On October 30, 1951, the Campa Brothers Circus was performing in Mena, Arkansas when a lion killed 9-year-old Maria de la Campa — a tragedy still marked by her grave in Mount Calvary Cemetery that reads “KILLED BY CIRCUS LION.” Less than 24 hours later, on Halloween morning, one of their trucks wrecked en route to Mount Ida, releasing two leopards, two black bears, several monkeys and a polar bear into the Ouachita countryside. Montgomery County Sheriff Wilbur Tidwell organized over 100 armed men to search the rugged, rain-soaked hills — one leopard was killed that day, the second the next morning — and by November 1 the story made The New York Times. The strangest escapee, the polar bear, was reportedly shot two days later by an area farmer, who shared the meat with locals. One black bear and one monkey were recovered alive and the fate of the others was never fully accounted for — a gap that later fed Arkansas black panther folklore.

This episode of 1836, continues the counties of Arkansas series, by exploring the history of Columbia County, Arkansas. From its Indigenous roots and creation in 1852 to the railroads, oil discoveries, and educational institutions that reshaped its communities. Along the way, discover notable places, figures, the tragic Macedonia firefighting disaster, and hometown traditions.

#Arkansas #History #Podcast #Magnolia #Columbia

In 1871, a young man was accused of horse theft and hauled to jail in Van Buren, Arkansas. Arrested by a U.S. deputy marshal, he faced a serious felony charge alongside two accomplices. Whether he posted bond and vanished or broke out of the Van Buren jail through the attic, he never stood trial. This is the little-known chapter of the future lawman’s life, drawn from court records and the conflicting accounts of his escape. This is the story of Wyatt Earp in Arkansas - the story you haven't heard. #Arkansas #History #Podcast