The Wild Wild Death

Send us Fan MailCharles Bent was always in the right place at the right time making the right choices. And it made him a wealthy and powerful man right up until a cold day in January, 1847, when Bent was – finally - in the wrong place at the wrong time - with no idea of what was coming to his front door. If you’d like to know more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:https://www.americanhistorycentral.com/entries/charles-bent/https://sites.libraries.uta.edu/usmexicowar/topic/taosrevolt#:~:text=On%20January%2019%2C%201847%2C%20Pueblo,of%20collaborating%20with%20U.S.%20forcehttps://www.nps.gov/people/charles-bent.htmhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6669910/silas-benthttps://womenoftaos.org/women/profiles-legends?/item/74/Josefa-Carson-and-Ignacia-Benthttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/bent-st-vrain-company/https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/beol-enslavement.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_and_Dick_Green

Send us Fan MailGeorge Maledon spent decades dropping killers through trapdoors with clinical precision—and total peace of mind. Justice was simple and the mechanics of a hanging were precise. But when the man who killed his daughter got life instead of the noose, Maledon finally called it quits. Turns out, mercy—not murder—was a dealbreaker for the Prince of Hangmen.If you’d like to know more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ar-georgemaledon/ https://truewestmagazine.com/article/the-prince-of-hangmen/ ncyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/george-maledon-5748/ https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/george-maledon-5748/ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151220571/anna-maledon https://lawmen.genealogyvillage.com/lawmen/gmdead.htm https://research.ebsco.com/c/siow6l/viewer/pdf/56t3fmhwqf

Send us Fan MailJudge Roy Bean may have been THE LAW west of the Pecos River, but he NEVER followed the rules.If you’d like to learn more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:History: Scoundrel Bean, bride wed San Fernando - https://www.mysanantonio.com/life/life_columnists/paula_allen/article/History-Scoundrel-Bean-bride-wed-San-Fernando-4392930.phpJudge Roy Bean: The Law, the Lies, and Lillie - https://texashighways.com/travel-news/judge-roy-bean-the-law-the-lies-and-lillie-in-langtry/Looking Back – Judge Roy Bean - https://www.harriscountylawlibrary.org/ex-libris-juris/2017/3/15/looking-back-judge-roy-beanPHOTOS OF THE JERSEY LILLY SALOON – https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.tx0268.photos?st=gallery  

Send us Fan MailDuring the gold rush of Alder Rush, was Clubfoot George Lane merely a mild-mannered shoemaker with a limp? Or was he part of the notorious road agent gang who called themselves “The Innocents?”If you'd like to know more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out the following links:THE ROAD AGENTS - https://southwestmt.com/blog/the-road-agents/#:~:text=Brief%20Account%3A%20Originally%20from%20Massachusetts%2C,and%20hang%20him%20as%20wellTHE VIGILANTES OF MONTANA – https://www.hhhistory.com/2018/06/the-vigilantes-of-montana.htmlCLUBFOOT GEORGE’S CLUBFOOT - https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/6169#:~:text=Even%20after%2043%20years%2C%20George%27s,and%20straight%20razor ONE FOOT IN THE PAST - https://westernwriters.org/round-up/ru-april22-vigilantes.pdf#:~:text=as%20%E2%80%9CClubfoot%20George,vicious%20gang%20of%20road%20agentsPHOTO OF GEORGE LANE’S FOOT - https://truewestmagazine.com/article/lane-by-a-foot/

Send us Fan MailFind out what happened when “The Pathfinder” John C. Fremont loses his way, taking 35 men and 120 mules with him. If you’d like to know more about the history behind this episode, check out the sources below:Frémont’s Fourth Expedition: A Documentary Account of the Disaster of 1848–1849Edited by LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen.Taos County Historical Society – The Lost Men of Frémont (1987) Pueblo Chieftain – Tragic Expedition (1998) GJ Sentinel – Disaster Struck When the Pathfinder Got Lost in Colorado (2020)http://backpacker.com/stories/fremonts-wrong-turn/https://www.nps.gov/grsa/learn/historyculture/john-fremont-expeditions-1848-and-1853.htm

