Dr. History's Tales Of The Old West

Both were successful Missouri Riverboat Captains, fighting Indians, ever-changing river conditions. The river was different going upstream compared with downstream. Marsh captained the Far West to the Little Bighorn river to rescue survivors of the Custer Battle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1819 the Independence was the first of hundreds of steamers on the Missouri River. Three hundred steamers were destroyed by snags, fire, crushed by ice, violent winds or boiler explosions. The Saluda was the worst disaster on the Missouri, the boiler exploded killing 200 crew and passengers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Young Baylis Fletcher hired on to drive cattle from Texas to Wyoming. He faced a stampede, quicksand in the Red River, hail storms, Indians and endless miles of brown grass prairies. The boy Fletcher passed the test, he became a cowboy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh the good ole days when I rode the range with my trusty Mattel “Peacemaker” six shooter. Cap guns first appeared in the 1860's. Movies and TV from the forties through the sixties was the age of cap guns. We all wanted to be like Roy Rogers, Annie Oakley, Gene Autry. The Lone Ranger, Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy were our heroes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He started by stealing geese, but quickly moved on to house breaking, robbing saloons and stores, ending up in prison. He added murder to his list while escaping prison. He continued a life of crime until caught by a posse while hiding in a wheat field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kidnapped by the Shawnee with her two sons. She escaped, traveled 500 to 600 miles, crossed 145 creeks and rivers, nearly froze, survived living on black walnuts, wild grapes, sassafras leaves, blackberries, even dead animals. After traveling 42 days she was reunited with her husband. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite the wind, droughts, flash floods, blizzards or fires the people found time for fun. Dances, sleigh rides, lectures, horse and foot races, but baseball was the favorite. Independence Day was a favorite, lots of food, fun and patriotic programs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early towns were in need of skilled cabinet makers, tailors, saddlers, shoemakers, doctors and teachers. They didn’t always get the best, but the good ones helped build the towns and the old west. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gold may have been discovered in Idaho as early as 1853. Legend is a Nez Perce Indian woman led white men to the first discovery of gold that became the Oro Fino mines in North Idaho. More lesser known mines were found throughout Idaho. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Judges could be threatened, intimidated, even killed. Court could be held in a saloon, pool halls or a tent. Some had limited knowledge of law and could be bribed or pocket fines. There were probably more honest judges than dishonest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vigilantes took care of lawbreakers until town Marshalls and county Sheriffs were hired. Desperate towns would even hire bad men. Duties could include health and fire inspector, bill collector, tax collector, street cleaner, even shooting unlicensed dogs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A favorite pastime, poker, dice, keno, faro, roulette, chuck-a-luck, dog and cock fights, horse racing and boxing. There were as many ways to gamble as there were to cheat and take a man's hard earned money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He cut off his own leg after being shot, carved his own wooden leg and established Fort Smith. He sold goods to travelers, was a rugged, whiskey-drinking, storytelling, horse thieving rascal, but a famous man who helped establish the west. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former trappers became scouts for the explorers, missionaries, surveyors, the army and wagon trains. Many were pathfinders who opened up the West, men like Jim Beckworth, Jim Baker, Jim Bridger, Tom Tobin and Kit Carson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Francis Scott Key witnessed the British bomb Fort McHenry. Despite direct hits, the huge torn and battered American flag survived, inspiring him to pen our National Anthem. Captain William Driver was the first to proclaim our flag as “Old Glory." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry and Eliza opened the Lapwai Mission among the Nez Perce. They were welcomed, opened a school and provided medical treatment. Henry clashed with the Shamans, the Mountain men and the Nez Perce men as he tried to force them to work. They eventually moved to Oregon City, Oregon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Whitmans and Spaldings wanted to convert the Indians. The influx of settlers and infectious diseases caused large numbers of Indians, especially children to die. Indians blamed the Whitmans resulting in the ambush and death of settlers including the Whitmans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A veteran trapper guide was a great help. He knew where there was grass, water, wood, where to cross rivers and avoid hostiles. Fort Hall on the East was considered the most important post on the Snake River. Fort Boise on the West provided safety, grass, water and wood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Spauldings and Whitmans showed that a wheeled wagon could cross the country. Crossing the Snake River Plain was dry, dusty, with little food, grass was scarce, sharp rocks slashed the feet of the animals. Indians were friendly at first until they saw the destruction of the thousands of travelers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a blinding blizzard Ashton Teeples stumbled onto a lake. In three days he panned $225,000 in gold nuggets. He survived attacks by two different outlaw bands, shot six times, rescued by Mexican sheepherders, his life was saved. He enjoyed his fortune, but the golden lake was never found again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices