On This Day - August 2, 1876, Famous gunslinger Wild Bill Hickok was murdered in Deadwood, South Dakota by Jack McCall. James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok was born in Illinois, and from his early years was known for being an outstanding marksman. By 1861, Hickok had
headed west to Kansas where he was involved in many escapades and adventures, including joining the Kansas Jayhawkers, surviving a bear attack, and driving freight teams down to New Mexico. Later Hickok became famous for his involvement in several gunfights and duels, including a duel with Davis Tutt that is in many ways emblematic of the classic “wild west” gunfight.
After a series of disagreements between the two of them, Tutt and Hickok faced off against each other in the streets of Springfield, Missouri. At 75 yards, both drew their revolvers in a quick-draw fashion and Tutt was shot through the heart. Hickok was arrested for murder but later acquitted. Hickok later went on to serve as a lawman in several major Kansas towns, being involved in several more gunfights. Wild Bill’s fame began to grow, and his escapades became legendary but greatly exaggerated. At the urging of some of his friends, Wild Bill starred in a play about the American West. However, he quickly found that the theatre was not for him, and he departed the show before it grew to great renown as Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show.
In 1876, Wild Bill Hickok was travelling through Deadwood, South Dakota when he entered a poker game. A man named Jack McCall was playing as well, but he was drunk and loosing badly. Hickok told McCall to quit, and he even offered him money to pay for breakfast. Although Jack accepted the money, he was greatly insulted by Hickok’s gesture. The next day, while Hickok was playing once again, McCall crept up behind him and shot him in the back of the head. Wild Bill was killed instantly. Hickok, seasoned from his many gunfights, never liked to take a seat with his back to the door, but on this occasion he had done so because that was the only chair available. McCall would later be tried and hanged for the crime. According to legend, at the time of his death, the cards Wild Bill was holding was a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights. Ever since then, the combination of those cards together has been known as the Dead Man’s Hand.
headed west to Kansas where he was involved in many escapades and adventures, including joining the Kansas Jayhawkers, surviving a bear attack, and driving freight teams down to New Mexico. Later Hickok became famous for his involvement in several gunfights and duels, including a duel with Davis Tutt that is in many ways emblematic of the classic “wild west” gunfight.
After a series of disagreements between the two of them, Tutt and Hickok faced off against each other in the streets of Springfield, Missouri. At 75 yards, both drew their revolvers in a quick-draw fashion and Tutt was shot through the heart. Hickok was arrested for murder but later acquitted. Hickok later went on to serve as a lawman in several major Kansas towns, being involved in several more gunfights. Wild Bill’s fame began to grow, and his escapades became legendary but greatly exaggerated. At the urging of some of his friends, Wild Bill starred in a play about the American West. However, he quickly found that the theatre was not for him, and he departed the show before it grew to great renown as Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show.
In 1876, Wild Bill Hickok was travelling through Deadwood, South Dakota when he entered a poker game. A man named Jack McCall was playing as well, but he was drunk and loosing badly. Hickok told McCall to quit, and he even offered him money to pay for breakfast. Although Jack accepted the money, he was greatly insulted by Hickok’s gesture. The next day, while Hickok was playing once again, McCall crept up behind him and shot him in the back of the head. Wild Bill was killed instantly. Hickok, seasoned from his many gunfights, never liked to take a seat with his back to the door, but on this occasion he had done so because that was the only chair available. McCall would later be tried and hanged for the crime. According to legend, at the time of his death, the cards Wild Bill was holding was a pair of black aces and a pair of black eights. Ever since then, the combination of those cards together has been known as the Dead Man’s Hand.
:quality(70):focal(906x552:916x562)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/BR2XSTHL5NE6DF2U6JLQGKRR2Q.jpg)
