Ep. 445: “Killed by Circus Lion” - Graves From a Small Town

In small towns all over America, there are remarkable and tragic stories that if not told could easily slip into oblivion. These stories must be recounted so history doesn’t get lost and the mistakes of the past are never repeated. In Mena, Arkansas, the hometown of host Clay Newcomb there are two notable graves nearly in sight of one another.  One holds a story so unbelievable and tragic that it hardly sounds true, and one story that holds some dark history. In 1951, Maria de Campa, the 9 year old daughter of trapeze artists was killed by an unattended circus lion outside the big top as the show performance was underway. Then the following day, as the circus moved to the next town on their tour a vehicle accident resulted in the escape of some exotic and dangerous animals into the National Forest. Rewind 50 years before, to the story of Peter Berryman, a mentally unstable African American man who was arrested for allegedly kicking a young girl. The night before he was to stand trial before the judge, a group of masked men detained the deputy on duty, entered the jail, took Berryman, and beat and lynched him.  Despite town outrage, the perpetrators were never brought to justice. Watch Clay's Alaska Bear Hunt on YouTube Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to [email protected] Connect with Clay and MeatEater Clay on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Bear Grease MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Brent’s favorite time of year and the turkey stories are rolling in. He’s gonna share a couple from some listeners that are great examples of mentorship. One from a father and one about a father figure. The last one is about the man who taught Brent how to hunt turkeys. His lessons however, went far beyond the woods.  Thank you to our sponsors, Case Knives and Stor-Mor. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chips fly around the poker table as the crew wagers which topic will come up more: Lake Pickle and his turkey hunting woes, or Josh “Landbridge” Spielmaker’s fly fishing trip to Patagonia.  Confessions of past wrongdoing come up to try to clear the conscience to gain some favor in the turkey hunting woods.  Host Clay Newcomb is joined by special guests Jordan Blissett, Lake Pickle, and Lacey Pickle. Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to [email protected] Connect with Clay and MeatEater Clay on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Bear Grease MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Florida water crisis, remains the focus of our discussion. However, we are going to hear about it from a different perspective. Pat Durden is a multi-generational Floridian, a cattlemen, and an outdoorsman. Pat is going to give his take on some the water issue Florida is up against, from the perspective of farmers and ranchers. Connect with Lake Pickle and MeatEater Lake Pickle on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blood Trails is a true crime podcast born in the outdoors--and in Season 2, we're going even deeper. From the grisly killing of a mountain man in Montana to the cold-blooded murder of a deer hunter in Florida to the strange disappearance of an angler in Texas, these stories delve into the recesses of the wilderness--and the evil of the human heart. Follow the show now to get notified when Episode 1 drops, Thursday, April 16.   Follow Blood Trails on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, Pandora, Amazon. Connect with Jordan Sillars and MeatEater MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Jordan Sillars on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube ClipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As promised, Brent's back with the second half of his trip to Mississippi. A hunt that has as many ups and downs as a carousel at the county fair. He's also telling a turkey story from years back in Missouri where equines and bovines played a pivotal part. Thank you to our sponsors, Case Knives and Stor-Mor. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Cody Villines prepared to draw down on three dark approaching turkeys, he definitely gets more than he expected. Janis Putelis hangs in for a fourth quarter double, Clay and Lake get a big surprise about what comes into their call, and a miraculous retrieval—all exciting stories from Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas, sure to get you fired up for Spring Turkey Season. Watch Clay's Utah Mountain Lion Hunt on YouTube Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to [email protected] Connect with Clay and MeatEater Clay on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Bear Grease MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's turkey week and Brent's got a tale hot of the presses from a recent trip to Mississippi. The ups and downs of chasing the King of Spring are well described oil this epic hunt with good friends down in the Magnolia State. This is so good it should be a movie, and it is! You’ll be able to see this hunt from First Lite very soon. Until then enjoy the narrative version right here on MeatEater’s “This Country Life” podcast. Thank you to our sponsors, Case Knives and Stor-Mor. Shop This Country Life Merch Connect with Brent and MeatEater MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips Subscribe to the MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop This Country Life MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Bear Grease Render, host Clay Newcomb is joined by Dr. Misty Newcomb and Josh Spielmaker, along with special guest and Turkey Stories newcomer Holly Newkirk, a sophomore at the University of Arkansas, in the Tecovas Hot Seat. Holly shares the full story behind her remarkable first solo turkey hunt, where she harvested her first gobbler and then turned heads by bringing it back to her sorority house lawn for photos, creating an unforgettable scene. The crew also dives into an unexpected but important thread from the Turkey Stories episode: hunting safety, and the lessons that surfaced along the way. Thank you to our sponsor, Tecovas. If you have comments on the show, send us a note to [email protected] Connect with Clay and MeatEater Clay on Instagram MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, and Youtube Clips MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTube Shop Bear Grease MerchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clay Newcomb answers your questions and breaks down his Utah mountain lion hunt captured in MeatEater's brand new "12 in '26" film series. He hunts with mules and hounds in the mountains, testing his fortitude in some seriously steep and rugged terrain. Presented by @Moultrie.Products and @onXHunt Watch the film now on MeatEater's YouTube channel Connect with MeatEater on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and YouTube Clips Subscribe to MeatEater Podcast Network on YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.