A Wild And Untameable Life
A land full of outlaws needed someone just as wild to provide order. Wild Bill Hickok was a hero. Outlaws feared him as he ruled towns with quick hands and a quicker temper. However, even a lawman can rack up sins in the Wild West, and it was only a matter of time before Hickok’s past came back to haunt him.
1. He Was Trouble
One truth followed Wild Bill Hickok during his entire life: no matter where he ended up, he brought trouble with him. He started on this early. Known as an expert marksman throughout his hometown of Homer, Illinois, Hickok didn’t know how to run away from a fight. This one trait not only became his defining feature, but it also upended his entire life before it had even begun.
2. He Didn’t Like Bullies
18-year-old boys of every generation get into trouble. Boys will be boys after all. For Wild Bill Hickok, trouble took the form of Charles Hudson. Both Hickok and Hudson worked as drovers along the Illinois-Michigan Canal. All at camp knew Hudson to be a bully—Hickok never liked bullies, and they didn’t like him either.
3. He Started Fights
No report survives on what, exactly, Hudson and Hickok got in an altercation about. However, whatever the cause, the two men began to argue, then they began to tussle—right along the bank of the canal. It did not take long for the inevitable to happen.
4. He Fell Into The Abyss
Hickok and Hudson fought on unstable ground. The land gave way underneath their feet, and both men fell into the canal. Bystanders quickly jumped into action, diving into the water to pull Hickok away from Hudson. Despite the speed at which their rescuers reacted, for Hudson, it appeared too late.
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5. He Thought The Worst
Hudson remained motionless. They pulled Hickok away from him, and fearing the worst, Hickok didn’t waste time waiting around for anyone to start pointing fingers. Certain that he’d ended Hudson’s life, Hickok fled not just the scene, but the entire state.
Well, as it turned out, he’d upended his entire life for no reason at all.
6. He Jumped To Conclusions
If Wild Bill Hickok had only waited a few moments longer, he’d have realized that Hudson had lived. There had never been any reason for Hickok to flee at all. However, now that he’d started his journey, Hickok never looked back. There was a whole world out there, and “Wild Bill” intended to make trouble in all of it.
7. He Pieced Together His Life
Once Hickok fled his childhood home, he made his way through a series of jobs, each seemingly more extraordinary than the last. However, not all of them left him in better shape than when he started. In fact, most of them were downright dangerous. When Hickok took a job with a freight company, he never realized the risk he’d introduced to his life.
8. He Met A Block In The Road
Through his role with the Russel, Majors, and Waddell freight company, Wild Bill Hickok found himself driving a freight train from Independence, Missouri, to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Things were going flawlessly, right up until he found his path blocked by an obstacle—one that proved difficult to remove without risking Hickok’s life.
9. He Misfired
In the middle of the road was a large bear. One bear may have been manageable, but it wasn’t just any bear. It was a mama bear accompanied by her two cubs. Hickok didn’t take any risks. He turned to the one trick that always served him well in the past. Unfortunately, time time it backfired—literally.
10. He Was In A Bad Spot
Wild Bill Hickock shot the bear. However, instead of injuring the beast, it only enraged it. Launching itself at Hickok, the bear crushed him, pushing down upon his body with all of its weight and grabbing his arm in its mouth. No one was coming to save Hickok. He needed to save himself.
11. He Had To Adapt
Hickok fired off one more shot, injuring the bear in the paw, but that didn’t slow it down. Hickok had to abandon his trusty tool. Instead, he armed himself with a knife, slashing the bear through the throat. Hickok had saved his own life, but the bear had already done too much damage.
12. He Took Months To Recover
The bear nearly broke Wild Bill Hickok. Following the attack, he had a crushed chest, shoulder, and arm. The incident confined him to a bed for four months. Once he’d recovered, he still couldn’t lead a team. So, his employers sent him to Rock Creek Station in Nebraska. If his bosses thought this would keep Hickok out of trouble, they didn’t know the man.
