The Gunfighter

A fellow writer, Alan B., forwarded a little op-ed piece about gunfighters and gunfights in the Old West. The gist of the article was that the west wasn’t nearly so violent as portrayed. Western towns averaged only about 1.5 murders per year. The Gunfight At The O.K. Corral resulted in but three deaths, and that was Tombstone’s most violent year. The quick-draw wasn’t important because those old hand-guns were so inaccurate. And supposed gunfighters themselves weren’t so vicious. Billy the Kid only killed four people in his life. And so on.

Is this really true? asked Alan.

I don’t think so. The truth is probably somewhere between the op-ed’s argument and Hollywood’s view of the West. Western history is chock full of gunfights and local wars. Texas Rangers versus bad guys. Obscure bandits and sheriffs gone bad, as well as those famous gunmen in the stories we’ve all heard. John Wesley Hardin. Sam Bass. One of my ancestors was gunned down in the Longhorn Saloon in San Antonio. A great-uncle was killed in El Paso (ruled a suicide but he didn't have a gun...).

And Billy the Kid? Yes, history records the names of four men he shot down. At that time he already had a reputation as a killer. Those four are the ones who’s names we know; doubtless there were others in the Lincoln County War. Did he kill 21 men by the time he was 21? Doubtful. But he surely murdered more than four.

Please, Mr. Editorialist, leave us our legends. So the Old West wasn’t exactly like we visualize it – It’s still part of Americana, our self-image, our history that makes us what we are. And we treasure it.

Those of us of a certain age can tell you – what poker hand Wild Bill Hickok was holding, when Jack McCall shot him in the back? Do you know, Mr. Editorialist?

Don’t lecture us about the Wild West. We are it.

Dac Crossley
4/5/2010

“Those big shot writers could never dig the fact that there are more salted peanuts consumed than caviar.” – Mickey Spillane.

Comments

[James]

I'm torn between the "fantasy" of the wild west, and the probable reality of it. Chances are, it wasn't nearly as violent as Hollywood makes it look, but finding out that it was pretty, well, boring, kind of takes a lot of the fun out of it.

[Liz M.]

Was it aces and eights - dead man's hand? Does that qualify me as an oldtimer if I'm right?

[Mike D.]

Hey Dac,

I've often contemplated the issue of "what should we think about the old west?" And of course its complicated, just like us.

I was in Lincoln New Mexico last year during Billy the Kid Days. The thing that struck me was how unglamorous the "Lincoln County War" was. Basically, it was a gang war between two groups of grocers over control of the General Store business in the area. Within a few years of their arrival in Lincoln, all the major players were dead. Two of the grocer's graves are behind the store. It really gives you pause.

Lincoln County is a wonderful place, and the history of its settlement is endlessly fascinating to me (partly because its still happening). But I'm having a hard time putting a romantic spin on that dirty little "war". And Billy the Kid was a sociopath as far as I can tell. I say, write about him, yes, but don't trick people into thinking he was a good guy.

[ira guy]

Speaking of "getting shot" I got mine today( shingles vaccination....only $162.94 at Kroger)....see... you can be a positive influence on people!!!
Ira

[Alan]

thanks DAC for putting the facts behind the myths about myths about the Old West.