Dr. History's Tales of the Old West

Latest Episodes:

Mail Order Brides May 02, 2023

Show notes

Too many single men in the West and too many single Women in the East. The answer was personal ads in newspapers. It was a leap of faith. Most wrote letters for one or two years, but usually married within one or two days of meeting. Most were successful.

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A Strange Bullfight Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

Joe Wolf was a promoter and con man. He advertised a great Spanish bullfight complete with the world’s greatest bullfighter, Cavlos Garcia, a lady bullfighter, Cazadoro fighting bulls and a sharp shooter. At showtime, there was no lady bullfighter, only Texas longhorns, an unknown bullfighter who had to chase the steer who refused to fight. Wolf was arrested, eventually left town without paying his debts.

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Egypt, Jordon and Israel - Part Two Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

The Qumran Caves contained the Dead Sea Scrolls. Masada’s defenders committed suicide rather than be taken Roman prisoners. A beautiful valley where David killed Goliath. And Jerusalem where Jesus walked, the synagogues where He taught, His tomb after the crucifixion, Gethsemane, Golgotha, the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount. So many experiences and not enough time.

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Egypt, Jordon and Israel - Part One Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

The trip of a lifetime, Cairo and the pyramids, the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, King Tut’s mummy, the temples of Ramses the II, the Nile River, the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee and of course Jerusalem and the many sites mentioned in the Bible.

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Chief Young Man Afraid Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

As successor to his father, he had more influence and authority than any living Sioux Chief. In 1895, the most powerful leaders were Crazy Horse, Red Cloud and Young Man Afraid. On several occasions he prevented conflicts between the military and his people. He was a great leader and a friend to the white authorities.

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Death of Wild Bill Hickok Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

He arrived in Deadwood as a prospector, but soon turned to gambling. At the No.10 Saloon, he didn’t take his usual stool at the card table. Jack McCall had lost big to Wild Bill the night before. Without warning, he pulled a six shooter and shot Wild Bill in the back of the head and was eventually hung.

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Doctor Finfrock Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

He began his practice at Fort Halleck as post surgeon, Dakota Territory. He cared for soldiers, emigrants, scouts, freighters and locals. He developed an amputation method called “disarticulation,” amputating the limb at the joint. A strong advocate for clean water and a central sewer system in Laramie and one of the founders of the Laramie Presbyterian Church.

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Good Samaritans of the Plains Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

The Potawatomi’ left their reservation to hunt buffalo to prepare for a hard winter. After a successful hunt they camped near a small new community of freed slaves who were destitute, no food or shelter. They fed the people, helped build shelters, then split all their food and buffalo robes with them. They would not have survived without the kindness of the Potawatomi Prairie Band.

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James Beckwourth Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Born into slavery, once free he headed west. He joined the Rocky Mountain Fur Company along with Hugh Glass and Jim Bridger. He married a Crow woman and lived with the Crow band for several years. He was in California for the gold rush, blazed trails across the Rockies and Sierra Nevada’s. He achieved as much or more than his white counterparts and is now being recognized for his accomplishments.

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Mohave Runners Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

Young Mohave boys were encouraged to race each other to prepare to be a runner. The runners enabled small bands to communicate and trade with each other. They could run 100 miles in 3 hours, 200 miles in 24 hours, even out run a horse over a long distance and go four days without food.

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