Riding the Storm: The Bold Rescue of Chief Spotted Tail in the Old West

Imagine yourself in the Wild West, where buffalo roam and tensions are high. Are you ready to venture back to 1870s Dodge City, to a time fraught with peril and intrigue? This episode plunges you right into the heart of a deadly standoff involving Cheyenne Chief Spotted Tail and renowned buffalo hunter Charles Rath. With a violated peace treaty as the catalyst, you'll feel the urgency of Chief Spotted Tail's journey to deliver a dire warning to Charles, who was the best hope for reaching fellow buffalo hunters.

But that's just the beginning of this riveting tale. Expect to be swept up in a whirlwind of courage and daring as Charles, aided by his wife Kerry and Sally McCarty, Dodge City's first physician's wife, battles against the clock and an enraged mob to secure Chief Spotted Tail's safety. Can they navigate the complexities of frontier life and successfully execute a daring plan to get the Cheyenne chief out of Dodge City alive? Prepare for a wild ride through this vivid slice of history and a glimpse into the fearless human spirit. Don't miss out on this high-stakes adventure! Read more about Chief Spotted Tails Life and Death

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

During the 1870s, conflicts between area buffalo hunters and plains Indian tribes were frequent. In 1872, the Cheyenne had heard talk of hunters not honoring the Medicine Lodge Peace Tree and hunting buffalo south of the Arkansas River. The Cheyenne sent Chief Spottertail to warn Charles Wrath of what would happen to the buffalo hunters should the treaty be neglected. Wrath, a well-known buffalo hunter, was believed to be able to send the Cheyenne message to numerous hunters. Charles Wrath was living behind the city drug store in a divided lean-to with his wife Kerry. The other half of the lean-to had been rented to Dodge City's first physician, dr T L McCarty, and his new bride Sally. Both women were new to the plains and had little contact with Indians before their arrival. Upon the chief's arrival, charles Wrath knew that Spottertail's safety was in grave danger. Wrath rushed out to meet the chief and pulled him into the safety of the drug store to protect his life from the angry mob of Dodge City citizens. He pushed his companion into the lean-to, much to the surprise of Sally McCarty. The room's occupant Sally prompted the chief to take shelter under McCarty's bed. Sally then called for her neighbor Kerry Wrath to come over and aid with her predicament.

Speaker 1: 1:37

Charles then listened to the message from Chief Spottertail and attempted to find a way to get the chief out of Dodge City unnoticed. This would be tricky with armed men standing watch over the lean-to. Wrath is said to have made several pleas for assistance to neighboring Fort Dodge, with no avail. So Sally peeked out the front door to see if the coast was clear, but she found armed men laying in wait across the street. Charles Wrath decided to make one last daring attempt to get the Cheyenne chief safely out of town, risking both of their lives if he failed. He raced a team of horses pulling a wagon to the lean-to. Charles ordered Spottertail to climb onto the wagon and take shelter beneath a buffalo robe. Chief Spottertail climbed onto the wagon and Wrath spurred the horses on. They surprised the mob so much that it took a moment for the men to mount and give chase. However, the chase did not last long. The mob realized the other hoofbeats they heard were those of the 6th US Cavalry of Fort Dodge headed in their direction.