LOUIS L’AMOUR CONTEST
I sure hope everyone is checking out the Louis L’Amour Trivia Contest. Each month we have a trivia question about Louis L’Amour and his writing.
We have a monthly winner with a prize of Louis L’Amour logo merchandise. Then, at the end of the year all of the monthly winners are entered in a drawing for a complete collection of Louis L’Amour’s 120 books valued at $625.
Last month’s winner was Kay Lettner of Port Richey, Florida.
To enter just click on the Louis L’Amour plank above. As they say, “If you don’t enter, you can’t win.
ARIZONA RANGERS
Each Sunday morning we send to subscribers a story about something that happened during the current week in the Old West.
This past Sunday’s story was about the Arizona Rangers. We had several people remark about watching an early TV series about the Arizona Rangers called “26 Men.” Unfortunately, we didn’t have a TV at that time.
Anyone can subscribe to “This Week In The Old West.” And it’s free. To get your weekly story just go to: http://chronicleoftheoldwest.com/this_week_in_the_old_west-signup-new.shtml
HORSELESS CARRIAGE
Lorelei’s comment about missing the “horseless” carriage, and how pioneers couldn’t carry all their household goods when they left the East was interesting.
Did you know that, although the dimensions were different, the square feet of the bed of a covered wagon is about the same as the square feet of today’s California king bed?
Can you imagine putting everything you own and the food you’ll need for the next few months on a California king bed?
Another interesting piece of trivia: When the wagons left St. Joseph, Missouri they were inevitably overloaded. Within a few miles down the road the pioneers would start throwing things out. Scavengers would follow each wagon train; pick up the discards; take the back to St. Joseph; and sell them to the next wagon train.
PIONEER MEDICAL CURES
Mark from Florida says the thing he would miss most as a pioneer is proper medical care.
Some of the pi
oneer’s “cures” were a bit crazy. When someone was bitten by a snake, a poultice of warm manure was applied on the bite area. Coal oil cured dandruff. And for measles, there was nothing better than a well-cooked mouse.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A SETTLER?
I just got my computer back from the shop…A virus hijacked it. In addition to that the screen on my iphone turned black. I’m waiting for a replacement. To add to all this, it snowed last night and my Direct TV dish i
s covered in snow, blocking the signal.
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like on the Kansas frontier spending weeks and even months with no contact with the outside world? And when it was time to go into town to get supplies it was usually the man. The woman had to say home and take care of the animals.
If you were transported back to the Old West as a pioneer, what do you think you would miss the most?
GROUNDHOG DAY
Today, February 2, is Groundhog Day. It’s the day Punxatawney Phil supposedly comes out to see if he can see his shadow. This i
s a ritual that has taken place here in the States since 1887. It seems to be strictly an eastern thing. But because our western pioneers were so attached to the earth with farming and cattle raising, I’ve often wondered if people on the frontier used a groundhog to tell the weather.
Incidentally, since 1887 Phil has seen his shadow 99 times, not seen it 16 times, and there are 9 years with no record. How well has he done? Phil has forecasted the weather correctly only 39 percent of the time.
Sorry Phil, I’ll stick with my weatherman. He does a slightly better job.
COWBOY FAST DRAW
The Outdoor Channel’s Shooting USA program is scheduled to broadcast The Fastest Gun Alive T
ournament – The World Championship of Cowboy Fast Draw, which is held in Fallon, NV in early October each year.
The sport of Cowboy Fast Draw is run by the Cowboy Fast Draw Association, based in Fernley, NV. Its unique format using special wax bullet ammunition allows CFDA events to be held at almost any location and the organization has over 50 affiliated chapters across the USA and several other countries.
Shooting USA can be seen on the Outdoor Channel three times on February 8th at noon, 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Central Time.
To get more information about the organization go to: http://www.cowboyfastdraw.com/
BEN TRAYWICK
Came down to Tombst
one yesterday and will be leaving mid-morning today. In reference to an earlier entry, so far I’ve been able to dodge all the bullets. I’m confident I’ll survive.
We spend yesterday afternoon and had dinner with our good friends Ben and Mary Traywick. Ben is Tombstone’s historian emeritus. Mary cooked us an unbelievable Mexican dinner. She’s written a book about her cooking called Fiery Foods of Tombstone.
Speaking of writing books, Ben has written 37 books with 25 of those about Tombstone. He’s also written over 1200 magazine and newspaper articles.
The interesting thing about his writing is he doesn’t know how to type and doesn’t have a computer. He writes everything out long hand and Mary types it up…Incidentally; he’s finishing two more books. This 85 year old is talking about writing a half dozen more books.
Incidentally, if you would like to check out some of his books go to: http://chronicleoftheoldwest.com/merchandise.shtml
WESTERN MUSIC EVENT
Yesterday we attended a western music concert put on by the Arizona Chapter of the Western M
usic Association. It was held at Old Tucson Studios in Tucson, AZ.
Old Tucson is where a number of John Wayne movies were filmed as well as the TV High Chaparral.
