Even J.W.H., admired most of his gunshow marksmanship yadyadayda. [31], The famous lawman Wyatt Earp gave an account of having participated in a duel once during his vendetta. Although not as well known as someone like Wild Bill Hickok or Wyatt Earp, Dallas Stoudenmire was a feared lawman in his day, and is known for participating in more gunfights than most of his contemporaries. His gravestone is said to read: Clay Allison. Neither King Fisher or KIller MIller should be on this list they might as well have added Jessie James. To imply that Wyatt Earp backed down Clay Allison ( And before that Ben Thompson) both\ Corral was a thirty-second shootout between lawmen led by Virgil Earp and members of a loosely organized group of outlaws called the Cowboys that occurred at about 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 1881, in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, United States. He was in trouble from the age of16 for stealing horses and was in and out of prison. They may not have dressed like Clint Eastwood, with a holster slung low on the hips, but these gunmen made names for themselves nonetheless. Haha. In eight months Sheriff Owens had rid Apache County of two notorious gangs of rustlers and killers. Still, theres no denying that among the bandits and lawmen of the day there were a number of larger-than-life gunfighters whose exploits helped pave a bloody path for the characters that would later populate Western movies and dime novels. In actuality, this kind of thing very rarely occurred, and the true life Western storieslike Wild Bill Hickok being shot in the back while playing cardstell a much more gruesome and less gallant tale. It is not known who fired the first shot, but Wyatt's bullet was the first to hit, tearing through Frank McLaury's belly and sending McLaury's own shot wild through Wyatt's coattail. During the dust up there with the Clantons he was deputized for the incident. Even accuracy is low on the list. Corral: The Gunfight of All Gunfights, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security, wasn't even wearing a holster at the O.K. [10] Earp expressed his dismay about the controversy that followed him his entire life. They are normally masculine persons of integrity and principle courageous, moral, tough, solid, and self-sufficient, maverick characters (often with trusty sidekicks), possessing an independent and honorable attitude (but often characterized as slow-talking). One of the most famous stories about him involves a confrontation he had with a sheriff named Bud Frazer over Millers alleged involvement in the murder of a cattle rancher. he should be number 1 or 2, The James younger gang were a band of men who fought ANd killed over A Hundred men in northfield they were attacked by an entire town of people armed with Various small arms, many of the townsmen were ex union soldiers, , the youngerS were shot during the raid n then again on the chase, , Cole was shot 12 times, shoot Any man on the abovE list 12 tImes n see who surrenders. Wyatt has been portrayed in a number of films and books as a fearless Western hero. [20], Gunfighters King Fisher, John Wesley Hardin, Ben Thompson, Billy the Kid, Wild Bill Hickok, and Pat Garrett all died as a result of ambushes, killed by men who feared them because of their reputation. Deputy Sheriff Duffey threw Richardson down in a chair and took his gun, while Bassett disarmed Loving. [52] Clay Allison and Ben Thompson had well-deserved reputations. Corral, with a bunch of men unloading at each other all at once, than a mano-a-mano showdown in the middle of town. Owens shot and Sam fell backward, dying in his mother's arms. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: John Donovan Privacy Policy | TopTenz T-Shirts | Sponsors. He ran or sherif I the county there but was defeated. He would get drunk and shoot unarmed men in bars, but outside of that his reputation is almost entirely myth. Patton drew his obsolete single-action Colt Peacemaker revolver and shot two of the men. The list is missing Kid Curry/Harvey Logan. Two years later, Miller tracked the Sheriff down and killed him with a shotgun. Wyatt Earp Wasnt the Fastest Gunslinger in the West and That Didnt Matter. A gunfighter, gambler, showman, and peace officer, Hickok may have killed more than 100 men. [46] Wyatt Earp with his brothers Morgan and Virgil along with Doc Holliday killed three outlaw Cowboys in the Gunfight at the O.K. Short shot him in the chest, killing him. Definitely agree that Hardin is the deadliest, almost all were head on gun fights with armed gun fighters and law men, and well documented. In 1871, Hardin was arrested for the murder of Texas marshal Laban John Hoffman, but he escaped after killing another police officer, Jim Smalley. [37] One of the women who worked there had an ex-boyfriend named Mike Gordon who had just been discharged from the Army. Levi Richardson Gunfighting in Dodge City. bonafied man killers) is ridiculous! [13] Ed McGivern dispelled the myth of the inaccuracy of pistol fanning by shooting tight groups while fanning the revolver. rob Campbell In 1877, he was deputized during the so-called Lincoln County War and rode with lawmen who were seeking to arrest a group of corrupt businessman responsible for the murder of an innocent rancher. [79] Another well-known video game Western protagonist is John Marston from Red Dead Redemption, who was nominated for 2010 Spike's Video Game Awards, as well as his friend Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2. [78], Gunfighters have also been featured in many video games, both in traditional Old West and in contemporary and future settings. John King Fisher was born in 1853 in Texas, to Jobe and Lucinda Warren Fisher. Thomas Horn, Jr. was born in Missouri on November 21, 1860 to Thomas S. Horn, Sr. and Mary Ann Maricha Miller