Citizendia
Your Ad Here

This article is about the Old West profession or avocation. The term profession is applied to those persons who have specialized and technical skill or knowledge which they apply for a fee to certain tasks that ordinary and unqualified people cannot An avocation is an activity that a person does as a Hobby outside their principal occupation For other uses, see Gunslinger (disambiguation)
Gunslinger from "The Great Train Robbery"
Gunslinger from "The Great Train Robbery"

Gunslinger, also gunfighter, is a name that was given to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. Gunslinger usually refers to the Old West profession It may also refer to The Gunslinger, a 1982 Stephen King book The Great Train Robbery is a 1903 western film by Edwin S Porter.

Contents

Origin of the term

Noted amateur etymologist Barry Popik has traced the term "gun slinger" back to its use in the 1920 Western movie Drag Harlan. Etymology is the study of the History of Words &mdash when they entered a language from what source and how their form and meaning have changed over time Barry Popik (born 1961 is an American amateur Etymologist, a rated Chess master who has competed in more than a hundred countries and an administrative law judge The Western is a fiction Genre seen in Film, Television, Radio, Literature, Painting and other Visual arts. [1] The word was soon adopted by other Western writers such as Zane Grey and became common usage. Zane Grey ( January 31, 1872 – October 23, 1939) was an American author best known for his popular adventure Novels and In his introduction to The Shootist, author Glendon Swarthout says that "gunslinger" and "gunfighter" are modern terms and that the more authentic terms for the period would have been "gunman", "pistoleer", "shootist" or "bad man". The Shootist is a Novel written by Glendon Swarthout and published in 1975. Glendon Fred Swarthout ( April 8 1918, near Pinckney Michigan – September 23 1992, Scottsdale Arizona) was an American While Swarthout seems to have been correct about "gunslinger", Bat Masterson used the term "gunfighter" in the newspaper articles he wrote about the lawmen and outlaws he had known. William Barclay "Bat" Masterson ( November 26, 1853 &ndash October 25, 1921) was a figure of the American Old West

Usage

Often the term was applied to men who would hire out for contract killings or at a ranch embroiled in a range war where they would earn "fighting wages. A ranch is an area of landscape including various structures given primarily to the practice of ranching the practice of raising grazing livestock such as Cattle A range war (taken from the term " open range " is a type of (typically undeclared conflict that occurs in agrarian or stockrearing societies " Others, like Billy the Kid, were notorious bandits and still others were lawmen like Pat Garrett and Wyatt Earp. Henry McCarty (November 23 1859—July 14 1881 better known as Billy the Kid, but also known by the aliases Henry Antrim and William H Patrick "Pat" Floyd Garrett ( June 5, 1850 &ndash February 29, 1908) was an American Old West lawman Bartender Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp ( March 19, 1848 &ndash January 13, 1929) was an American farmer Teamster, sometime buffalo A gunslinger could be an outlaw, a robber or murderer who took advantage of the wilderness of the frontier to hide from, and make periodic raids on, genteel society. An outlaw or bandit is a person living the lifestyle of outlawry; the word literally means "outside the Law " by folk-etymology from the original Robbery is the Crime of seizing Property through Violence or Intimidation. The gunfighter could also be an agent of the state, archetypally a lone avenger, but more often a sheriff, whose duty was to face the outlaw and bring him to or, more likely, personally administer justice. SHERIFF is a telecom fraud detection and management system originally developed by BT and MCI. The title is often misused in historical accounts to describe men killed in gunfights. For instance, the Gunfight at the OK Corral victims Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury were called "gunfighters", when the three were simply cowboys and ranchers, as that fight was their first and only. Billy Clanton ( 1862 - October 26, 1881) was a Cowboy and rancher of the Old West. Frank McLaury ( March 3, 1848 - October 26, 1881) was a Cowboy of the Old West. Tom McLaury ( June 30, 1853 - October 26, 1881) was a Cowboy of the Old West, best known for being a member of the "Cow-boy" A cowboy is an animal Herder who tends Cattle on Ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback and often performs a multitude of

