Was Cabeza de Vaca the biggest badass in history?

[Cwaghorns]

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[Franco]

This thread went from "damn good" to "really damn good" with the joke about vacation and vacant.

 

[Praise of Folly]

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[Leffe]

I saw the (Spanish) DVD about CDV (I thought I was on mushrooms).
The expedition of Diego de Almagro into Chili (about the same time as CDV) was no picnic either. In modern times I think Ernest Shackleton's south pole disaster comes close (except in duration). You're spot on about us being "weenies" ))

 

[Macanudo]

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[Hornius Emeritus]

I can't believe I just discovered this:


The Link

 

[utgrad06]

Cabeza de Vaca's family got their name because one of his ancestors marked the pass through which the Moors (or perhaps some other equally scary culture - but I think it was the Moors) were going to invade with - you guess it - a cow skull. He thus warned the Spainards and saved Christendom.

My spanish degree is super useful.

 

[Summerof79]

Here's the guy I always thought was the toughest-The fact I still remember it from Pre-1865 history in 1981 probably is also testament-

Jedediah Strong Smith-

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[ProdigalHorn]

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[Statalyzer]

Re: The bear/scalp story:

Incredible? Astonishing? Words don't seem to suffice.

 

[Austintxusa]

Thanks for the link zzzz.

I've been reading this over several days.

Very interesting.

 

[Hornius Emeritus]

If you guys really want to read an interesting, relatively short, quick read, get "Brutal Journey: Cabeza De Vaca and the Epic First Crossing of America" by Paul Schneider.

The Link


I just finished it. Great read.

Man, those were the times when men were men.