We listened to some great performances, including our good friends Jim and Jeanne Martin who are shown performing here.
Incidentally this is the first picture I’ve taken with my new iPhone.
HIGH NOON AMERICANA SHOW
Went to the High Noon Western Americana Show in Phoenix. The highlight was renewing old acquaintances.
Exhibitors at the show have virtually anything a person could want from antique guns to trade blankets.
They always have an auction on Saturday evening. The highlight of this year’s show was Pancho Villa’s silver threaded saddle…Which, incidentally, was his last saddle.
The saddle was scheduled to bring a price between $150,000 and $250,000.
We had been asked over to friends for dinner. So, we were unable to attend. But, if it was like other recent Western Memorabilia auctions, it made or surpassed this price.
LEBANON RODEO
This week’s Chronicle of the Old West Weekly Radio Show features an interesting conversation with Joh
nny Hotshot.
What makes the conversation interesting? Johnny puts on cowboy events in Lebanon…Not Lebanon, Ohio or Missouri, but the country of Lebanon in the Middle East.
To see pictures and get more information go to: http://www.elrancholebanon.com/category.jhtm?cid=39
Incidentally, if you’re not getting the Chronicle of the Old West Weekly Radio Show in your area, give us information on your local talk or country music station and we’ll see if we can change that sad situation.
WILD TOMBSTONE, ARIZONA TERRITORY
On this date back in 1882 the Tucson Daily Star reprinted an article from a New York newspaper about wild Tombstone, Arizona Territory. It said:
“Few people there die in their beds. A man with good luck and extraordinary vitality may manage to keep out of the tomb long enough to become a citizen, but such instances are rare. Not long since Deputy United States Marshal Earp was found with nineteen bullets in his body and he is alive yet. He seems to be the right sort of man for the place.”
And to think, we’re packing up to go to Tombstone
. I sure hope the same thing that happened to Deputy United States Marshal Virgil Earp doesn’t happen to me…Incidentally, those nineteen bullets were buckshot.
GREAT COWBOY EVENT
There’s a great cowboy music and poetry event coming up February 3 – 5. It’s the Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gat
hering in Sierra Vista, located in southeastern Arizona.
This year they’re celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of Arizona’s statehood with an outstanding lineup.
One of the headline performers is Bill Barwick, Western Music Associations Male Performer of the Year.
Bill is also joining us on our Following the Legends Cruise to Alaska July 28 to August 4.
The link to the Cochise Cowboy event is: http://www.cowboypoets.com/Site/Home.html.
The link to the Following the Legends Cruise is: http://chronicleoftheoldwest.com/2012-cruise.shtml
WHY DID BAT MASTERSON HAVE A CANE?
Have you ever wondered why Bat Masterson always carried a cane? It sure wasn’t because he thought it was classy. It was because he needed it.
Back in 1876 Bat Masterson and a Sergeant King were both sparking a Molly Brennan. Because Sergeant King felt Bat was getting the best of the deal, on this day King came after Bat and the two of them engaged in a shootout.
Molly jumped in front of Bat to shield him and was killed. Bat killed Sergeant King. However, in the process Bat was wounded in the upper thigh. And for the rest of his life he had a limp requiring the use of a cane.
There are those who say he was called “Bat” because he “batted” people over the head with his cane.
GOLD DISCOVERED AT SAWMILL
It was on this date back in 1848 when James Marshall discovered gold at a sawmill he was constructing to provide lumber for building John Sutter’s town he called New Switzerland.
Although Sutter owned thousands of acres in the area, the mill was located on public land. And at the time of the discovery California was in the process of changing from a possession of Mexico to the United States. So, he had no way to get legal ownership of the land around the mill.
Neither Sutter nor Marshall were excited about the discovery of gold and tried to keep it a secrete. Obviously the word got out.
It’s interesting that although Sutter and Marshall discovered the gold, they never profited from it and died broke.
The picture is of James Marshall at the saw mill.
CAN YOUR FAVORITE COWBOY ACTOR RIDE A HORSE?
I saw a western
movie over the weekend. As someone who’s put in many a mile horseback, I think it’s funny watching some of those “reel” cowboys ride a horse. It’s not so bad that someone who’s never ridden wouldn’t pick up on it. But someone with any level of skill can recognize a novice from an expert.
And speaking of horseback riding, we have a new affiliate. It’s master horseman, Jim Milton. Jim has a package that will improve any person’s riding skills. Even if you don’t have a horse, and only get on one once in a long while, this package can make you look better, and have more fun when you do ride. It will also help you recognize those movie actors who can and can’t ride. I’m getting one for myself and Sunny. Here’s their link: http://www.horse-ridinglessons.com/?hop=cboytocboy
THIS WEEK IN THE OLD WEST
How would you like to start each week off with an interesting story about the Old West? We have a “This Week In The Old West” feature where each Sunday morning you will receive a story via email about something that happened in the current week back in the Old West. And it’s FREE! Here’s just a part of this week’s story:
Today’s story is about a man who was a dentist. But he gave up his career to go out west and gain fame in a completely different profession. Do you think you know the person I’m talking about? You may be surprised.
