C.S. Fly’s brief career as a lawman makes a sorry tale. In 1894, C.S. “Buck” Fly decided to take on a new challenge. The famed Tombstone...
Shooting Photographs and Bullets
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Investigating History
From Disgrace to Doctor
George Goodfellow was kicked out of one career before becoming an international success in another. Of all the characters who graced the streets of...
The Winner
Joseph Glidden’s invention won the West. In the fall of 1873, Joseph Glidden did what many farmers did and do: he went to the county fair. In this...
Like Father, Like Son
Gunman-gambler Phil Coe followed in his dad’s footsteps—even unto death. phil Coe was a dangerous man, a gambler and saloon owner who was...
Raising Them Right
Dellie Blachly overcame tragedy to bring higher education to her sons. Dellie Blachly was a shrewd, driven and courageous woman—in her time...
America’s Sherlock Holmes
William J. Burns proved a worth competitor to the Pinkertons...for a time. For a few years in the early 20th century, the William J. Burns...
Ambush!
The courage of a lawman led to his untimely death. Texas Ranger Captain Frank Jones had guts—nobody questioned that. He had fought outlaws...
A Grave Concern
About that pipe that marks the last resting place of the Daltons… Visitors to the Elmwood Cemetery in Coffeyville, Kansas, are generally looking for...
A Plague Upon Your House!
A 1900 epidemic foreshadowed modern issues. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. An epidemic rears its ugly head. Federal and state officials...
The Lone Star Myth of John Ringo
His time in Texas was not what it’s been cracked up to be. In August 19, 1875, a rider—or maybe riders—approached the Bader ranch in Mason County,...
Earp Versus Breakenridge
The feud continued long after the two had left Tombstone. Wyatt Earp. William “Billy” Breakenridge. They were certainly on opposite sides during the...
The Donner Business
Where did the wagon train party fall short? Back when I was in high school, a group of us loved to go winter camping out in the middle of nowhere....