Presidents, Spies, Poets, Cowboys, and common men, they all played poker but Wild Bill Hickok was, perhaps, the most famous poker player of all. He died in Deadwood, South Dakota in July of 1876. He was playing draw poker in the Nuttal and Mann’s Saloon #10. There were a lot of gamblers and gunmen in town, including Johnny Varnes, who had lost all his money to Hickok in a game at the Senate Saloon of Denver, Colorado. Varnes was afraid of Wild Bill and he tried to hire quick draw artists to kill Wild Bill but they all turned done the offer. So, he hired “Crooked Nose” Jack McCall to do a cowardly, sneak attack. He shot bill in the back of his head as he sat at the poker table with Mann, the gunman Charles Rich, the Irish Wrestler Con Stapleton, and Captain Willie Massie, a steamboat pilot. Bill’s fingers were still holding his poker hand_two pair, aces and eights and a kicker, nine of diamonds. Thus was born the legend of the dead man’s hand.
The name of the book is, COWBOYS FULL, THE STORY OF POKER. The author is: James McManus. I found this book to be a wonderful history of how poker has affected America from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama. The riverboat gamblers were fascinating! The story is filled with interesting history. Yes, I recommend this book.
My momma didn't raise no fools. I always play poker with my back to the wall. Tsar Pat
ReplyDeleteSO DID WILD BILL, EXCEPT FOR THE GAME IN DEADWOOD
ReplyDeleteHE WAS LATE GETTING FROM THE BAR TO THE TABLE.
THE LAST SEAT HAD ITS BACK TO THE DOOR. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS TO NEVER VIOLATE YOUR PRINCIPLES!