Deadwood Business

Deadwood Business... (www.deadwood.biz) A freedom statement!

Wild Bill, (James Butler Hickok)... a worn out character!

A re-created photo

A true re-creation? Yes, except for the poster on the wall, a "real" back door, the tall hats and fancy clothes... Also the nice table, real chairs, and a painted wall... And by the way, he did not even own a handgun when he was shot!

Oh well... Capt. Massie did have a blue "uniform" coat, and Wild Bill did still have long hair!

Did he have aces and eights, or syphilis? Not that I know of... In fact what can be said about this man that is actually true?? Damn little if you want to live for very long... too many people alive today are making a fortune from lies told about him by them and others. If you mess with the like, they will kill you... and children in your family that are not even born yet!

Here is the most often used photo... it is a picture of a picture of a picture... The most stolen picture ever used on the net to date! Also the best one taken of him in his "later days" that did not make him look stupid!

This man was only a "shell of a man" by the time he got here according to the only man he "dug gold" for while here... And he did not live long due to his reputation for "standing up for the little guy" because of the "contract" by the merchants. But don't blame them, they were only following orders!

Anyone trying to bring real law here always dies, or wishes they were dead... before long!

I had to rebuild this writing a total of 7 times so far, (in just the last 25 years of research)... Now that HBO has made up a new story I have to re-write it again... The mafia and owners of casinos in Deadwood do not worry me much anymore, I can only die once... I really doubt they will kill my wife and children for something I have said either. But I have dealt with people from Hollywood 30 years ago, and a number of times since... I always remember Dan Costner once telling me the same thing Barbara Eden did... You keep this up and you will never work in this town again, and I haven't, and not because I did not want to... Like many of the girls I have worked with always say... "So Oh well, they rape what they SOW"... (I think meaning you reap what you plant... and I know you don't plant weeds unless you are an Indian, you will not know what to do with the crop). Some people here get what they deserve, others seem to get away with bad things, I'm not sure why!

The picture above is closer to what he looked like by the time he got to Deadwood... Minus the nice leather, the guns, and that knife! He was broke too, and almost blind... but not from syphilis, I do not think anyway. (I live less than 100 yards from his bones though, if you want I will sneak up there some night after spring thaw and dig up a sample for you, that will be easy to prove)! I have a video of an interview with the man that has the rifle he did own though. (Don got it 50 years ago from a man who was the grandson of the fellow who washed the blood out of his hair at the undertakers that "faithful" day).

This may have been the last picture taken, although he looks a bit ridicules with what looks more like a tablecloth for a cape, the discarded plaid pants and the hat he found, (that was actually somewhat the style at the time)... Notice his bandaged hands, it could have been from the work at the "diggins" for the stake in a few poker games! It was said by some of the girls that he had the smoothest hands in town when he arrived, and a few of them said they let him "touch them" with those hands, they should know!

One very amusing "tongue in cheek" unknown story I once heard about him is located on a page called "his last date with Jane"...

Most people have heard various stories about how he was killed, we tried to correct some of that baloney by printing a TRUE STORY...

Many know he was famous for standing up for those unable to defend themselves by that time, (mostly from the many exaggerated "Dime Novels" of that day). Others know he had a problem with gambling and drinking... but that was a problem shared by almost all men in the "Wild West" after the Civil War.

Some know the most important difference between Wild Bill and other "mankillers" of the day was that he could "draw and fire" quickly, killing without hesitation! This was very important in his line of work... (Playing poker, upholding the law, or just defending others). Although history recorded one event that this talent did not go in his favor, (when he killed his own deputy as he approached too quickly from his blind side). That happened while he was a lawman in Abilene during the fall of 1871, and it ended his career in "hired" law enforcement for the most part. (His failing eyesight may have also been a factor).

Some know about his "shock factor" abilities when killing someone too, (the old "right between the eyes at 50 yards" thing). Actually he never shot anyone between the eyes, but he did shot one directly in the eye... and another one right through the heart from almost 75 yards! That was enough to cause him to be feared by many at the time... Also because he did it in true style, called out into the middle of main street, and over something as silly as a watch won in a poker game... (Actually it was over a girl if the truth was known).

Once I listened to a man that witnessed this gun fight, and many more in various other "cow-towns" during the late 1800's. (I was with my grandfather, who also liked to hear about life during that wild time). Although this man was quite old at that time, he had a very clear mind when it came to this kind of thing... He said it was the sort of thing that stuck in your mind, something he would never forget as long as he lived. He said most gunfights were cowardly events for the most part, angry drunken idiots who were told by the bartender to "take it outside" and they did... He said they would usually hide behind barrels, horses, water troughs, or whatever was handy! They would fire until out of bullets or someone got wounded, then it was over and the doctor came out. He also said it did not happen right away normally either, as they first had to go get their guns... and a few friends if possible to back them up. He said he was in several of these gunfights when he was working for one Texas trail-ride group. A number of people were sometimes involved and once he even shot someone in the leg! Right afterwards they rode out and went back to Texas for another herd, taking it to Ogallala that time, which he said was the smart thing to do!

He also said most lawmen, and especially Wild Bill, were very dangerous to cross... they shot to kill, and got away with it too!

He had heard the old story that Wild Bill was also know as "Duck Bill" from the incident about the bank robbery that went the wrong way... (Three bad guys robbed a bank and as they were coming out Bill started shooting everyone in sight... killing two of the robbers, and three local people). Parts of that story are partly true, five people were injured by various shots fired... some of them by Wild Bill, but there was only two bad guys robbing the bank, and they each fired as well... you sort it out!

When it comes to gun-play in the Wild West or the Old West, more printed words about most incidents are false than are true, it is always the winners or the law that get the final word on what is recorded about the event, just as it is to this day!

The other ten thousand word I have written on James Butler Hickok will appear soon, probably as soon as I am dead!

Until then you may have to believe how HBO kills him, (week 4 of the series 1)... The last posting date on the final page is due on May 10th of 2005!