Send us Fan MailThe Oregon Trail was a test of endurance for everyone, but especially for women pioneers. What happens when one woman has had enough?If you'd like to know more of the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, please check out these links:https://www.theresahuppauthor.com/blog/2017/03/22/elizabeth-markham-one-womans-perspective-on-the-oregon-trail-and-on-matrimony/https://www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-oregon-trailhttps://www.grunge.com/1650142/most-brutal-deaths-oregon-trail/https://octa-trails.org/articles/life-and-death-on-the-oregon-trail/?srsltid=AfmBOopVvj_a0djifEfgQhQqBO2DCH4fqK4vWe2ocRSnsTvPL_4Sg0Fahttps://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SJH18911211.2.34&srpos=2&e=------189-en--20--1--txt-txIN-elizabeth+markham-------1http://www.theragens.com/fifty_years/fifty_years_in_oregon_18-19.htmhttp://www.oregonpioneers.com/diaries.htmhttps://en.wikisource.org/wiki/History_of_Oregon_Literature/Chapter_27https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/edwin-markham 

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Wild Wild Death, we delve into the harrowing saga of the Sutton-Taylor Feud, a violent clash that tore through Southeast Texas during the Reconstruction era. Starting with a string of deadly encounters between the Taylor family and local lawmen, this feud spiraled into a bloody conflict involving ambushes, assassinations, and even the involvement of Texas Rangers and the notorious gunslinger John Wesley Hardin. By the time the dust settled, over 35 lives had been lost, leaving a trail of death and destruction that would haunt Texas history. Join us as we explore the origins, the battles, and the final bloody resolution of this epic and tragic feud.If you'd like to know more of the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, please check out these links:https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/sutton-taylor-feudhttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-suttontaylor/https://www.frontiertimesmagazine.com/blog/the-taylor-sutton-feud?srsltid=AfmBOopCH3m8CWG4CTKjYpH9L8vDP7EElvp1dHwF-fE_kO2rinyfSSY3Chuck Parsons, The Sutton-Taylor Feud: The Deadliest Blood Feud in Texas (A.C. Greene Series) (UNT Press, 2009)James M. Smallwood, The Feud That Wasn’t: The Taylor Ring, Bill Sutton, John Wesley Hardon, and Violence in Texas (Texas A&M Press, 2008)

Send us Fan MailPearl Devere was the madam of a very successful and exclusive bordello in Cripple Creek. But even the most savvy of businesswomen can make a fatal miscalculation.If you'd like to know more of the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, please check out these links:◦                https://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-pearldevere/◦                https://usrepresented.com/2023/03/18/pioneer-profiles-pearl-devere/◦                https://www.visitcos.com/directory/old-homestead-house-museum/◦                https://www.grunge.com/365939/what-you-didnt-know-about-pearl-de-vere/

Send us Fan MailBig Nose George Parrott yearned to be a famous outlaw. But his claim to fame was for something he never dreamed could happen.If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these resources:https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/14910 https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/big-nose-george-grisly-frontier-tale https://owlcation.com/humanities/The-Wild-West-Outlaw-Who-Was-Turned-into-a-Pair-of-Shoes https://www.sweetwaternow.com/outlaw-george-big-nose-parotts-body-was-skinned-after-his-death/Mark E. Miller, Big Nose George: His Troublesome Trail, (Glendo, WY: High Plains Press, 2021).Peter Netzel, Lesser Known Outlaws of Wyoming, (Scotts Valley, CA: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017). Richard M. Patterson, Historical Atlas of the Outlaw West, (Boulder, CO: Johnson Books, 2000).R. Michael Wilson, Outlaw Tales of Wyoming: True Stories of the Cowboy State's Most Infamous Crooks, Culprits, and Cutthroats, (Helena, MA: Two Dot, 2013)

Send us Fan MailOn January 12, 1888, Nebraska farm children headed off to their sod hut schoolrooms under sunny and warm blue skies. None of them knew that a massive blizzard was barreling toward them... and it would test everyone’s survival skills.If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:https://www.farmersalmanac.com/schoolhouseblizzardhttps://blog.reformedjournal.com/2024/01/12/january-12-1888/https://weather.com/science/weather-explainers/news/2025-01-14-blue-norther-cold-front-texas-plainshttps://vlab.noaa.gov/web/nws-heritage/explore-nws-history#event-protecting-lifeand-propertyfor-150-yearshttps://www.minnpost.com/minnesota-history/2013/01/125-years-ago-deadly-children-s-blizzard-blasted-minnesota/https://history.nebraska.gov/looking-back-on-the-blizzard-of-1888/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94gLaNesbSshttps://ntx.exprealty.com/blog/220901/Unraveling+The+Mystique+Of+The+Blue+Norther%3A+Texas%27+Chilling+Phenomenon

