Jun 07, 2012 the fact is, old west gunfights were few and far between. The old west timelife series pioneer girl by laura ingalls wilder, ed. Some crimes were carried out by mexicans and native americans against white citizens who were targets of opportunity along the u. Most of our ideas about gunfighting in the old west come directly from hollywood, which, as usual, gets virtually nothing correct. The second was that, if i hoped to live on the frontier, i would shun flashy trickshooting as i would poison.
A very personal ghost and the hanging on sawyer oak by c. Known for his unpredictable personality and violent temper, clay allison was a gunfighter who is remembered as one of the deranged outlaws of the old west. Son of the morning star is one outstandingly good book. This romanticized image of the old west gunfight was born in the dime novels of the late 19th century and perpetuated in the film era, to such a point that this fictional version is what our minds eye quickly conjures up when we hear the word gunfight. The myth of gunfights in the old west myths of the american. The truth about gunfights in the old west neatorama. Illustrated throughout with period photographs and original illustrations, this is a fascinating book on a turbulent period of arizonas history. Im not sure what is meant by gunslinger, as it was not a term known in the nineteenth century. Texas murders, mysteries, gun fights, hangings, robberies. Much information some of it factual, a lot of it fictional is available about the famous gunfighters of the old westthe jameses, billy the kid, wild bill hickok, wyatt earp, john wesley hardin, and that latterday folk idol, butch cassidy. The united states and the california indian catastrophe, 18461873 the lamar series in western history by benjamin madley. Historians believe this event explains some of his shockingly brutal.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The amount of information in this book is amazing and how it is presented by mr. It was a time and place called the most dangerous in. Geographically, the old west generally applies to those states west of the mississippi river. Historian bob boze bell has put together a terrific book on the reality of gunfights in the wild american west. The greatest gunfights of the american west kindle edition by reasoner, james.
See more ideas about old west, old west outlaws and wild west. Gunfights of the old west cd this cd contains sixteen old west gunfights and shootouts told as history said they happened. In actuality, the real gunfights of the old west were rarely that civilized. Old west gunfights the most important lesson i learned was the winner of gunplay usually was the one who took his time. Jul 05, 2019 pearl hart was a canadianborn outlaw known for attempting one of the last stagecoach robberies of the old west in 1899. There are a few factual errors, but most of the information is accurate. The four were hanged in an abandoned barn behind the jail. An estimate of 20,000 men in the american west were killed by gunshot between 1866 and 1900, and over 21,586 total casualties during the american indian wars from 1850 to 1890. Here, robert walsh debunks the myths and shares what really happened. Here is my list of the most accurate and valuable accounts of old west gunfighting history. Jul 24, 2014 the wild west of nineteenth century america was at times a chaotic and unruly place, not helped by the lack of law enforcement officials.
From outlaws, to gunfighters, to the american cowboy, and buried treasures on the frontier, old west legends provides tales, biographies, and indepth history into the lives and times in the american west. In 1855, after a fight hickok mistakenly believed had ended with the death of his adversary. Places to visit in the usa if you love the wild west. Old west kansas is a compilation, gathering, or listing of the kansas heritage sites. Both books are well written with terrific photos, and are free of some of the tall tales and purple prose you get with a lot of books about old west gunfighters. Theyre not necessarily the sixteen most popular ones, but each was selected because, unlike the shootouts in the western movies and television show, they illustrated how old west gunfights really took place. Ive come to the conclusion, over the years, that when it comes to ghosts there are two sorts of people. Owk covers a broad range of topics dealing mostly with the american west and more specifically with the history of kansas. The wild west of nineteenth century america was at times a chaotic and unruly place, not helped by the lack of law enforcement officials. Each book has a different colored picture on the cover representing the topic of that particular book. The quailty of each volume is outstanding in every way. Its among the most recognizable type of scene from western movies. Mexico border, particularly in texas, new mexico, arizona, and california. The wild west was the home of many colorful often disreputable characters.
Rare photos of the old west that will leave you breathless. Discover the facts behind the romance of old west gunfights. Classic gunfights volume i, ii and iii complete soft cover set. On april 19, 1909 a vigilante mob of 150200 men stormed the jail, and dragged out allen, along with jim miller, jesse west, and d.
Draw, as its title indicates, is a study of many of the more famous gunfights and gunfighters of the old west. Old west legends adventures in the american west legends. A books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. From infamous outlaws such as billy the kid, and wellknown lawmen such as bat masterson and wyatt earp, to brawling madams, this book covers 24 gunfights that made a mark in western history. Mar 10, 2015 here is my list of the most accurate and valuable accounts of old west gunfighting history. These books are all ones that i loved and recommend to those that are fascinated by this amazing time in our history. Old west books in legends of americas style, we carry a wide collection of old west books about the people, places, and events of the wild west era. The image of a wild west filled with countless gunfights was a myth generated primarily by dimenovel authors in the late 19th century.
