Wild Bill Hickok: A Gunfighter Too Fast For His Own Good 

Thank you for this informative story of Wild Bill Hickock. My great grandfather James Evans was a friend of his and served as an Indian scout with him. He was also there to witness the shooting of his friend in Deadwood. My great grandfather died in 1959 at 103 yrs. I'm sure my uncles can remember some interesting stories of his frontier days.

I read somewhere that Elizabeth Custer once described Hickok as being the most perfect specimen of male physique, handsome, and a perfect gentleman. Her exact words were extremely complimentary to his physical appearance. I'm sure he came in second only to her Autie!❤

He was most certainly a great Classic dresser. So much experience. What a sense of humour he possessed. What a pity his life ended by a lowdown dirty critter. Love your exceptional story telling. You are so enjoyable, thank you.

Wild Bill un-American? That is seriously messed up. Thanks for these simple, powerful presentations. You breathe life into a time we would all be better for remembering.

Wild Bill's story is one of the most fascinating stories from the history of the old west. Thanks Bob!

It does bother me to see so many say that Wild Bill had a feminine voice. I have even seen articles where they say that Buffalo Bill fired him from his Wild West Show because of his feminine voice. That is simply not true or otherwise he wouldn't have hired him in the first place and neither would have anyone else. Thank you for setting the facts straight on him.

Hey Bob don't know if you will see this but I am a fan. thanks for keeping this history alive.

How about a story on Bucky O'neil, I was just in Prescott this past weekend and thought of him because of his statue there. I think in the history of the west, especially Arizona, he doesn't get his due. Thanks Bob, I really enjoy your presentations.

Wild Bill Hickok's hair was fashionable at the time in the West. It was called "the plainsman look". He had been a Pony Express rider with Buffalo Bill (long hair) who hunted buffalo for the railroad workers and told them where they should build their towns, including Hays, Kansas in 1867. Hickock was the city Marshall. Custer (known for his long hair) commanded Fort Hays. In those days real men wore their hair long so they were more easily identified from further distance. It was also an open to Indians saying "if you want to scalp me and take my long pretty hair, just try and take it". Long hair in that time was the look of a badass, not a priss. The reason the Seventh Cavalry couldn't find Wild Bill was that A) he had previously been their scout, and B) he went to the cemetery and literally dug his own grave and sat in it, prepared to use it as a fox hole for three days by which time the Seventh had give up looking for him. A lot of men tried to kill Wild Bill. Once, two men hiding behind barrels on either side of the street Wild Bill was walking down opened up. Hickock pulled both his pistols and fired simultaneously, killing both his would be assassins, the only time it was ever done. Another man realized that Wild Bill carried pistols which most people aren't accurate more than about 50 feet. Wild Bill didn't notice him until the first Winchester bullet zipped past him from 6 blocks away. Another bullet cut past as Hickock stood in the street calmly aiming. One shot. 6 blocks. One kill. Hickock wins. He is the only famous person ever killed in a saloon or playing poker. Hickock couldn't sit facing the door, nor could he see the door in a mirror. Shot dead from behind holding a winning hand. Eights and aces. When asked why he did it, the murderer said "I wanted to become famous as the man who killed Wild Bill". When asked why he hadn't walked up and challenged Wild Bill face to face, he responded :"I wanted to be famous for killing Wild Bill, not for being killed by him".

I disagree with the notion that Hickok was too fast for his own good. Talk to any police officer and they will tell you that their worst fear is drawing and firing on a perceived threat, only to realize it was an innocent person who had simply made a sudden move. It's an easy thing to do when you have a job where anybody you meet could have a gun and possibly shoot and kill you without warning.

How about more of Dangerous Dan Tucker? One of the greatest gunfighters that existed(?)

It is probable that Hickok was already experiencing some degradation of his vision at the time of the 1871 Phil Coe event. That might go some way to explaining why he shot his deputy and friend. He was nearly blind, only 5 years later, when Jack McCall shot him dead from behind in Deadwood.

I just acquired one of Calamity Jane's pistols! Opening an old west museum

It is interesting that Wild Bill carried two Ivory handled .36 caliber Colt 1851 Navy black powder, cap & ball pistols that have the ballistics of a modern .380, and still was known as a town tamer, and deadly gun man. Hollywood shows with two .45 caliber Colt SAA's, which weren't made until 1873, and was only issued to the US army for the first two to three years.

Living in SW MO very near Springfield, MO, I was hoping for a comment or two about Wild Bill's gunfight with Davis Tutt on the square in Springfield, MO, which is credited with influencing the Hollywood's version of Old West gunfights in TV and in movies. However, I understand that not every facet of his life can be covered. For those interested, there is a plaque on the Springfield town square memorializing this historic gunfight.

