Show i ACES 64 and EIGHTS And Since August Au 2 j y y r e B Has Been I I l h. h 8 the th e liD Dead e a d h a t f. f t x t il Hand Hanle q LY 2 n n tt is Mans Man's b U Ut J t leY ELMO SCOTT WATSON CJ S and el eights Or to be more specific spa fIle the aces and eights of spades and clubs the black aces area and eights how many a later inter player holding that sinister combination In somo some lighted d cheerful room must have felt felta iJ d a prickling of ot his scalp as 81 If It an Icy breeze fanned fannI his hands handi or some come dark cold presence suddenly ID In th the room stood tood 1 mocking at his shoulder or l more than half a century that sinister combination has been known as DI the Dead Mans Man's Hand It was the tho hand of ot cards card which the tho famous Wild BUI Hili was holding when when he heas was as assassinated la 10 I Deadwood S S. S I on on August 2 1870 and that event Is Ii a 1 landmark mark In the ot the tho American frontier Ills death marked not ont only the loss lose of ot a abrate brave brae and gentle than man but also the passing of ot ofa ott t I a a e great epic writes a recent biographer of this celebrated frontiersman Wild rill DIll tile the greatest scout ot tho Plains flatus the fearless fearless fear fear- less Jess marshal of ot border bat bad towns the pl marvelous marvel ous oils marksman the o of desperadoes and had bad men was 88 g gone ne And with him Mm was gone gono the tile most vital n ii ed for tor fora a man men of his type The days of ot wild fro frontier life were wre were numbered Already courts and schools and libraries and factories were so 80 near by bl that one more enger forward m move e would put them and the tile rich life lire they brought Into the place of ot saloon and hall gambling and r dance ort Wild Bill and tho the period period In in In which he lived both bolh had played their part The man words was was the late William Connelley secretary of the Kansas Kan Kan- finS sas State Historical society When he died In 1030 1930 he ho left behind him the manuscript of ot an unpublished biography of ot based upon 42 years year of ot research During that time he had hadan hadan an nn unusual opportunity to obtain evaluate and Interpret InterNet authentic material relating to the life and ant character of ot Hickok Associated with himIn himIn him himIn In his hll work WR was his Ills daughter Mrs Mr I Connelll Con nelll nelley Curt and upon upon his death It fell 11 to her hr herlot herlot lot Jot to edit her fathers father's manuscript and round out the story which he ho was writing The result was the book Wild Mid Bill and Ills His Era The Era The Life and Adventures of James Butter Butler Issued Issued Is ls- Is- Is sued last year by hl the Press Iress of ot the Pioneers a New York Tork publishing firm directed by Rockwell Hockwell Wilson n which Is doing an Invaluable work ork In preserving a variety of ot pioneer histo Aral records and In the opinion of ot those beatable best beat able to Judge the tho result result- this latest blo biography Is Isa Isa isa a sane Mue convincing portraiture of ot Wild mil Bill as he hf wu was Like Wild West hero Wild Bill has been ben the central figure In many a atoll tall toll tale talo which was either entirely fictitious inthe In Inthe Inthe the first place or had only a Slight basis of ot fact but which by bl constant repetition has come rome to bo he regarded as fact flirt Therefore one of ot the Ihl values of ot Connelley's book Is that It dispels many of ot these legends and myth myths which have havo clustered around the tho name namo of If Wild VIM Bill 1311 and substitutes for them statements which can ran be accepted with the confidence that they thy represent the tho truth about him as nearly as an It Is possible to learn earn the truth about a man who had such a rol colorful and varied career as had Among these legends Is the story of how James Butler came to be bo known as Wild Bill Billand and there have ha been as many variations on this theme as there thre have hate been blo on most moat of ot the other events In his hits life According to Connelley Connelly tho the true story Is this In 1801 already wIdely widely wide wIde- ly y noted notel its as a skillful government scout and guide gulde was placed In III charge chargo of ot a wagon gon train which escorted by hy 12 guards was wa transporting army supplies from Fort Leavenworth to Sedalla Seda lla Mo Eu Eo route n a party of CO ro guerrillas attacked attacked at at- tacked the train not far from Independence Mo 0 and the guards outnumbered four tour to one made no I attempt to defend the train but retreated re retreated treated at once onre Hickok as ae master Blaster of ot the tho train Iraln was riding on horseback ahead of ot It It When the guerrillas called upon Ulon Alm ilm to surrender he replied Come and take mo me I I 1 and spurred his horse toward Independence In the tine running fight which followed followed fol tol- lowed he killed several of ids hIs his pursuers but escaped without a scratch Uel Reporting the loss of ot the train to the Union troops there ther he was was' told that they could not help him but that he be would have bavo to go on to Kansas City and report the loss Joss to the commander at that place While In Independence he went Into