Paul Harvey - Ed Schieffelin

Summary

Podcast Summary: “Paul Harvey - Ed Schieffelin”

Podcast Information:

• Title: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Host/Author: Harold's Old Time Radio
• Episode: Paul Harvey - Ed Schieffelin
• Release Date: April 25, 2025
• Description: Relives classic radio shows from the Golden Age of Radio, capturing the essence of family gatherings around the radio to enjoy beloved programs like The Shadow, Abbott & Costello, Amos & Andy, Dragnet, and more.

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Introduction

In the April 25, 2025 episode of Harold's Old Time Radio, titled “Paul Harvey - Ed Schieffelin,” listeners are transported back to the rugged landscapes of 1870s Arizona. The episode delves into the life of Ed Schieffelin, a notable prospector whose cautious nature and unwavering determination led to the founding of the legendary town of Tombstone. Through vivid storytelling, the episode highlights Ed’s unique characteristics, his interactions with military personnel, and the pivotal moments that etched his name into Wild West folklore.

Early Life and Character of Ed Schieffelin

Ed Schieffelin emerges as a distinctive figure among 19th-century prospectors. Unlike his contemporaries, Ed was a teetotaler and abstained from gambling, viewing the perilous quest for silver as gambling enough. His methodical approach set him apart:

• Responsibility and Planning: "Ed plotted his courses carefully. And while planning his next adventure, he often chopped wood by the cord through an entire winter or stayed in town working at ordinary jobs for as long as a year and a half so he could earn enough money to subsidize his passion for prospecting." ([01:15])

Ed's disciplined lifestyle and foresight ensured his survival in the unforgiving Arizona wilderness, contrasting sharply with the reckless abandon of many fellow prospectors.

Arrival at Fort Huachuca and Interactions with Soldiers

In the spring of 1877, Ed arrives at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona, establishing it as his operational base. His interactions with the soldiers reveal mutual respect and camaraderie:

• Admiration from the Troops: "The soldiers at the fort seemed to like Ed. They certainly admired his courage." ([02:05])

One soldier, in particular, forms a memorable connection with Ed, frequently wishing him luck before his daily treks into Apache territory. This soldier's blend of teasing and genuine concern underscores the dangers Ed faced daily.

The Seeds of Tombstone: The Soldier's Warning

A pivotal moment unfolds as the soldier's warnings begin to influence Ed's decisions:

• Ed’s Contemplative Nature: "I never could figure out that to be dead would be unpleasant. Some people seem to know all about such things, but I'm a bit stupid, I suppose. I've never been able to learn the Alphabet of birth and death." ([02:45])

This introspective remark showcases Ed's philosophical side, pondering the mysteries of life and death while facing the constant threat of violence on the frontier.

The crescendo of this interaction culminates in a warning that would shape Ed's legacy:

• Soldier’s Foreboding Advice: "Ed, the only thing you're going to find out there is your own tombstone." ([03:30])

This stark warning serves as both a literal and metaphorical alert to the dangers lurking in the untamed wilderness, particularly from hostilities with the Apache.

Legacy and Impact on the Wild West

Inspired by the soldier’s ominous words, Ed channels his fears into action, leading to monumental developments:

• Naming His Claim: The phrase "tombstone" becomes the cornerstone of Ed’s first mining claim, which proves to be one of the richest in the West.

• Founding of Tombstone: The influx of miners and prospectors spurred by Ed’s successful claim leads to the rapid establishment of Tombstone—a town that would become synonymous with Wild West lore, home to infamous shootouts like the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and legendary figures such as the Earps and the Clantons.

Ed Schieffelin’s ability to transform a cautionary warning into a thriving settlement highlights his ingenuity and resilience, cementing his place in American frontier history.

Conclusion

The “Paul Harvey - Ed Schieffelin” episode masterfully encapsulates the essence of frontier life through Ed’s story. His disciplined approach to prospecting, coupled with meaningful interactions with the military, not only ensured his survival but also led to the creation of one of the most storied towns in the Wild West. Ed’s legacy serves as a testament to how caution, determination, and the ability to turn adversity into opportunity can leave an indelible mark on history.

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Notable Quotes:

1. Ed Schieffelin’s Reflection on Death:

   • "I never could figure out that to be dead would be unpleasant. Some people seem to know all about such things, but I'm a bit stupid, I suppose. I've never been able to learn the Alphabet of birth and death." ([02:45])

2. Soldier’s Ominous Warning:

   • "Ed, the only thing you're going to find out there is your own tombstone." ([03:30])

These quotes encapsulate the philosophical musings of Ed and the pressing dangers he faced, driving the narrative towards the founding of Tombstone.

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For listeners who cherish the rich tapestry of the Old West and the stories that shaped it, this episode offers an engaging blend of history, character study, and the enduring legacy of one man's quest for silver.

Transcript

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[Unknown Narrator]

Now the rest of the story. The soldier said, ed, you're going to die. Or something like that. Anyway, anyway, it was less a prediction really than it was an admonition for Ed to be cautious when he ventured out alone with only his rifle and his supplies into Apache territory. Oh, excuse me, you've not yet met Ed Schifflin. Ed was an Arizona prospector in the 1870s, but other than his dreams of getting silver rich, he had very little in common with most of his kind. First, Ed was a teetotaler. He never drank, never even wanted to. And second, he did not gamble. He figured that heading out into the hills looking for a silver needle in a stony haystack was gambling enough. And third, he was responsible, self respecting. While other prospectors might recklessly set out for no man's land, sometimes starving to death on a remote, unblazed trail, Ed plotted his courses carefully. And while planning his next adventure, he often chopped wood by the cord through an entire winter or stayed in town working at ordinary jobs for as long as a year and a half so he could earn enough money to subsidize his passion for prospecting. And in the spring of 1877, Ed Shiflin arrived at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona, and he used that fort as sort of a base of operations for several weeks, prospecting the surrounding hills by day, returning each night for a safe place to sleep. The soldiers at the fort seemed to like Ed. They certainly admired his courage. There was one soldier in particular, nobody remembers his name, who wished Ed good luck every morning before he started out. That one would say, ed, you're going to get killed out there. Or words meaning the same thing, half teasing, half serious. But it's funny, it didn't seem to mind risking his life his last day at the ford before moving on, he told his soldier friend, I never could figure out that to be dead would be unpleasant. Some people seem to know all about such things, but I'm a bit stupid, I suppose. I've never been able to learn the Alphabet of birth and death. And with that curious quotation of frontier philosophy, he would walk off into the parched desert distance. And a dream came true and a legend was born. Oh, he never forgot the young soldier who kept saying, ed, the Apaches are going to get you. Or words to that effect. Because you see the precise words of warning that soldier used, the precise words of warning that soldier spoke beget a name. A name which in years to come became a Wild west tradition. For once upon an unheeded piece of friendly advice, a solitary word stuck in the silver obsessed brain of a prospector named Ed Sheflin. And when we hear that word today, we think of a gunslinger's graveyard called Boot Hill. We think of the Earps and the Clantons shooting it out at the OK Corral for what that now unknown soldier said to prospector Ed. The exact phrase that propelled one word into the pages of history was, ed, the only thing you're going to find out there is your own tombstone. That word tombstone inspired Ed Shiflin. It named his first mining claim one of the richest in the west. And a glorious notorious town that sprang up nearby, Tombstone. But now you know the rest of the story.

[Styles MacKenzie]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important Wayfair message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Styles MacKenzie helping you make those rooms sing. Today's style Tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals go wild. Like an untamed animal print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com this has been your Wayfair style tip to keep those interiors superior. Wayfair Every style, Every home.

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