Abilene? I stood right in the area where the accidental killing occured...

Thanks for the informative and entertaining historical snippet on one of my personal favorite Old West personalities.

Bob you are a wonderful story teller. You keep it interesting. Thank you so much.

While I am thinking about it, there's a lady in Agua Dulce, Ca. that is a great grand daughter of Geronimo. Her father moved to Los Angeles in the heyday of westerns as the token Indian in many films. She has over 150 tin types of Geronimo that have never been seen. She said a lot of the artifacts in DWW were on loan from her when Costner made the film. I believe it would be worth looking into. I saw all of the artifacts. She's from White Mountain area of Arizona originally.

Bob B. I love your stories and have been a wild west enthusiasts my whole life and amateur frontier and civil war historian, reenacted, God bless sir

The Buffalo Bill museum in Golden Colorado has a lock of Wild Bill's hair on display.

Thanks Bob. Always enjoy these 30 minute, (or some times less), trips back into history, and the factual events, (as best can be known), of famous and infamous western individuals and historical events. Enough cannot be said about their educational value as well. Keep em coming. And Thanks again.

I enjoy your videos and have a question. I have the opportunity to travel to Kansas (Witchita). What are some western history and places to check out around Kansas?

Excellent presentation, as always! Can’t wait to hear what will be covered next!

I read somewhere decades ago that Hickok would put on demonstrations of pistol marksmanship for the cowboys waiting for the saloons to open by firing with both pistols from the hip and bouncing a tin can down the street twenty paces ahead of him. The idea was to plant this image in the minds of the cowboys so that later if he came to tell them to settle down or arrest them for disorderly conduct, they wouldn't foolishly draw on him.

Wild Bill was one of my childhood heroes. As a fourth-grader, I read a biography of him, which captivated me to the point that I read it straight through, never going to meals or sleeping 'til it was done. (My mother, it must be said, wasn't so much indulgent as she was enthusiastic about reading.) A remarkable man living in remarkable times. Thanks for the video!

I wish you had talked about Hickock's little known today service during the Civil War as a leading Union Scout and intelligence officer in the Western armies. Before the war his family farm seems to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad as they were Abolitionists. Probably the reason he aerved as a deputy before the war as a teenager were his abolitionist credentials. There was a de facto border war with Missouri Border Ruffians like William Clarke Quantrill, already a multiple murderer and leader of bandit gangs, and his like raiding into Kansas to kidnap or kill free Blacks and murder Abolitionists and menbers of the new Republican Party for Democrat Party leaders and interests. It could be a very rough time for town lawmen in a fairly lawless area. I'm not surprised they woukd hire a teenaged Hickock as few probably wanted the job. Stilll he made most of his living in more standard jobs for the area. He joined the Union Army early in the war. He served aa a scout in the extremely dangerous work of a reconnaissance cavalryman. He quickly gained an excellent reputation in the military. Later he served undercover far behind enemy lines. A friend of his, who was probabmy engaged in similar work, reported seeing him in the uniform of a Confederate colonel in the company of senior officers. That must have taken real brass balls. His first known gun fights, and among the earliest if not the very first gunfights recorded, were with former Confederate guerrillas in Missouri. These men had not formally surendered to the Union or tsken parole, generally because they had committed more criminal than military acts during the conflict and might not have qualified. Their major leader Quantrill wasn't killed iuntil June 1865 on a raid in Kentucky.. They must have known who Hickock was and roughly how he had served. Killing him would both dishearten his fellow Unionists and be a lesson to all who thought the Confederacy defunct. They made a serious and fatal error. Hickock went on to serve in the post war Army as a scout in the Plains Wars, reinforcing his military reputation. He knew Buffalo Bill Cody and other famous scouts well, including Captain Jack Crawford as you mentioned. Whether he played any Secret Service role in Northern Mexico under Sheridan is unknown as the records of the massive post Civil War involvement of the Union Army against the forces of the Emperor Maximilian and the French are still unknown as there is still a veil of secrecy and obscurity over the whole period. Only after all of this did he return to being a lawman for a few years. It was actually only a small portion of his adventurous life. I'd guess that after the accidental killing in 1871 he was done with the whole era of danger and violence he had endured and survived since the late 1850's. He didn't want to see any more dead friends and probably suffered some PTSD. If he didn't it would be surprising. He went on to fame as an actor in stage soliloquies with Buffalo Bill and others. He pursued various business and political interests. He got married in 1875 to a very successful entrepreneurial woman who owned her own circus. He went to Deadwood to see if he could secure business oppportunities in a boomtown mining district. Then he got murdered by a drunk egged on by his political enemies from his Republican and Unionist pro-Grant policies outside of Deadwood. They may have also feared that he would be urged to become town marshall, a job I doubt he would have taken as it was not why he was there.