Bill oneals encyclopedia of western gunfighters, leon c. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading draw. Im sure most of these scenes are completely unrealistic and over dramatized for to suit their cinematic purposes. Allison fought in the civil war, but was discharged after a blow to the head started causing erratic behavior in him. Metzs the encyclopedia of lawmen, outlaws and gunfighters and jay robert nashs encyclopedia of western lawmen and outlaws.
But some figures were notorious for their gun fighting skills. The old west is remembered for many of its unique features. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Connell brings you back to the interesting times of the old west. Nov, 2015 silverton wanted to people to realize that the history of the west involves much more than the gunfights that the movies tend to portray. Dec 14, 2019 of gunfights of the old west, the gunfight at the o. Back in 2003, western gunfighter guru robert dearment presented his first dozen forgotten gunfighters to the delight of anyone who wanted to hear about pistolpackers who havent gotten the publicity of say wyatt earp or john weslesy hardin. Its not that gunfights didnt exist in the west its just they were not nearly as common as people think as this other quote shows even in late 19th century silverton, a roughandtumble mining town if. It was a time and place called the most dangerous in the american old west. Popular history old west books meet your next favorite book.
The most notable shootouts took place in arizona, california, new mexico, kansas, oklahoma, and texas. But there were others in wild west history, not so well known. Three excellent books that chronicle gunfights in the old west are. Silverton wanted to people to realize that the history of the west involves much more than the gunfights that the movies tend to portray. This is a list of old west gunfighters, referring to outlaws or lawmen, of the american frontier who gained fame or notoriety during the american wild west or old west. Gunfights of the old west chronicle of the old west. I once read a book that stated about 400 deaths in the old.
The old west is an iconic setting, one that worked as a backdrop for some of the most epic gunfights in history. Its james reasoners first nonfiction work, and its a winner. When her husband left to fight in the spanishamerican war, she teamed up with a gambler named joe boot and planned a robbery. First of all,let me resolve any confusion about this book. It is simply a collection of books about what the old west was really like from the eyes of gun fighters, mountain men, indians and cowboys. Jun 29, 2015 five greatest gunfights of the old west. Studying the historic gunfighters active response training. The book explores 49 lynchings and legal hangings in east texas between 1862 and 1942. Hickok is said to have been a great shot, even as a youngster, and was well known for his marksmanship with a pistol. It is the same book first published in 1974 as one in the timelife set,the old west,of 26 book beautiful brown leatherette,tooled, volumes,each on different aspects of the old west. Each book has a different colored picture on the cover representing the topic of that.
Classic gunfightsvol iiihells in session shop true west. The fact is, old west gunfights were few and far between. This book contains short descriptions of all of the historical gunfight records from 255 old west gunfighters. Contemporary depictions of shooters from that era almost inevitably show them aiming down the barrel of the fire. The term gunslinger is a modern, 20thcentury invention, often used in cinema or other media to refer to men in the american old west who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun. Jan 12, 2017 gunfighters of the old west part 1 majik man. Deadly gunman and old west folk hero james wild bill hickok was born in illinois on may 27, 1837. The majority of outlaws in the old west preyed on banks, trains, and stagecoaches. Pearl hart was a canadianborn outlaw known for attempting one of the last stagecoach robberies of the old west in 1899. Im hesitant to even suggest a total for deaths resulting from gunfights. Gunfights were most common during the 1870s and early 1880s with what oneal refers to as a revival of gunfight activity during the mid 1890s. Did wild west gunslingers really fire accurately from the hip.
See cowboys, trails, lawmen, outlaws, cookbooks, ghost towns, native americans, and lots more. Sure, our view of the wild west is heavily romanticized by hollywood, but it also created real legends that are as popular today as they were a century ago. Errors and exaggerations aside, the stories of the old west are entertaining reading. In popular western television shows like bonanza, the big valley, have, will travel, and rawhide, the gunfight is a routine event, taking place about as often as we currently witness a politician being dishonest or your luggage being late coming on the carousel when you arrive at the.
43 1425 71 1181 493 349 275 55 780 673 1047 411 210 1452 651 1153 735 797 982 424 1038 926 1211 1049 1232 741 1356 335 218 1215 619 1388 11 1082 941 335 1030 703