Season: 1 \ Episode: 6
Join us as we uncover the wild rise of Tascosa, the frontier town that became the hub of lawlessness in the Texas Panhandle. In this first of two episodes, we focus on the town's early days, from violent sheep wars to its transformation into a trading hub. Along the way, we’ll meet figures like Charles Goodnight and Casimero Romero, and set the stage for the arrival of Billy the Kid. Stay tuned for part two, where the story takes an even darker turn with outlaws and lawmen battling for control.
Featured music in this episode: "Say Goodbye" by Charlie Stout, from his 2016 album Dust & Wind (New American Frontier). Recorded live at the Taiban Church Historic Site, just a couple of miles from the site of Billy the Kid's capture.
Equity Saloon, Old Tascosa (1897), bartender Jack Cooper, Charlie Myers, Marcello Sandoval, Henry Lyman, Burt Killian, Mel Armstrong;
Photo of the original photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Julian Bivens Museum, Boys Ranch, Texas
Last Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, Alvis B. Grant (1923-2019)
Photo of the original image taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Julian Bivens Museum, Boys Ranch, Texas
Sharps Model 1874 Sporting Rifle, 1877, widely used by plains buffalo hunters,
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
On the Big Canadian River, May 1869, Vincent Colyer (1825-1888), watercolor
Photo of the original image taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Reproduction of an adobe casita of the type used by the pastores near Tascosa
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Scale model of Palo Duro Canyon
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Goodnight Ranch line camp cabin served as winter headquarters for 1-2 Goodnight cowboys in far-flung areas of the ranch
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Map of the Panhandle, late 1800s. Including Tascosa, Fort Elliott/Mobeetie, and railhead at Dodge City, KS
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Boothill Cemetery, Tascosa, Tx, 2024
Two dozen graves dot this site, mostly gunfight victims, including those who fell in the notorious Big Fight. It got its name because it holds those who died with their boots on
Photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter
Map of Old Tascosa
Photo of the original map taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Julian Bivens Museum, Boys Ranch, Texas
Reproduction of a Panhandle general store of the type that would have existed in Tascosa
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Exchange Hotel, 1887, Tascosa, Tx
Photo of the original photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Julian Bivens Museum, Boys Ranch, Texas
Reproduction of the Equity Saloon, Tascosa, Tx opened by Jack Ryan in 1881
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
Reproduction of a Panhandle livery stable of the type that would have existed in Tascosa
Photo taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, Canyon, Tx
The original Oldham County Courthouse, Tascosa, Tx, 2024
Now the Julian Bivens Museum, Boys Ranch, Tx. One of two original buildings still standing in the town
Photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter
Fort Worth & Denver Railroad Station at Tascosa, Texas, about 1888
Photo of the original photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter at Julian Bivens Museum, Boys Ranch, Texas
Barb wire surrounding Boot Hill Cemetery, Tascosa, Tx, 2024
Fencing of the open ranges marked the beginning of the end for Tascosa's dominance
Photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter
The Easy Crossing, Canadian River, Oldham County Texas, 2024
Photo taken a few miles upstream from Tascosa. Due to water diversion and drought, the river is now just a trickle
Photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter
Tascosa Today, 2024
Photo taken from the Boot Hill Cemetery overlooking Boys Ranch, a residential community founded by Cal Farley in 1939, dedicated to helping at-risk and underprivileged youth by providing education, mentorship, and a structured environment for personal growth. It is built on the site of Old Tascosa
Photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter
The Tascosa Historical Marker, 2024
Located at the entrance to Cal Farley's Boys Ranch
Photograph taken by Jody L. Slaughter
SHOW NOTES
Cold Open:
We set the scene in the Texas Panhandle, where two of Charles Goodnight's cowboys stumble upon a grisly scene at a sheep camp. The aftermath of violence between the Mexican pastores and Californian shepherds begins to unfold, setting the stage for the bloody Sheep Wars.
Chapter 1: The Sheep Wars
Tascosa’s location at the easy crossing of the Canadian River and its significance as a frontier town.
Introduction of Casimero Romero and the pastores, Mexican shepherds who settled the area.
The uneasy truce between cattlemen, led by Charles Goodnight, and the pastores, which was shattered by violence.
