Behind the Scenes

This is an ongoing post about how the book "Buckskin Bessie - Her Lost Letters" came about.

It is posted every Monday and the original was posted in Jan. 2008

No part of this information may be reproduced in anyway.

Today will be my last post of Behind the Scenes.

Last week I ended by saying many unusual people and events came into my life while writing the book but there were also many mysteries that I could not solve, like what happen to the lady that originally owned the letters (Bessie's niece). I tried and tried to find her and my interview with her brother only made me more suspicious that she didn't just walk away from it all. What I wouldn't have given to talk with her.

Although I was clueless to the fame of the 101, I discovered that there were collectors that spent thousands of dollars for original 101 memorabilia and in fact I met one who allowed me to use some of his pictures of Bessie. The 101 ranch and Wild West Show was famous in it's day but it is a money maker today as well.

An original 101 poster sold for $25,000.00 recently.

Joe Miller's saddle that is on display at the Woolaroc Museum in Bartlesville, Okla. was just a glimpse of the unbelievable amount of money they had. Here are a few pictures

Solid gold and silver and the gems are all real.........what would the value of it be today? Why wasn't Bessie's saddle (a gift from Joe Miller that was to have matched) found in the rubble of the fire? Or any of the jewelry she had like the steer head with the diamond eyes she won in a relay race (picture of her wearing it in the book). Why did I unknowingly stand at the foot of her grave on the anniversary of her death on my first visit to Ponca City before I had even considered writing the book?

The web site for the book has a link available for people to share any info they may have or opinions, yet it remains relatively silent.........................................................................

I end where I started....at the foot of her grave.