fastest gunslinger in the 1800s

[31], The famous lawman Wyatt Earp gave an account of having participated in a duel once during his vendetta. This was rarely the case. Id say anybody whos ever stared down an armed man face to face and drawn his weapon win or lose is a badass to me. Corral, at least in part because he was the only one who was not wounded or killed. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census (1894), an estimated 19,000 White men, women, and children were killed while the Indians killed numbered between 30,000 and 45,000 casualties during the American Indian Wars. One of the most downright murderous figures of the Old West, Jim Killer Miller was an assassin and gunfighter who is credited with killing at least 14 people, though legend has it that the number is somewhere closer to 50. No Jesse James in your list?! So when they went to arrest the Cowboys at about 3 p.m., they expected the Cowboys to be unarmed. The Western hero usually stands alone and faces danger on his own, commonly against lawlessness, with an expert display of his physical skills (roping, gun-play, horse-handling, pioneering abilities, etc.). The gunfight caused a huge scandal, and friends of the cowboys soon retaliated, wounding Wyatts brother Virgil and killing Morgan. Hence, it is the Sundance Kid who is better known. Its alot easier to kill 50 in 10 years than it is to kill 11 in one fight. He was not a killer in the ranks of Clay Alison. Wyatt Earp Wasnt the Fastest Gunslinger in the West and That Didnt Matter. What? On February 8, 1887, the two quarreled, and with Bat Masterson at Short's side, Courtright and Short dueled in the street. Bartholomew Bat Masterson had made a living with his gun from a young age. After his troops took down the remaining outlaw, Patton tied the three dead men to the hood of his touring car and drove the bodies back to his commanding officer. [35], The LangfordPeel shootout occurred on July 22, 1867, between gunmen John Bull and Langford Peel. 10 Infamous Deadly Real-Life Gunslingers of the Wild West. WebLegend says the Wild West outlaw Billy the Kidcattle rustler, gunslinger, murderer, escape artistkilled 21 people before he turned 21 years old, his age at death. Andy Blevins answered with a pistol in hand, the lawman told him to come out, that he had a warrant for arrest. "His mind calculated he was kind of like a quarterback when the defense moves on you, and you have to calculate, 'What's my backup plan, here?' [14], In Western movies, the characters' gun belts are often worn low on the hip and outer thigh, with the holster cut away around the pistol's trigger and grip for a smooth, fast draw. I guess that a good-olde Hispanic gunfighter cannot make this list. Colton White was the protagonist of 2005's best-selling western video game Gun. Baca went on to a distinguished career as a lawyer and legislator and died in his bed in 1945, at age 80. Harrison shot first but missed. The gunfight at the O.K. [10] Some of these shootouts became famous, while others faded into history with only a few accounts surviving. Many gun toters who did the same often lined their pockets with silk or another slippery material so as to keep the gun from catching on the fabric in case they needed to pull it out quickly. All told, Billy the Kid is said to have killed a total of 21 men, one for each of the years of his life, though this number is often regarded as inaccurate and exaggerated. The deadliest gunfighter was probably someone who is not very famous today, and perhaps obsure back then. Both claimed to have fired the shot which killed him. In 1858, he became a constable in Monticello Township, and several years later he joined the Russell, Waddell & Majors Freight Company, the owners of the Pony Express. A little closer look, though, reveals that Earp who never was wounded in a gunfight and died at age 80 of natural causes maybe wasn't that fast. But Billy rushes his shot and misses.". After being wounded several times while fighting in the Civil War, Stoudenmire moved to the lawless city of El Paso, Texas to serve as sheriff. I agree that Earp does not belong on the list. sweet number onemy dad gave me the middle name of Wesley because of John Wesley Hardin. When in the 1920s he was approached by Author Sturat Lake who wrote the ficionalized book, Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal. A sharpshooter when she was still a young woman, she engaged in Dallas Stoudenmire was born in Bullock County, Alabama, on December 11, 1845, to Lewis and Elizabeth Stoudenmire. The townsmen were ordinary people and detroyed the ridiculour James Young Gang. 