The frontier West in history, myth, film, and popular fiction
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Western writer inspiration, no. 28
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Here is this week's omnibus of #westernwriter inspirations posted each day at twitter [click to enlarge]. If you are on twitter, you can follow me @rdscheer.
Kikapoo wickiup, Indian Territory (Oklahoma), 1880
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Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, 1871
Harry Yount at Berthoud Pass, Colorado, 1874
Arapaho camp with buffalo meat drying near Fort Dodge, Kansas, 1870
Lynching of two vigilantes, Helena, MT, 1870
Land sale poster, Burlington & Missouri River RR, 1872
Navajo family, near old Fort Defiance, New Mexico, 1873
Old lynching photos are a fascinating glimpse into another time. People actually packed their picnic baskets and bought their kids along for the hanging. I guess they saw it as a form of entertainment.
But a movie like THE OXBOW INCIDENT shows just how badly things could turn out when you bypass the law and turn justice over to the mob.
Walker, I'm guessing many believed that a hanging was deserved, even if it was for a crime committed by someone else. It eliminated a man who was more than likely already considered a "bad apple." As for taking along the children, it was surely meant as a lesson for them to obey the law.
Old lynching photos are a fascinating glimpse into another time. People actually packed their picnic baskets and bought their kids along for the hanging. I guess they saw it as a form of entertainment.
ReplyDeleteBut a movie like THE OXBOW INCIDENT shows just how badly things could turn out when you bypass the law and turn justice over to the mob.
Walker, I'm guessing many believed that a hanging was deserved, even if it was for a crime committed by someone else. It eliminated a man who was more than likely already considered a "bad apple." As for taking along the children, it was surely meant as a lesson for them to obey the law.
DeleteDoesn't Visiting "Furnace creek" in "Death Valley" just sound like a heavenly vacation? :)
ReplyDelete"Ya cant beat a good hanging!".............. Anyway, it was a different time, like as not, they all had a pic nic after.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures Ron, loved it.
I'm with Charles on this!
ReplyDelete