 1881. In 1950, a mysterious man known as Brushy Bill Roberts, confessed that he was the real Billy the Kid and petitioned the governor of New Mexico for a pardon for crimes committed under that name. This episode is with the author named Brett L. Hall, who wrote a research documentary book of William "Brushy Bill" Roberts' claim. It documents Roberts' story and investigates it word for word. This book is the story of Brushy Bill Roberts, and you're going to interested in what he has to say.
You can pick up his book anywhere! https://www.amazon.ae/Real-Billy-Brushy-Bill-Roberts/dp/1257177133

Part 2 of 2 - "Bloody Bill" Anderson Sep 21, 2019

William T. “Bloody Bill” Anderson was a notorious Confederate guerrilla leader. Anderson’s nickname was “Bloody Bill” because he murdered and butchered Union soldiers and sympathizers during the Civil War and often carried around their body parts and scalps as trophies. He is considered one of the vilest figures on either side of the war.

Part 1 of 2 - "Bloody Bill" Anderson Jun 11, 2019

William T. “Bloody Bill” Anderson was a notorious Confederate guerrilla leader. Anderson’s nickname was “Bloody Bill” because he murdered and butchered Union soldiers and sympathizers during the Civil War and often carried around their body parts and scalps as trophies. He is considered one of the vilest figures on either side of the war.

Part 2 of 2 - Calamity Jane Apr 07, 2019

One of the biggest myths of the American Old West is that of Calamity Jane. She looked and acted like a man, shot like a cowboy, drank like a fish, and exaggerated the tales of her life to any and all who would listen. Even though Jane was a real person, very few details of her life can be nailed down with certainty. Much of what is known about her early life comes from an autobiography she wrote to be sold at Old West museums as an added attraction to them, and Jane was well known for embellishing tales about her life and adventures. Here is what is known and probably true about the life of the woman known as Calamity Jane.

Part 1 of 2 - Calamity Jane Mar 21, 2019

One of the biggest myths of the American Old West is that of Calamity Jane. She looked and acted like a man, shot like a cowboy, drank like a fish, and exaggerated the tales of her life to any and all who would listen. Even though Jane was a real person, very few details of her life can be nailed down with certainty. Much of what is known about her early life comes from an autobiography she wrote to be sold at Old West museums as an added attraction to them, and Jane was well known for embellishing tales about her life and adventures. Here is what is known and probably true about the life of the woman known as Calamity Jane.

Part 2 of 2 - John Wesley Hardin Feb 23, 2019

He was infamous as one of the most deadly killers in the Old West. As the son of a Methodist preacher, with a quick temper he became prone to violence at a young age, which would get him into trouble time and again. He is believed to have killed a total of 44 men over the course of his lifetime, all of them before he reached the age of 23.

Part 1 of 2 - John Wesley Hardin Feb 16, 2019

He was infamous as one of the most deadly killers in the Old West. As the son of a Methodist preacher, with a quick temper he became prone to violence at a young age, which would get him into trouble time and again. He is believed to have killed a total of 44 men over the course of his lifetime, all of them before he reached the age of 23.

Introducing the Podcast and Hosts Jan 28, 2019

In this short introduction the hosts introduce themselves and discuss some of their wild west favorites and what type on stuff you can expect from the podcast.

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