Gunfights And Final Stands
The Wild West was a time of high stakes and larger-than-life characters. Many of the most infamous names of this era became legends in their lifetime and died in ways that would etch their stories in history forever.
Billy The Kid
Billy the Kid's life ended as dramatically as it was lived. On July 14, 1881, Sheriff Pat Garrett gunned him down in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Some claim he was unarmed. At just 21, Billy had already earned a reputation as a notorious outlaw, with rumors of over 20 killings.
Ben Wittick (1845–1903), Wikimedia Commons
Jesse James
The infamous train robber Jesse James met a tragic end in 1882. He was shot in the back by Robert Ford, one of his gang members who was hoping for the reward money. Jesse became a folk hero, but his demise at the hands of a close associate only deepened the mystique surrounding his life.
Wild Bill Hickok
During a poker game in South Dakota, a gunman named Jack McCall shot Wild Bill Hickok in the back of the head. Wild Bill was holding a hand of eights and aces—famously known as the "Dead Man's Hand”. His assassination forever linked him to the dangerous world he helped define.
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Billy Clanton
Billy Clanton's name is tied to one of the most infamous events in Wild West history—the O K Corral gunfight. On October 26, 1881, Billy and his brothers faced off against Doc Holliday and the Earp Brothers, and he was killed in the exchange. It became a pivotal moment in the Earp-Clanton feud.
Photography Studio, Wikimedia Commons
Butch Cassidy
In 1908, Butch Cassidy, leader of the Wild Bunch, met his demise in a dramatic shootout with Bolivian troops. After years of robbing trains and banks, Butch and his partner, Sundance Kid, fled to South America. The shootout in a Bolivian village, though the subject of much speculation, marked the end of their daring escape.
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Dallas Stoudenmire
As a tough lawman, Dallas Stoudenmire's life was as fiery as the lawless West he tried to tame. He became the marshal of El Paso in 1881 and was involved in a gunfight known as the "Four Dead in Five Seconds" shootout. Stoudenmire was shot in 1882, only 17 months after taking office.
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Sundance Kid
The Sundance Kid's end mirrored that of his partner, Butch Cassidy, in 1908. After years of running from the law, they found themselves cornered by Bolivian soldiers. The ensuing gunfight left the Sundance Kid dead alongside Butch. Though rumors swirled about their escape to the US, it's believed they both perished in Bolivia.
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Morgan Earp
One of the famous Earp Brothers, Morgan Earp, was assassinated by a hidden gunman. As the younger brother of Wyatt Earp, Morgan had been caught up in the volatile feud between the Earp family and the Clanton-McLaury gang. His death after the violent O K Corral gunfight intensified the family's pursuit of vengeance.
Ferrevangorp29, Wikimedia Commons
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Tom Horn
A well-known figure in the West, Tom Horn's life of violence ended with his hanging in 1903. Convicted for the controversial murder of a young boy, Horn's fate symbolized the brutal justice that often prevailed on the frontier. His execution reminded everyone of the harsh consequences of breaking the law.
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Bill Doolin
The infamous leader of the Doolin-Dalton gang, Bill Doolin, ended his career of crime in a dramatic shootout in 1896. After a long pursuit, a posse cornered him in Oklahoma, and he was gunned down. His violent demise came as no surprise, as he had been one of the Wild West's most wanted men.
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Kid Curry
Known for his deadly quick draw and outlaw exploits, Kid Curry, born Harvey Logan, took his own life in 1904 after a failed shootout with lawmen. A member of the Wild Bunch, his story was one of chaos and constant evasion. In the end, Curry's suicide marked the tragic conclusion of a violent man.
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John Wesley Hardin
What happened to John Wesley Hardin in 1895 fitted his life of crimes. Having killed more than 20 men, he was shot in the back of the head while sitting in a saloon in El Paso, Texas. He was a feared figure across the West, and his assassination added yet another layer to his chaotic story.
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Sam Bass
On July 21, 1878, Sam Bass met his fate during a robbery gone wrong. While attempting to rob a bank, Bass was mortally wounded by a group of Texas Rangers. This event marked the end of his brief but intense criminal career.
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Robert Ford
Robert Ford's death in 1892 was a stern reminder of the cost of betrayal. After killing Jesse James, Ford became a pariah, and his act of treason made him a villain in his own right. In a twist of fate, he was shot and killed in a saloon by a man seeking revenge.
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Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum
Hanged in 1901, Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum's execution remains one of the most infamous in Wild West history. While attempting to rob a train, he was captured and sentenced to death. However, the hanging went horribly wrong due to the poorly tied rope.
Clay Allison
A gunfighter and rancher, Clay Allison was known for his volatile temper. At age 45, he fell off a freight wagon in Pecos, Texas, while trying to catch a sack of grain. This end for a man who survived countless gunfights—usually killing opponents like Chunk Colbert in cold blood—was a stark contrast to his fearsome reputation.
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Ben Thompson
On March 11, 1884, Ben Thompson, a notorious gunfighter, was ambushed and shot while attending a play at a San Antonio theater. Known for his quick temper and violent nature, Thompson's fate wasn't a surprise, but it marked the end of an era in the West.
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Belle Starr
Known as the "Bandit Queen," Belle Starr was murdered in 1889. Whether her death was the result of a personal vendetta or a criminal plot remains unclear. Her life as a horse thief and outlaw had been filled with crime. Shot in the back while riding, her fate only deepened the enigma.
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Johnny Ringo
Johnny Ringo's death in 1882 is still a subject of debate. Found dead with a gunshot wound in his head, it remains unclear whether he took his own life or was murdered. He was involved in the O K Corral feud, and his sudden demise added a layer of mystery to his already complicated legacy.
Dave Rudabaugh
Another member of Billy the Kid's gang, Dave Rudabaugh, lost his life in 1886 after a shootout in a Mexican saloon. He was well-known for his criminal exploits, and his death came during a failed escape attempt. Due to his involvement in several robberies with the Kid, his name lived on.
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King Fisher
King Fisher, a Texas rustler, was killed in a violent ambush in 1884 alongside Ben Thompson. The two were shot while sitting in a San Antonio theater, which ended Fisher's life in a dramatic and public fashion. Known for his cattle rustling, Fisher's death highlighted the danger of living outside the law.
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Ned Christie
Meeting a horrific fate in 1892, Ned Christie was a Cherokee outlaw. After being pursued by lawmen for years, Christie was cornered by a posse that used dynamite to blow up his hideout. As one of the last outlaws in the Indian Territory, Christie's death marked the finale of a turbulent chapter.
Philkon Phil Konstantin, Wikimedia Commons
James "Killer" Miller
James "Killer" Miller, a hired gun, was lynched in 1909 after a life spent carrying out contract killings. Though he was known for his deadly efficiency, Miller's life ended when a group of citizens took matters into their own hands. They decided no one would escape the reach of frontier justice.
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Pearl Hart
Born in 1871, Pear Hart joined the ranks of outlaws in the Wild West. In 1899, she and her partner, Joe Boot, staged a stagecoach robbery in Arizona. After being arrested and serving time, she vanished. Many believe she lived under a false name.
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Bill Longley
Bill Longley's deadly accuracy made him famous, and his violent reputation grew from his involvement in several murders and shootouts across Texas. In 1878, at just 27 years old, Longley was sentenced to death. The sentence became a grim reminder of how the law would catch up with even the deadliest gunfighters.
