In 1884, Fisher and his friend Ben Thompson attended a play at the Turner Hall Opera House in San Antonio. Corral in 1881. In all my life as a frontier peace officer, I did not know a really proficient gunfighter who had anything but contempt for the gun-fanner, or the man who literally shot from the hip[15], The image of a Wild West filled with countless gunfights was a myth generated primarily by dime-novel authors in the late 19th century. Billy The Kid. Gunfighters, also called gunslingers (/nslr/), or in the 19th and early 20th centuries gunmen, were individuals in the American Old West who gained a reputation of being dangerous with a gun and participated in gunfights and shootouts. [citation needed], Most gunfights are portrayed in films or books as having two men square off, waiting for one to make the first move. How can you not include the most famous outlaw of all? The terms "gunslinger" and "showdown" were unknown in the Wild West. My grand father was one of the mob who drug Miller out of the and hung him. Gunmen Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Bass Reeves, Commodore Perry Owens, and Luke Short all died of natural causes, living out their lives on reputation and avoiding conflict in secluded retirement. Hollywood has warped us to the point where somebody has to go full Rambo before we are impressed. Wyatt died on January 13, 1929, in Los Angeles at the age of 80; his ashes were interred in Jewish Hills of Eternity Cemetery in Colma, California. Four of the remaining robbers now closed in on the captain to finish him off. [9] Wild Bill Hickok popularized the butt-forward holster type, which worked better on horseback. [58] "Big" Steve Long served as deputy marshal for Laramie, Wyoming, while the entire time committing murders and forced theft of land deeds. obviously the worst shot in the west very few(If any ) fatalities. [13] Ed McGivern dispelled the myth of the inaccuracy of pistol fanning by shooting tight groups while fanning the revolver. Our newest biography website and YouTube channel. [1] In the real world, however, gunmen who relied on flashy tricks and theatrics died quickly, and most gunslingers took a much more practical approach to their weapons. Dodge City Marshal Charlie Bassett, who was in Beatty & Kelley's Saloon, heard the shots and came running. Still, theres no denying that among the bandits and lawmen of the day there were a number of larger-than-life gunfighters whose exploits helped pave a bloody path for the characters that would later populate Western movies and dime novels. Wyatt responded by sending several rounds into Billy. Of his long life he was a policeman a total of about 35 months. Fourteen-year-old Willie Nickell was found murdered; a month later his father, Kels, was killed and most of his stock was slaughtered. One account says that after the party recognized Cruz, they chased him down and a gunfight ensued. In his introduction to The Shootist (1976), author Glendon Swarthout says "gunslinger" and "gunfighter" are modern terms, and the more authentic terms for the period would have been "gunman", "pistoleer", "shootist", or "bad man" (sometimes written as "badman"). Agreed, nobody ever mentions Porter Rockwell but he has the best backstory of any of them and killed more men then all of them. I truly enjoyed the background information on each man. Capt. [11] In popular folklore, men who held noteworthy reputations as a gunfighter were eager to match up against another gunman with the same reputation. Hardin Senior was a Methodist minister who settled his family in Trinity County, Texas, in 1859. And in a close-range free-for-all, speed is not all it's cracked up to be. Just one example of Jesse Jamess skill was when he shot one of his gang who had fired at him while they were riding at speed. Hardin drifted around, leaving a trail of bodies behind him. A strong reputation was enough to keep others civil and often would spare a gunfighter from conflict. Miller pulled his gun on Frazer, who proceeded to shoot him six times. [25] The gunfight itself did not actually happen in the corral but in a vacant lot outside of it. [77] Additionally, the comic book character Vigilante is a self-proclaimed gunfighter born in the 1940s. This garnered nation wide news. Henry McCarty, a.k.a. Bass himself was shot, but he escaped and was found lying in a field west of Round Rock. Ferd Patterson Living and Dying by the Gun. Wanting to escape this reputation, he took a job as the City Marshall of Austin, Texas, but he was forced to resign when he killed a local theater owner named Jack Harris during an argument. After moving to El Paso, Texas, to serve as sheriff, he killed three men before the end of his third day in the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight.. [10] How famous gunfighters died is as varied as each man. Twirling pistols, lightning draws, and trick shots are standard fare for the gunmen of the big screen. One the lesser-known but more notoriously violent gunslingers of the Old West was John King Fisher, who was in and out of prison from the age of He married Urilla Sutherland, but she and their unborn child died of typhoid fever about a year later. [7] Abilities, clothing, and attitude associated with gunfighters are seen in many other genres. Described as being cold to the core, Miller famously declared that he would kill anyone for money, and is rumored to have gunned down everyone from political figures to famed sheriff Pat Garrett. Hence, it is the Sundance Kid who is better known. Famed lawman Wyatt Earp is perhaps the most storied figure of the Old West, but he was also an accomplished gunslinger who was greatly feared by the bandits of the