Hickok became a law officer for the first time at Monticello, Kansas. He also served as an Indian scout and drove a stagecoach on the Santa Fe and Oregon trails. During the Civil War he served his country as a Union scout. In 1866, Hickok became deputy marshal of Fort Riley, then marshal of Hays City in 1869. His law-enforcing career continued in Abilene in 1869 where he also served.
In 1872 Hickok had a two-year stint in the entertainment business as a performer with the famed Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. However, in 1876 he left the show to seek his fortune in the Black Hills in Dakota Territory during the gold rush there.
Mr. Hickok will certainly be mourned by his many friends and associates. Among them, and famed in her own right, is Martha Jane Canary. Better known as Calamity Jane, Miss Canary is an expert horsewoman and sharpshooter. Though notorious for the wearing of men’s clothing it is often speculated that Calamity utilizes her often hidden feminine charms to support her various, and sometime liquid, necessities. However, the town of Deadwood still gives thanks to Miss Canary for her unfaltering assistance during the smallpox epidemic that devastated that mining community.
At the time of this writing, it is assured that gunslinger Jack McCall will stand trial for the murder of James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok. There is little doubt that the results of McCall’s trial will be a sentence of death by hanging.
Though our artist, Mary Trotter Kion, was not present at the shooting, the Great Plains Gazette would like to present the above ink and pencil sketch of how the murder of Wild Bill Hickok may have taken place. Kion says all you pardoners out there are welcome to use her sketch, just as long as you let folks know who drew it. Better fess up if you use it, she can be pretty quick on the ‘draw’ herself. Mary also says she's sorry the sketch is so small and guesses she'll have to use a bigger pencil next time.
To learn more, on the Internet, about Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane please see:
James Butler Hickok Family History http://www.ukans.edu/heritage/families/h... Not only is Hickok’s family tree presented here but there are some very interesting writings about the man by family members.
The Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane http://www.cowgirls.com/dream/cowgals/ca... This is the version of her life she wrote herself.
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