13. His Looks Attracted Attention
Russel, Majors, and Waddell rented their Rock Creek Station building from David McCanles. When Hickok arrived in May 1961, Horace G Wellman ran the station. He also provided an endless source of entertainment for the McCanles family, who teased him about the way he looked. They soon lived to regret antagonising the “girlish” stable hand.
14. He Was In The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time
The plan had been to purchase the land in installments. However, Russel, Majors, and Waddell began to default on their payments. Finally, McCanles tired of waiting for his money. On July 12, 1861, he went to the station himself to demand that Wellman give him his money. Things quickly turned deadly from there.
15. He Handled The Situation
What exactly happened inside the station is unclear. The surviving reports conflict. It is clear that things did not go as McCanles had anticipated, and little Bill Hickok, whom he’d been antagonizing for months, was right at the heart of it all. Though, if you ask Hickok for his story, you’d get a completely different version.
He claimed that McCanles had started it all.
16. He Bided His Time
Either Wellman, his wife, or Hickok—or all three—greeted McCanles, presumably informing him that he wouldn’t be getting his money that day, and certainly not by force. An argument ensued in which McCanles threatened the Wellmans. Hidden behind a curtain for reasons unknown, Hickok saw his moment, and he took it.
17. He Got Caught
Wild Bill Hickock shot David McCanles, killing him. The two men with him, James Wood and James Gordon, also met their end at the hands of Wellman and his staff. The authorities rounded up Hickok, Wellman, and another employee, JW Brink. Hickok had run once to avoid the very fate that he faced now. Unfortunately, this time, he had nowhere to run.
18. He Pleaded Self-Defense
Hickok, along with his “accomplices”, faced trial—and surprisingly, they won. The judge or jury deemed their actions as justifiable self-defense. For Hickok, it left a deep mark upon his life. McCanles was likely the first life that Hickok took. No matter what sort of man he became, that leaves a scar that few can ignore.
19. He Atoned For His Actions
Wild Bill Hickok needed to atone for his actions. On his way to the trial, Hickok made an astounding move. He stopped at the McCanles home and approached the widow of the man whose life he’d ended. As an apology for the wrong he’d done to her family, he gave her $35 (equivalent to $1,225 by modern standards), saying, “This is all I have. Sorry I do not have more to give you”.
This may have been Hickok’s first, but it wouldn’t be his last.
20. He Changed His Fortunes
Hickok’s trouble past likely would’ve followed him, marking him as a villain rather than a hero if it weren’t for the outbreak of conflict. The Civil War changed the fortunes of many men, some for the worse. For Hickok, it provided him with the opportunity to elevate his status and change his life forever.
21. He Became The Law
Wild Bill Hickok continued to do what he did best. He found more trouble. However, this time Hickock had the advantage. Thanks to his time in service, Hickok now found himself working with the Springfield detectives. As a newly minted marshal, he was now the one who handled the trouble. This only gave him more confidence to continue to do exactly what he shouldn’t do.
22. He Created Fame For Others
Without Hickok, no one likely would remember the name Davis Tutt. A petty gambler and former soldier, Tutt did few things in his life to distinguish himself. The only remarkable thing he did was cause trouble with Hickock. Without Hickock, Tutt would be nothing, but he also would’ve lived longer.
23. He Turned On His Friends
As with any good feud, Hickok and Tutt started as friends. However, they were perhaps too similar. A series of debts between them, as well as a shared affection for the same woman, began to sour the relationships. Things finally came to a head over something completely inane—as it always seemed to do.
24. He Lost Something Of Value
Either through a game of poker or as collateral for a previously owed debt, Wild Bill Hickok lost a watch to Tutt. The watch, apparently, had sentimental value to Hickok, so he asked Tutt to avoid wearing it in public. It was a simple request. However, not simple enough for Tutt to follow.
25. He Didn’t Ask Twice
Tutt did the one thing that he said he wouldn’t do. He wore the watch. Hickok warned Tutt to stay away, but Tutt wasn’t very good at following instructions. With matters only worsening, the two men saw only one way to solve the matter. It was the wild west after all.
