The Vanishing of Albert Jennings Fountain: New Mexico's greatest unsolved crime explained (PART 4)

In February of 1896, Albert Jennings Fountain and his 8-year-old son Henry vanished off the face of the earth, never to be seen again. The pair had been travelling near the present day white sands missile range in New Mexico when disaster struck; an abandoned wagon and blood stains the only clues alluding to their fate. To this day no bodies have been discovered and, although suspects abound, ultimately nobody will be held responsible.
Who was Albert Jennings Fountain? What dark secrets did he uncover that made him a target for the unthinkable? What does all of this have to do with Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid?
Strap in for this one as we delve into one of the greatest mysteries of the Old West, a whodunnit involving everyone from crooked politicians to notorious outlaws. This is part 4 in a series on Pat Garrett. Links below for the previous installments. #history #wildwest #historyfacts
Pat Garrett Part 1 - • Pat Garrett: The Origi...
Pat Garrett Part 2 - • Pat Garrett's Relentle...
Pat Garrett Part 3 - • Most HATED Lawman: Pat...
Looking for the Billy the Kid series? Start here: • Billy the Kid's Myster...
Pat Garrett: The Story of a Western Lawman by Leon Metz - www.amazon.com/dp/0806118385?...
To Hell on a Fast Horse by Mark Lee Gardner - www.amazon.com/dp/006136827X?...
Check out the website for more true tales from the Old West www.wildwestextra.com/
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[@hadleytorres8171]

Your improvisation of the conversation and between Lee and Garrett was pure gold!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I like to think that's the way it happened

[@hadleytorres8171]

@@WildWestExtravaganza your probably right, Garrett always struck me as the longing lover type.

[@bethbartlett5692]

​@@WildWestExtravaganza It would be of great value to explain the points of Democrat and Republican Parties having overwhelming ly swapped agendas post Civil War, (over time and more easily observable in the era following the war and around the Turn of the Century). Clearly President Lincoln reflected the traits of a Moderate Liberal, although the Southerners would have seen him as a far Left Liberal at the time of Emancipation. The Democrats of the era being the supporters of segregation and prejudice laws towards the Freed Men. The African American Man could Legally Vote prior to Suffrage success. Although the Southern States superseded their Right and thus it was the 1960's when they were finally allowed to vote in the South. The South remained Democrat with the shift to Republican beginning in the post Kennedy era and went consistently Red in the Reagan era. Funny that the Republicans ignore the fact and have an Annual "Lincoln Day Dinner". (I use to tease my late Brother-n-Law" about this, he was a big Republican and Chairman of the County Commission in Memphis for years. He was what I call a GOP Republican, a Moderate and * a Moderate Democrat, routinely we saw eye to eye on subjects, with the exception of Corporations and their Political Socio-Economic influence, moving the USA from Capitalism to Corporatism, (he didn't agree that was happening) it did with the efforts of Bush Sr and Jr, hiding in the shadow of Reagan, who set the scenario for the progression, but I don't think he realizes what he was allowing for.). (It has and I am fully opposed to the system.) However, the GOP Republicans were generally highly ethical, Eisenhower Republicans (like the late McCain, AZ) and would not/do not hold much in common with the DT Republicans. Large gap. At any rate, Party changes over time, is an expected occurrence as Humanity evolved and progresses, although it appears like a regression at times, (but that's largely a fear based resistance to change). "Discernment rather than Judgemental" The more folks come to receive Knowledge, the greater the Clarity, and this brings a Harmony that allows for attention to focus on the fuller picture, rather than being distracted on the "Commentaries Produced to keep the Public divided.) "Peace is found where Higher Minds Exist and Cooperation is a Desired Expectation." I appreciate your efforts to be fair in your descriptions, and holding a largely Moderate perspective. Beth Bartlett Sociologist/Behavioralist and Historian

[@Troffy21]

Hey Josh mate, I listen on apple podcast but subscribed here for the algorithm. I found your channel a few months ago and have binged almost every episode, 12 to go! You suggested watching Deadwood in an earlier episode and my wife and I absolutely demolished all three seasons in 3 weeks, which I then had to back and revisit your Bill Hickok series. Anyway, absolutely loving everything you put out mate and just wanted to share my appreciation. Keep it up. Much love, from way down south in Australia.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks man! Glad you liked Deadwood!

[@seanfoster3817]

Love your channel. You do a great job and hope you keep it up. I would like to hear you tell the story of the ( wild horse lake massacre) I don't know if you have heard of it. I think you would like it if you haven't heard of it . I live way out in the country in the Oklahoma panhandle. About 3 miles from were this took place. This story has not widely known and it will blow you away. The Oklahoma panhandle is no man's land. Back in the day it had no law. There isn't much of a lake there because he'll this is the Oklahoma panhandle but it was a watering place for the buffalo and there is a hole nother story with Bill Tillman when he was a marshal in Dodge City and came dawn for a buffalo hunt and almost got killed by lndians. Anyhow it has some good stories behind it. Might give you some good subjects to work with. Feel free to contact me if you need any information I can help you with. Looking forward to listening to any stories you put out. Keep it up you ROCK

[@sartainja]

You know for some reason in Deadwood, Johnny’s sled never got rusty and Mr. Wu’s hogs sure were fat.