Pearl Grey was born on January 31, 1872. He was a talented baseball player, and played for the University of Pennsylvania while getting a degree in dentistry. Pearl was scheduled to follow in his father’s footsteps as a dentist. Looking for some excitement, he played some semi-pro baseball. But that didn’t satisfy his need.
Incidentally, Pearl never liked his first name, which was thought by everyone to be a woman’s name. So he decided to change it to his mother’s maiden name, Zane.
Then we tell some of the accomplishments of Zane Grey. You can sign up by going to this link: http://chronicleoftheoldwest.com/this_week_in_the_old_west-signup-new.shtml
CONTINUING THE VAQUERO TRADITION
Our good friend Lee Anderson 
has just made the final arrangements on a contract with Moonlight Mesa Publications to publish his book Developing the Art of Equine Communication.
About four years ago Lee picked up an injured horse from the racetrack. Because of Lee’s training skills, this horse he named Concho has become more famous than Lee. They both perform throughout the Southwest in the traditional Vaquero style.
To see a sample of Lee and Concho’s skills go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd6qBns676c&feature=plcp&context=C3123dceUDOEgsToPDskLuNl8FoayqrVoBeer-cta4
28TH ANNUAL COWBOY GATHERING
The grandfather of all cowboy gathering events will be held at Elko, Nevada from January 30 to February 
4.
For the last 27 years cowboys, ranchers, rural and urban people have traveled to this small high desert community.
This year’s event will focus on the southwestern United States. To get more information visit www.westernfolklife.org.
Incidentally, one may ask why would they have this event during January in Nevada. This is because when they started the event this was the only time of the year when the weather was so bad that the cowboys could get time off to attend the event.
LITTLE BIG HORN
Saw the Custer special last night on PBS. What always intrigues me about the Little Big Horn is that the East got the news on July 6, 1876, just a couple of days after celebrating the 100th birthday of the United States. Until then the average citizen thought the Indian wars were a thing of the past.
Can you imagine the highs and the lows they experienced in a couple of days?
And speaking of highs and lows, with the defeat of Custer, Crazy Horse must have felt he could take on the whole world and be victorious. However with the American people demanding revenge, General Nelson Miles was sent on a winter campaign after Crazy Horse. And in May of 1877, less than a year after the Little Big Horn, Crazy Horse along with his rag-tag group of 217 men and 672 women surrendered.
GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER
Of all the Old West characters Wyatt Earp is probably the most controversial. There are those who think he was the Old West’s greatest lawman, and others who say he was a con man.
Not far behind him is George Armstrong Custer. There are those who feel he was a great military tactician, and others who believe he was a publicity hound.
Tonight the PBS history series AMERICAN EXPERIENCE will be airing a two hour special on Custer as a part of their month-long “Wild West” collection. You can catch it at 8/7 C on PBS
BILLY THE KID PHOTO
Last week I commented on the Billy the Kid PBS special and how the famous picture of Billy the Kid kept appearing on the screen over and over.
That’s because there are only two authentic photographs of Billy the Kid presently in existence. The most famous one is a two-by-three-inch ferrotype or tintype, taken by an unknown itinerant photographer outside Beaver Smith’s Saloon in Old Fort Sumner, around 1880…Because it portrays Billy as a very unattractive person, many have called it his visa picture.
Originally people didn’t realize that since it was a tintype, the image was actually reversed. So, everyone though Billy the Kid was left handed. This misconception even inspired the 1958 movie “The Left Handed Gun,” starring Paul Newman as Billy.
Finally firearms experts looked at the Kid’s Winchester and noticed its spring plate, where the cartridges are loaded, was on the left side. But Winchester produced firearms with spring plates only on the right side. So, later books and publications have the reversed image reversed, so it’s correct.
Recently this picture went on the auction block and a retired Wichita industrialist who collects everything from Wild West memorabilia to Picassos bought it for $2 million…Incidentally, it was thought it would go for about $300,000.
BILL BARWICK
We’re in Denver for the weekend attending the WESA apparel show…Looking for new lines for our Dog Jake on-line western store.
Saturday night Bill Barwick, the cowboy singer who’s going to be entertaining us on our Following the Legends Cruise to Alaska, was performing at the Buckhorn Saloon. We were able to run over there and listen to a couple of sets. He sure is a great singer and entertainer.
To hear Bill go to http://www.billbarwick.com/sgs.php
BILLY THE KID TV SHOW
Saw the Billy the Kid TV show. If you didn’t you missed a great biography. That Billy the Kid was sure a unique individual.
Two things struck me about the show. First, most of the talking heads are friends. And let me tell you, they picked the cream of the crop.
The second thing was that it was obvious and sad that there is only one picture of Billy the Kid.
That picture has an interesting history. Right now I’m on my way to Denver, CO. When I get home, I’ll tell you a bit about the history.