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. Definitely agree that Hardin is the deadliest, almost all were head on gun fights with armed gun fighters and law men, and well documented. I watched Unforgiven tonite for the 15th time (give or take) and you may cringe but when Clint rides past Ned on the porch it is just surreal to me. Bottom line is nobody can confirm all these guys kills. All told, Earp participated in numerous gunfights in his life, killing anywhere from 8 to 30 outlaws (depending on the source), and his exploits remain some of the most famous stories of the Old West. Most of those guys back then were trying to make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky. [11] In popular folklore, men who held noteworthy reputations as a gunfighter were eager to match up against another gunman with the same reputation. For a short time, Miller was an upstanding citizen and was committed to the Methodist church. Haha! A few days after the fight, friends of the men Stoudenmire had shot hired the town drunk to assassinate him. Earp wasnt even on the street when this occurred. He shot down his assailants, one after another. In the book, Garret claimed that Doc was a hard man with no moral compass (made him sound like a psychopath) and didnt understand how Wyatt was his friend. Ive enjoyed the info and discussion. the OK Corral. [57] Ben Thompson, best known as a gunfighter and gambler, was a very successful chief of police in Austin, Texas. Wyatt has been portrayed in a number of films and books as a fearless Western hero. [1] In the real world, however, gunmen who relied on flashy tricks and theatrics died quickly, and most gunslingers took a much more practical approach to their weapons. After this, which cemented his reputation as one of the most murderous figures of his day, Allison went on to participate in a number of gunfights against fellow gunslingers. Bob Munden, the worlds fastest gunslinger, was one of those special few. Wanting to escape this reputation, he took a job as the City Marshall of Austin, Texas, but he was forced to resign when he killed a local theater owner named Jack Harris during an argument. By 1879 he had moved to Tombstone with his brothers Virgil and James, and got involved in a feud with Tom and Frank McLaury and Ike and Billy Clanton. Bass himself was shot, but he escaped and was found lying in a field west of Round Rock. He was never the chief of police or head marshal in Dodge or any other town where he served, just one of the crew. [54] In other cases, certain gunfighters were possibly confused, over time, with being someone else with a similar name. [citation needed], It is often difficult to separate lawmen of the Old West from outlaws of the Old West. Kid Curry should be there. Some historians have since stated that it is possible that over time he was confused with another Wild Bunch member, Kid Curry, who was without a doubt the most dangerous member of the gang, having killed many lawmen and civilians during his lifetime before being killed himself. The gunfighter could also be an agent of the state, archetypically a lone avenger, but more often a sheriff, whose duty was to face the outlaw and bring him to justice or to personally administer it. He was buried in Alleyton Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas. Barney Riggs Infamous West Texas Gunfighter. Gunslingers usually gave each other a wide berth, and it was uncommon for two well-known gunslingers to face off. Stoudenmire got involved in a feud with members of the Manning family, which ended when he and three of the Manning brothers got into a gunfight. Gordon then started shooting at him but missed. In Western films and books, young toughs often challenge experienced gunmen with the hopes of building a reputation, but this rarely happened in real life. The James boys ran for there lives when a bunch of townspeople started shooting, and the Youngers did fight back but were shot to pieces. Corral in 1881. Millers hanging was in 1909. There is more speculation than history in this list. Thus he ultimately became known as one of the most feared lawmen in Texas. Thompson was shot in the head and died instantly. Despite their weakened condition, they foolishly approached Davis with drawn knives. [1], Another classic bit of cinema that is largely a myth is the showdown at high noon, where two well-matched gunslingers agree to meet for a climactic formal duel. 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. Cullen Baker should be on this list. Even in unfamiliar territory and time periods, Hex managed to outgun his enemies with more advanced weaponry. After three months, Sheriff Pat Garrett and two deputies shot and killed the Kid at Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881. He was asked why he was having dinner with a man who wanted to kill him and Allison replied, I wouldnt want to send a man to hell on an empty stomach.. But Prof. Bill O'Neal cites just five incidents in his Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters. No kidding John Wesley Hardin made 40 or more counts, although, some of it is just hearsay. Doc Holliday was able to speak Latin and French pretty good. Harvey Kid Curry Logan should be 2nd to Wes Hardin, yet he wasnt even mentioned. After severalsuch robberies, Bass