Episodes

  • Peter Pond

    Peter Pond
    Jul 16 2024
    Washington Irving caused a lot of excitement about the Northwest with his book. The North West and Hudson's Bay Companies established the fur trade in Canada. Pond was a celebrity with a violent temper, but a frontier genius who blazed trails across half the continent and set up as a fur trader. He also led an expedition discovering an enormous region full of fur bearing animals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    19 mins
  • Alexander Mackenzie - Part One

    Alexander Mackenzie - Part One
    Jul 9 2024
    In 1789 he set out to reach the Pacific by way of the great "River of the West" but failed. In 1793 he made a second attempt with ten men and a dog in a single canoe. Some of the rivers were impassable, but they portaged around the rapids. They crossed the continental divide, low on rations, they set out on foot to reach the Pacific. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • Uncle Nick

    Uncle Nick
    Jul 2 2024
    His book, "The White Indian Boy," relates his experience of running away to live with Shoshone Chief Washakie. He witnessed a battle between the Shoshone and Crow tribes with many killed. He nearly had his leg amputated by the medicine man. He was a pony express rider, blacksmith, carpenter, rancher, prison guard, prison inmate, trader, trapper and "frontier doctor." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • Millionaire Miners

    Millionaire Miners
    Jun 25 2024
    Sometimes it was luck, others a knowledge of geology and some it was buying the right stock. Eilley Orum, the Queen of the Washoe made millions but died poor. Four Irishmen became the Kings of the Washoe, earning $138 million form two mines and millions more investing in the right stock. All four died wealthy leaving millions to family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Dishonest Miners - Part 2

    Dishonest Miners - Part 2
    Jun 18 2024
    "High grading" was the practice of workers stealing a few pounds of high-grade ore to sell to crooked assayers. Professional gamblers rushed to each new strike to relieve the workers of the hard-earned money. Women were scarce on the mining frontier, but when they showed up, they were treated with extreme respect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    16 mins
  • Dishonest Miners - Part 1

    Dishonest Miners - Part 1
    Jun 11 2024
    There was always a way to cheat potential buyers of a non-productive mine. From dishonest assayers, to salting a mine with gold or silver from another mine, to selling worthless stock. Some owners assessed the stockholders on played out mines that never produced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    24 mins
  • Riverboat Gamblers

    Riverboat Gamblers
    Jun 4 2024
    With more steamers on the rivers, it was the perfect place for professional gamblers. Unwary passengers with rolls of money were the perfect victims for the crooked gamblers. Cheaters were sometimes caught and kicked off by the captain. James Bowie caught a cheater, and with the use of the knife he was famous for, taught the crooks a lesson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • Tribal Gambling - Part Two

    Tribal Gambling - Part Two
    May 28 2024
    The games always involved gambling. How many arrows could be in the air at one time. Throwing a pole through a moving hoop. "Double ball" was played by the women as well as foot races. Husbands and wives could wager all their spouses belongings, sometimes losing it all, which could cause some serious discussions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    24 mins