[@oldhillbillybuckkowalski]

I grew up in New Mexico, living in both Chaves county (Roswell) and Roosevelt county (Elida and Portales) near Ft Sumner. My little brother lives just outside of Capitan NM about 10 miles from Lincoln NM where his wife worked at the Dolan House. It still amazes me at the amount of drama and intrigue that form the history of this state. If a person was to produce a movie that covered half of what happened in NM between 1870 and 1930 it would be called far fetched and unbelievable. Unfortunately, true to it's origins there still remains a lot of drama and intrigue within the state.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Tyler Sheridan should do an entire series on it.

[@oldhillbillybuckkowalski]

@@WildWestExtravaganza I think I have made at least 5 comments in your videos that you have taken the time to reply to. That is an awesome fact that Will keep me watching your videos.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

​@@oldhillbillybuckkowalskithey're good comments!

[@kennydoggins1712]

I'm a native NYer and lived in ABQ for a year (7200 block of central SE) and can confirm that to this day New Mexico has a lot of far fetched plotlines playing out

[@arkboy3]

As an Archaeologist with Human Systems Research in the mid 90s I did a lot of work regarding events such as these and Cold War history on WSMR. Lee had the lawmen pinned down behind the water tank having got a package from Sears, all the way from Germany, a new 8mm Mauser. We searched an old corral rumored to have had the Fountain's bodies thrown in with a couple hundred wild horses run through to obliterate them. We found nothing. I visited several of Garret's properties, a little brick Victorian cottage out on the desert, another place in the San Andres with a log structure near intermittent water. A grandson of Daddy Cox when interviewed by a fellow Anthropologist regarding his memories of the controversies Said, "My grandaddy didn't kill anyone that didn't need a killin'!" I wish I had pictures of all the cool things I saw on WSMR, but taking photos for personal use was regarded as espionage. The cameras we did use (film only) for archaeology were bar-coded by WSMR MPs.

[@garyolsavsky4667]

Josh, another no nonsense story about Pat Garrett. You are becoming a pretty good investigating author of the Wild West . Keep up the good work! Between you and me Lee murdered Fountain and his boy.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I'm thinking Lee is the culprit, too

[@richardlincoln8438]

I always look forward to the 'easter egg ' in the outro. Well done Josh, thanks.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks

[@DeepOwl1073]

Makes me laugh every time! But Jawsh ...

[@WilliamHorsley1962]

When I was 14 in 77 and was doing reactments at Fort Tejon at the foot of the grapevine I 5 in California. It was very popular back then. I'm not sure about today. It was a neat experience and I learned a lot about the Civil War

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I bet that was pretty fun

[@johnbyrd7400]

Great job again. It sure is funny how life builds these connections like the ones in this snippet demonstrate. Thanks for keeping these stories alive and making it interesting for, hopefully, future generations. Although this was shorter than the long format the quality even in editing seems to be improving. Kudos. Keep up the good work and I look forward to the next installment.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@BearWa11ace]

Hey Josh! Enjoyed this very much. Keep up the good work!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks man

[@dannysimmons3167]

Been waiting all morning for this

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Glad you're listening, Danny

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

So what do you think? Who did for Fountain and his boy? Was it really Oliver Lee and his pals or Black Jack Ketchum or someone else? Curious to hear your thoughts!!!!

[@fredhagman387]

My money is on Oliver Lee.

[@davidrudd9846]

Great series Josh. I would like hear your take on Dottie Dino I know another channel cover her but I would hear your take and what kind of dirt you can dig up on the Angel of San Antonio

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Yeah, hopefully help in the future

[@rialobran]

Entertaining and informative as ever.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Gracias

[@donc9751]

What is wrong with youtube!?? Here it is, 17 hours after it was posted and only just now was I notified! I've been waiting ever not so patiently, and KZbin falls down on the job!!! Smdh better late than ever so here we go!!! I know it's going to be a great video!!!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Glad you're here now!

[@donaldpease5535]

Thanx Josh, another great story, well done

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thank you, Donald

[@nathanielgreer2764]

You should do an episode on the disappearance of Abrose Bierce. He is the author who wrote Incident on Owl Creek Bridge.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Great suggestion

[@nathanielgreer2764]

@@WildWestExtravaganza if for nothing else it would be worth doing an episode to read his final letter where he said being stood up against the wall and shot to rags was his preferred method of euthanasia

[@kristaberck6821]

"Im John. W Poe. We're men of the govenor's" Poe was played by a young Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn - Lord of The Rings) in the classic 90s western 'young guns 2'. Love the channel!

