Old towns from Wild West in USA.

[ColinEssex]

I've noticed that in a lot of documentaries and factual films on TV about the USA, there always seems to be an old Wild West town that is uninhabited like a ghost town that was once a bustling place in the cowboy and Indian films.

Are there many of these disused towns like this and why are they derelict? Did the red Indians win in the end and wipe out the evil white man?

I know modern places like Detroit are crumbling into ruins but what about the old towns.

Col

 

[Steve R.]

As a quick guess, based on my limited knowledge, it had to do with (gold, silver) mining. Once the ore ran out, good-by town.

There may also be some (boom/bust) associated with the cattle industry and the growth of the railroad.

 

[kevlray]

There is a 'ghost town' on the east side of California called Bodie. It was a mining town. It is a state park. I have never been there, but I have seen programs on the TV talking about it. There are other 'ghost towns' throughout the west. But I believe that nature and human vandalism have pretty much wiped most of them out. A few 'ghost towns' live on as tourist traps.

 

[Marlin47]

Speaking on behalf of the Native Americans ( I am an honorary chief of the Crow tribe of Montana and spent several months on their reservation in 1988 ), I can tell you that the N.A.s were horribly mistreated by both Americans and their government throughout the whole of the 19th. Century. Apart from the forcible removal from their homelands and the genocide inflicted upon them ( biological warfare, for example, when the Indians were given
blankets infected with smallpox ), the US government deliberately broke every single treaty of the hundreds that they signed.

Insofar as " ghost towns " are concerned, many were towns that were built in expectation of a rail link that was not built, a mine that was worked out, or a cattle drive that was superseded by the rail road. There are still quite a few that I have visited in Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas ; few are not tourist traps. There are also one or two in New Hampshire that i have also visited,but these were destroyed when the British and Canadians defeated the Americans in their attempts to invade Canada in the War of 1812.

There are also several along the old Route 66, but they tend to be of a more modern nature.

 

[Fifty2One]

The Apsáalooke do not make people 'honorary chiefs'

Speaking on behalf of the Native Americans ( I am an honorary chief of the Crow tribe of Montana and spent several months on their reservation in 1988 ), I can tell you that the N.A.s were horribly mistreated by both Americans and their government throughout the whole of the 19th. Century. Apart from the forcible removal from their homelands and the genocide inflicted upon them ( biological warfare, for example, when the Indians were given
blankets infected with smallpox ), the US government deliberately broke every single treaty of the hundreds that they signed.

Insofar as " ghost towns " are concerned, many were towns that were built in expectation of a rail link that was not built, a mine that was worked out, or a cattle drive that was superseded by the rail road. There are still quite a few that I have visited in Montana, Wyoming and the Dakotas ; few are not tourist traps. There are also one or two in New Hampshire that i have also visited,but these were destroyed when the British and Canadians defeated the Americans in their attempts to invade Canada in the War of 1812.

There are also several along the old Route 66, but they tend to be of a more modern nature.

 

[Marlin47]

The Apsáalooke do not make people 'honorary chiefs'

I don't know about them, but the Crow do ! My Chiefdom is a long story and, frankly, I can't be bothered to tell you. I will say, though, that they made me a Chief, because after forty years of their trying to get affiliated to the North American Rugby league, I achieved it for them in a couple of hours and three phone calls and two faxes. Not only did I receive a Chiefdom, but also many other privileges too. Try reading about Lewis and Clark !

 

[Groundrush]

My Chiefdom is a long story and, frankly, I can't be bothered to tell you

I will say, though, that they made me a Chief, because after forty years of their trying to get affiliated to the North American Rugby league, I achieved it for them in a couple of hours and three phone calls and two faxes. Not only did I receive a Chiefdom, but also many other privileges too.

Huh!!

Some might say "To cut a long story short" then give a brief description.
Not say I can't be bothered to tell you but then in the same sentence tell them anyway.

 

[Marlin47]

Huh!!

Some might say "To cut a long story short" then give a brief description.
Not say I can't be bothered to tell you but then in the same sentence tell them anyway.

What is it with you ? I you don't like my posts, then don't bother reading them. Clearly I am mistaken in my assumption that most people possessed of a certain sense of adventure and enough moolah to fund it, will have, by the time they are able to access the Internet, travelled somewhat and had a few adventures....... I most certainly have - e.g. By the end if this month I will have spent two weeks in the USA and one week in Prague ( where I am staying in a hotel that charges £600 per night and has the best cigar bar and finest Cognacs in the World ).

Switch of your PC and get off your arse, see the World and get some great experiences under your belt. You can't be a spotty, self abusing mall rat for all of your life !

 

[Marlin47]

Huh!!

Some might say "To cut a long story short" then give a brief description.
Not say I can't be bothered to tell you but then in the same sentence tell them anyway.

You got the short version of this tale. Had I not have abbreviated it, it would have included blizzards, a car crash, Native American hooch, Red Indian sweat lodges, wolves ( or coyotes, I couldn't tell the difference ! ), blood brother ceremonies and nubile young virgins. Now do you see why I just can't be bothered to tell you ?

 

[Groundrush]

You got the short version of this tale. Had I not have abbreviated it, it would have included blizzards, a car crash, Native American hooch, Red Indian sweat lodges, wolves ( or coyotes, I couldn't tell the difference ! ), blood brother ceremonies and nubile young virgins. Now do you see why I just can't be bothered to tell you ?

