E34 - Wild West / Mild West

E34 - Wild West / Mild West

A short story of lawlessness in Denver City between a baker and a blacksmith is yet another illustration of the lack of law and order in the west Kansas Territory. The settlers of western Kansas (future Colorado) are without a true government, lawlessness rules the streets. The pioneers desperately try to organize some form of government, but end up with three poor versions: The Territory of Jefferson, the county of Arapahoe, and the miners' impromptu courts. The need for a stable government is desperately needed (being so far away from "civilization"), and the coming year will test the pioneers when the next wave of emigrants arrive. Murder in Denver City - not a finger is lifted to stop a argument that (needlessly) turns deadly. Friends, thanks for listening! Love, JB

E33 - Three Gates and Farewell

Today we cover three (1859) ghost towns all within 5 miles of Golden, Colorado and all invisible! Baden, Golden Gate City and Mt. Vernon All three towns existed at the foot of their respective mountain "gate" or "road" - nothing you might be interested in walking or driving today. An introduction to the towns (we will hear from them later), and where they are, and how you can see them today! Thank you for coming!

SE7 - "Truth": Edgar Vanover Hanging Appendix

Just a short episode entered as a supplement to episode 32 (Disturbed: Golden City 1859.) Three newspaper articles reporting on the summary hanging of Edgar Vanover (by the townspeople of Golden City - September, 5 1859).   First from the September 10, 1859 issue of the Rocky Mountain News Second, from the September 17, 1859 issue of the Rocky Mountain News Lastly, from the October 5, 1922 issue of the Colorado Transcript These articles (combined) offer the best details on this tragic event, the summary hanging of a man who committed no actual crime deserving of that drastic resolution.         Edgar Vanover, Golden City, Summary Justice, Kansas Territory

E32 - Disturbance: Golden City, 1859

Today we add Golden City to the West Kansas Territory (future Colorado) - July of 1859. The Boston Company arrives in Golden on June 12, after helping Thomas Gibson with that EXTRA (from episode 13) - a printing job for the Rocky Mountain News. The group land in Golden (nameless at the time) and finds the location perfect for a supply town. First, a Quick Look at Golden's interesting geology, then we dive into Parfet Park... Why you ask? Parfet Park (10th street and Washington Ave.) was the location of the first (permanent) structure in Golden, built by members of The Boston Company. Golden City is platted in Clear Creek Valley, the new town grows rapidly, but, it becomes evident that a major oversight has been committed, there's neither law, nor a lawman - no court, no judge, no lawyers, no jail! - This "system" is tested in September of 1859 - A drunken local businessman gets a little "too" wild for the townspeople. A "desperado" he is later labeled... Mr. Vanover, in his intoxicated condition, made some threats, shot his revolver at some kitchenware - he yelled a lot, and he was (supposedly) a wanted man (for what crimes nobody knew) - but he never touched anybody - BUT, he didn't hurt anyone. Edgar's threats of violence alarmed the townsfolk, and by the afternoon, after chasing him into a nearby cabin, his fate was "calmly" discussed by the crowd. By the "town." The two options: Banishment or execution. A vote ensued, and banishment was NOT the winner! Moments later, Edgar Vanover was hanging dead; his body attached to a meat gallows by the neck. After the lynching, he was buried in the vagrant section of the town cemetery (Cemetery Hill, now Goldco Circle between first fifth streets) - he's still there. Vanover is later honored by the town of Golden... In 2006, Vanover Park was dedicated - but you won't find a historical marker there telling THIS story... Summary justice in the wild, wild, West. Kansas Territory, 1859

E31 - No Tomorrow: Deadman Gulch Gunnison

Deadman’s Gulch, Gunnison / Almont Colorado Ute Massacre, Gunnison, Taylor Reservoir, Cement Creek, Spring Creek, East River, Continental Divide, Lost Dead are Found This episode we revisit the Ute ambush and murder of 7 men, as well as their animals - in August of 1859 - But why? New evidence suggests the location of the fateful battle AND the resting place of the miners.   The location was discovered immediately (in 1859), but bad communication and labeling of various water courses kept the bodies of seven men hidden, decomposing quietly in the sunny gulch -  In 1860, a prospecting party buried the remains, but again misidentified the location, naming the headwaters of the Rio Grande (another time, the location is printed as being at the headwaters of the Colorado - wrong again). Nobody knew the strangers, they were deep in Ute country, and for whatever reason, their journey ended in what is now known as Deadman's Gulch, in the Gunnison National Forest, just northeast of Almont - between the Cement Mountains.   I hike the trail and explain what happened here in 1859, and what I saw last week on the trail. Also, we look at how the legend changed, and was eventually adopted by the Leadville Miners of the 1870s and 1880s. Full show Love, JB