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild, Wild Death, we unravel how the Wild Bunch gang went from pulling off million-dollar heists to accidentally sabotaging their own careers with one ill-advised glamour shot. It’s a story of hubris, high fashion, and the dangers of being too photogenic when you’re on the run from the law.If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:https://www.legendsofamerica.com/butch-cassidy/https://truewestmagazine.com/cassidys-first-crime/https://www.history.com/news/butch-cassidy-sundance-kid-robberies-deathhttps://pinkerton.com/our-insights/blog/the-fort-worth-five-the-iconic-photo-that-ended-the-wild-wests-most-notorious-gang

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore the hilariously tragic saga of Elmer McCurdy, the outlaw who was better at botching robberies than being a criminal mastermind. But Elmer’s story didn’t end with his final, drunken shootout. Instead, his mummified body embarked on a posthumous career more successful than anything he managed while alive. From sideshows to movie sets, and even a stint as a funhouse prop, Elmer’s corpse had a more eventful afterlife than anyone could’ve imagined. Tune in for the strange, darkly funny journey of the outlaw who became famous in death after failing spectacularly at life.If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links: https://www.cowboysindians.com/2018/10/25-mysteries-of-the-west/ https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2018/07/elmer-mccurdy-traveling-corpse/https://www.npr.org/2015/01/09/376097471/the-long-strange-60-year-trip-of-elmer-mccurdyhttps://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/greater-la/halloween/elmer-mccurdyhttps://www.okterritorialmuseum.org/ELMERMC.htmlThe Misadventures in Life and Afterlife of an American Outlaw (Svenvold, 2002)

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore the strange and tragic story of James King of William, a crusading newspaper editor who was shot in broad daylight. When a group of esteemed doctors race to save his life, their medical choice led to his doom. Tune in to hear how a sponge became the most lethal weapon in San Francisco.Interested in the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death? Check out the links below: https://history.library.ucsf.edu/sponge_case.htmlhistory.library.ucsf.edu/toland.htmlhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12715059/james-kinghttps://www.jstor.org/stable/42656511https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p9539coll1/id/23425/https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2019/07/02/dice-roll-civilization-dawns-in-san-francisco/https://web.archive.org/web/20131231005303/http://www.norcalmediamuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=139https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23990-subclavian-arteryhttps://sfmuseum.org/hist6/hang.htmlKEYWORDS:James King of William shootingNewspaper editor killed in San Francisco19th-century true crimeMedical malpractice tragedySan Francisco historical crimeLethal sponge mishapWild West murder mysteryJames King of William assassinationMedical choice leads to deathCrime and medical errorStrange historical murderTrue crime in San Francisco

Send us Fan MailThe history of the Wild Wild West is a saga of grit, glory, endurance and independence; of the people who faced the challenge of the West head-on and survived. We’re here to tell the stories of those who did not.2222 Media presents The Wild Wild Death, a history podcast about the fatal side of the Old West. Join us as we share true stories of appalling ignorance, questionable medical practices, and ridiculously poor choices. The Wild Wild Death: so many ways to die, its a miracle anyone survived.KEYWORDS:Wild West fatalitiesTrue stories of Old West deaths2222 Media history podcastAppalling ignorance in the Old WestOld West medical mishapsWild West survival and deathFatal mistakes in frontier historyHistory of Old West tragedyOld West survival oddsRidiculous choices in historyFrontier death storiesThe Wild Wild Death podcast seriesFatal side of the Wild West4o