Wild Bill wasn't quicker on the draw. He did have the unique ability to remain calm and focused in a gunfight. It's not who shoots first that counts. It's who shoots last that matters.

Wild Bill Hickok (James Butler Hickok), General / Colonel George Armstrong Custer also had long hair as did Texas Jack Omohundro, Buffalo Bill Cody, Comodore Perry Owens and numerous others were known for growing their hair long as well as the native American warriors such as Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

Thanks so much for the informative story on Wild Bill. My wife, me and the kids visited Deadwood sevaral years ago. Very interesting place. I love the history of the old west. Thanks Terry Greenway.

Great story, Bob. Great color to an American icon. It seems to me, that someone coming up behind him in the "heat of battle" would always be considered an adversary and delt with as such. Just survival.

As always another great historical story that can only be told by Bob Boze Bell! Thank you Bob for your great storytelling!

Have always enjoyed your stories of western Icons Thank you Bob

Oh and I'm brand new at all this on line business to lol thanks again

I love these stories. I was raised with the TV shows, Roy Roger's, Wyatt Earp, Gene Autry......and as kids, all of us had our six shooters, and played these characters. Thank you for the research, and sharing these great stories.

These presentations are always interesting and well done.

Thanks so much for the video. Always have been a fan of the Old West and I especially like Wild Bill Hickok. Always enjoy the way you tell the history and events along with reminding us they were humans just like us.

Thank you for this amazing bit of history, of this incredible man!

How about Commodore Perry Owens sometime.

Thank you Bob, excellent video. Those of us who love our history and have done deep dives into it, know we stand on the shoulders of giants. Tough, courageous and capable men rose to legendary status for good reason. From Washington, to Rogers Rangers, to Boone, Crocket, Kit Carson, Wild Bill, Earp, Holiday, Kid Antrem, and the greats of the era, all embody the qualities of the heroes I emulate and hope to live up to in some small way. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.

Living in Springfield Mo I've walked his shootout path here. Interesting back story on him how things came about

Thanks for doing this, I am a True West subscriber and love hearing any of your knowledge related to the ole west and people associated with those times!

Mr. Bob Bell, one of the very few historians, I KNOW, will give, only what he believes is true, from his owm due diligence, or, someone he trusts! Many Thanks Sir!

Thanks Bob. I could listen to you all day. I met you in Denver at the auction for the Billy the Kid tin type. Your humor and knowledge of the old west is priceless.

Thanks for the story Bob. I will listen to as many as you want to tell. Great tales told by one who knows how.

Enjoyed/liked this but have a couple of questions and a random suggestion. Bob uses the title town "Marshall" for the offices WBH held. Were the offices WBH held more historically correct- town "Constable"? I've long been under the impression that WBH begin experiencing a slow progression of vision impairment while in Hayes, Kansas. Was this new onset of vision impairment a contributing factor in the Mike Williams tragedy? Finally, If Bob hasn't already done so a deep dive into Constable John F Kirgan, the "town tamer" of late 1870s Bodie, CA would be welcomed by me.

I have lived in Hays, Kansas for the past 11 years. Unfortunately, the town burned in the late 1800's and there are few buildings left from Wild Bill's time. There are historical markers where some of the events recounted in this fascinating video took place. Fort Hays (7th Cavalry outpost) is on the outskirts of town and is well-preserved and quite worth visiting. I subscribed and purchased Bob's book on Wild Bill.

Thanks for the great video! I've always been fascinated with Wild Bill and was able to visit Deadwood last summer.

My understanding is that Wild Bill Hickok used Colt’s Navy revolvers in 36 caliber. Is that true?? I’ve never fired a Colt Navy 36 caliber pistol, but I would like to try one to see how they perform. Black powder is not like the smokeless type that is used now. Thanks for your excellent video.

Todays culture hates masculinity and promotes effeminate men. Sad but true. I’m sure Wild Bill wasn’t effeminate and I’m glad you cleared that up. Thanks for your video!

Living in Ireland . We have a lot of history but I find the cowboy and Wild West the most interesting . For the reason as a child of the sixths . We were brought up on films and tv series about the Wild West . So most of us relate to wyatt billy the kid , doc Holliday and wild bill . Your podcasts on RU-vid are the only and most interesting I can find . Because of your magazine I’m doing research on Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan and have found 5 Lawrence Murphy who emigrated from Wexford. Keep the information and research going Thanks

I’m curious what kind of personality Wild Bill had. Was he arrogant? soft spoken? humble? aggressive? social?

