Journey Through Time 29. The Downfall of Billy the Kid: Gun Fights and Prison Breaks (Ep 2)
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Sep 10, 2025 Explore the thrilling life of Billy the Kid as he escapes from prison and confronts the notorious Pat Garrett, whose role in his story is more complex than legend suggests. The podcast dissects the dramatic siege at Lincoln during the Lincoln County War, revealing the media's pivotal role in mythologizing the outlaw. It also unpacks the final days leading to Billy's last stand, questioning the narratives that define his legacy and the one-dimensional portrayals that have emerged in popular culture.
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Small-Town Meeting, Not Close Friendship
- Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid knew each other in tiny Fort Sumner but were not the close friends Hollywood later made them out to be.
- They simply encountered one another in a small town before Garrett later hunted Billy, a less dramatic origin than myth suggests.
Army Neutrality Shifted The Battle's Outcome
- The Lincoln County War climaxed in a five-day siege while federal troops in town refused to intervene, claiming civilian neutrality.
- That refusal let local factions decide the outcome and exposed how authority favored veterans and allies, not impartial justice.
McSween's Burning House Escape
- During the siege McSween's house was set on fire and Billy led a smoke-covered dusk escape, though not all men made it out alive.
- McSween was gunned down and Billy once again escaped under heavy fire, adding to his growing legend.