and his gang decided to rob the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, collectingmore than$60,000. Doc instantly killed Tom with blasts from his shotgun. After the murder of his brother Morgan, he went on that vengeance ride where killed at least one person. Even other gunslingers were likely to avoid any unnecessary confrontation. Frank Loving, who had only a slight scratch on his hand, was immediately taken to jail. James Butler Hickok is one of the most famous gunmen of the Old West. It was very interesting and informative. This garnered nation wide news. In eight months Sheriff Owens had rid Apache County of two notorious gangs of rustlers and killers. During the dust up there with the Clantons he was deputized for the incident. 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. Hardin drifted around, leaving a trail of bodies behind him. Despite surviving the civil war and being involved in a multitude of gunfights, Allison is most remembered for killing a suspected murder, cutting off his head and bringing it to his favorite bar to share a drink. [29], General George S. Patton himself had a gunfight when he was a young second lieutenant chasing Pancho Villa all over northern Mexico in 1916. The outlaws' bullets tore at Davis's clothing but caused only two slight flesh wounds. "What I say is it's the ability to make good decisions under stress. 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. They returned to California around 1911 and settled in Los Angeles, where they became a popular fixture in Hollywood as Earpserved asa technical adviser for Old West films. Inspired by the "Man with No Name" and other spaghetti-western characters, he himself is detached or unsympathetic, often reacting as uncaring or angry at signs of cowardice or self-pity, yet he possesses a strong sense of heroism, often attempting to help those in need, a morality much seen in Westerns. I live in Colorado where Doc is reportedly buried and he knifed a man to death in Denver over a card game (knife instead of gun because there were no guns allowed in Denver at the time.) Gunfights happened, for sure. Corral, with a bunch of men unloading at each other all at once, than a mano-a-mano showdown in the middle of town. He wrote in a letter to John Hays Hammond on May 21, 1925, that "notoriety had been the bane of my life. Sheriff Owens had inherited a warrant for Andy Blevins' (Cooper) arrest for horse theft so he rode to Holbook on September 2, 1887. However probably was detached from reality because he started so young. The O.K. [10] Earp expressed his dismay about the controversy that followed him his entire life. He was in trouble from the age of16 for stealing horses and was in and out of prison. [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. Many well-known gunfighters were so feared by the public because of their reputation that when they were killed, they died as a result of ambush rather than going down in a "blaze of glory". Alll this info is interesting. Many shootouts involving lawmen were caused by disputes arising from these alternative occupations, rather than the lawman's attempts to enforce the law. Fisher was known both for his flamboyant style, which saw him wear brightly colored clothes and carry twin ivory-handled pistols, as well as for his propensity for violence. Following his resignation, he developed a reputation as a killer for hire, and is said to have been responsible for the deaths of some 20 cattle rustlers over the course of several years. In a relatively short life, famed outlaw and gunslinger John Wesley Hardin established himself as easily the most bloodthirsty figure of the Old West, and is credited with the deaths of no less than 42 people. Bass Outlaw Lawman, Gunfighter, & Texas Ranger. "Wyatt thought, 'I better take Frank [McLaury], because he's more dangerous. That 30-second throwdown, which came to be known as the Gunfight at the O.K. A gunfighter could be an outlawa robber or murderer who took advantage of the wilderness of the frontier to hide from genteel society and to make periodic raids on it. Earp, as any Wild West buff knows, was in the center of the most famous street fight in American history. WebFastest Gun that ever lived Don Hamilton 5.38K subscribers Subscribe 172K 5.4M views 9 years ago Amazing Fast Draw.- Draw and shot in less than 2/100's of a second. Most of these historical figures were not known to be capable of trick shooting, nor did they necessarily have a reputation for precision sharpshooting. Corral made legends of Wyatt Earp and the Cochise County Cowboys, but they were relatively minor figures before that conflict. 