Excellent info. Also what current book would you recommend for John Wesley Hardin? I know it’s off subject but looking for a new one on him. I’ve read quite a few on him and Wild Bill.

I bet they wouldn't have the guts to say that to his face ! And if they tried. There guts would be blown out on the ground. Wild Bill is a true AMERICAN LEGEND !🐎

I thought you did a good job on this Bob, I think you have given an accurate description of what is known about Wild Bill. Although obviously you just hit the .high points. It always seems that in these kinds of reports, ridiculous lies get told to trash the character of these famous people who lived in the old West.

Hey Bob, Thanks for another wonderful historical account of Wild Bill. My wife is a great great niece on her mother’s side of Colorado Charlie Utter, who we understand was a friend of Hickock’s. We have one book about Utter (Good Little Bad Man, by Janice Abrams Spring) and would love to know more about him and his relationship with WBH. Please point us towards any other references that you may know about. Thanks!

great video! I love to learn everything I can about Wild Bill. In my opinion, he's the most fascinating person in the old west. I am researching everything I can about him and his life and plan to be a traveling nomad in a few years when I retire and the first thing I want to do is go to Deadwood. I'd also like to travel to the places he stayed and see museum's etc. When I wrote my book, Kite's Creek, I included him as the marshal of Hays City where my story takes place. I found it interesting that in "Deadwood", the series on HBO that Wild Bill said his dad called him "Kite" as a kid. If that is, indeed, true, it's a remarkable coincidence with the title of my book which I named after my best friend, whose last name is Kite.

I love history and a well told story. This was amazing.

I really liked the part about the "greatest strength is also your greatest weakness". That sounds too accurate here.

Wild Bill was a mixture of historical person , mythological figure and Rock star. The archetypal gunfighter hero . Sharing mythic qualities with Davy Crockett and the Alamo as is any important historical figure. He had the "it" factor, looked the part and was very proficient with a six shooter.

His exploits as Contract scout for the Union Army in the Civil War Started His Legend Long Berfore the Cow towns.The log Cabin Fight .8 dead in the Cabin.4 more crawled away to Die.Hickock was badly wounded.Multiple pistol wouds and buck shot in his legs.Survived and each passing year saw his fame Rise.

Thank you for doing the research and presenting this video. I'm an Australian, however, many of my friends are Americans that have come to live here. The family are cattle Ranchers, here in Australia. My best friend has an American Father, that I got on with very well. Their family , back in the U.S were real "Wild West" folks. My friend's grand father was a "Trail Boss"; that's to say , he was in charge of droving huge mobs of cattle over great distances. As a much younger man, I've lived in Australia's outback, working from one remote rural property to another for a living. I learned a lot during those years, and managed to save my money,(there was no where to spend it) Back to Wild Bill's story; Back in the 1800's, hand guns were very expensive, so, contrary to folklore, not many folks had Revolvers. The cowboys and trail bosses lived a very harsh life, with very few things , that we consider "essentials". Btw, I don't have long flowing hair, like Wild Bill.

Always interesting, always informative. Thanks Bob.

I've never seen a movie on wild bill , wish they'd make one that's really good and factual ! I know he was here in Springfield mo for a while , where he had the famous shoot out on the town square , over a watch he lost gambling the night before.

There we were, 3 against 50 , we fought hard , next morning in hospital my 49 mate's agreed, they were the roughest tuffest 3 buggers we ever did fight

Hi Bob! Been a while since I heard, or read, some of the great stories of the old west. Best wishes for future success! Bart Etzenhouser, past CSR on True West Magazine.

Given Wild Bill's savvy, it seems almost entirely out of character that he would be seated at the card table with his back to the room rather than his accustomed back to the wall. Aces and eights, the dead man's hand. Maybe he had a premonition.

Quickdraw wasn't part of the period in which Bill Hickok lived. He was a master with firearms no doubt, but the Quickdraw myth has been debunked long ago. Many people who traveled the open range then, and there was seldom a barber nearby. That could also account for those who had long hair at the time.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write your book " The Illustrated Life And Times Of Wild Bill Hickok, The First Gunfighter." I absolutely love this book. The illustrations are marvelous and it's great to get " the real story." I remember watching " The Real West" on the History channel years ago and I always appreciated your knowledge and input. I'm a big fan of Wild Bill and Bob Boze Bell!!!

No gun fighter was ever too fast for his own good, unless he wanted to die... when using the instinctual center, it is way faster than the intellectual center... fast does not always equate to winning you have to be able to hit your target, which men like Wild Bill could do.