a saloon owned o by a friend of at his and learned that the bartender was Will a II near near-by house by a II amob amob mob of at teamsters ant and other rowdies because be lie had bad wounded one of ot their number during a n Immediately drew t fv tvr pistols and offered to 10 tight fight the entire party bi be challenge wa was not taken up Then he ho orde the crowd to disperse saying If U you do dl not there will vIII J p more dead men around here than Ihan the town to can bur bury whereupon the ruffians rumans departed hastily The citizens of ot the town In the tho town square square after they had halt left to s y their appreciation elation dation to the man who VaU ad delivered them from brief reign of ot terror and during the meet ing a woman cried out Good for you lOu WI Wild lot Who she was lIS atul 1 why hy she Ibe called him Wild Hill Instead of ot Wild Jim never knew He lie W wl On fin to Kansas City secured the aid of ot a il d detachment t f soldiers oldies a aid tl returning to the t the the attack on wagon the wagon train recaptured the uninjured wagons I and Some come of It the mules When he arrived at Sedalla Sedalia he found that the story of ot his encounter encounter in Independence had llad preceded ded him ant and everywhere e e be beas was hailed m n. Wild Bill a s name naine name which stuck tuck to him to the day of ot his death A great many of ot the legends that have have grown no grownup up around the name of ot Wild Bill um have hav had to todo do 10 with his almost uncanny skill with the six- six shooter but Connelley's patient research has resulted re re- suited In the confirmation of most moat of ot these ate tto- rles ries even en those which seem nearly unbelievable rather than in dispelling the legend Like a so many other stories about Wild Dill Bill nw f Tho Tha Murde Murder of Wi cep Blip Bill from at n Old Wood Cut 6 iI- iI UI I fr 14 U I r 7 E G J y J 7 M f se Y A l I J C of J Jc c t I t tIk f 7 Af M YG p- p rr A AC C J AC h II i J JI I I a d is 4 a 7 iL- iL 44 ik k k e f- f Last Letter to His Wife Wild I Dill BiH Hickok f the story of his ot-his his dl death has been told many times timer with a wide variety of ot conflicting detail Be ne cause of Its historical Importance In to the light of ot the quotation from Connelley's book at the beginning of ot this article It seems worth orth while as RS the anniversary of or that event approaches to Rive give the Iho version of ot It which has resulted from the Kansas historians historian's research There was a n curious Irony of fate In 10 the manner manner man man- ner nee of ot Wild Bills Bill's dying which makes It more than another Illustration of ot the old age-old saying that those tholo who live by bl the sword word shall die by bl bythe bythe the sword with the substitution of ot the word shooter six for the word sword word Woven Into the red fabric of of ot the narrative of ot Wild Bills Bill's last days dos U a 11 white white thread which seems strangely strange strange- ly 1 out of at place In the tho chronicle of ot the violent end earl of ot a n life lite of ot violence It Introduces Into the story of ot this eyed cold-eyed killer of ot the plains the unusual and unexpected role rota of ot a tender and devoted de do- voted oled husband even though the element of ot romantic ro ro- mantle mantic love loe may be lacking tacking In 1870 was tiring living to IrI Cheyenne Wyo listening to the siren call of ot gold In the Black mack Hills of ot South Dakota But before be he could answer ver that call he learned that Mrs Agnes Thatcher Lake the widow of ot a famous circus performer per former and herself hersElt one of ot a long line of show people was visiting a relative In Cheyenne He Ile had hod first met h her r while he was marshal of ot Abilene Abilene Abi Abl- lene J In Kan In 1871 and In ln 1874 during his brief career as an actor with Buffalo Bill Dill Cody In Ned d Scouts of at the Plains he had met rolt her again In Rochester N N. N y Y The Tho result of ot their meeting In 10 Cheyenne was their marriage on March 6 lJ Says Say Connelley There Is no doubt that the tha two venturesome and full of or courage and life appealed to each ench other nut Hut the question of ot love lo-e Is a very verl dubious on one one The marriage was the practical sensible combining of forces of ot two people who knew that they could be of at mutual help After the marriage they thel went first to St. St Lon Louis Is then to Cincinnati Two weeks there thre found restless restless rest rest- less and eager to get Iet back to the West and go goto goto goto to the Black Hills Accordingly he returned to St St. Louis and set about organizing a company of ot adventurers whom he ho was to lead leM Into the gold country This he helid did lid going by way of at Cheyenne enne where his old friend Colorado Charley Utter Joined him They arrived In Deadwood early In in May Connected Connected Con Con- with that arrival Is one of ot the elements of ot the Irony fate motif In the story of ot Wild Bills Bill's death his death his premonition that he w was was s going to his death In Deadwood Gulch According to to toa a well authenticated story as he ho and Utter came came to the to top of It Break Neck l' l k Hill Hilland and looked down into the gulch Wild Bill BUI said to