How to survive~The Old West

The Western USA in the mid to late 19th Century, it may not be as wild as portrayed in the movies, but it was (kind of) wild, especially if you didn't know how to survive in this part in history.

So, what to do if you want to survive The Old West, whether or not it was truly wild? This is what this page will try to cover.

## Guns

Those gunfights that you always saw on those westerns on either TV or in the Movies were surprisingly rare in the real world Old West. But having a gun was indeed essential to not just protect yourself but also protect your family and your property from either outlaw, dangerous creatures, maybe even attacking Native Americans.

Even in this seemingly "lawless era." There were gun control laws in some towns such as Dodge City and Tombstone. So you had to go in unarmed.

## Wildlife

The wildlife in the Old West varies depending on which State (or Territory) you live in.

In the southern regions such as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Southern California and you were traversing the desert, you may come upon either a Rattlesnake, or a desert Spider, or even a Scorpion. All of which had dangerous venom, and in the 19th Century, anti-venom was literally non-existent. So a pair of thick, leather boots were your best bet, and it's also a good idea that you have a gun with you just in case if they're going to bite you. But these creatures don't bite unless they feel threatened.

In the northern regions such as in the Dakotas, Nebraska, Montana, and Colorado, and somewhere in the thick forests and the Rocky Mountains, you may encounter Wolves and Cougars who will attack you eat you for their next meal. You may even encounter Bears who are extremely territorial and will have no qualms in ripping you apart if you come near. So, a rifle is essential if you happen to find yourself against one of these.

## Legal System

In the western USA, despite being far away from national authority (especially in a Territory where Law and Government had little to no influence), if you find yourself on the wrong side of the territory's Law (even unwittingly), you could find yourself in a public hanging or another form of execution or even humiliation, and in some cases without a trial.

## Climate

The climate varies depending on where you live in the Old West, and if you find yourself stranded out in the backcountry and there's a storm coming, or if all of a sudden, your horse dies. You need to know what to do.

In the northern regions where in the winter the temperature can drop well below freezing (32° Fahrenheit) very quick, and if there was a snowstorm coming or it has already arrived, you could die from hypothermia. So, make sure you have a pair of dry long-johns underneath your clothes and wear a long, oil skinned coat to protect you from freezing. When you find yourself in the middle of a snowstorm and can't travel very far, you should have a sharp hatchet so you can chop up any wood you can find and build yourself a makeshift shelter as well as a fire to keep yourself warm.

In the southern regions from the Texas Great Plains to the Desert Southwest, things can get very hot in the Summer, where (in the desert) the temperature can reach well over 100° Fahrenheit. In the summer, these regions also have temperatures that will rarely fall below 80° F. There's also wild weather such as Tornadoes and sometimes Hurricanes in Texas and severe Thunderstorms. You may have to contend with an occasional dust storm in the desert if the winds are strong enough to blow the desert dust. Make sure you have a huge brimmed hat to protect yourself from sunburns and bring loose-fitting clothes to stay cool as much as possible, and make sure you bring enough water so you don't dehydrate. During a dust storm, you may have to use your bandana to cover your nose and mouth to protect your lungs from the deadly dust.

## Saloons

Saloons were a common sight in the Old West as there were all kinds of alcohol and card games, sometimes you may find yourself in a brawl over these card games, but rarely would they turn into a gun battle.

Beer was also relatively cheap, and it was a good way for a Cowboy to let off steam after being out on the trail for weeks or even months. A Cowboy could drink up to around a pint of beer every week, add this up, they can drink up to around 7 Gallons of beer every year.

One such Cowboy named "Sam Johnson" (BKA Samuel Rattlesnakes) refused to pay his 25₵ (around $20 in today's money), which he owed for his drinks, and the bartender shot him.

## Disease

It wasn't uncommon for somebody to contract diseases such as Dysentery, Cholera, Tuberculosis, Diptheria, and Typhoid. There were no Hospitals in the Old West, as were antibiotics, and good medicine was tough to come by.

There were doctors, and some of them were well-meaning. But there were also "fake doctors" where con artists would come into town and set up shop, claiming they were doctors. These "fake doctors" were counterproductive.

To prevent yourself from getting sick, make sure you "social distance" from people who are visibly sick, sneezing or coughing, and sterilize your water supply; in this case, boil it to kill the bacteria that may be in it.

## Protecting your property

If you were a farmer who grew crops and other produce, or handled livestock, or sold horses, you had to make sure that nobody would steal your stuff, so you had to protect your property as much as you can.

There was something called "range wars" where many farmers and other property owners would argue on how much land they believed they owned in the Old West. One such range war was in "Pleasant Valley" in Arizona, where 2 families (the Grahams and the Trewsburies who owned livestock, Cattle, and Sheeple respectively). Even with the advent of barbed wire, an invention that brought an end to the Old West, rage wars still happened. It wasn't until in 1937 with the "Taylor Grazing Act" where range wars and land disputes in the west would come to an end.

## No Welfare System

Unlike with banks today, there was no such thing as a "welfare system" in the Old West. Unless you had the support of a wealthy family, there was nothing you can do if you lost your job, were accused of a crime, or became sick.

Most people living in the Old West would put their money in either a financial consultant or even a bank (if there was one). As is the tradition in the Old West, banks were often robbed, and once robbed; there was no way to get the money back. Some people would keep their money in what they believed was a safe place in the homes, but it was just as risky as keeping it in a bank. You would be best to invest in Government Bonds, though it was a long-term investment, and it depends on how long you live.

Even in the 19th Century, there were economic recessions. In 1857, there was a significant financial panic, which led to a recession that would last an entire year. In 1873, the financial sector nearly collapsed; what followed was a 6-year long recession.

## Traveling Alone/Horse Care

If you liked to travel in the west, you needed to make sure you have all of the right provisions (such as food, water, clothes, and medical supplies) as well as some guns for protection. If you were the kind of person to travel alone, you could walk up to (on average) 20 miles a day from town to town.

But after three days, you would be out of food and water, very exhausted, and your feet would be severely blistered. You would also have to carry your own supplies, meaning you can carry only so much. You would also have no choice but to defend yourself from dangerous creatures and even Native Americans, assuming you come across any of them.

So, you were better (and safer) if you had a horse. A horse can travel around 30 miles a day if properly fed, watered, and rested. You would carry more provisions with you and flee danger if you come across it.

Horses back in the Old West cost around $60-$80 ( about $1,500-$2,000 in today's money).

In the Old West, yeah, it was quite dangerous. But if you were to take all of the necessary precautions, or if you were born in the Old West and are lucky enough to live to 10-years, you could survive long enough to enjoy all of the things that were happening in the Old West, such as the gold rushes, and other races for other rich material such as silver. Or become a good crop or livestock farmer, or any other business in the Old West.

Want to know how to survive World War 1? You can click here.  Don't forget to check out my other wikis too. There are my Games and my Movies wikis. Until next time, this is JohnnyOTGS signing out.