time. [16] Revolvers were a popular weapon to gunfighters who were horsemen, cowboys, and lawmen because of their concealability and effectiveness on horseback. That 30-second throwdown, which came to be known as the Gunfight at the O.K. Youtube Channel "Shooting USA". A few years later, he re-enlisted and served as a private in Company F, 45th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Gordon wanted her to stop working. Ben Thompson was a gambler, gunfighter, and sometimes lawman who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous figures of the Old West. There are different categories shooters can compete in. He never cleaned up any town where he served either. [78], Gunfighters have also been featured in many video games, both in traditional Old West and in contemporary and future settings. Often their reputation was as much "self-promotion" as anything else; such was the case of Bat Masterson. Miller was never convicted for any of the deaths. Baca went on to a distinguished career as a lawyer and legislator and died in his bed in 1945, at age 80. WebAnswer (1 of 10): No rifle of the period shot more often or as reliably as did the Winchester some models were capable of holding as many as 16 cartridges, but (I hate to admit) He was rumored to have killed hundreds but more likely killed 50 or 60. [43] Gunfighters Jim Levy and Tom Carberry became infamous for participating in at least two quick draw duels in their lifetimes. He never killed a man that did not need killing.. Hickok was playing poker when he was shot in the back of the head by a gambler named Jack McCall, supposedly in retaliation for a prior insult. The same could be said for Holliday. [27] Less than a year after these incidents, he would kill as many as six more men in gunfights while in the line of duty. In fact , in Dodge the city leaders wanted to keep a fine a balance between wild and tame in order to keep the attraction of the Texas Cattle drives. [29], General George S. Patton himself had a gunfight when he was a young second lieutenant chasing Pancho Villa all over northern Mexico in 1916. Two years later, Miller tracked the Sheriff down and killed him with a shotgun. Two-Gun Kid is another comic book gunfighter from Marvel Comics. The James Younger gang was just a gang of cowards, not "revolver fighters". Straight out of For A Few Dollars More ha! not dentistry) a hard reputation was a definite benefit. All told, Earp participated in numerous gunfights in his life, killing anywhere from 8 to 30 outlaws (depending on the source), and his exploits remain some of the most famous stories of the Old West. Allison fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, but was discharged after a blow to the head started causing erratic behavior in him. WebIn the film Tombstone (1993), Doc Holliday was portrayed by Val Kilmer. Also unlike the movies: Wyatt Earp wasn't even wearing a holster at the O.K. It is not known who fired the first shot, but Wyatt's bullet was the first to hit, tearing through Frank McLaury's belly and sending McLaury's own shot wild through Wyatt's coattail. In the saloon, Frank sat down at a long table, Richardson turned around and took a seat at the same table. They moved to Idaho, opened a saloon, and mined for gold. After several years of working as an officer of the law, he moved to Dodge City along with his brother. Look him up, he should easily be on this list. There were also a few historical cowboys who were actual gunfighters, such as the Cochise County Cowboys who participated in the bloody 1879 Skeleton Canyon massacre. Henry McCarty, a.k.a. Corral (though it wasn't really in a corral at all), cemented Earp's reputation as a quick and deadly draw. WebBass Reeves (1838-1910) was a famous Old West lawman. In fact, his brother, Tombstone Marshal and Deputy U.S. He started his criminal career at the age of 17, when he stabbed and killed a fellow gambler whom he had accused of cheating him at cards. While played five-card-draw poker in Deadwood, South Dakota, on August 2, 1876, Hickok was shot point blank by Jack McCall as revenge for a perceived insult. Mose Roberts, boarding with the family, jumped out of a side window with a pistol. [10] Earp expressed his dismay about the controversy that followed him his entire life. A gunfighter, gambler, showman, and peace officer, Hickok may have killed more than 100 men. [49] As city marshal, Virgil made the decision to disarm the Cowboys in Tombstone and requested Wyatt's assistance. [67][68], Gunfighters have been featured in media even outside the Western genre, often combined with other elements and genres, mainly science-fiction space Westerns, steampunk, and the contemporary setting. After the confession, Wyatt told Cruz to draw, challenging him to a duel, and the posse counted to three before Wyatt gunned Cruz down. Doc Holiday better fits that epithet, Wyatt Earp was NOT a "gunslinger". Famed gunman Clay Allison died in a wagon accident. He was pursued by the Pinkerton National Detective Agency and the Texas Rangers. He started a school for local children, including his own. Press Esc to cancel. After severalsuch robberies, Bass and his gang decided to rob the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, collectingmore than$60,000. He killed at least 17 and was credited or at least partially credited with up to 180 from his bushwacking days correct this error or your list is meaningless. [44][45], Most Old West men who were labeled as being "gunfighters" did not kill nearly as many men in gunfights as they were given credit for, if any at all. Ike Clanton panicked as well and ran towards Wyatt pleading for his life. Corral. Neither King Fisher or KIller MIller should be on this list they might as well have added Jessie James. The two had a history of disagreements, and with no warning Colbert pulled out his pistol to shoot Allison. [7], Western gunslinger heroes are portrayed as local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, nomadic loners, or skilled fast-draw artists. Yasuhiro Nightow is known for creating the space Western Trigun. He was released from his sentence after having served17 years, and became a lawyer in El Paso. A town with a substantial violent crime rate would often turn to a known gunman as their town marshal, chief, or sheriff, in the hopes that the gunman could stem the violence and bring order. 44 was empty. How embarrassed I was! Hickock was acquitted of all charges, having claimed self-defense. Corral, with a bunch of men unloading at each other all at once, than a mano-a-mano showdown in the middle of town. O.K.Corral ( with a shotgun) granted he was involved in many gunfights, but since he was ), Billy the Kid only killed like four people, Some say 4, Some say 9, and some say 20+ (21 or 22 ish). He ten went to Dodge City for a while. The first man had been fatally wounded in the exchange and tried to draw his pistol before Patton killed him with a single shot. The hitman Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men shares many elements of a hunted outlaw. A gunfighter, gambler, showman, and peace officer, Hickok may have killed more than 100 Though, in the end that doesn't register a smudge on Earp's reputation as the quintessential American gunfighter. They drew their pistols at close range, and Short fired first, blowing off Courtright's thumb. Gentleman. Hickock was an expert shooter at a young age and built up a good reputation in his hometown. [80] The New York Times stated: "he and his creators conjure such a convincing, cohesive and enthralling re-imagination of the real world that it sets a new standard for sophistication and ambition in electronic gaming. Gunfighter and lawman Frank Eaton, known as "Pistol Pete" lived into old age and gained further fame, before his death at age 97, by becoming the mascot for Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University). Earp, as historians long have recognized, possessed an almost preternatural coolness under fire. King Fisher had great success as a county sheriff in Texas. He was both more or less friendly and viciously, lethal if tempted. [citation needed], The Long Branch Saloon Shootout, involving Levi Richardson, a buffalo hunter, and "Cockeyed Frank" Loving, a professional gambler, happened on April 5, 1879. Wyatt Earp should be #03, actually, hes had a rough life as a teamster against raiding parties, comancheros, and outlaws as a teamster, saloon, of course, Marshal. In Western films and books, young toughs often challenge experienced gunmen with the hopes of building a reputation, but this rarely happened in real life. WebCaptain L.E. While in Dodge he was on the posse which apprehended the murderer of singer, Dora Hand. He was born in Arkansas territory but also lived in Lamar and Grayson counties Texas. Harrison shot first but missed. Richardson then got up and started toward the billiard table, when he fell to the floor with a fatal gunshot in the chest, as well as a shot through the side and another through the right arm. But they would not have understood if you'd have said, 'Who's fastest with a gun? A few days after the fight, friends of the men Stoudenmire had shot hired the town drunk to assassinate him. [20], Gunfighters King Fisher, John Wesley Hardin, Ben Thompson, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, and Pat Garrett all died as a result of ambushes, killed by men who feared them because of their reputation. He met an unimpressive death when he fell from his wagon and broke his neck in 1887. Slashing with his heavy Bowie, he killed them both. Most experts believe the real number is right around 100 men. If you look very closely at the photo on the right side of the crowd, behind the fence you will see the comedy team Laurel and Hardy who were waiting on a train. This caught the attention of the famed Pinkerton Detective Agency, and Horn worked for them for several years as a tracker and bounty hunter. The following month Hickok was acquitted after pleading self-defense. [citation needed], These fights were usually close-up and personal, with a number of shots blasted from pistols, often resulting in innocent bystanders hit by bullets gone wild. Definitely agree that Hardin is the deadliest, almost all were head on gun fights with armed gun fighters and law men, and well documented. Most of those guys back then were trying to make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky. What? Earp's fellow lawman and general Old West badass Bat Masterson once said that speed in a gunfight is probably the least important factor in winning. Thomas Horn, Jr. was born in Missouri on November 21, 1860 to Thomas S. Horn, Sr. and Mary Ann Maricha Miller Horn. Total of about 35 months recognized, possessed an almost preternatural coolness under fire San Francisco collectingmore. Those guys back then were trying to make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky later Miller. Epithet, Wyatt Earp was n't even wearing a holster at the O.K strong reputation was enough keep... His life had a history of disagreements, and Short fired first, blowing off 's. 'S reputation as a County Sheriff in Texas a field West of Round Rock those back! Deadly draw, it is the Sundance Kid who is better known Kid who is better known family, out... Closed in on the posse which apprehended the murderer of singer, Hand! 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