The Sweet Smell of Sagebrush

Part 2 of the Tragedy at Red Bank. Governor Richards does his own investgative work on the mysterious deaths of his daughter and her husband and tries to convince the coroner's jury to change their minds.

William Alford Richards had led a charmed life.  He surveyed the southern and western boundaries of Wyoming in 1873 and 1874, brought irrigation to the Big Horn Basinin 1884, started the Red Bank Ranch 26 miles south of Ten Sleep, Wyoming, in 1886, became Governor of Wyoming in 1896, pardoned Butch Cassidy, and was appointed head of the General Land Office in Washington, D.C by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1903.  A highly successful life, but then one tragic event after another would haunt his remaining years.

The night my wife passed away, God spoke to me.  This is my testimonial of how He tought me acceptance.

A little different episode about a deeply personal event in my life.  One that taught me a very important lesson.  I hope there is someone that this will help.

Part 2 of Asa Mercer and the Banditti of the Plains.  This episode explains the unique discovery of what I have had in my possession for over 30 years and just recently was able to verify what it really was.  A very important document relating to the most important and rare book in Wyoming's history!  Enjoy!

The Johnson County War in 1892, was a moment in history that defined what kind of state Wyoming was to become.  Would outside big money interests continue to control it or would the smaller homesteaders have a future for themselves.  By authoring "The Banditti of the Plains", Asa Mercer created a bombshell.  He exposed the powerful people in the state for their role in the invasion of Johnson County.  This is part one, introducing you to Mr. Mercer, and the many interesting scemes he was involved in.  

After being acquitted in the trial for the killing of his son  in Part 1, James McDermott faces another arrest for the theft of the U. S mail and is taken to Cheyenne for another trial. After that the authorities hear about him and have him arrested and taken to Montana for the killing of a Mr. Murane, his wife's lover, eight years earlier, then he eventually finds his way back to Wyoming and has a confrontation with his wife and her newest lover which does not go well.

James MacDermott had already killed one man in Montana for having relations with his wife and now he is approaching his best friends cabin to bring his wife home to him and the children, but he's met with an angry man with a Colt in his hand.

Seventeen year old Annie Bruce became the first female inmate at the Wyoming State Penitentiary and the first woman convicted of any form of murder in the state. She confessed to the murder of her father by poison.  Was she guilty or did she take the fall to protect her mother?   You be the judge.

In the 1880's, horseflesh was as valuable as the weapon at your side. It was your mode of transportation and your horsepower for your work.  And losing them to horse thieves was a serious crime on the range.  Learn how Teton Jackson became the most feared of them all.  

The tables have turned and the fate of the cattlemen lies with the jury.  Does justice prevail or does the influence of the Wyoming Stockgrowers again save the day?  

The Sheepmen made one last camp just 4 miles from their home and as they slept, seven masked raiders approached their camp.

After years of conflict between Sheepmen and Cattlemen over the range, it came to a head the moonlit night of April 9th, 1909 when masked raiders attacked the sheep camp and killed three sheepmen.  

I was asked to speak at a National Day of the Cowboy event a few years back and wrote a poem about the kind of Cowboys that I have been fortunate to know.  The American Cowboy magazine published it and I'm happy to bring it to you.

After Belle Drewry was killed, the town of Arland dried up and became a ghost town.  But a chance discovery in 1978 led to William Gallagher, Blind Bill Hoolihan, and Belle Drewry to live again and have their stories told.

Follow the lives and deaths of William Gallagher, Blind Bill Hoolihan, and Belle Drewry as the drama unfolds in the 1890's Wyoming Cowtown of Arland.

Arland, Wyoming, was established in 1884 on Meeteetse Creek, 20 miles south of present day Cody, Wyoming by Vic Arland at the request of neighboring ranches to supply them with goods and merchantile.  It became one of the wildest and lawless Cowtowns of it's day.  Join me in Part 1 and learn about the man and his town.

Chief Joe Medicine Crow was the last remaining chief of the Crow Indian tribe.  I spent a day with this extraordinary man at a Crow camp outside of Meeteetse, Wyoming in 2011.  He told me his remarkable story on how he became a chief of his tribe.  Joe was the first Crow to obtain a Master's degree in anthropology, and he enlisted in the Army in 1943 and fought the Germans in France.  This is his story as he told it to me.

The Big Horn Basin in northern Wyoming is a very special area, completely surrounded by mountains, it is the largest amphitheater in the world!  It's prehistory researched by Dr. George Frison, a world renowned archeologist and native to the basin, makes it one of the most important archeological sites in North America.  Find out why, and listen to Buffalo Bill's comments about this magnificent place.

I'm Clay Gibbons and welcome to my first podcast!  In this you will hear a preview of topics that I will cover as I take you for a trip through Wyoming history, some known and some little known stories that I think you will find of interest.   Throughout the years as I traveled the area telling stories, I have continually been asked if I have written a book.  Well, I haven't because I didn't know if I could write well, and their reply was to just write it like I told it.  Now that I have been introduced to the world of podcasts, I have found an outlet that allows me to tell the stories for your entertainment.  I hope you enjoy them, and leave comments!