S1E8 - Railroad Bill, Outlaw of the American South
Explicit content warning
12/15/20 • 29 min
It’s a rainy night in the Florida panhandle, but that won’t stop us from interviewing the ghost of a legendary gun-slinger! You may be familiar with the fictional Django Unchained , but did you know there was a real African-American outlaw and hero-of-the-people who once terrorized the Florida railways? Enter Railroad Bill, the slickest bandit in the Southeast.
Morris Slater was a turpentine worker throughout the American Southeast. He was tossed off a moving train by a worker of the Louisville-Nashville Railroad Company and swore vengeance on them for the rest of his days. And, just like that, the anti-hero & desperado, "Railroad Bill" was born. Railroad Bill earned his namesake by harassing the Louisville-Nashville Railroad Company to the point where gunfights broke out. Having successfully evaded some 17 shootouts, killed two sheriffs, and gained a bounty of over $1,250 along with the attention of bounty hunters as far out as Illinois (the Pinkerton among them), Bill finally met his end in 1896 after being caught in the crossfire of bounty-men and police who both were hunting him down to cash in on his reward.
Morris Slater had his corpse paraded around between Alabama and Florida by sheriffs looking to make a quick buck until finally being discarded in an unmarked grave among many other African Americans. His body was later identified and relocated within St. Johns Cemetery in Pensacola, FL, and given a proper tombstone.
The Talegate Podcast is an absolute supporter of the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement and encourage you to take part in the fight against systemic injustice to make the world an equally better place for all who share our little planet. Consider donating to Victim Funds or one of many other amazing organizations found here:
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html
Check out more on these topics by listening to The Talegate Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or any other fine podcast directories; and please rate, review, and subscribe. OR simply follow the link our user-friendly website at www.thetalegatepodcast.com! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thetalegatepodcast and write us with your own stories at [email protected].
It’s a rainy night in the Florida panhandle, but that won’t stop us from interviewing the ghost of a legendary gun-slinger! You may be familiar with the fictional Django Unchained , but did you know there was a real African-American outlaw and hero-of-the-people who once terrorized the Florida railways? Enter Railroad Bill, the slickest bandit in the Southeast.
Morris Slater was a turpentine worker throughout the American Southeast. He was tossed off a moving train by a worker of the Louisville-Nashville Railroad Company and swore vengeance on them for the rest of his days. And, just like that, the anti-hero & desperado, "Railroad Bill" was born. Railroad Bill earned his namesake by harassing the Louisville-Nashville Railroad Company to the point where gunfights broke out. Having successfully evaded some 17 shootouts, killed two sheriffs, and gained a bounty of over $1,250 along with the attention of bounty hunters as far out as Illinois (the Pinkerton among them), Bill finally met his end in 1896 after being caught in the crossfire of bounty-men and police who both were hunting him down to cash in on his reward.
Morris Slater had his corpse paraded around between Alabama and Florida by sheriffs looking to make a quick buck until finally being discarded in an unmarked grave among many other African Americans. His body was later identified and relocated within St. Johns Cemetery in Pensacola, FL, and given a proper tombstone.
The Talegate Podcast is an absolute supporter of the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement and encourage you to take part in the fight against systemic injustice to make the world an equally better place for all who share our little planet. Consider donating to Victim Funds or one of many other amazing organizations found here:
https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-for-black-lives-matter.html
Check out more on these topics by listening to The Talegate Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or any other fine podcast directories; and please rate, review, and subscribe. OR simply follow the link our user-friendly website at www.thetalegatepodcast.com! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thetalegatepodcast and write us with your own stories at [email protected].
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S1E9 - Christmas Special with La Befana, the Italian Christmas Witch
Have you been Naughty or Nice? La Befana the Christmas Witch joins Cheesehead and Florida Man in their very first Christmas Special! Hand-gesturing all the way from Italy on her magical broom, La Befana shares the gift of history, rooted in the ancient world, as well as her role with the Three Kings!
La Befana, the Christmas Witch, dips her toes in legends predating Christ himself. The Ancient Greeks, Romans, and various Alpine communities all had myths and stories similar to hers, so it is not a wonder she is so revered and respected in Italy to this day. Befana Day is on Epiphany Eve, January 6th, where children wake up to goodies such as chocolates, fruits, and candies if they have behaved but coal, soap, or garlic if they were were mischievous. Despite being used as propaganda by the Italian Fascist party and having the holiday suspended in the 1970's, Befana Day is alive and well all over Italy and other Alpine regions.
La Befana is voiced by native Italian tour guide, historian, and language teacher, Antonietta Fabiano. You can find her by following the links below:
italianclasseswithme.wordpress.com & on Instagram @italian_classes_with_me
Check out more on these topics by listening to The Talegate Podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or any other fine podcast directories; and please rate, review, and subscribe. OR simply follow the link our user-friendly website at www.thetalegatepodcast.com! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thetalegatepodcast and write us with your own stories at [email protected].
The Talegate Podcast - S1E8 - Railroad Bill, Outlaw of the American South
Transcript
THE TALEGATE PODCAST
Episode 6: Railroad Bill
Part 1: Intro
FLORIDA MAN: Howdy folks, and welcome to The Talegate!
CHEESEHEAD: For those of you just joining us, we’re on a roadtrip across America to uncover the mysteries behind tall tales, fairy tales, folktales, fishtales, & urban legends, one interview at a time.
FM: We inherited a truck from our late Granny May a
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