Thanks for the detailed commentary on Wild Bill. I always enjoy hearing the more personal stories of these legendary figures.

More! More! More! More! More! More !more! More! More! More! And more please!

Thanks for keeping Western Charactors in the print and more to a livable Cowboy than just a myth !

I sincerely hope that you are lecturing at colleges and universities with all of your knowledge. Thanks for another outstanding video! Cheers from Alberta, Canada!

God, I love history as you can't make this stuff up and make it as exciting as real life. I read my first book about "Wild Bill" Hickock when I was in the fifth grade. He set the bar high for all the legends of the west to follow. BTW, I sure like the illustrations...

Fascinating story Bob! Thanks for always telling the truth about the days of "The Wild West."

I was married in Deadwood once upon a time by the mayor. Needless to say that married ended up dead quicker then Hickok sitting in the wrong seat.

You have presented facts that I was unaware of. Thanks for setting the record straight without all the fluff. I’m subscribed.

I well remember (in the fifties and sixties) the prejudice against men wearing long hair. Later it struck me as funny because throughout history men with long hair have been quite common.

Hopefully you will do a video on his death in deadwood , I go there a lot in saloon 10 and you hear their story of him all over town but I’m sure you could set us straight ...

Love your videos about the old west, I think that description of the Phill Coe shooting was the best I have heard. My only disappointment was I wish the video was longer.

Aces and 8’s….. The dead man’s hand. Thank you, Wild Bill.

Thanks for the many stories you bring to light. I am always impressed by the amount of study you have done on the topics you cover.

Interesting story on Wild Bill. Bob you are one of the top western historians. I am not a westerner being from Illinois. I found out from an old relative years ago that we have an ancestor who drove stagecoach up and down roads in western Illinois in the 1870s. Also had a relative who operated a wagon repair business in Indianapolis in the 1800s. So we do have some in our blood.

My favorite old west character.

Fantastic story telling and love it. Just subscribed

What people fail often to understand is that many men in the Old West had longhair. Amongst the Plains Indian warrior societies it was a distinction because it made an tempting war trophy 🏆 to take the scalp of a prominent warrior killed in battle. George Armstrong Custer had only recently had his long 😳 hair cut before the Indian campaign of 1876.

As a new Subscriber would love to here a story about John Wesley Hardin.

You are my absolute favorite western historian! Thank you for your passion if bringing the "True west" to us!

I really like the video, I really like the take on Hickok’s life and exploits. I find I really learn new things by taking the time to sit and listen

I love all the stories about all there characters. I just love history. Thank you for sharing your love of the old west with us.

Read many books about Wild Bill. He is a personal hero of mine. The thing I liked the most, is ALL accounts say he was Not a Bully or a bragger. Wild Bill didn't "seek out" trouble. He just lived as best he could in a violent time and place in history. One of the books on Wild Bill, that I liked the most,(whose title escapes me), had a scene where Bill's sister's husband owned a Hardware store back East, and offered Bill half partnership of the store, if Bill stayed and "settled down" . The story goes that Bill thanked his sister and her husband for the generous offer. Bill said he "would sleep on it ". When the sister woke the next morning, Bill was in his "buckskins" sitting on the porch. She had her answer, and minutes later, she hear his horse leave.and Bill rode off into history. thank you for your very insightful video.

Wild Bill was a true to life legend who had great strength.

Thanks Bob, for a great story on Wild Bill, how about a story on commandore Perry Owens, thanks again

Thanks for a good thumbnail sketch. His time as a scout/spy in the western sector of the civil war might make a good book by itself. The war waged in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma doesn’t get much coverage.

I often went to Springfield (Missouri) and checked out the site where Hickok killed Dave Tutt; it was an amazing shot when you see the distance/consider the exigencies of the era.

I enjoy background studies of the old west. Some of you may get a kick out of learning something I found in an early Abilene, Ks newspaper printed when WBH was acting Sheriff. As a public employee his salary info was reported monthly & one month he was paid an extra 75 cents. He had shot 3 wild dogs that had come into town, at 25 cents a head, as one of his responsibilities.

Many years ago I was in Deadwood,SD, can remember seeing Wild Bills head stone and I think Calamity Jane was next to him, since then I've been fascinated by him, thank you for such a nice channel and keep up the good work !!

I always enjoyed you on a true West moment. I just discovered your RU-vid channel. Enjoying it thoroughly and I will share it with my brother and anyone else I can think of that is interested in the old West.

I really like history and old west history is my favorite. These videos are great for the history lessons.