He probably embellished in his book, just to make things sound interesting. [1] The gunslinger's reputation often was as valuable as any skills possessed. [40] They met in an alley following an argument about a card game. Wyatt Earp was a Nobody whose ONLY claim to fame is he lived long enough to sell his fiction to Hollywood. Gunfights happened, for sure. I like the psychoanalytical approach which takes intellect clearly Garrett was smart if indeed he wrote this book (or even had it ghosted). 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. Here are10 of the most well-known. Dallas Stoudenmire was born in Bullock County, Alabama, on December 11, 1845, to Lewis and Elizabeth Stoudenmire. [53] At the same time, gunmen like Scott Cooley are all but unknown, when they actually led a life reflective of what most would consider a gunfighter to be. the old west sounds like it would be a wild time in life. Others deserved the reputation associated with them. The captain reacted in an instant. [16] Revolvers were a popular weapon to gunfighters who were horsemen, cowboys, and lawmen because of their concealability and effectiveness on horseback. [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. There they found themselves victims of an ambush. [31] By the second half of the 19th century, few Americans still fought duels to solve their problems, and became a thing of the past in the United States by the start of the 20th century. [76] Raylan Givens from the television series Justified shares the same ambiguous moral code of an Old West sheriff, even using a fast draw to dispatch his enemies. That 30-second throwdown, which came to be known as the Gunfight at the O.K. "Anything that has created this myth of the fast draw is a byproduct of entertainment," says Jim Dunham, the director of special projects and historian at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. There were many better career policemen than Wyatt Earp. Our newest biography website and YouTube channel. Hence, it is the Sundance Kid who is better known. The son of a Methodist preacher, Hardin displayed a capacity for violence early on in life when he stabbed a fellow student in the schoolyard at the age of 14. Kid Curry killed no less 30 people. The most famous of these was against outlaw Chunk Colbert, whom Allison shot in the head when the other drew his gun on him following a meal they had shared. Because of a dubious identification by two of the Nickell children, and Horns drunken boasts about the murder of young Willie, he was arrested and convicted of murder. [74][75], Modern-day western gunslingers have also appeared in recent Neo-Westerns. He was rumored to have killed hundreds but more likely killed 50 or 60. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona Territory. [citation needed], Most gunfights are portrayed in films or books as having two men square off, waiting for one to make the first move. Wyatt Earp was a lawman, a gambler, a lover of prostitutes, a buffalo hunter, a saloon keeper, a miner, a boxing referee, maybe a bordello keeper and, most famously, a gunslinger of international renown. But he killed all the way from back east to the west coast. I would outdraw him everytime and take much pride in myself. In his early 20s, Masterson worked as a buffalo hunter, operating out of the wild Kansas cattle town of Dodge City. Earp wasnt even on the street when this occurred. [79] Another well-known video game Western protagonist is John Marston from Red Dead Redemption, who was nominated for 2010 Spike's Video Game Awards, as well as his friend Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2. Commercial agency in Fort Worth, which provided "protection" to gambling dens and saloons in return for a portion of their profits. But they would not have understood if you'd have said, 'Who's fastest with a gun? They were often labeled as such due to one particular instance, which developed from rumors about them having been involved in many more events than they actually were. It is this ailment that many historians have said explains his shockingly brutal actions, which included once beheading a man he suspected of murder and carrying the head into his favorite bar. Hickok was born on May 27, 1837, to William Alonzo and Polly Butler Hickok in Illinois. 16 individual kills and involved in the death of over 180 others! Of his long life he was a policeman a total of about 35 months. One of the most legendary figures of the Old West, Wild Bill Hickok was an actor, gambler, lawman, and gunfighter who was regarded as one of the most skilled gunslingers of his day. Although many Old West legends have "fast gun" reputations, it appears that John Wesley Hardin, Wild Bill Hickok, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid were actually really On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Patton positioned his men by the south gate and was making his way up to the north gate when a trio of Villa's men came into the ranch on horseback. Jim Courtright and Dallas Stoudenmire both killed several men in gunfights both as lawmen and as civilians. He would get drunk and shoot unarmed men in bars, but outside of that his reputation is almost entirely myth. In 1880, Allison relocated to Mobeetie, Texas, where he met and married America Medora Dora McCulloch. They moved to Idaho, opened a saloon, and mined for gold. Another famous female shooter is Calamity Jane, born Martha Jane Canary in 1852 in Missouri. Hardin rode with outlaw Frank Polk in Navarro County until Polk was arrested for murder. In the end the fight lasted only 30 seconds or so, with at least 20 shots being fired Billy Clanton and both McLaury brothers died. Jonathan R. Davis shot eleven bandits single-handedly on 19 December 1854. Doesnt add up so your story cant be true. An example