The murder of Don Vicente L'Arcubleta, and his son Sostenes’ vow to seek vengeance against any white man he saw.
The Casner brothers’ attack on Plaza Borrega, marking a turning point in the Sheep Wars.
Chapter 2: The Cattleman’s Time
The arrival of Charles Goodnight, Major George Littlefield, and the formation of the first large cattle ranches in the Panhandle.
How Tascosa became the key trading hub for cattlemen in the region, attracting settlers, traders, and outlaws alike.
The rise of squatter ranches like the LX Ranch and Frying Pan Ranch and the influx of cowboys and cattle rustlers.
How Tascosa grew into a bustling town with saloons, general stores, and a hotel, drawing a colorful mix of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws.
The creation of the Tascosa post office in 1878 and the rivalry between Upper Tascosa and Hogtown, the more lawless part of town.
Chapter 3: Neither snow nor rain...
The story of Tom Wilson, hired to carry mail between Tascosa and Mobeetie during the brutal Panhandle winters.
A recounting of the deadly blizzard that caught Wilson and his passengers off guard, leading to a harrowing journey through snowdrifts over a foot high.
The tragic loss of life and how the fierce Panhandle weather claimed Wilson and his passengers.
How a $10 investment to stake the dangerous road could have saved lives, but the price of neglect resulted in tragedy.
Chapter 4: the Kid
Billy the Kid's arrival in Tascosa with his gang, including Dave Rudabaugh, Charlie Bowdre, and the teenage Tom O’Folliard.
The infamous outlaw’s interactions with the local cattlemen, promising not to cause trouble while trading stolen horses and cattle.
The incident at the Romero plaza’s baile, where Billy’s men broke the no-firearms rule, leading to their banishment from the dances.
His exit from Tascosa and the rustled cattle he took with him.
The formation of the Panhandle Cattlemen’s Association and their determination to stop Billy the Kid and his gang’s cattle rustling.
Pat Garrett’s return to Tascosa, where he gathered a posse of Panhandle cowboys, including Charlie Siringo and Frank Weldon, to hunt down Billy the Kid.
The dramatic showdown between Garrett’s posse and Billy the Kid’s gang in New Mexico, resulting in the deaths of Tom O’Folliard and Charles Bowdre, and Billy’s eventual capture.
A thrilling standoff between Garrett and his Panhandle cowboys and a lynch mob out for Billy the Kid's head, and an out of control train.
Closing:
Thank you for tuning in to the WTX Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we explore the decline of Tascosa, the infamous “Big Fight,” and how the once-thriving town faded into history.
Listen to the Full Episode: Dive into the untamed history of Tascosa on WTX: A History of West Texas. From bloody sheep wars to outlaw alliances, this episode pulls no punches. Whether you’re fascinated by frontier justice, legendary figures like Billy the Kid, or how a lawless Panhandle town shaped the West, this is one episode you don’t want to miss. Buckle up for a wild ride through a town that burned bright and fast before vanishing into history.
Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to WTX: A History of West Texas on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review! Follow us on TWITTER for more updates and behind-the-scenes content.
Join the Conversation: What do you think about the legendary town of Tascosa? Have you visited the Texas Panhandle or explored its frontier history? Share your favorite stories, thoughts, or questions with us in the comments below or on our social media channels using the hashtag #WTXPodcast. We’d love to hear from you!
Further Reading
Maverick Town: The Story of Old Tascosa - John L. McCarty, University of Oklahoma Press, 1968
Tascosa: It's Life and Gaudy Times - Frederick Nolan, Texas Tech University Press, 2020
Credits:
Writer: Jody L. Slaughter
Producer: Jody L. Slaughter
Editor: Jody L. Slaughter
Engineer: Jody L. Slaughter
FEATURED MUSIC: "Say Goodbye" by Charlie Stout, from his 2016 album Dust & Wind (New American Frontier). Recorded live at the Taiban church, just a couple of miles from the site of Billy the Kid's capture.
Music by Gentry Ford and the Homeless Lobos (in order of appearance):
Song links coming soon
Contact:
Email: lubbockistATgmail.com
Twitter: @Lubbockist
Listen on:
Thanks for listening, and so long...from West Texas.
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