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Journey into the raw, untamed frontier of June 1872 with former buffalo hunter turned saloon owner George W. Brown. In this gripping episode, Brown details the chaotic birth of Buffalo City—a bustling boomtown sparked when a strict military ban on alcohol at Fort Dodge sent thirsty soldiers, hunters, and freight drivers searching for a new watering hole just beyond government lines. From makeshift tent bars and 25-cent whiskey shots to the rapid, wild rise of a frontier outpost, listen as history comes alive through firsthand accounts of ambition, lawlessness, and the men who built the Old West one wooden plank at a time.

Expect high-stakes drama, authentic period storytelling, and an unfiltered look at true frontier grit. You'll hear how a military ban on whiskey sparked an entire town, how wagonloads of gamblers and dance hall girls transformed a desolate prairie, and how an explosive, bullet-riddled saloon shootout unfolded over a midnight feud. Whether you're a history buff or just love a compelling, cinematic story filled with larger-than-life characters, this episode offers an unforgettable front-row seat to the wildest days of the American West—hit play and tune in today!

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Step back in time to the summer of 1872 and experience the raw, untamed spirit of the American frontier. Narrated through the vivid recollections of George W. Brown, this episode transports listeners directly onto the sun-drenched plains of Kansas, following the massive buffalo herds alongside legendary frontiersmen. Richly atmospheric soundscapes—from the crackle of evening campfires to the distant howl of coyotes—bring to life the gritty reality, unexpected humor, and rugged camaraderie of hunters like "Prairie Dog" Morrow and Thomas Nixon as they navigate a rapidly changing wild West.

Whether you are a historical enthusiast or simply love a compelling, well-told story, this immersive audio journey offers an unvarnished window into the lives of the men who shaped frontier lore. Listeners will be captivated by the colorful anecdotes, sharp wits, and larger-than-life tales of early entrepreneurial ventures and epic hunts along the Arkansas River. Tune in to hear history brought to life through authentic voice acting and traditional acoustic instrumentation that will leave you feeling as though you're sitting right beside the campfire.

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In episode 6 of Buffalo Days, the narrative opens with a sudden and intense prairie storm that triggers a massive buffalo stampede. As lightning strikes and kills a bull in the herd, the animals scatter in panic, threatening to crush the hunters and their heavily loaded supply wagons. The men are forced to make a desperate run through the blinding rain and mud, barely escaping the thundering herd when the storm runoff carves out a massive rut in the earth, redirecting the buffalo away from their path and slowing the animals down in a nearby river.

The following day, after the storm passes, the hunters venture out onto the prairie to survey the aftermath, following the winding, crooked trails left by the buffalo. Along the way, they witness the grim reality of the hide-hunting trade, coming across hundreds of decaying carcasses and spoiled hides left behind to rot by other hunters. After continuing their hunt for two more weeks to fulfill their quota of 557 hides, they haul their haul back to Fort Hays to collect their pay. The episode closes on a reflective note as the group splits up, leaving the narrator alone in a saloon to ponder his descent into becoming a hardened, cold-blooded "buffalo runner."

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Before sunrise, Josiah Wright Mooar sets out with Jim White to learn the technique of buffalo hunting from a stand. Moving six miles out, they locate a massive herd, utilizing the cover of sandhills and a riverbank to approach the animals while the skinners wait with a freight wagon nearby. As the buffalo draw close, Jim criticizes the animals' lack of intelligence and explains their tendency to stampede blindly. He then demonstrates how to set up a tripod shooting stand for his single-shot, lever-action Sharps .50 rifle. Jim methodically accounts for distance, wind, and bullet arc before opening fire. Using his specialized tripod, Jim systematically drops one buffalo after another; the narrator watches the animals lose their wild dignity as forty of them are killed without alerting the rest of the herd.

Once the hunt concludes, Jim signals the team to begin the arduous work of processing the kill. The skinners move the wagons forward and immediately begin skinning the carcasses using specialized knives and a horse-hitch to peel the hides away. While Jim White remains on high ground to keep watch for potential Indian threats, the rest of the crew spends nearly the entire day skinning and cutting the animals. By late afternoon, they finish harvesting the hides for curing and secure the hindquarters of meat—valued at three cents a pound—to ensure a profitable haul for the camp.

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Part Four of Buffalo Days details the intense encounters between the U.S. Army and 400 Native Americans and a regiment of "Buffalo Soldiers"—and the resilient Indigenous warriors of the Great Plains.

The section also features a memorable account from Jim White, who shared a campfire story about the harsh realities of life on the plains. White’s tale illustrated the unpredictable nature of the landscape and the constant threat to survival, grounding the historical military engagements in the personal, often harrowing experiences of those living through the era. This anecdote provides a humanizing perspective, contrasting the formal military history of the Buffalo Soldiers with the rugged, everyday existence of scouts and settlers in the American West.

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Part Three of Buffalo Days details Josiah Wright Mooar's transition into the life of a buffalo hunter on the American Great Plains during the 1870s. Mooar recounts the arduous process of outfitting an expedition, highlighting the logistical challenges of securing reliable teams, specialized rifles like the Sharps, and enough supplies to sustain a hunting party for months in the wilderness. He emphasizes that the work was brutal, characterized by extreme weather, isolation, and the constant physical toll of skinning and processing hundreds of bison hides.

Beyond the mechanical aspects of the trade, the author reflects on the grim reality of the near-extermination of the buffalo herds. He provides a first-hand account of the efficiency and ruthlessness of the professional hunters, whose systematic slaughter fundamentally altered the landscape and devastated the way of life for Indigenous peoples. The narrative serves as both a memoir of a rugged profession and a somber historical testament to the rapid ecological and cultural shifts that defined the era.

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Step beyond official military dispatches to uncover the harrowing, forgotten world of the 19th-century frontier wife. In late 1866, Isadore Bowman Douglass journeyed 240 freezing miles across the plains to Fort Dodge with three young children, weathering the brutal winter inside a damp sod dugout carved into the Arkansas River bank. Drawing directly from author Michael D. King's groundbreaking release, Isadore Douglas: A Voice from the Kansas Frontier, this episode illuminates her intimate letters detailing frontier isolation, rising Kiowa tensions, and her courageous battle against the lethal 1867 cholera epidemic before her tragic death at age twenty-six. Discover this essential historical account today. Secure your copy of Isadore Douglas: A Voice from the Kansas Frontier by Michael D. King online at books.by/michael-d-king .

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Josiah Wright Moore, a young New Englander who traveled to Fort Hays, Kansas, in 1870 to make his fortune, recounts his initial struggles and a pivotal meeting with an experienced buffalo hunter named Jim White. After deciding to transition from hauling wood to buffalo hunting, Josiah attempts to purchase a wagon and team, which leads to a rough encounter with a stable owner who turns out to be Jim himself. Jim ultimately takes Josiah under his wing, and together they encounter Tom Nixon and AC Myers, who offer to form a four-man hunting team using a surplus outfit funded by eastern sportsmen. Inspired by a circular advertising a profitable market for buffalo hides through dealers like Charlie Rath, the men prepare to embark on a new hunting enterprise together.

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