of this is "Han shot first", in which Han Solo, a gunfighter-like protagonist in Star Wars, kills his opponent with a subtle, under-the-table draw. the OK Corral. These were on personal reasons not while he was on the police force but as a civilian. Hickock was acquitted of all charges, having claimed self-defense. Rare are the gunfighters who, like William Sidney "Cap" Light, died accidentally by their own hand. Now a celebrated gunfighter, he made his way to Abilene and fell under the tutelage of Wild Bill Hickok. That afternoon, Earp, his brothers Virgil and Morgan, and Wyatt's friend John Henry "Doc" Holliday faced off against a rowdy group of outlaws known as the Cowboys; Billy Claiborne, brothers Ike and Billy Clanton, and brother Frank and Tom McLaury. In the saloon, Frank sat down at a long table, Richardson turned around and took a seat at the same table. After a number of run-ins with the law, the Kid was again captured and sentenced to death, but he managed to escape after he got a hold of a weapon and gunned down the two men guarding him. Billy The Kid. [30], The image of two gunslingers with violent reputations squaring off in a street is a Hollywood invention. Biographics History, One Life at a Time. The first story of the shootout was detailed in an article in Harper's Magazine in 1867 and became a staple of the gunslinger legend. The group called themselves the Regulators, but soon it gained its own reputation for violence, and its members were branded as outlaws. Dodge City Marshal Charlie Bassett, who was in Beatty & Kelley's Saloon, heard the shots and came running. The first man had been fatally wounded in the exchange and tried to draw his pistol before Patton killed him with a single shot. While he served his time, Hardin studied religion and law, but he suffered from bad health. This type of holster is a Hollywood anachronism. Millers hanging was in 1909. For a short time, Miller was an upstanding citizen and was committed to the Methodist church. Unlike contemporary peace officers, these lawmen generally pursued other occupations, often earning money as gamblers, business owners, or outlawsas was the case with "Curly" Bill Brocius, who, while always referred to as an outlaw, served as a deputy sheriff under sheriff Johnny Behan. [39] Richardson had developed some affection for Loving's wife Mattie, and the two began to argue about her. They followed them to the horse barn and witnessed the hanging. Hardin killed for the first time in November of 1868 at the age of 15 years, when he shot a former slave who allegedly attacked him with a stick. Wyatt warp wasnt even a gunfighter to be honest. What other gunslingers did we not mention? He married Urilla Sutherland, but she and their unborn child died of typhoid fever about a year later. "Gunslinger" redirects here. Billy Claiborne ran as soon as shots were fired and was already out of sight. Lawless violence such as range wars like the Lincoln County War and clashes with Indians were also a cause. The well-worn picture we have of a Wild West gunfight a tension-filled standoff in the middle of a dusty street, often at high noon, won invariably by the man who unholsters his gun more quickly than his opponent is largely fiction. Obviously the most well-known Old West figure in history, Bill the Kids life has That year he opened a dental office in Atlanta. While in the South Pass of the Dragoon Mountains, Earp's posse found one of the outlaw cowboys named "Indian Charlie" Cruz. E otherThere were many gunfighters missing from this list and a good bit of rumors floating about but saying any of these men didnt belong is bull maybe not top ten but when you kill another human in a fight where ether could die and u come out on top your a gunfighter there is two things that happen when u have to draw and take a life ether you look at it as me or them and put no more thought in it or you spend the rest of your life in regret but never felt more than the recoil of my weapon mainly when you have to take a life ether you are numb or scared or a combination of the two but to not back down and meet it head on muzzle to muzzle and come out on top even one or two confirmed you are a gunfighter This only marked the beginning of what would be a bloody campaign for Stoudenmire as sheriff. The The two last attackers were the men who had been wounded in a previous bandit raid. The dumb guy fired and hit Jesses hat and then paid the ultimate price for missing! He formed a gang, and increased his notoriety after shooting down a gambler in a New Mexico saloon. He was buried in Alleyton Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas. There is more speculation than history in this list. Both parties simultaneously drew their guns, which added to the confusion about who fired first. His name which is thoroughly documented to be the most well known identity was John Rambo. [69] He also wore his holster low on, and tied to, the thigh with a cutaway for the trigger. ", Wyatt yelled and watched Ike desert his brother Billy and run. I have often remarked, and I am not alone in my conclusions, that what goes for courage in a man is generally fear of what others will think of him in other words, personal bravery is largely made up of self-respect, egotism, and apprehension of the opinions of others. He came to Dodge first in the spring of 1876 and left or good in fall of 79. Agreed, nobody ever mentions Porter Rockwell but he has the best backstory of any of them and killed more men then all of them. In 1895, he was killed after being shot in the back by a lawman in El Paso, Texas. Stoudenmire had a reputation for being tough and short-tempered when he was drinking. The Allison family moved to New Mexico after the war. Billy Clanton fired at Virgil, but his shot also went astray when he was hit with Morgan's shot through his ribcage. How embarrassed I was! Several members of the prosecution and men who had testified against Miller were mysteriously killed. He's a dead man walking. This was rarely the case. Ben Thompson was a gambler, gunfighter, and sometimes lawman who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous figures of the Old West. 