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Lore

Legends 36: Strike it Rich

Duration
32m
Broadcast on
16 Sep 2024
Audio Format
other

Legends 36: Strike It Rich

Few human characteristics generate more legends than our greed and corruption. So it should be no surprise that entire towns built on those principles are often filled with ghosts.

Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Alex Robinson, and research by Alex Robinson and Cassandra de Alba.

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This episode is sponsored by Wildwood. From Leica, the studio behind Coraline, comes a new epic fantasy adventure. And at the heart of Wildwood is a simple question. How far would you go for someone you love? Wildwood is a handcrafted epic fantasy adventure that transports audiences into a secret magical and dangerously alive world just beyond their doorstep. At its heart is the story of a courageous girl, Prue McKeel, on a desperate mission to rescue her baby brother from a forbidden forest filled with enchanted creatures, endearing allies, and formidable adversaries. Her journey unfolds in a spectacular high-stakes adventure where the fate of an entire hidden world hangs in the balance. The film features vocal performances from Carrie Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, and Angela Bassett. And I have to tell you folks, I have seen the trailer for this film so many times, and I cannot wait to park my button to seat and experience this adventure. Wildwood is now playing in theaters everywhere, so grab your tickets today. Breathe in and reset with Lincoln Rejuvenate, an available multi-sensory feature in the 2027 Lincoln Navigator SUV. Experience the luxurious massage, visuals, and sense to help you relax in the driver's seat. It's your time for a recent visit Lincoln.com to learn more. Lincoln Rejuvenate does not operate unless the vehicle is in part. When the vehicle is off or if any door is open, do not use the feature in a closed garage or in other enclosed areas. The owner's manual for important operating instructions, Lincoln and Navigator trade marks of Fort Worth's affiliates, all rights reserved. Welcome to Lore Legends, a subset of lore episodes that explore the strange tales we whisper in the dark, even if they can't always be proven by the history books. So if you're ready, let's begin. [Music] They were parts of the California Gold Rush. Starting in 1849, pioneers from all over the country picked up and moved out west. Just the hope of digging up a few nuggets was enough to convince them to upend their entire lives. In October of 1849, the San Joaquin Company made a dangerous decision on their way to the Promised Land. Instead of wintering in Salt Lake City, they would brave crossing the Sierra Nevada mountains during the coming winter. Except the peaks of the Sierra Nevada were not where you wanted to be when a blizzard rolled in. It went well at first, but it was slow going and everyone was getting frustrated. It is until a young newcomer wrote up, claiming to know a different, faster route. The company's official guide said no, but traveling had worn them down. They were exhausted and even more importantly eager to make it to the gold-dusted hills of California. So in the end, 27 of the original 107 wagons hitched their hopes on this new path. It was the worst mistake they could have ever made. They ended up in a desert valley and several men from their company died before ever making it out. Those who survived were severely malnourished, including an 8-year-old boy who lost so much weight that he left as light as a 3-year-old. And their tragedy gave the location the name that it has today, Death Valley. America loves a get-rich-quick scheme. It's what we were founded on after all, discovering a faster trade route, finding a shortcut to wealth. Even today, most of us want to get rich fast and we would do anything to make it happen. But history reminds us of what happens when we make moves only motivated by our own gain. Some strike it rich, but even more go home empty-handed. And a lot of folks end up getting hurt along the way. The trouble is, rot tends to spread throughout the foundations of any town established on the basis of greed. And eventually, the ground gives way and everyone, the mine owner, the miners, and innocent bystanders alike, all fall through. I'm Aaron Mankey, and this is Lore Legends.
Nestled in a canyon, only 8 miles outside of Mexico is the Arizona town of Bisbee. Now, like a lot of small towns, this one didn't start out that way. While it was never the busiest slice of civilization out west, it still boasted a population of 25,000 inhabitants at its peak in 1910. And for a town in Arizona, that was pretty good, about an eighth of the state's total population at the time. Silver and gold were both found in the surrounding hills, but the real gem of the valley was copper. Bisbee built itself on copper mining, and I mean that literally. It's actually estimated that Bisbee sits on top of over 2,000 miles of mining tunnels. Now, despite the town's prosperous growth, life out there wasn't peaceful. Of course, it came with all the usual struggles of surviving in a new desert settlement with limited resources. But the biggest issue was that the riches buried deep in the canyons of the Mule Mountains attracted all different kinds of people, and some of them had no problem making life harder for everyone else.

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