Gunslingers frequently appear, along with cowboys, as stock characters in Western movies and novels. A cowboy is an animal Herder who tends Cattle on Ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback and often performs a multitude of A stock character is one which relies heavily on cultural types or names for his or her personality manner of speech and other characteristics The Western is a fiction Genre seen in Film, Television, Radio, Literature, Painting and other Visual arts. Western fiction is a genre of literature set in the American Old West between the years of 1860 and 1900 In Western movies, the characters' gun belts are often worn low on the hip and outer thigh, with the gun having an exposed trigger and grip for a smooth fast draw. This type holster is a Hollywood anachronism. Twirling one's revolvers is a trademark trick of gunslingers, and drawing and spinning the pistol from time to time, without intending or being expected to shoot, is a commonly portrayed habit or compulsion. Fast-draw artists can be distinguished from other movie cowboys because their guns will often be tied to their thigh. The following list of cowboys and cowgirls from the frontier era of the American Old West (approximately 1830 to 1910 was compiled to show examples of the cowboy and cowgirl Long before holsters were steel-lined, they were soft and supple so they could be comfortably worn all day long. A holster is an unspecified yet specialized article of Clothing or a device worn to hold or restrict the undesired movement of an item such as a Handgun or other Tie-downs were used to keep the pistol from catching on the holster as it was drawn. A holster is an unspecified yet specialized article of Clothing or a device worn to hold or restrict the undesired movement of an item such as a Handgun or other

Fact versus fiction, gunfights

Most gunfights are portrayed in films or books as having two men square off, waiting for one to make the first move. This was rarely the case. Often, a gunfight was spur-of-the-moment, with one drawing his pistol, and the other reacting. Often it would develop into a shootout where both men bolted for cover. Other times, one or both were drunk and missed several normally easy shots. Many times the shootout was little more than one taking advantage of the other's looking away at an opportune moment. Regardless of popular folklore, the men who held noteworthy reputations as a gunfighter were not anxious to match up against another gunman with the same reputation. On the contrary, in cases where two men held a similar reputation, both reputable gunmen would avoid confrontation with one another whenever possible. They rarely took undue risks, and usually weighed their options before confronting another well-known gunman. This respect for one another is why most famous gunfights were rarely two or more well-known gunmen matched up against one another, but rather one notable gunman against a lesser known opponent or opponents.

Generally, two well-known gunmen coming into contact with one another would result in either the two keeping a distance but being social, or avoiding one another altogether. In cases where one well-known gunman was a lawman, and another was merely in town, the one that was visiting would avoid problems. He avoided confrontation with the gunman serving lawman.

How famous gunfighters died is as varied as each man. 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". An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors (the ambushing force use Concealment to attack a passing enemy Others died secluded deaths either from old age or illness.

Gunfighters King Fisher, John Wesley Hardin, Ben Thompson, Billy the Kid, and Wild Bill Hickok all died as a result of an ambush, killed by men who feared them because of their reputation. King Fisher (1854&ndash1884 was a Gunslinger of the American Old West. John Wesley Hardin ( May 26, 1853 — August 19, 1895) was an Outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West. Ben Thompson, born in Knottingley, Yorkshire, England on November 2, 1843. Henry McCarty (November 23 1859—July 14 1881 better known as Billy the Kid, but also known by the aliases Henry Antrim and William H James Butler Hickok ( May 27, 1837 &ndash August 2, 1876) better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a figure in the American Old Gunmen Kid Curry, Jim Courtright, Dallas Stoudenmire and Dave Rudabaugh were killed in raging gun battles, much as portrayed in films of the era, and usually against more than one opponent. Harvey Logan, (1867 - June 17, 1904) also known as Kid Curry, was a notorious Outlaw and gunman who ran with Butch Cassidy Timothy Isaiah "Longhair Jim" or "Big Jim" Courtright ( 1848 - February 8, 1887, Fort Worth Texas He became known Dallas Stoudenmire (1845-1882 was an Old West gunman and lawman who gained fame for a brief gunfight that was later dubbed the " Four Dead in Five Seconds David Rudabaugh (born David Rodenbaugh ( July 14 1854 &ndash February 18, 1886) was an outlaw and Gunfighter in the American Bill Longley and Tom Horn were executed. William Preston Longley ( October 6, 1851 &ndash October 11, 1878) also known as Bill Longley was an American Old West Tom Horn ( November 21, 1860 &ndash November 20, 1903) was an American Old West lawman scout, Soldier Famed gunman Clay Allison died in a wagon accident. For the 1980s band see Opal. Clay Allison ( September 2, 1840 - July 3, 1887) was a Gunfighter Gunmen Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Commodore Perry Owens, and Luke Short all died of natural causes, living out their lives on reputation and avoiding conflict in secluded retirement. Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp ( March 19, 1848 &ndash January 13, 1929) was an American farmer Teamster, sometime buffalo John Henry "Doc" Holliday ( August 14, 1852 &ndash November 8, 1887) was an American dentist