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. [78], Gunfighters have also been featured in many video games, both in traditional Old West and in contemporary and future settings. Roland Deschain from the fantasy series The Dark Tower is a gunfighter pitted against fantasy-themed monsters and enemies. "Mexican War Vet Wages Deadliest Gunfight in American History", "What Are the Characteristics of the Western Genre? But the Dodge City gunfighter told Courtright to "go to Hell," and that he could do anything that was necessary to take care of his business. [43] Gunfighters Jim Levy and Tom Carberry became infamous for participating in at least two quick draw duels in their lifetimes. [25], In January 1887 Commodore Perry Owens took office as Sheriff of Apache County, Arizona. "[81] The main character Caleb in the video games Blood and Blood II: The Chosen is also a former Old West gunfighter. There are different categories shooters can compete in. In 1871, Hardin was arrested for the murder of Texas marshal Laban John Hoffman, but he escaped after killing another police officer, Jim Smalley. His father was an ardent abolitionist, and their home may have been a stopping point on the Underground Railroad. [15] Fast-draw artists can be distinguished from other movie cowboys because their guns will often be tied to their thigh. The group was eventually broken up by law enforcement, but the Kid managed to elude capture. The deadliest gunfighter was probably someone who is not very famous today, and perhaps obsure back then. He should be replaced on the list by John Ringo or the Sundance Kid-. After severalsuch robberies, Bass and his gang decided to rob the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, collectingmore than$60,000. [11] In popular folklore, men who held noteworthy reputations as a gunfighter were eager to match up against another gunman with the same reputation. When she told him to leave her alone, he became angry, went outside the saloon, and started shooting out the windows with his pistol. In actuality, this kind of thing very rarely occurred, and the true life Western storieslike Wild Bill Hickok being shot in the back while playing cardstell a much more gruesome and less gallant tale. Get Jesse on this list! On February 8, 1887, the two quarreled, and with Bat Masterson at Short's side, Courtright and Short dueled in the street. Though, in the end that doesn't register a smudge on Earp's reputation as the quintessential American gunfighter. Barney Riggs Infamous West Texas Gunfighter. 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. [5], Often, the term has been applied to men who would hire out for contract killings or at a ranch embroiled in a range war where they would earn "fighting wages". Kid Curry should be there. [22] The most notable and well-known took place in the states/territories of Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. As for Johnny Ringo, there is almost no evidence that he ever participated in a real gunfight. obviously the worst shot in the west very few(If any ) fatalities. The mob passed the train station where laurel and Hardy were waiting for a train. While there he left for periods while he went to Deadwood and another time to Texas. P S. Ive got dibs on the porn name John Wesley Hardon! Privacy Policy | TopTenz T-Shirts | Sponsors. Only three days into his tenure, he became involved in one of the Wests most legendary battles, what is common known as the Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight, in which he shot three men. His gravestone is said to read: Clay Allison. 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. Gun Fighter. Who killed John Wesley Hardin? It's "Gunfight at the O.K. Much of the time, it would be difficult to tell who had "won" the gunfight for several minutes, as the black powder smoke from the pistols cleared the air. Portrait of American gunman Billy the Kid (18591881). What? In Docs profession ( Gambling, Gentleman. [65][66][67], The quick draw which gunfighters help popularize, is still an important skill in the American military and law enforcement communities. He was known for carrying two pistols in holsters strapped to his chest, which he claimed facilitated the quick draw, and he used them to gun down three more people in various gunfights soon after his flight. Louis Lamour credited him for inventing the fast draw. In turn, the cowboy called upon 80 of his associates to murder Baca. While in Dodge he was on the posse which apprehended the murderer of singer, Dora Hand. Long before holsters were steel-lined, they were soft and supple for comfortable all-day wear. Ike Clanton panicked as well and ran towards Wyatt pleading for his life. The U.S. Calvary hired him as a scout and interpreter during the Apache Wars. [2] The word was soon adopted by other Western writers, such as Zane Grey, and became common usage. His sarcasm revealed a dangerous man whose violence was controlled and focused through the barrel of a gun. Together they bought a ranch near the Pecos River. [citation needed], There are no records to support the reputation that Johnny Ringo developed. King Fisher. Colton White was the protagonist of 2005's best-selling western video game Gun. He entered the council hall and dared the councilors to try to take his guns or his job, at which point they immediately changed their mind, saying he could keep his job. 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