Dr. History's Tales of the Old West

Latest Episodes:

City of Rocks Robberies Oct 20, 2020

Show notes

The City of Rocks was feared due to Indian attacks and was a favorite place for robbers to hide and bury their loot. Some never returned; is the treasure still there waiting to be discovered?

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States Names Oct 13, 2020

Show notes

Arizona, the Dakotas, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Oregon, California, New Mexico, Idaho, California and Wyoming. How did they get their names? Some were Indian or Spanish names, others from the topography and others were named by Congress.

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Maximilian's Gold Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

Bill Murdock and his gang agreed to guide ten heavily loaded wagons to San Antonio. It was discovered the wagons contained treasure. Murdock was the lone survivor after his gang robbed the wagons and were then killed by Indians. The treasure remains hidden.

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Barkerville B.C. Sep 29, 2020

Show notes

Billy Barker was one of dozens of English sailors who jumped ship in search of gold. At the bottom of a fifty foot hole they struck gold and Barkerville became a boom town. Billy lost his fortune and died a poor man.

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Blue Bucket Mine Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

A lost wagon train in Oregon sparked a gold rush. Three young men picked up some unusual looking pebbles in a creek, they carried them in a blue bucket back to the wagon train. Only later was it discovered to be gold.

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The Sultana Sep 15, 2020

Show notes

The Mississippi River was the scene of many riverboat disasters including the worst maritime disaster in the United States. In 1865, the boilers exploded on the Sultana killing hundreds of recently released Civil War prisoners and passengers.

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Smallpox Sep 08, 2020

Show notes

The scourge of the West, it attacked whole tribes and left few survivors. As trade increased so did the disease, as trappers, immigrants and Indians traded goods that were often infected.

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Mat Nelson - Part 2 Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

After the Figure Four, he became a Deputy U.S. Marshall. He tracked outlaws, horse and cattle thieves, put many behind bars including a notorious "Quail Netter".

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Mat Nelson - Part 1 Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

By age fifteen he could ride and rope with the best and survived his first cattle stampede. While working for the Figure Four he witnessed a deadly gun battle and had some fun with an Eastern greenhorn.

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The Jackass Mail Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

The San Antonio to San Diego mail line was a true test for the passengers who didn't know if they would be in a stage or on a mule. Poor shelter and food and not knowing when or if they would arrive at their destination.

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