Living on reputation

Most Old West men who were labeled as being "gunfighters" did not kill nearly as many men in gunfights as they were given credit for, if any at all. They were often labeled as such due to one particular instance, which developed from rumours into them having been involved in many more events than they actually were. Often their reputation was as much "self-promotion" as anything else, such was the case of Bat Masterson. William Barclay "Bat" Masterson ( November 26, 1853 &ndash October 25, 1921) was a figure of the American Old West

Wyatt Earp, for example, has been said to have been involved in more than one hundred gunfights in his lifetime. In reality, less than ten would be more accurate. His fame was mostly due to his involvement in the Gunfight at the OK Corral, and his Vendetta Ride afterward. The Earp Vendetta Ride was a three-week clash between personal enemies and law enforcement parties from different jurisdictions in the Arizona Territory, from March 20 Although history has since portrayed him as having been legendary and well known when that gunfight took place, he in fact was not well known until after that, and due to that. Doc Holliday, another figure whose fame mostly derived from his involvement in the events leading up to and after the Gunfight at the OK Corral, was known in fact to have killed only one man prior to that gunfight, therefore it was more his reputation than any actual deeds that led to his notoriety.

Johnny Ringo, as supported by noted author Louis L'Amour, has no factual deeds to support the reputation he developed. John Peters Ringo ( May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882) better known as Johnny Ringo, was a cowboy who became a Legend An author is defined both as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created Louis L'Amour ( March 22, 1908 &ndash June 10, 1988) was an American author Of the men who are actually known for a fact to have been killed by him, all were unarmed, and he has no actual evidence to support his having been in even one gunfight. Yet because of the Earp - Clanton feud in Tombstone, Arizona, and his association with that, he is well remembered as a "gunfighter". Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then the Arizona Territory

There were others, however, whose lifestyle definitely lived up to the reputation they had. Jim Courtright, for example, did in fact kill several men, as did Dallas Stoudenmire, in gunfights both as lawmen and as civilians. Clay Allison and Ben Thompson also lived up to their reputations. 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. Scott Cooley (1845-June 1876 was an Old West Texas Ranger and later Outlaw, best known for his association with gunman Johnny Ringo In other cases, certain gunfighters were possibly confused, over time, for being someone else with a similar name. The most well known of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch gang, the Sundance Kid, was in reality only known to have been in one shootout during his lifetime, and no gunfights. Harry Alonzo Longabaugh (1867 - c November 1908? sometimes spelled Longbaugh, born in Mont Clare Pennsylvania, also known as The Sundance Kid, 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. See also History An historian is an individual who studies and writes about History, and is regarded as an Authority on it Harvey Logan, (1867 - June 17, 1904) also known as Kid Curry, was a notorious Outlaw and gunman who ran with Butch Cassidy Hence, it is the Sundance Kid who is better known.

Most famous gunfights of the Old West

The image of a Wild West filled with countless gunfights was a myth generated primarily by dime-novel authors in the late 19th century. However, gunfights did occasionally occur. The most notable and well known of these took place in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. They each varied in what led up to them. Some were simply the result of the heat of the moment, others were the result of long standing feuds, while others were between outlaws and lawmen. A feud (ˈfjuːd (referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud or vendetta) is a long-running argument or fight between parties&mdashoften through Guilt There were also various other reasons that resulted in gunfights. Some of these shootouts became famous, while others simply faded into history with only a few accounts of them left today. Listed below are some of the more notable and remembered gunfights that did receive wide acclaim:

Gunfighter, outlaw, or lawman

In many cases the term gunfighter was applied to constables. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Springfield is a city in Christian and Greene Counties in the U The Gunfight at Hide Park, or Newton Massacre, was the name given to an Old West gunfight that occurred on August 19 1871, in Newton Kansas Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Newton is a City in and the County seat of Harvey County, Kansas, United States. The Going Snake Massacre was an incident that occurred on April 15th 1872 during the early days of the Old West, in Tahlequah Oklahoma, then the capitol of Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1872 ( MDCCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Tahlequah (Pronounced " Tal a Kwa " is a city in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, United States located at the foot hills of the Ozark Mountains The Gunfight of Blazer's Mills ( April 4, 1878) was a shootout between what were known as the Lincoln County Regulators and buffalo hunter Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Lincoln County is a County located in the US state of New Mexico. The Battle of Lincoln New Mexico, usually referred to as the Battle of Lincoln ( July 15th through July 19th, 1878) was the largest armed conflict Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Lincoln is an unincorporated community in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, located approximately 57 miles (92 km west of The Long Branch Saloon Gunfight ( April 5th, 1879) was a gunfight taking place in the famed Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City Kansas Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common For the 1939 Western movie, see Dodge City (1939 film. Dodge City is a City and County seat of Ford The Variety Hall Shootout, also called the Las Vegas Saloon Shootout, ( January 22, 1880) was a gunfight that took place in Las Vegas New Mexico Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. The Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight was a famous gun fight that occurred on April 14 1881 on El Paso Street, El Paso Texas. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Gunfight at the OK Corral was a gunfight that happened at about 3 p Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Tombstone is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1879 by Ed Schieffelin in what was then the Arizona Territory Trinidad Gunfight ( April 16th, 1882) was a gunfight of the Old West that took place in Trinidad Colorado, between two professional Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom Year 1882 ( MDCCCLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the County seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado The Vaudeville Theater Ambush ( March 11th, 1884) was an Ambush conducted against lawman and gunman Ben Thompson and his Events 1425 BC - Thutmose III, Pharaoh of Egypt, dies (according to the Low Chronology of the 18th Dynasty Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Hunnewell Kansas Gunfight ( October 5th, 1884) is a little known gunfight of the Old West which involved no known gunmen, hince it is mostly Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Hunnewell is a city in Sumner County, Kansas, United States, named for Boston financier and railway owner H The Frisco Shootout was an Old West gunfight that occurred on December 1st, 1884, involving self-appointed lawman Elfego Baca. Elfego Baca ( February 10, 1865 &ndash August 27, 1945) was a legendary lawman lawyer and politician in the Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1884 ( MDCCCLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Reserve is a village in Catron County, New Mexico, United States. Timothy Isaiah "Longhair Jim" or "Big Jim" Courtright ( 1848 - February 8, 1887, Fort Worth Texas He became known Events 421 - Constantius III becomes co- Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventeenth-largest city in the United States. The Pleasant Valley War (also sometimes called the Tonto Basin Feud or Tonto Basin War) was an Arizona Range war between two Feuding Holbrook ( Tʼiisyaakin) is a city in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. The Dalton Gang was an infamous outlaw group in the American Old West during 1890-1892 Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Coffeyville is a City situated along the Verdigris River in the southeastern part of Montgomery County, located in Southeast Kansas The Battle of Ingalls ( September 1st, 1893) was a Gunfight between US Marshals and the Doolin-Dalton gang during the closing years Events 462 - Possible start of first Byzantine indiction cycle. Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Ingalls is a small community in Payne County Oklahoma about 10 miles east of Stillwater. The Hot Springs Gunfight, or Hot Springs Shootout ( March 16, 1899) was a gunbattle between two separate law enforcement agencies that occurred Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the US state of Arkansas, the County seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Harvey Logan, (1867 - June 17, 1904) also known as Kid Curry, was a notorious Outlaw and gunman who ran with Butch Cassidy Events 451 - The Battle of Avarayr between Armenian rebels and the Sassanid Empire takes place Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar For other instances of Moab, see Moab (disambiguation. Moab is a city in Grand County, in eastern Utah, in Despite Hollywood and at times history painting a more noble picture of a town's constabulary, there are very few instances where lawmen were dubbed "gunfighters" but were working only as policemen. Unlike contemporary peace officers, they were generally either both lawman and gambler, or lawman and business owner/operator, or lawman/outlaw. These very different means of employment, held at the same time, were often the reason for many of their shootouts, rather than their noble enforcement of the law. It is often difficult to separate lawmen of the Old West from outlaws of the Old West. "Curly" Bill Brocious, always referred to as an outlaw, did serve as a deputy sheriff under Sheriff Johnny Behan. William "Curly Bill" Brocius or Brocious (c 1845- March 24, 1882) was an American Old West Outlaw, gunman John Harris Behan ( October 23, 1844 &ndash June 7, 1912) was for 21 months of a two-year term (February 1881 to November 1882 the Sheriff