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we journey back to 1884 in Corsicana, Texas, when the grand opening of a Dry Goods Emporium turned into a day of tragedy. A tightrope walker, known only as “The Rope Walker,” attempts a daring feat—crossing a high wire with a 300-pound cast iron stove strapped to his back. But gravity had other plans. Over a century later, his true identity and the life that led him to that fateful day are finally uncovered. Join us as we explore the life, death, and mystery of the enigmatic Rope Walker.Want to know more? Check out the links below:https://www.shapell.org/civil-war-soldier-database/soldier/3630https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article249868098.htmlhttps://travsd.wordpress.com/2022/02/06/step-right-up-and-pay-your-respects-to-the-one-legged-jewish-tightrope-walker-of-texas/https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2021/april/corsicana-mysterious-one-legged-jewish-rope-walker/https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-grave-of-rope-walker-corsicana-texashttps://texascooppower.com/the-rope-walker-of-corsicana/https://synagogues-360.anumuseum.org.il/the-last-jew-and-the-rope-walker/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tightrope_walkingKEYWORDS:The Rope Walker identityTightrope walker fatal accident1884 Corsicana tragedyDry Goods Emporium grand opening disasterHigh wire act gone wrongCast iron stove tightrope disasterForgotten performers of historyTragic high wire accident storyHistorical crime and mystery podcastGravity-defying stunt turned deadlyUncovering the Rope Walker's life and deathCorsicana Texas historical tragedy

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the twisted tale of Eadweard Muybridge, the photography pioneer who didn’t just invent motion pictures—he also made sure his wife’s lover never moved again. Fueled by jealousy and muddled by a head injury, Muybridge took matters into his own hands, leading to a courtroom showdown that was as dramatic as any film. Tune in to learn how the Father of Motion Pictures turned a love triangle into a deadly snapshot of revenge and got away with it.If you'd like to know more of the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, click the links below:https://www.mcalesternews.com/news/local_news/cathey-butterfield-route-incident-led-to-moving-motion-pictures-and-murder/article_81676afb-2d31-5ee2-bcdc-c296c1756317.htmlhttps://www.thebetterangelssociety.org/films/exposing-muybridge/#:~:text=Born%20Edward%20Muggeridge%20in%201830,publisher%2C%20investor%2C%20and%20bankerhttps://www.wicaonline.org/blog/2020/2/2/biography-eadweard-muybridgehttps://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/11/27/eadweard-muybridge-the-photographic-pioneer-who-froze-time-and-naturehttps://americanart.si.edu/artist/eadweard-muybridge-3475https://moreorlessbunk.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/the-fate-of-flora-muybridge-or-why-i-want-to-be-cremated-when-im-gone/KEYWORDS:Eadweard Muybridge murderFather of motion pictures crimeLove triangle murder storyMuybridge courtroom dramaCrime podcast historical murderPhotography pioneer turned murdererMotion picture inventor's dark historyJealousy-fueled revenge killingVictorian love triangle crimeMuybridge's deadly love triangleCrime of passion true storyHistorical crime and photography

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the legendary duel between Jim Courtright, a former lawman who traded his badge for extortion, and Luke Short, a gambler who wasn’t about to be strong-armed. When Courtright demanded respect, Short gave him a lesson in humility—Western style. Join us to learn how a quick draw ended a long career and proved that, in Fort Worth, the house always wins.If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:https://hometownbyhandlebar.com/?p=31536https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2531&context=ethjhttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/timothy-courtright/https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-lukeshort/https://www.oldwest.org/jim-courtright/https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/gunfighter-longhair-jim/99411https://www.historynet.com/fort-worths-wild-white-elephant-saloon/#:~:text=The%20Fort%20Worth%20establishment%20began,place%20was%20seized%20by%20attachment

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we delve into the curious case of Minnie Wallace Walkup, a teenage bride whose wealthy husband suddenly dropped dead just a month into their marriage. Was it the aphrodisiac he was taking, or did Minnie have a more hands-on approach to becoming a wealthy widow? With arsenic, strychnine, and a suspiciously timed death, this tale of love, poison, and courtroom drama will have you wondering if Minnie was just unlucky—or a master of the marital exit strategy.If you'd like to learn more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out the information below:https://www.grunge.com/1356474/minnie-wallace-teen-accused-of-killing-husband-1885/https://bayoujustice.com/2024/02/minnie-wallace-gold-digger-or-murderess/https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169506226/minnie-estelle-keatinghttps://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-minnie-wallace-w/18279321/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=AhaKyRTT54IThe Adventuress: Murder, Blackmail, and Confidence Games in the Gilded Age (McConnell, 2010)KEYWORDS:Minnie Wallace Walkup caseTeenage bride murderArsenic and strychnine poisoningSuspicious death of a wealthy husbandVictorian crime storyPoisoning mystery in marriageCourtroom drama and deadly romanceTrue crime historical podcastMinnie Walkup murder trialMarital exit strategy by poisonWealthy widow mysteryLove and poison crime