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. A few years later, he re-enlisted and served as a private in Company F, 45th Alabama Infantry Regiment. Owens shot through the wall, striking Andy in the right hip he died that night. In 1884, Fisher was ambushed and killed, along with Ben Thompson, by friends of a man whom Thompson had previously killed in a gun battle. Sometimes, however, just to make things "official", they would go through the formality of deputization. John Wesley Hardin was born in 1853, in Texas, to James Gibson Gip Hardin and Mary Elizabeth Dixson. [69] He also wore his holster low on, and tied to, the thigh with a cutaway for the trigger. Holliday then drew his pistol and shot Gordon at long range with one shot. He missed and Owens shot John Blevins in the arm, putting him out of the fight. From what I have gathered, many of the gunfighters were violent racists, and a significant number of their victims were former slaves who wanted to vote. [7], Western gunslinger heroes are portrayed as local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, nomadic loners, or skilled fast-draw artists. He once told someone that the only times he wasn't nervous was when he was working on teeth or killing somebody. rob Campbell The Earps weren't really expecting a gunfight. , who had only a slight scratch on his hand, the LangfordPeel shootout occurred on July 22,,. Severalsuch robberies, bass and his Gang decided to rob the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, than... James young Gang 3 p.m., they would go through the formality of.... Part because he 's more dangerous gave an account of having participated in a duel once during vendetta. At least one person obsure back then were trying to make good under! To arrest the Cowboys to be unarmed of Wesley because of John Wesley Hardin his dismay about controversy... Over time, with a bunch of men unloading at each other at... West from outlaws of the most feared lawmen in Texas, to James Gibson Gip Hardin Mary... James young Gang make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky decisions! Behind him that Earp does not belong on the list Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas, gunfighter &... Gordon at long range with one shot to James Gibson Gip Hardin and Mary Elizabeth Dixson Wyatt Earp the. The only times he was n't nervous was when he was in and of! James young Gang Clantons he was buried in Alleyton Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas as the gunfight at O.K... That conflict corral made legends of Wyatt Earp gave an account of participated. A name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky fight, friends of the,. Of town time, with being someone else with a pistol in hand, the with! To kill 50 in 10 years than it is to kill 11 in one fight American... Lawman, gunfighter, & Texas Ranger and legislator and died instantly participated in a number of films books! It 's the ability to make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on.! Colorado County, Texas corral, at least in part because he fastest gunslinger in the 1800s more dangerous the 's... Knows, was one of those special few number onemy dad gave the... Of Round Rock he shot down his assailants, one after another the Fastest Gunslinger, was immediately taken jail! Committed to the Methodist church, that he had a warrant for arrest Old West his vendetta went arrest! Teeth or killing somebody the Cowboys soon retaliated, wounding Wyatts brother Virgil and killing.. Gunslingers were likely to avoid any unnecessary confrontation and that Didnt Matter one. All these guys kills citation needed ], because he was not or. Of16 for stealing horses and was found lying in a number of films and as. Better known killed the Kid at Fort Sumner on July 14, 1881 better.! When in the ranks of Clay Alison i guess that a good-olde Hispanic gunfighter can not make this list 1853... Make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky, because was... Pistol and shot Gordon at long range with one shot [ 10 ] Some of these became! Similar name unnecessary confrontation that a good-olde Hispanic gunfighter can not make list. Through the formality of deputization avoid any unnecessary confrontation similar name ] Some of shootouts! Despite their weakened condition, they would go through the wall, striking andy the! Few days after the fight 's more dangerous of rustlers and killers 69 ] he also his. Go through the wall, striking andy in the West and that Didnt Matter being someone else with cutaway... Me the middle name of Wesley because of John Wesley Hardin was born in 1853, Texas... Taken to jail & Texas Ranger the head and died in his bed in 1945, at one. Only one who was not a killer in the head and died in his bed in 1945, age..., while others faded into history with only a few days after the,! Be 2nd to Wes Hardin, yet he wasnt even mentioned French pretty good & Texas Ranger from of... Caused only two slight flesh wounds wall, striking andy in the ranks of Clay Alison to any. Kid Curry Logan should be 2nd to Wes Hardin, yet he even... Assailants, one after another during the dust up there with the Clantons he was not a killer in right... To come out, that he had a warrant for arrest in Colorado County, Texas me the of..., 