To this day, the Wild West can overwhelm someone with a rush of nostalgia for adventurous, even dangerous times that have long since passed. While there are still plenty of old-school saloons plotted throughout the West, things have changed, and the lawlessness that once made up the Wild West is no more. We’ll take a look at some of the most compelling unsolved mysteries that surround the Wild West.
1. The Disappearance of Albert and Henry Fountain
Tracing back to 1896, attorney Albert Fountain along with his son Henry ended up vanishing in New Mexico. Their wagon ended up later being discovered with both bloodstains and also bullet casings. However, their bodies were never recovered.
2. The Missing Head of Pancho Villa
After Pancho Villa’s body had been exhumed in 1926, his head ended up being mysteriously stolen. There are theories floating around that it was taken by a gang of rival generals. However, others believe it ended up with Yale’s Skull and Bone’s society.
3. The Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine
The legend goes that German prospector Jacob Waltz discovered a hidden gold mine out in Arizona. However, he ended up dying before he revealed its location. Numerous treasure hunters still rabidly search for it to this day.
4. The Fate of Butch Cassidy
Even though there are reports that say Butch Cassidy died during a Bolivian shootout in 1908, others still claim that he returned to the U.S. under the guise of a new identity.
5. The Mystery of Etta Place
The infamous companion of the Sundance Kid, Etta Place, apparently disappeared following a getaway to South America with the band of outlaws. To this day her fate remains unknown.
6. Tom Ketchum’s Hidden Loot
An outlaw who was named Tom Ketchum was executed in 1901. The rumors persist that he managed to hide a massive fortune in gold somewhere in the Chiricahua Mountains.
7. The Thunderbird Photograph
Reports circulating from the 1800s tell tale of an enormous winged creature, even suggesting that it could’ve been a pterodactyl. They claim it was nailed to a barn in Tombstone, Arizona. Even with the wild claims that such a photo existed, it’s never actually been found. So, jury’s out on that one.
8. Pearl Hart’s Vanishing
Pearl Hart was a famous stagecoach robber who ended up being released from prison in 1902. Some reports claim that she lived quietly in 1955, while others are convinced that she vanished under very mysterious circumstances.
9. Belle Starr’s Murder
Belle Starr was a notorious outlaw who was shot in 1889. However, mysteriously enough, her killer never ended up being identified. The suspects surrounding the case included her husband, a neighbor, and her own son.
10. The Murders of May and Fred Prescott
In 1916, the couple was found after having been viciously killed in their Arizona home. A note suggested that it could’ve been a case of a murder-suicide, while numerous suspect inconsistencies left the case unsolved.
11. The Disappearance of Cattle Baron John Doherty
In 1875, John Doherty, an esteemed cattleman, vanished during a trip through New Mexico. His body was never located, and the rumors of foul play ran amok.
12. The Vanishing McGinnis Brothers
These infamous ranchers who hailed from Texas ended up disappearing in 1884 during the transportation of some valuable cattle. Their wagon was ultimately abandoned, while the brothers were never to be seen again.
13. The Death of Sheriff Pat Garrett
The lawman who was credited with killing Billy the Kid was shot in 1908. However, some folks believe that he was murdered over a land dispute, while the other side of historians suggest that it was revenge.
14. The Mysterious Death of Sam Bass
The notorious outlaw, Sam Bass, was mortally wounded during a nasty shootout in 1878. However, there are plenty of people that would passionately argue to you that he faked his death, and proceeded to live under a new name.
15. Catherine Miss Kate Arnold’s Ashes
Buffalo Bill Cody’s housekeeper specifically requested that her ashes be placed inside the walls of the Sheridan Inn out in Wyoming. Even though her wish was ultimately granted, nobody can quite figure out exactly where the final rest place of the ashes ended up being.