26. He Changed The Game
On July 21, 1865, Hickok and Tutt faced off in the town square, each waiting for the other to draw first. It was a duel, though not one that anyone had seen before. Tutt drew first, but missed. Hickock was slower, but his shot was true. It was the first quick draw duel recorded, and Hickok won—and lost at the same time.
27. He Needed A New Plea
Tutt fell instantly, calling out a final “Boys, I’m killed,” before succumbing to his wounds. Hickok, who’d run to avoid an accusation of an act he didn’t commit, found himself facing trial yet again for taking another life. This time, his plea of self-defense wasn’t going to cut it.
28. He Could’ve Avoided The Fight
The judge took self-defense off the table. He informed the jury that they could not find Wild Bill Hickok acted in self-defense when he had caused the entire incident in the first place. According to the judge, Hickok could’ve reasonably avoided the fight, therefore avoiding the need to defend himself. However, he had another idea for Hickok.
29. He Had A Fair Fight
Of course, the “Wild West” had a loophole for a duel. If the jury felt that Hickok’s danger was “real and imminent,” they could acquit on the grounds of “fair fight”. Yet again, Hickock got away with murder. However, this time, the public wasn’t so happy about it.
30. He Became A Public Figure
Hickok’s verdict after ending Tutt’s life split public opinion. Many expressed their displeasure with Hickok walking free. However, this moment cemented his fame. Hickok gave an interview to a journalist who wrote his exploits in black and white. Wild Bill Hickok was born, and only half his stories were fake.
31. He Continued To Make Trouble
This was when Hickok made a career out of controlling the masses. However, he continued to get into trouble while doing it. After a brief stint as Sheriff in Hays County, Kansas, Hickok found himself as Marshall of Abilene, Kansas. Of course, trouble followed Hickok here, too. This time, his feud started with Phil Coe, a saloon owner who didn’t realize who he was dealing with.
32. He Took Matters Into His Own Hands
It all started over a lewd picture. Coe went into business with Ben Thompson, establishing the Bull’s Head Saloon. To attract people to their den of sin, they painted a rather shocking image on the side: a bull with its member standing at attention.
When the saloon owners refused to acquiesce to the town's request to remove it, Hickok took matters into his own hands.
33. He Was A Fearsome Enemy
Wild Bill Hickok painted over the picture himself, resulting in the wrath of both Thompson and Coe. While Thompson attempted to get another man to do his dirty work, which failed, Coe decided to take matters into his own hands. Too bad Coe never saw the glory he thought he’d get from taking on the famed Wild Bill.
34. He Was The Lawman
Hickok, Coe, and numerous other people were gathered in the streets, drawn by a street brawl. Suddenly, two shots rang out. Coe had fired. Hickok ordered his arrest due to firing within the city limits. Coe claimed to have been targeting a stray dog. This proved to be the last thing Coe did.
35. He Moved Faster
Turning suddenly, Coe turned his weapon upon Hickok. However, Hickok was faster. Coe’s life had ended before he hit the ground. However, in some ways, he still succeeded. In the chaos that followed Coe’s actions, Hickok couldn’t tell the difference between friend and foe. This haunted him forever.
36. He Moved Too Fast
Out of the corner of his eye, Wild Bill Hickok noticed another body running towards him. Working on adrenaline, Hickok turned and fired before his new assailant could fire upon him. He ended the life of Special Deputy Marshal Mike Williams, a man trying to help Hickok control the chaos. Coe ensured that Hickok never worked as a Marshal or Sheriff again.
37. He Never Worked Again
Shame over the incident in Abilene surely tainted Hickok’s image. Though Hickok found a happy marriage with Agnes Thatcher Lake in 1871, another problem held him back. Wild Bill Hickok’s eyesight began to fail him. Although Hickok eventually sought treatment, none was found. His health declined, and so did his life along with it.