Tom Horn, historically referred to as an assassin, served both as a deputy sheriff and as a Pinkerton detective, a job for which he was quite well suited and in which he killed seventeen men in the line of duty, before going on to kill better than twenty two as a killer for hire. AssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. "We Never Sleep" the famous motto of the Pinkerton Agency redirects here Ben Thompson, best known as a gunfighter and gambler, was a very successful chief of police in Austin, Texas. King Fisher had great success as a county sheriff in Texas. Doc Holliday and Billy the Kid both wore badges as lawmen at least once during their lifetime. "Big" Steve Long served as deputy marshal for Laramie, Wyoming, while the entire time committing murders and forced theft of land deeds. Laramie is a city in and the County seat of Albany County in the U A town with a substantial violent crime rate would often turn to a known gunman as their town marshal, chief, or sheriff, in the hopes that the gunman could stem the violence and bring order. Typically, this move was successful.

These gunmen/lawmen would generally be very effective, and in time the violence would subside, usually after the gunman/lawman had been involved in several shooting incidents, eventually leading to a substantial and well earned fear that kept everyone in line. At times they were hired by cattlemen or other prominant figures to serve as henchmen during cattle wars. The word henchman (Germanic irregular plural hench men) referred originally to one who attended on a horse that is a Horse groom. Although technically "sanctioned" by law enforcement officials, the gunmen were not always actually deputized. Sometimes, however, just to make things "official", they would go through the formality of deputizing the gunmen. Case in point, the service of the Jessie Evans Gang, and outlaw Jessie Evans himself, working for the "Murphy-Dolan" faction during the Lincoln County War. The Jessie Evans Gang, also known as The Boys, was a gang of Rustlers and robbers led by Outlaw and gunman Jessie Evans. Jessie Evans, sometimes spelled Jesse Evans, (1853 - ?? was an Outlaw and gunman of the Old West, and leader of the Jessie Evans Gang The Lincoln County War was a 19th century conflict between two entrenched factions in America's western frontier. While they were technically working as lawmen, they were little more than hired guns. Usually, when a gunman was hired by a town as Town Marshal, they received the full support of the townspeople until order was restored. Once order was restored, however, the town would tactfully indicate it was time for a change to a more politically correct lawman who relied more on respect than fear.

In others, the gunman would simply become bored as the times changed and move on. A good example of both these scenarios was the 1882 decision by the El Paso, Texas, town council to dismiss Town Marshal Dallas Stoudenmire. Stoudenmire entered the council hall and dared them to try and take his guns or his job, at which point they immediately changed their mind, telling him he could keep his job. He resigned on his own a couple of days later. Another example was the dismissal of Sheriff Commodore Perry Owens in Holbrook, Arizona, after which the local county commission also withheld his last paycheck. Holbrook ( Tʼiisyaakin) is a city in Navajo County, Arizona, United States. Owens entered the county building and forced them to pay him at gun point, and he received no resistance. In the case of Marshal Jim Courtright, for example, he did "clean up the town" while serving as town marshal for Fort Worth, Texas. Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas and the seventeenth-largest city in the United States. However, it was his habit of strong-arming local businesses in the area into paying him for protection that ultimately led to his fateful gunfight with gunman and saloon owner Luke Short, in which Courtright was killed.

List of famous gunfighters

While there is historical dispute about the authenticity of the records of most of these men, they all had a reputation as dangerous gunfighters. In fiction the term gunslinger has anachronistically been tied to them. Since most served as a lawman at one time, they can not be easily separated into categories of lawman or outlaw.

     

List of famous fictional gunfighters

See also

References

  1. ^ The term "gunslinger" and "showdown" were unknown in the Wild West. Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS also known as Western Action Shooting or Single Action Shooting, is a competitive shooting sport that originated in California As practiced from the 11th to 20th centuries in Western societies a duel is an engagement in combat between two individuals with matched weapons in accordance with their combat Gunslinger (or Gun Slinger)

Dictionary

gunslinger

-noun

  1. In the old west: a person who carried a gun and was an expert at the quick draw.
  2. In modern usage: a person who behaves with the bravado expected of someone who would duel with guns.
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic