Wild Bill Hickok

James Butler Hickok, commonly referred to as "Wild Bill," was one of the Old West's most colorful characters. It is unknown how he got the nickname "Wild Bill." Throughout his life he was involved in many activities and changed professions on numerous occasions. His story began at the Pony Express Station in Rock Creek, Nebraska. Hickok, who was twenty-four years old at the time, had been working for the Pony Express. According to legend, he got into a fight with a bear. It is unknown how this happened, but accounts state that he was able to cut its throat, before it could do more serious damage to him. It is believed that the first man Hickok killed was David McCanles. McCanles, in a fit of rage, stormed into the Rock Creek relay station and demanded an overdue property payment from the station manager Horace Wellman. McCanles reportedly threatened Hickok and Wellman, leading Hickok to shoot him. During the Civil War Hickok served as a teamster for the Union Army in Sedalia, Missouri. After the war, he served as a guide for William Tecumseh Sherman. It was after the Civil War, that Hickok took up gambling. While in Springfield, Missouri, Hickok and a local gambler named Davis Tuitt got into an argument over an unpaid gambling debt. The argument got so far out of hand, that they had a shootout in the Springfield town square. Tuitt drew first, but he was no match for Hickok's fast draw. Hickok cut Tuitt down on the spot. Hickok was initially arrested and charged with murder, the charge later became manslaughter, and was later ruled a fair fight. After leaving Springfield, Hickok was appointed deputy marshal at Fort Riley, Kansas. Part of his job requirements were to serve as a scout for General George Armstrong Custer during the Indian War. Hickok was thought to be a "hater of Indians," but there is no proof of him actually engaging in battle with Indians. Hickok eventually moved to Hays, Nebraska, and took the position of U.S. Marshal. In his first month as marshall he killed two men. Both men had been involved in saloon disturbances. After serving as Marshal in Hays, he left and went to Abilene, Texas.  Hickok's most famous action in Abilene was a shootout with saloon owner Phil Coe. Coe and his business partners had bought and put up a painting depicting a "bull" in an inappropriate way. After asking the men to take the painting down, Hickok did it himself. This led to Hickok and Coe getting involved in a shootout. Once again Hickok outdrew his opponent and killed Coe. After leaving his position as U.S. Marshal, Hickok joined Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. By all accounts, he was not very good at acting, and left the show after a short time. This led Hickok to take up gambling more seriously. While playing poker in a town in Dakota territory, a drunkard by the name of Jack McCall felt that he had been cheated by Hickok. McCall left, but came back later and shot Hickok in the back of the head, while Hickok was still playing. McCall was later arrested, tried, and executed for the murder of Hickok. Wild Bill Hickok was truly a "Wild Man," and his story is the stuff of legend, but as far as the Wild West goes, his life was fairly normal.

This picture from "Harpers Weekly" magazine depicts the shootout between Hickok and Tuitt in Springfield, Missouri.

Hickok's star on the Texas Trail of Fame, in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

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