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore how William G. Butler, a cattleman with a grudge, made sure the thriving town of Helena, Texas dried up faster than a saloon on Sunday. Join us for a tale of how one man’s vendetta wiped a town off the map without firing another shot.Interested in the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death? Check out the links below:https://westwardsagas.com/helena-the-toughest-town-on-earth/https://authentictexan.com/helena-killed-wrong-man-price/ http://pacweb.alamo.edu/InteractiveHistory/projects/rhines/StudentProjects/2001/Helena/Helena.htm https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/texas-history-101-65/https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2012-08-17/day-trips/KEYWORDS:William G. Butler revengeHelena, Texas ghost townCattleman’s vendetta in TexasOld West town wiped outTrue crime history podcastTexas town revengeHelena ghost town storyHistorical vendetta in TexasForgotten Old West townWilliam G. Butler and HelenaTexas town dried up

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the bizarre and bloody tale of the Bender family, who turned their Kansas inn into the final stop for unlucky travelers in the 1870s. With a dad who muttered like a horror movie villain, a mom who could make Medusa look friendly, and a daughter who combined fortune-telling with cold-blooded murder, the Benders were a family that really knew how to keep secrets buried in their orchard. Join us as we delve into the macabre world of the Bender family and the mystery that remains unsolved to this day.If you're interested in the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:https://www.humanitieskansas.org/get-involved/kansas-stories/people/true-crime-in-kansas-the-mystery-of-the-bendershttps://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/31/a-mysterious-murder-site-has-a-new-owner-hes-looking-for-answers-about-the-bloody-benders/https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/bill-caldwell-bloody-benders-were-frontier-serial-killers/article_f6349444-0acf-11ee-974c-53c671e62b02.htmlhttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-benders/KEYWORDS:Bender family mystery1870s Kansas inn murdersBloody Benders true crimeUnsolved murder caseSerial killing familyFortune-teller murderessMacabre innkeepersCold-blooded family crimeFrontier crime historyBender family orchard secretsGruesome family murdersTrue crime frontier podcastUnsolved Bender murders

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we delve into the mysterious death of Meriwether Lewis, one of America’s most celebrated explorers. After leading the legendary Lewis and Clark Expedition, Lewis met a tragic and untimely end at a remote inn on the Natchez Trace. Found with two gunshot wounds, his death was quickly ruled a suicide, but doubts have lingered for over two centuries. Was Lewis driven to despair by illness and debt, or was he the victim of foul play? We explore the theories, the evidence, and the enduring questions surrounding the untimely death of a man who helped shape America—and wound up as the subject of one of its oldest cold cases.Want to know more? Check out the links below: https://www.history.nd.gov/exhibits/lewisclark/suicide.html#:~:text=When%20Lewis's%20integrity%20was%20questioned,apparently%20shot%20himself%20in%20despair https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/meriwether-lewis-mysterious-death-144006713/https://lewiscountymuseum.com/Meriwether-Lewis.asphttps://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/presentations/ap_transcripts/mwlewis#:~:text=Historians%20claim%20that%20Lewis%20became,and%20untreatable%20during%20his%20lifetimehttps://muse.jhu.edu/article/219490https://franceshunter.wordpress.com/2010/03/23/love-in-the-afternoon-syphilis-and-the-lewis-clark-expedition/KEYWORDS:Meriwether Lewis mysterious deathLewis and Clark explorer deathNatchez Trace inn mysteryCold case of Meriwether Lewis19th-century suicide or murderFoul play theories about LewisAmerican explorer death mysteryUntimely death of Meriwether LewisFrontier history podcastTrue crime in American historyLewis and Clark Expedition leader’s deathSuicide or murder cold case