[@michaeltwowolves3055]

New episode! Hell ya!!!

[@SKIDmarkCLARK]

Awesome story!!! Have you done one on Johnny Ringo yet?

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Yeah a long time ago but I need to redo it

[@tomdetroit01]

Beaver Trappin Josh with another podcast deposit for Boot Hill. Another great one

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Gracias

[@jonahhex8178]

Just watched a video with a guy named Brandon Dickson claiming his research shows Billy was only 19 when he died. Interesting stuff.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Interesting. Yeah, according to a lot of people who knew Billy, there's a good chance he was not yet 21

[@Face2theScr33n]

I had a teacher in high school named "Gilliland" and I can confirm it was pronounced "Gilland".

[@MTGAttitude]

Here we gooooooo....thanks Josh

[@mrbill_oh_no]

Pecos Irrigation & Investment Co. sounds like a great tshirt

[@benleake6334]

Just freaking excellent. Every single time.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks

[@denisethetford9178]

JOSH it's Gill-a-land. My 4th-5th great grandad was a high powered Abolitionist.Rev William Gilliland, died 1746 or so. Ill double check the dates if anyone is curious.

[@denisethetford9178]

Hey in fact, the good Rev's daughter Malinda/Milly was the one who married into the crazy. And here I am.

[@RSJ420]

Is this video part 4 to the pat Garrett part 1 2 and 3 in the description?

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Yes

[@Sandbankfight]

Amazing work brother thank you.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Much appreciated

[@Sandbankfight]

@@WildWestExtravaganza hell yes well deserved. It's folks like you that are going to bring an appreciation for the old west to the younger generation that never experienced it.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I sure hope so

[@willieclark2256]

What do you mean missing? Didn't he release a concept album about the frontier just last year?

[@671homey]

I was hoping you weren't going to tell us he did the other Will Smith thing.

[@chriscollins3840]

Josh ol buddy be nice LS is still in business and big as ever!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

They got a long history

[@chriscollins3840]

@WildWestExtravaganza Tascosa is located on the Canadian at a river crossing. The next crossing is at the Dam on Lake Merideth the next is Mobite. The big ranchers couldn't control the merchants at Tascosa because they didn't need the ranchers. The shooting was instigated by the ranchers to gain control. Ranchers gave cowboys town lots in Channing so they could vote to move the county seat. It was a cluster fuk and still is!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Crazy!

[@riles13]

Just a suggestion from a new viewer. Is there anyway we can get more on the Missouri bushwackers? Or the James younger gang or just Missouri in general right after the civil war.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Absolutely. Hopefully in a few months I'm going to do an entire series on Jesse James and I want to do a stand alone episode on Quantrill, too

[@riles13]

@@WildWestExtravaganza awesome appreciate you!

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I appreciate you too

[@lostviking540]

Dang he looks like Dale Earnhardt Sr.

[@ifronnin]

A family friend was Pat Garret’s great granddaughter.

[@tonyindiana]

Always satisfying

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Glad you think so

[@jacobballinger7208]

That will Smith shit was funny as fuck

[@sartainja]

Maybe one of Billy the Kid’s “pals” sent ole Albert to sleep with the fishes and ole Luci Brasi.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Maybe

[@timothyjohnson6258]

If I heard you correctly the name of the town Mexia is pronounced (Meh Hay' Ya). If I misheard you, my apologies. Cheap speakers and bad hearing on the computer.

[@hankworden3850]

Can we bring back the politicians shedding each other's blood thing?

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Fingers crossed

[@TheDuck632]

So the aliens is that related to the 1890 something crash up in North Texas

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Next episode

[@TheDuck632]

@@WildWestExtravaganza fine I won't ask for spoilers in case there's crybabies around lol. Another great episode

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Haha

[@haroldvoss5886]

Well, I not only get a Wednesday off, (Rare for an OilField Junkie) but, its like 8:30AM and I am on 1 of MANY beers for the day, cause I aint going outside in 107 degree Texas temps, and well, there are people outside, and heat and people dont mix. So I see the The Wild West Extravaganza notification pop up, and all is right in the universe..

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Why not make it a marathon

[@haroldvoss5886]

@@WildWestExtravaganza That is deff a great Idea !!!

[@carywest9256]

@@haroldvoss5886 A hundert en 7 ain't nuthin', in 1980 lze in witchatittie falls and it hit a hundert and 17. I'm for real, that was truly a scorcher of a summer!