But you just did

 

[Groundrush]

What is it with you ? I you don't like my posts, then don't bother reading them. Clearly I am mistaken in my assumption that most people possessed of a certain sense of adventure and enough moolah to fund it, will have, by the time they are able to access the Internet, travelled somewhat and had a few adventures....... I most certainly have - e.g. By the end if this month I will have spent two weeks in the USA and one week in Prague ( where I am staying in a hotel that charges £600 per night and has the best cigar bar and finest Cognacs in the World ).

Switch of your PC and get off your arse, see the World and get some great experiences under your belt. You can't be a spotty, self abusing mall rat for all of your life !

Hey Marlin, I don't mean to offend you & I do like your posts. I don't believe a word you say though but never the less enjoy reading them.

I only contributed to this thread because I found that your reply to Fifty2One appeared a little rude when you said

I don't know about them, but the Crow do ! My Chiefdom is a long story and, frankly, I can't be bothered to tell you

It should have ended there but instead you proceeded to tell the story anyway

Just like you did again replying to me

I see that this is exactly what you need from us for your little world to exist.
Wonder what would happen if no one replied or commented to your posts

 

[Fifty2One]

The Apsáalooke people are the Crow Nation you half whit.

I don't know about them, but the Crow do ! My Chiefdom is a long story and, frankly, I can't be bothered to tell you. I will say, though, that they made me a Chief, because after forty years of their trying to get affiliated to the North American Rugby league, I achieved it for them in a couple of hours and three phone calls and two faxes. Not only did I receive a Chiefdom, but also many other privileges too. Try reading about Lewis and Clark !

 

[Groundrush]

The Apsáalooke people are the Crow Nation you half whit.

... Got to stop drinking coffee whilst reading these posts. Already chocked once before reading your previous comment

 

[Marlin47]

Perhaps it might help if I explain that I recently retired at a much younger than normal age.
I did so in order to write, having been commissioned to write give books. Before that I had a very high powered and extremely busy job as a partner in a law practice.

In common with many writers I sometimes suffer from writers block or just boredom ; hence my contributing to this and other forums. This keeps me sharp and on the ball.

Insofar as my seemingly telling everything about " the story " as you persist in maintaining,
I'd be a very crappy author if I only put the chapter headings such as " Death Blizzard "'
" Battle with the Wolves ", My Blood Brother ", " Deflowering the Virgins " etc on page one
and every other page was blank with no text, but this is what I have chosen to do here since I can't be arsed to do anymore than that.

 

[Marlin47]

The Apsáalooke people are the Crow Nation you half whit.

Such supreme irony ! One calling another a " half whit ". What does that make you then ? A no whit ? The correct spelling is Half Wit !

 

[scott-atkinson]

You got the short version of this tale. Had I not have abbreviated it, it would have included blizzards, a car crash, Native American hooch, Red Indian sweat lodges, wolves ( or coyotes, I couldn't tell the difference ! ), blood brother ceremonies and nubile young virgins. Now do you see why I just can't be bothered to tell you ?

Now don't tell me the movie Dances with Wolves with Cardboard Costner as the lead was all about you...

 

[Brianwarnock]

Such supreme irony ! One calling another a " half whit ". What does that make you then ? A no whit ? The correct spelling is Half Wit !

I think you will find that we all make typos, yes even you , read post 8, plus 50to1 I believe is French Canadian and his first language is not English, but you are too far up your own orifice to consider such possibilities.

BTW I notice that you did not dispute his facts.

Brian

 

[Marlin47]

Yesterday my gardener trimmed back the hawthorn hedge. Last night a fire engine drove
through the village. This morning my cleaning lady told me she needed more pine scented sink cleaner, and the post man asked me to sign for a parcel. I am torn with indecision as to whether or should have either a cheese and pickle or a ham and tomato sandwich for lunch........oh yes, one of the dogs vomited under the kitchen table.

I'd like to think that no one on this forum would be interested in such picayune mundane
matters as these. Of course, I might be wrong, but I assume that most of my co contributors to this forum are reasonably sophisticated, adequately intelligent and possessed of a modicum of worldly wisdom. That, hopefully, being so, I try to make my threads reasonably interesting in the hope that they might inspire some stimulating replies.
Am I to be eternally disappointed ?

 

[Fifty2One]

Perhaps it might help if I explain that I recently retired at a much younger than normal age.
I did so in order to write, having been commissioned to write give books. Before that I had a very high powered and extremely busy job as a partner in a law practice.

 

[Marlin47]

I think you will find that we all make typos, yes even you , read post 8, plus 50to1 I believe is French Canadian and his first language is not English, but you are too far up your own orifice to consider such possibilities.

BTW I notice that you did not dispute his facts.

Brian

Brian,

For me to dispute his facts, which I believe was only one in number and referred to an alternative, obscure alternative name for the Crow tribe, would reduce me to the same level as those who dispute mine, even when my facts pertain to such humdrum and insignificant things as my once being in the Army, or owning an Aston Martin etc.

Pray tell me, for I would clearly benefit from knowing,
do these things elevate me to a God like status ? Do they provoke others into
paroxsysms of grief and doubt ? Are all of the other members of this forum
humble serfs who have never achieved anything in their life or owned a nice
car ? For this is what I am forced to conclude when my insignificant lifestyle seems to be so doubted by others as being achievable.