his companions Boys noys I have a hunch that I am nm In my last Jast camp and will never r Ila leave this g gulch all alive Some time later In fact the tho very vry evening before his death he was leaning against the file side of ot the open door of ot the 00 60 saloon when a friend noticed his downcast appearance and asked him why he was was looking so dumpy dumps replied Tom TonI I J have a a presentiment that my time Is up and that I t am am going to be e killed killed- I After arriving In to the thins Hills toot up uj up several claims and began developing them How successful he was Vas Is unknown There Thre Is extant In the museum of the United States Playing Card company at Cincinnati his last letter to his wife written on July 17 17 which does ds not Indicate any considerable success as a gold hunter Ills letter read Dead ad Wood black hills Dakota J July ll lith My ry t wn n darling re j Agn Agnes Agne I ha Me e but buta 8 a afew few moments left h before before tor this hits letter starts I never Cr was as well In my ml life liCe but you would aught laught to see me now Just got In from Prospecting Pros will go away awal again to mOTU but god n when b o It will start m my friend will take this t to if It lie tie fives Elves i J dont ex expect erect to to hear bear from you jou y u but It 1st all all an my Agnes lS and only l C hue bur never mind Pet It we wee have ora a a home yet n n Ve 8 will 1 be so 10 happy 1 am nih lm do lH dol t the e man ih w rap we Good b Dear lar wife Love Ioe to to Emma aJ kok r. r a Ill r U y When arrived In Deadwood that camp was In the grip of ot the tho ino t lawless element I Although be he was waC there only as a peaceful prospector pros pros- rector his bis reputation as a marshal marsha In Kansas at al Hays flays and Abilene t was was' well kr known owl Soon the tile law abiding element la In Dea Deadwood wood began talking of It making him marshal of ot that town and having him clean up the camp neither encouraged encouraged en nor discouraged such luch talk but went quietly about his work But Hut such talk was disconcerting to the cardsharp cardsharps cardsharp card- card sharp sharps the thieves and the killers LI U had R R o-R r t ae I a x Rai 11 I i s 4 k a E yd Monument flocked to 10 Deadwood They knew that their acts activities v were doomed if It he became marshal N Not of brave ln enough ugh to forestall that possibility by shooting It out with him themselves two of ot the leaders of ot the lawless element Tim Brad Brady y and Johnny V Varnes arres resorted to assassination Broken Nose ose Jack McCall a former buffalo to hunter In Kansas who had degenerated into a drunken on hanger-on around around the saloons and dane dance dance- e halls of ot Deadwood was hired to do the Job The They y gave him 25 In gold Ingold gold dust and promised hi him m more mor filled him up with the brand of ot chain lightning whiskey which flowed freely in the camp and set him to his bis task On the afternoon of August 2 Hickok was e engaged en In a friendly game of poker In the C CO rJ saloon with Charley Rich Ich Carl Mann one ne of ot the owners of the place and Captain Massey a i Missouri river pilot plot Although the others taught laughed d and Joked as ns they played Hickok seemed u uneasy un un- n I easy and and He Ill was sitting with his hI ba bato back ck to the door a position so absolutely content contrary ry to the caution that governed his hits alert and watch h h- h fu ful habit that all his trained time Instincts we were re reto e In 10 violent rebellion Several Se times he asked to toed change places with the others but they refused ed edill an d teased him about his fill nervousness None of ot the any attention as Mc Mccame McCall Cal ill came lounging through th the door and moved ed td noiselessly ly up behind Suddenly Jerking ng nghe out ills bis 45 caliber six shooter McCall sh shoved ved ti the he e gun within a yard rani of ot the back hark of ot Wild Bt Bills Bill's u a bead and exclaiming D n D n you you I f Take that I I 1 Ird fired a a single shot As slumped fora forward rd yd on In the table the assassin threatened Jl Harry rry ry Young the bartender with his gun and and keep keeping DC ng the other men In the room covered with It t backed from the room Running to his pony he hech threw him f into Inlo the saddle But the elm cinch ch chIra was loose and the turned throwing li him Ira im to the thin ground Then he picked himself up at and ml d ran Into a butcher shop nearby to hide hille The There re ree he was found by hy the famous Calamity Jan Jane e eus lucke whose hose quick temper flamed Into a furio furious us rage rale when she heard the news of or the murder of ot her friend Wild Bill Dill Unmindful of the fact th that at McCall McCan was still armed sh she entered the butcher butch ler er lern shop seized a cleaver from rack a and threaten threat n en ii In Iq bin hittl with t It forced him film to surrender Rack Back In 10 the CO Ott 00 silicon saloon Hickok's friends friend II h has has- as as- tily summoned Ellis A. A Doc Doc I Pierce B But ut 7 1 Calls Call's one ono shot had b been ri Instantaneously sly l L f. fh l L h IV 15 side Wild Bill on the floor lay lal the to tour four ur cards which he had drawn the tho the two black l ac aces acl'S 3 os and the two |