38. He Needed A New Gig
No longer a reliable marksman, Wild Bill Hickok needed another way to bring in the money. A longtime friend of Buffalo Bill Cody, Hickok attempted to take a page out of Cody’s book. He went into showmanship! Cody was a natural showman. Hickok, unfortunately, was not.
39. He Couldn’t Cut It
Hickok’s attempt at making his own show ended in disaster and mayhem after several buffalo became loose, trampling the crowd. After that, Cody took pity on Hickok, inviting him to play in his own show. However, Hickok hated the attention, hiding behind props. After Hickok shot out one of the stage lights, even Cody had to give up on his friend.
The once unstoppable Wild Bill had now become a shell of his former self.
40. He Begged And Gambled
With his eyesight failing and his reputation tainted by his actions in Abilene, Wild Bill Hickok suffered. He frequently found himself a vagrant, wandering from place to place. His only reliable source of income came from gambling. However, the one thing that saved Hickok from destitution also proved to be the thing that ended everything.
41. He Sought New Fortune
With no prospects in sight, Hickok decided to try his fortune somewhere else. When all else failed in the West, gold always held an intoxicating promise to the poor and destitute. Hickok followed his good friend, Charlie Utter, to Deadwood, South Dakota, seeking fortune. What he found instead snuffed out the last light that Hickok had left.
42. He Played A Game
Hickok arrived in Deadwood in July 1876. While Hickok didn’t find gold, he did find one of his favorite things: a saloon and a game of poker. On August 1, Hickok sat in Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon, taking up space at one of their poker tables, when another man entered.
43. He Offered Help
Jack McCall joined Hickok’s game and lost badly. But Wild Bill Hickok showed the man kindness. He encouraged McCall to quit before he lost something that he couldn’t replace, and even offered him money so that McCall could eat the next morning. McCall accepted the money, but he didn’t consider the matter settled.
44. His Favorite Seat Was Taken
The following day, Hickok once again found himself at the poker table. However, he had a problem. Hickok always sat with his back against the wall to see who was coming through the door. On August 2, the only seat left at the table faced away from the door. If only Hickok knew how to walk away from a losing hand.
45. He Couldn’t Trade Seats
Twice, Wild Bill Hickok begged fellow player Charles Rich to switch seats with him. Twice, Rich refused. With his back to the door, Hickok didn’t see McCall enter the saloon armed. McCall spared no time. Raising his weapon, McCall yelled, “Take that!” before taking his shot.
46. He Had The Dead Man’s Hand
McCall hit Hickok square in the back of the head. Hickok fell. His life ended instantly, bleeding out over his cards, two black aces and two black eights—now forever known as the dead man’s hand. McCall fled the scene; however, he didn’t remain free for long.
47. He May Have Deserved It
McCall’s motive is a mystery. Perhaps he’d simply taken offense over Hickok’s pity the night before. However, when pulled before a jury, he claimed he acted to avenge his brother, who Hickok had slain sometime before. Sometimes a good defense matters more than the actual truth, and McCall found a strong one.
48. He Couldn’t Rest
An unknown lawman in Abilene, where Hickok had spent time, did end the life of a man named Lew McCall, so perhaps McCall spoke the truth. However, no one can definitively prove a connection between the three men. Not that it mattered. McCall’s “miners’ jury” acquitted him of the crime. A free man, McCall took to the streets but couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
49. He Got His Justice
The glory of being the man who felled the great Wild Bill Hickok proved too much for McCall. Once freed, he ran his mouth, going off about having “killed Wild Bill,” which landed him right back in front of another jury, tried for Bill’s murder. This time, McCall’s luck had run out.
50. He Started And Ended With Trouble
The second jury found McCall guilty and sentenced him to execution. In the end, justice for Hickok was served, unsurprisingly, as nearly the entire town of Deadwood came out for Hickok’s funeral. As the years wore on, his stories (true and exaggerated) only continued to grow.
Today, Hickok is a folk hero beloved by many. Fans forget the truth of his life and death, as well as the moral of the story. When you court trouble, in the end, trouble will always come back to find you.
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