4. Snake Oil Salesman
Snake oil salesmen crisscrossed dusty towns with rattling medicine chests and grand promises of cures for every malady. They pitched elixirs, liniments, and “miracle tonics” to desperate settlers, claiming to heal bone aches, cure rheumatism, and banish fevers. Crowds gathered in creaky town squares, lured by smooth talk and flashy labels. When their fake potions inevitably failed, salesmen risked more than disappointed customers. Angry mobs, armed with pitchforks and broken bottles, sometimes chased con men out of town under threat of violence.
