Somewhere along his wild and wooly way Roy Bean had developed a schoolboy crush on the beautiful English actress Lillie Langtry. He went so far as...
The Nation’s Worst Single Lynching
You might guess that the worst single lynching in U.S. history took place in the Deep South and that the victims were black. But the remarkable...
The Suspect Savannah Strike
In March 2, 1867, a group of six riders came into the quiet town of Savannah, Missouri, about 15 miles north of St. Joseph. They tied up their...
Man of War and Peace
A century and a half ago, Civil War hero General Ulysses S. Grant was fated to become the Republican nominee for president of the United States....
Gold Rush Fugitive
This is a powerful, American melodrama with strong, fearless characters willing to endure anything to realize their dream of striking it rich in...
A Final Drink of Water
Isaiah Dorman was the only black man killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Dorman was an interpreter based on his years living with the...
What Were Frontier Dentists Able to Do Medically Besides Pull Teeth and Make Primitive Dentures?
What were frontier dentists able to do medically besides pull teeth and make primitive dentures? Frank Fantozzi San Jose, California “Agonizing...
The Dreaded Buscadero Sinks Costner’s Wyatt Earp
If one thing will ding a contender for the title of a historically accurate Western, it’s the dreaded buscadero. Purists hate the low slung holster...
No Cane for Bat Masterson
The old TV show said “he wore a cane and derby hat.” There’s plenty of photos of Bat Masterson wearing derbies—but none of him carrying a cane....
A Deadly Card Game
Long Haired Sam Brown led a gang in California’s Calaveras County in the 1850s. He was dealing cards in 1855 when a Chilean miner grabbed someone...
Blood on the Earth
Two months separated the 1868 clashes between the U.S. military and the Indians at Beecher Island and the Washita River. One is known for heroism on...
Not a Chip Off the Old Block
Ed Scarborough isn’t as well-known as his lawman father George, who killed John Selman. But Ed made his own mark. He originally served as posse...