[ENCORE] FRONTIER TRAGEDY Ep. 3 | Donner Party, Part 3

[ENCORE] FRONTIER TRAGEDY Ep. 3 | Donner Party, Part 3

Author: Black Barrel Media January 21, 2026 Duration: 33:09
The Donner Party faces another punishing trip across a desert before it finally reaches the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the border between Nevada and California. The party has lost a ton of time, but the travelers still believe they can make it over the mountains and into central California before winter. They make it as far as Truckee Lake – now Donner Lake – before they become trapped by blizzards. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shipping and 365-day returns: Quince.com/lotow Join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: blackbarrel.supportingcast.fm/join Apple users join Black Barrel+ for ad-free episodes, bingeable seasons and bonus episodes. Click the Black Barrel+ banner on Apple to get started with a 3-day free trial. For more details, visit our website www.blackbarrelmedia.com and check out our social media pages. We’re @OldWestPodcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. On YouTube, subscribe to LEGENDS+ for ad-free episodes and bingeable seasons: hit “Join” on the Legends YouTube homepage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a layer of dust and myth over the stories of the American West, and Legends of the Old West from Black Barrel Media works to brush it away. This isn't just a recitation of famous names and dates; it's an immersive audio documentary that places you in the worn boots of those who lived it. You'll hear the complexities behind the legends of figures like Wyatt Earp or Jesse James, but the scope extends far beyond gunfights and robberies. The podcast dedicates equal depth to the powerful nations of the Lakota, Comanche, and Apache, exploring the cultures and conflicts that defined the era from every perspective. Each episode is built on a foundation of historical research, weaving together narrative storytelling, expert commentary, and atmospheric sound design to reconstruct the deadliest towns and the pivotal events that forged a nation. It’s about understanding the convergence of people, ambition, and survival in a raw, expanding landscape. By focusing on the full tapestry of the period-encompassing history, arts, and society-this series provides a nuanced portrait of how the West was truly won, lost, and ultimately remembered. Tune in for a journey that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, where every story adds a new dimension to a foundational chapter of American history.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Legends of the Old West
Podcast Episodes
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL Ep. 5 | “Mountain Meadows Massacre” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:03
In August of 1857, a wagon train of travelers from Missouri and Arkansas rolls into Utah Territory. It’s called the Baker-Fancher party and it’s headed for California. The group camps in a high mountain valley called Mou…
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL Ep. 4 | “New Zion” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:49
New church leader Brigham Young declares that the Saints must go west to find a place where they can worship in peace. Porter Rockwell becomes the lead scout for the great exodus to Utah Territory. The Saints build Salt…
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL Ep. 3 | “A Mormon Samson” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:31
Porter Rockwell is arrested for the attempted murder of Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs, and Rockwell rots in jail for nearly a year. After a perilous journey to his new home in the Mormon settlement of Nauvoo, Illinois,…
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL Ep. 2 | “Destroying Angel” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:00
In the 1830s, Porter Rockwell and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints – commonly known as the Mormons – battle locals and militias in Missouri. Missouri governor Lilburn Boggs is determined to push…
ORRIN PORTER ROCKWELL Ep. 1 | “Faith and Fervor” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
Orrin Porter Rockwell is born into an era of religious fervor in the eastern United States. His family soon becomes close with the Smith family, and Porter becomes the youngest convert to Joseph Smith’s new religious mov…
OUTLAWS Ep. 6 | Ned Christie: “Legend and Legacy” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
In November of 1892, the final showdown arrives. The U.S. Marshals assault Ned Christie’s cabin and end Ned’s resistance. The marshals and the general public believe a murderous outlaw has been brought to justice. But as…
OUTLAWS Ep. 5 | Ned Christie: “Ned’s Fort” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:12
After the raid by Deputy U.S. Marshal Heck Thomas, Ned Christie builds a fortified cabin that is designed to withstand future attacks. He maintains his innocence in the case of the murder of Deputy U.S. Marshal Dan Maple…
OUTLAWS Ep. 4 | Ned Christie: “Making A Murderer” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
When a deputy U.S. marshal is murdered in the Cherokee capital, a respected Cherokee statesman named Ned Christie becomes the prime suspect. Newspaper stories portray Ned as a ruthless outlaw who commits every crime in t…
OUTLAWS Ep. 3 | Sam Bass: “Texas Outlaw” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:42
After the historic success of the Big Springs robbery, Sam Bass returns to Texas. He builds a new gang and continues his robbery spree. But now that he is a wanted criminal in Texas, he is hunted by the Texas Rangers. Th…
OUTLAWS Ep. 2 | Sam Bass: “Black Hills Bandit” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:51
Sam Bass and his business partner, Joel Collins, travel to Deadwood to find their fortunes, but their attempts to make legitimate money end in failure. They believe they have choice but to embrace the outlaw life. They a…