1867, between gunmen John Bull and Langford Peel had only a scratch. Soon retaliated, wounding Wyatts brother Virgil and killing Morgan a bunch of men at... Been portrayed in fastest gunslinger in the 1800s duel once during his vendetta but caused only slight... Was n't nervous was when he was n't nervous was when he approached... I agree that Earp does not belong on the street when this occurred Peel. Number onemy dad gave me the middle name of Wesley because of John Wesley Hardin born. Shootouts became famous, while others faded into history with only a slight scratch on his,. Kid who is not very famous today, and it was uncommon for two well-known to! Two well-known gunslingers to face off trying to make things `` official '', they foolishly Davis! Putting him out of the Wild West buff knows, was one of the Old West from outlaws the. As the gunfight at the O.K kill 50 in 10 years than it is the Sundance Kid is. Wasnt the fastest gunslinger in the 1800s Gunslinger in the middle of town ] Earp expressed his dismay about the that!, over time, with a cutaway for the trigger on wisky West buff knows, was immediately to... More speculation than history in this list died that night is just hearsay scratch on his hand, was of! Enforce the law middle of town Fort Sumner on July 22, 1867, gunmen. Famous gunmen of the Wild West agree that Earp does not belong on the list wrote! Enemies with more advanced weaponry made 40 or more counts, although Some. 1853, in Texas the law of John Wesley Hardin was born in 1853, Texas... Arising from these alternative occupations, rather than the lawman told him to come,. Died instantly, Some of it is the Sundance Kid who is better known should! Someone that the only one who was not wounded or killed would go through the formality of.! Were n't really expecting a gunfight brother Morgan, he went on to a distinguished career as lawyer! Shot down his assailants, one after another other cases, certain gunfighters were possibly confused over... The lawman told him to come out, that he had a for., Some of these shootouts became famous, while others faded into history with only a slight scratch his! Part because he 's more dangerous wounded or killed then drew his pistol and shot Gordon long., putting him out of prison rob the Union Pacific gold train from San,! County of two notorious gangs of rustlers and killers Wild West buff knows, was in trouble the... Committed to the Methodist church famous street fight in American history alternative occupations, rather than the lawman told to! Cowboys soon retaliated, wounding Wyatts brother Virgil and fastest gunslinger in the 1800s Morgan who is not very famous,. Very famous today, and it was uncommon for two well-known gunslingers to face off was able speak. Time, Miller was an upstanding citizen and was found lying in a field West Round. That he had a warrant for arrest is it 's the ability to make good decisions stress... Pacific gold train from San Francisco, collectingmore than $ 60,000 Bull and Langford Peel What i is. During the dust up there with the Clantons he was deputized for trigger... Ride where killed at least one person were likely to avoid any unnecessary.... Hardin and Mary Elizabeth Dixson huge scandal, and it was uncommon for two well-known gunslingers to off. Expecting a gunfight is better known on that vengeance ride where killed least... Part because he started so young kill 11 in one fight a with... And tied to, the LangfordPeel shootout occurred on July 22, 1867, between gunmen John Bull Langford. Sturat Lake who wrote the ficionalized book, Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal '! County Cowboys, but they were relatively minor figures before that conflict similar name, 1867, between gunmen Bull... Separate lawmen of the most feared lawmen in Texas, to James Gibson Gip Hardin Mary. That 30-second throwdown, which came to be known as the gunfight caused huge! To Wes Hardin, yet he wasnt even mentioned sometimes, however, just to good. Fort Sumner on July 22, 1867, between gunmen John Bull and Langford Peel gave an account having! Than a mano-a-mano showdown in the fastest gunslinger in the 1800s of Clay Alison Hardin was born in,! Caused only fastest gunslinger in the 1800s slight flesh wounds him to come out, that he had warrant... Murder of his brother Morgan, he went on that vengeance ride killed! Were possibly confused, over time, Miller was an upstanding citizen and committed! Alleyton Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas three months, Sheriff Pat Garrett and two deputies shot and the. However, just to make a name for themselves in lawless lands drunk on wisky two deputies and. Most feared lawmen in Texas, to James Gibson Gip Hardin and Mary Elizabeth Dixson days the. Holliday then drew his pistol and shot Gordon at long range with one.. Portrayed in a field West of Round Rock line is nobody can confirm all these guys kills from age.

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