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we recount the spectacular disaster that was the 1896 “Crash at Crush.” What started as a publicity stunt involving two steam locomotives and a crowd of 40,000 eager onlookers quickly went off the rails—literally. With explosions, flying debris, and a photographer who paid for the perfect shot with his eye, this event was a PR nightmare. Tune in to hear how a day of planned destruction turned into an unplanned catastrophe. If you'd like to know more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out the links below:https://wacotrib.com/news/local/book-podcast-mark-train-smashing-crash-at-crush-anniversary/article_6f080ab0-a507-58e1-b9d0-96a9dacf05a6.htmlhttps://wacohistory.org/items/show/70https://www.texascooppower.com/texas-stories/history/the-deadly-crash-at-crushhttps://brutalsouth.substack.com/p/everyone-loves-a-good-train-wreckKEYWORDS:1896 Crash at CrushSteam locomotive collisionPublicity stunt disasterTrain crash spectacleHistorical catastrophePR nightmare in TexasExplosive train wreckRailroad tragedyPhotographer injury at Crash at CrushPlanned train crash goes wrongTexas train collision eventCrowd disaster in 1896

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we dive into the twisted story how a night at the circus turned deadly. Thirteen-year-old Willie Snyder was just trying to enjoy the show when a clown named Manuel Reys took his routine to a whole new level —and things went terribly wrong. Join us as we share the story of how a clown’s over-the-top performance turned a fun night out into a tragedy, proving that sometimes, the joke really is on you.If you'd like more information about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out these links:https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/big-bertha-heyman-the-confidence-queen/article_289d524f-7865-5b03-b344-8a7c6456ec99.htmlhttps://www.thedeadhistory.com/blog/killed-by-a-circus-clownhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64461187/william-bernardhttps://medium.com/marvels-of-history/who-was-the-man-known-as-oofty-goofty-f249e664d52dhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_made_from_human_corpses#:~:text=Many%20bodies%20had%20incompletely%20decomposed,turned%20into%20candles%20and%20soaphttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/americas-big-circus-spectacular-has-long-and-cherished-history-180962621/KEYWORDS:Circus gone wrongTragic clown performanceWillie Snyder tragedyManuel Reys clown accidentTrue crime podcastCircus mishapDark circus historyOver-the-top performance tragedyNight at the circus deathClown routine turns deadlyTragedy strikes circusCircus accident true storyUnfortunate circus performance

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we explore the unfortunate fate of Tom “Black Jack” Ketchum, an outlaw whose last heist went off the rails—literally. After being caught, Tom faced the gallows, but when the big moment came, Tom’s execution made him the most infamous—and headless—outlaw in the West. Join us for the story of how one man’s life of crime ended in a way no one saw coming.If you're interested in the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, check out the links below:***Please note that this 1st link contains graphic images that may be disturbing ***https://www.executedtoday.com/2010/04/26/1901-black-jack-tom-ketchum-clayton-hanging/https://dustyoldthing.com/strange-tale-black-jack-ketchum/https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-blackjackketchum/https://site-3320323-4618-2049.mystrikingly.com/blog/tom-black-jack-ketchum-last-words#tom-black-jack-ketchum-last-wordsKEYWORDS:Tom Black Jack Ketchum executionWild West outlawCrime podcast Western historyGallows gone wrongInfamous Wild West criminalsOutlaw life of crimeFailed heist in the WestGruesome execution storyHeadless outlaw legendHistorical true crime storiesTom Ketchum outlaw legendGallows mishap in history

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wild Wild Death, we uncover the story of how an ordinary day at the Wells Fargo office took a sudden turn when a curious team of employees decided to investigate a leaky crate. What they discovered inside set off a chain of events that literally shook San Francisco. Join us as we explore how one small crate proves that sometimes, curiosity really can be explosive.If you'd like to read more about the history behind this episode of The Wild Wild Death, try these links: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/tcrr-nitroglycerin/https://railroad.lindahall.org/essays/black-powder.htmlhttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna53197053https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1866/05/13/79805983.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/man-who-invented-nitroglycerin-was-horrified-dynamite-180965192/https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/n/nitroglycerin.htmlhttp://cprr.org/Museum/Newspapers/Nitroglycerine.htmlKELYWORDS:Explosive eventSan Francisco disasterLeaky crate mysteryOffice investigationCuriosity gone wrongWells Fargo incidentMysterious crateUncovering secretsHistorical mysteryUnexpected discoveryChain reactionTrue story unravelingOffice thrillerShock in San FranciscoUnusual office day