WILD WEST

AMERICAN COWBOY 1888

Hollywood had a field day and made thousands of films about the American frontier. Hard bleak landscape, hard looking guys living by their guns and the inevitable famous shoot-outs. However, that was Hollywood.

In 1783 thirteen colonies of America became independent. Appalachian Mountains symbolized the western frontier. Land up to the Mississippi was given by the government to any citizen or new immigrant, even when it was not theirs to give. In the following century the western frontier was extended to the pacific.

The pioneer Daniel Boone found a pass through the Appalachian and the settlers followed.  They created farms in the woodland, built settlements and towns.  They were established by 1819 on all the land between Appalachian and the Mississippi. They joined the Union as a member state.

HOMESTEADER  1865

HOMESTEAD

GOLD PROSPECTOR

The pioneer Daniel Boone found a pass through the Appalachians and the settlers went through. They were creating farms in the woodlands, built settlements and towns. They were established by 1819 on all the land between the Appalachians and the Mississippi and joined the Union as a member state.

During this time the US purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. This land reached from Mississippi to the Rockies and the country was twice as large. The earlier settlers had to row across the river to reach the land. When the steamboats came onto the river, it became a highway. Texas and California became part of the US when Mexico lost the war.

In 1848 the discovery of gold led to a huge influx of prospectors and settlers in California. The so called 'Forty-Niners' (1849) came from all over the world. Then came the completion of the railways from coast to coast. This resulted in a westward expansion.

The established ranchers had huge herds of cattle on the open range of the Great Plains. In retrospect they could have used these huge herds of buffalo which were there anyway and the ranchers could have lived peacefully with the Indians. Apparently the buffalo has far less fat and is therefore healthier. But that means living peacefully with the neighbours and that would never do. However, history shows that the settlers wouldn't even live peacefully amongst each other.

The herds were driven to rail depots and transported to the slaughter houses in the East. That was the time when the period of the 'Wild West' started and lasted about 20 years. 1890 farmers fenced their land in but the lawlessness lasted well into the 20th century.

The greed of the human being could not be stopped. There was land, gold and cattle in abundance and yet people killed each other for that little bit more. Railroad builders, stagecoach companies, stores, bankers, saloons, bars, prostitutes and most properly the most profitable the undertakers all lived in harsh conditions were disease and violent death were all the time.

Prospectors fought to keep or get more gold, settlers fought to get more land, cowboys fought settlers, settlers fought Indians, gamblers fought gamblers and on top of all they all fought over the few women who dared to venture into the West.

Now and then the settlers stopped fighting and formed a posse to wipe out a gang of criminals who rustled cattle, robbed banks, trains and stagecoaches. When they caught a villain or innocent person they didn't ask two questions but strung him up on the next tree.

The so-called Lawmen, local sheriffs and federal government marshals were criminals themselves. Either they practiced crime in office or they realized that it pays better. Two famous lawmen were Judge Bean who made up the Law as he went along. Wyatt Earp and his brothers became famous with the gunfight in OK Corral. Earp survived. All three were lawmen but most properly robber and murderer. Gunning down men who held evidence against them.

Apparently being quick with your guns wasn't enough. To keep cool and aim straight was much better to stay alive. Wyatt Earp, Assistant Marshal in Dodge City was also known for knocking them senseless with the pistol barrel.

Billi the Kid had a huge reward for to be captures. His real name was William Bonney and he killed a man at the age of 18. He supposed to have killed 21 people by the age of 21. His gang were successful cattle rustlers. The famous lawman Pat Garrett shot Billy dead at the age of 22.

Keeping the law in a notorious cattle town like Abilene, the West's wildest town takes one of the toughest. 'Wild Bill' Hickok was of that. He himself reckoned that he killed 100 men. This reputation kept him in office for eight month. 1876 he was shot, in the back, while playing poker.

John Wesley Hardin was an unattractive villain. He killed 44 men and apparently killed a man in Abilene because he snored too loud. He escaped arrest from Marshal Hickok because he jumped out of the window in his nightshirt. Later on he also was murdered.

The famous Pony Express ran relays of young men before the railroads and transcontinental telegraph came in action. The men rode fast ponies between Missouri and California in 10 days. The posting of the job read, 'Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.'

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