Horn. Overall great info though thanks! [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. Cowboy Fast Draw World Championship Shooting [9] Some were simply the result of the heat of the moment, while others were longstanding feuds, or between bandits and lawmen. During that time, Wyatt allowed Cruz to keep his revolver to "give him a chance to fight like a man." Patrick Floyd Jarvis Pat Garrett was an American Old West lawman, bartender and customs agent. Nolan (1818-54) of Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava fame, observed in 1851: I have been assured that Captain Mini, with the culot ball, hit a mark seven times William H. Bonney or just Billy the Kid, started his life of crime with petty theft and horse thievery, but is said to have first killed a man at the age of eighteen. This list is absolutely terrible.. king fisher was hardly a gunfighter but more of a cowboy type figure who for intl a few scrapes with ranch hands..btk was not a gunfighter he was a cattle rustler/hired hand who handled himself well and used a gun when he had to(only 4 kills). As for Johnny Ringo, there is almost no evidence that he ever participated in a real gunfight. Killers friends managed to escape with him, only to find that he had been wearing a metal plate under his shirt, which had blocked all of Frazers bullets. [citation needed], These fights were usually close-up and personal, with a number of shots blasted from pistols, often resulting in innocent bystanders hit by bullets gone wild. Despite idealistic portrayals in television, movies, and even in history books, very few lawmen/gunfighters could claim their law enforcement role as their only source of employment. The Earps weren't really expecting a gunfight. 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. In 1884, Miller shot John Thomas Coop, his sisters husband, in the head after an argument. The first man had been fatally wounded in the exchange and tried to draw his pistol before Patton killed him with a single shot. [citation needed], On March 9, 1877, gamblers Jim Levy and Charlie Harrison argued over a game of cards in a saloon in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1870, he joined a group of outlaws raiding ranches in Mexico. 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. For other uses, see, For a list of notable Old West gunfighters, see. "What I say is it's the ability to make good decisions under stress. He's rumored to have been in a lot of gunfights, but outside of the OK Corral there's only a few that are actually confirmed by historians. Although many of his exploits are legendary, probably the most famous aspect of Wild Bills life is his death, which occurred in Deadwood, South Dakota in 1876. A gunfighter would use tie-downs to keep his pistol from catching on the holster while drawing. Gordon then started shooting at him but missed. King Fisher had great success as a county sheriff in Texas. Wyatt Earp has no business on this list whatsoever. In 1884, Fisher and his friend Ben Thompson attended a play at the Turner Hall Opera House in San Antonio. Here are10 of the most well-known. They followed them to the horse barn and witnessed the hanging. Corral. 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. But Dallas was able to get the drop on him and supposedly shot the man eight times, killing him. Hence, it is the Sundance Kid who is better known. Even in unfamiliar territory and time periods, Hex managed to outgun his enemies with more advanced weaponry. He was both more or less friendly and viciously, lethal if tempted. "Wyatt Earp Wasn't the Fastest Gunslinger in the West and That Didn't Matter" Corral (though it wasn't really in a corral at all), cemented Earp's reputation as a quick and deadly draw. Doesnt add up so your story cant be true. But they were just as apt to be like the O.K. [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. Wyatt died on January 13, 1929, in Los Angeles at the age of 80; his ashes were interred in Jewish Hills of Eternity Cemetery in Colma, California. Portrait of American gunman Billy the Kid (18591881). Despite their weakened condition, they foolishly approached Davis with drawn knives. Earp, as historians long have recognized, possessed an almost preternatural coolness under fire. Miller and the others were in the city jail not a prison. The James Younger gang was just a gang of cowards, not "revolver fighters". Although many Old West legends have "fast gun" reputations, it appears that John Wesley Hardin, Wild Bill Hickok, Doc Holliday, and Billy the Kid were actually really He was wounded several times but stayed in service until the end of the war. He was buried on his ranch, and later his remains were moved to Pioneer Cemetery in Uvalde, Texas. Billy Claiborne ran as soon as shots were fired and was already out of sight. 10 Infamous Deadly Real-Life Gunslingers of the Wild West. [28] Gunfighters in history did fight Native Americans. They weren't. Slashing with his heavy Bowie, he killed them both. One journalist reckoned that if Munden had No Jesse James in your list?! After the confession, Wyatt told Cruz to draw, challenging him to a duel, and the posse counted to three before Wyatt gunned Cruz down. The U.S. Calvary hired him as a scout and interpreter during the Apache Wars. While Earp was doing his split-second assessing, young Billy Clanton he was only 18 or 19 at the time saw what he thought was an opening and took his shot. [citation needed], Another well-documented gunfight resulted in the most kills by one person in a single event, when Capt. And it really didn't matter. Wyatt responded by sending several rounds into Billy. Hollywood has warped us to the point where somebody has to go full Rambo before we are impressed. Men such as these were called gunmen, pistoleers, and shootists; the term gunslinger is only a Hollywood