[@rustleshackleford1553]

Goood morning!😉

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Buenos dias

[@brucepederson1921]

Ten gallon hats are not a thing, Tan galàn, means so handsome, which is what they used to refer to the men wearing the large western hats. So handsome, not 10 gallon 😅

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

10 gallon hats are a thing

[@bigGullyV]

Interesting, the missing fellow got his kid caught up in the middle.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I think the general idea was that surely nobody would stoop so low as to harm a child but unfortunately they did.

[@bigGullyV]

I love your program, very informative and just witty enough to draw a few laughs but never sacrificing educational value. As a limey would say "good show, ole boy"! Just kidding I

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks!

[@KingPhilipF]

This guy showed up and drove the 3. We called him the intimidator. Sounds like he's one of those he'll show again in 30 years or so

[@gregparker5461]

Dude love your pod cast but might not should have watched “Broke Back Mountain”. Uh, more than once anyways. Just kidden!

[@MicahBell_1860]

I'll go rhythm ❤

[@benridge6570]

Seams like you shoot straight up, just the way I like it.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Im trying

[@pete-mz9vr]

What evidence was there to suggest two bodies were wrapped up before being halled away?

[@smrtrthnu1571]

Thought this was about that Jennings guy disappearing, not pat Garret

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I thought it was too

[@jasonmatthews7829]

The lives of 19'th century women seemed to consist of canning, child-bearing, and watching the family finances disintegrate due to their husband's gambling habits.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Sadly a lot of manual labor too. My grandma (not 19th century but poor farm people) cooked 3 meals a day over a stove, and when she wasn't cooking she'd be out in the field picking cotton

[@jasonmatthews7829]

@@WildWestExtravaganza mine too, my friend. Hopefully, your grandma's, like mine, also at least had the occasional evening gnat smoke or commodities distribution to break up the monotony.

[@Rob-gy1dd]

@@WildWestExtravaganzaTough times. Tough dangerous times. Made people hard. Lotta softies around today. Sadly.

[@Rob-gy1dd]

@@jasonmatthews7829That sounds funny to me. May I ask what an evening gnat smoke and commodity distribution are? I’m sensing sarcasm.

[@user-uf7fw7hl7k]

People need to look at Garrett also

[@McDanielRanch]

Thomas Edward Ketchum one day it's coming.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

I promise

[@newyardleysinclair9960]

Bill Schultz is that you!?

[@VVershCSIV]

Just consider flipping througb 4 or 5 pics. Youd get another 30k subs immediately i bet

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

No time, unfortunately

[@johnevans93]

have to be honest, i could not get past the begineing of this video, they voice and tone of the nareater . so i give up on try`ing to listen till the end.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Imagine how I feel when I'm editing.

[@bruiserflemings1054]

I have watched less than five minutes of the video and already three ads, it's ridiculous

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

What if I were to tell you there was a way to listen with zero ads?

[@swhip897]

Utube premium 13.99 month..😊ez pz

[@bruiserflemings1054]

@WildWestExtravaganza il start paying when you have me on as a guest host lol

[@terryt-rexhanke746]

Encumbered by idjits we pressed on…

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Haha

[@doittoit4116]

Lots of ad interruptions in this one. Too many honestly! Had a hard time staying with this one.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

What type of interruptions?

[@user-uf7fw7hl7k]

Garrett's was a coward Garrett's did nothing when he was Shariff but lie in his book

[@grayman556]

Pat should have had a pinky ring.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Why? Gangsta?

[@grayman556]

@@WildWestExtravaganza heck yeah, I’m even thinking about getting one.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Do it

[@grayman556]

@@WildWestExtravaganza I think I am my brother. These stories you share give me all kinds of wonderful ideas.

[@kennedyrowland3272]

IIIIIITSS, TIIIIIIMMMMEEEEEE

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Let's go

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

We going

[@kennedyrowland3272]

LEGGO

[@KSFWG]

I've had enough of Pat Garret and Billy the Kid.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Wonder if maybe you can find something else to listen to?

[@nunzioification]

Yeehah!

[@swhip897]

😅😅😅

[@disfucker214]

667th like🤪😈🤪😈

[@joegonsalves3287]

His voice made me turn off and not watch the video 0:08

[@dbarker7794]

It's the use of the eff word that bugs me. It's not cool. It's overdone. Makes anyone sound like a dumb hick. Who wants history from a dumb hick with a limited vocabulary?

[@user-fd4ch6vh2g]

It will forever be bloody Beaver to me

[@procrastination.station]

Hey if a word has an R in it, it can get rolled. I care not what other men do. 🤠. I dig it.

[@BeaverSmashing]

I finally ran out of Wild West Extravaganza videos 🥲

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Only one thing to do...start again from the very beginning

[@BeaverSmashing]

@WildWestExtravaganza I've certainly listened to a few more than once. You're killing it, man, keep up the good work! I hope to see this channel grow and grow.

[@WildWestExtravaganza]

Thanks man