I would think most of you are familiar with the National Festival of the West, and the fact that it didn’t take place this ye
ar.
I spoke to Mary Brown…the founder of the event. She said the event will be back on line in 2013. It will take place from March 21 to 24 at Westworld in Scottsdale.
If you are interested in keeping up with things as they move along visit their web site: www.festivalofthewest.com.
We’re always sorry when we loose an Old West venue, but happy when it comes back.
One of the aspects of the Old West that has always intrigued me was the vigilantes. I can understand the frustration with how many times crime was running rampant, with towns popping up ahead of the town’s infrastructure…which included the law.
And even in more developed towns, the law was handicapped because of the number of lawmen, the territory they had to cover, the technology and even that sometimes the lawmen were also the outlaws.
Probably the most amazing aspect of the vigilantes is that they were usually known by everyone…sometimes pictures were taken…yet I’m not aware of any vigilante being tried for his actions.
Why am I talking about this at this time? This is the birthday of one of the Old West’s most famous vigilantes, John X. Beidler or just “X” as he was known by everyone.
He was a leader of the Montana vigilantes. Unlike most vigilantes, who tried to remain unknown, X relished the notoriety. He was the principal hangman for at least five of the vigilante’s victims, and he survived several narrow escapes in his relentless pursuit of dangerous men.
After Montana was rid of “The Innocents”…the name of the outlaw gang…the vigilantes disbanded.
As an old man X fell on hard times and lived off the charity of people who remembered his service as a vigilante.
When he died in Helena, Montana, in 1890, his death certificate listed his occupation as “Public Benefactor.”
This coming Monday we’ll be celebrating the birthday of Phoebe Ann Moses…If you don’t know who she is by the picture, it’s “Little Sure Shot,” Annie Oakley.
From the time she shot a squirrel for the family’s stew pot at the age of eight, she knew she had a special talent.
We all know about her talent, but what most people don’t know about is the love she and her husband had for each other, Frank Butler.
Frank Butler was also a sharpshooter with his own traveling show. On Thanksgiving in 1876 they had a match, and Phoebe Ann beat Frank.
By June of the next year they were married in Oakley, Ohio. Phoebe Ann changed her name to “Annie Oakley”, and, as they say, the rest is history.
Even though over the years, Annie Oakley’s popularity far outdistanced her husband’s, Frank’s love for Annie grew even more. And they were always together.
After injuries from a train accident and later an auto accident she retired, and Annie and Frank moved to Greenville, Ohio.
Annie Oakley died in 1926 at the age of 66. Frank Butler was so devastated that he stopped eating and died 18 days later.
For anyone who’s a fan of John Wayne…Actually, I don’t know anyone who isn’t…Michael F. Blake turned me on to a great piece done by Roger Ebert.
One thing about John Wayne, you knew where he stood. And that was 100% behind the United States.
To read the piece go to:
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2012/05/john_wayne_shall_we_gather_at_.html
We’ve been away for a little over a week on our first Following the Legends cruise to Alaska.
What a ball! There were twenty of us. Sunny and I were able to meet some great people…A few of whom will continue as close friends.
The food was unbelievable, and the scenery was awesome. Everyone saw whales.
We learned about the Old West, went on excursions and ate, ate, ate.
We’re planning another cruise in August of 2013. I’ll be passing on information as things come together.