creation. Doc Holliday and Billy the Kid both wore badges as lawmen at least once. Baca went on to a distinguished career as a lawyer and legislator and died in his bed in 1945, at age 80. After a number of run-ins with the law, the Kid was again captured and sentenced to death, but he managed to escape after he got a hold of a weapon and gunned down the two men guarding him. [71] Throughout the DC Universe, Hex has been, on many occasions, transported from the Old West to the contemporary setting and beyond. Doc Holliday has also been credited with wounding and shooting a pistol out of saloon owner Milt Joyce's hand when he tried to brandish it at Holliday. Jim miller?? No kidding John Wesley Hardin made 40 or more counts, although, some of it is just hearsay. Wyatt Earp was a lawman, a gambler, a lover of prostitutes, a buffalo hunter, a saloon keeper, a miner, a boxing referee, maybe a bordello keeper and, most famously, a gunslinger of international renown. Now a celebrated gunfighter, he made his way to Abilene and fell under the tutelage of Wild Bill Hickok. Come on!! Laurel was born in England and didnt arrive in the USA until much later (not sure in the date but around 1919). [citation needed], Most gunfights are portrayed in films or books as having two men square off, waiting for one to make the first move. Corral, at least in part because he was the only one who was not wounded or killed. [10] Gunmen Kid Curry, Jim Courtright, Dallas Stoudenmire and Dave Rudabaugh were killed in raging gun battles, much as portrayed in films about the era, and usually against more than one opponent. [50] But because Wyatt outlived Virgil and due to a creative biography, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal published two years after Wyatt's death, Wyatt became famous and the subject of various movies, television shows, biographies and works of fiction. [26] Wounded and dying, Billy Clanton fired blindly into the gun smoke encircling him, striking Virgil's leg. His father was an ardent abolitionist, and their home may have been a stopping point on the Underground Railroad. He was buried in Alleyton Cemetery in Colorado County, Texas. Laurel first met Hardy in 1927. 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. 16 individual kills and involved in the death of over 180 others! [65][66][67], The quick draw which gunfighters help popularize, is still an important skill in the American military and law enforcement communities. Frank Loving, who had only a slight scratch on his hand, was immediately taken to jail. Johnny Ringo Tombstone Rowdy. One the lesser-known but more notoriously violent gunslingers of the Old West was John King Fisher, who was in and out of prison from the age of sixteen. "In the meantime, Billy Clanton gets off the first shot and Frank gets shot in the belly. Two days later, the coroner's inquest ruled that the killing had been in self-defense and Loving was immediately released. He missed and Owens shot John Blevins in the arm, putting him out of the fight. As Captain Davis and his companions trudged on foot, the bandit gang charged out of the brush, pistols flaming. Probably not. This was rarely the case. Ironically, some modern historians have claimed that on this particular occasion Horn was actually innocent. [12] Others died secluded deaths either from old age or illness. [22] The most notable and well-known took place in the states/territories of Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Earp's fellow lawman and general Old West badass Bat Masterson once said that speed in a gunfight is probably the least important factor in winning. Sheriff Owens had hunted buffalo for the railroad and could shoot his Winchester from the hip with great accuracy. Related story from us:The tangled story of Pat Garrett, the Old West lawman who kept getting into trouble. how about Jesse James? This only marked the beginning of what would be a bloody campaign for Stoudenmire as sheriff. James McDonald died instantly, without time to draw his revolver or react in any way. What? After severalsuch robberies, Bass and his gang decided to rob the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, collectingmore than$60,000. Captain Davis later described himself as being "in a fever of excitement at the time." what about Ned Kelly Historians believe this event explains some of his shockingly brutal actions. Wyatt became a marshal and met and befriended John Doc Holliday. After the death of his wife, Earp began drinking heavily and drifted around until he joined his brother in Wichita, Kansas, in 1874. I think he deserves a place here. Gordon died the next day and Holliday fled. WebAnswer (1 of 10): No rifle of the period shot more often or as reliably as did the Winchester some models were capable of holding as many as 16 cartridges, but (I hate to admit) Louis Lamour credited him for inventing the fast draw. Many shootouts involving lawmen were caused by disputes arising from these alternative occupations, rather than the lawman's attempts to enforce the law. His shockingly brutal actions alternative occupations, rather than the lawman 's attempts to enforce the law him. 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In a real gunfight of prison James in your list? doc Holliday viciously lethal. In 1884, Miller tracked the Sheriff down and killed him with a shotgun he ever participated a... Lawman 's attempts to enforce the law like a man. ran or sherif the... Him as a County Sheriff in Texas condition, they foolishly approached Davis with drawn knives released! Ran or sherif I the County there but was defeated but they were just as to. And witnessed the hanging Pacific gold train from San Francisco, collectingmore than $.... Decided to rob the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, than.
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