Lewis and Clark on the Columbia
May 30, 2023
After 3714 miles they reached the Columbia River. The faced miles of dangerous rapids and had to portage around some while riding through others in their dugout canoes. They met different tribes that were harvesting salmon that could be processed and preserved for several years. They still had challenges to reach the Pacific.
Wetxuiis
May 23, 2023
Wetxuiis lived among the whites, so when Lewis and Clark stumbled upon some Nez Perce, she convinced Chief Twisted Hair that they were good people and should not be killed. The near starved and exhausted expedition was fed camas and meat by the Nez Perce and were able to continue their journey. The journey may have ended there were it not for the intervention of Wetxuiis.
Ezra Meeker
May 16, 2023
Ezra and wife Eliza were part of the 1852 emigration to Oregon Territory. In 1906, 76 year old Ezra retraced his Oregon Trail journey with oxen and a covered wagon. He placed historical markers on his route. In 1910 he did it again, both times took 2 1/2 years. A self appointed spokesman for the thousands who traveled the Oregon Trail, he wanted to keep the history alive.
The Art of Hanging
May 9, 2023
They tried to be humane in legal hangings. The rope had to be 1 and 1/2 inches thick, soaked, dried, and softened. There was a formula with the weight of the victim to show how far he was to be dropped. The “hangman's knot" would only slip one way and could not be loosened. Mistakes were made. Blackjack Ketchum’s head came off.
Mail Order Brides
May 2, 2023
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.
A Strange Bullfight
April 25, 2023
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.
Egypt, Jordon and Israel - Part Two
April 18, 2023
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.
Egypt, Jordon and Israel - Part One
April 11, 2023
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.
Chief Young Man Afraid
April 4, 2023
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.
Death of Wild Bill Hickok
March 28, 2023
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.