From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson His father, Thomas Masterson (or Mastersan), was
born in Canada of an Irish family; and his mother, Cather-
ine McGurk (or McGureth), was born in Ireland.[3] He was
the second child in a family of five brothers and two sis-
ters. They were raised on farms in Quebec, New York, and
Illinois, until they finally settled near Wichita, Kansas.
In his late teens, he and two of his brothers, Ed
Masterson and James Masterson, left their family’s farm
to become buffalo hunters. While traveling without his
brothers, Bat took part in the Battle of Adobe Walls in
Texas, and killed Comanche Indians. He then spent time
as a U.S. Army scout in a campaign against the Kiowa and
Comanche Indians.
Gunfighter and lawman
Born November 26, 1853(1853-11-26)
Henryville, Montérégie, Canada East
(Quebec)
Died October 25, 1921(1921-10-25) (aged 67)
New York City, New York, USA
Occupation Gambler
U.S. Army Scout
buffalo hunter
lawman (Sheriff and U.S. Marshal)
journalist
Years 1876 – approx 1891
active 1908–1912
Relatives James Masterson (brother)
Ed Masterson (brother)
Signature
William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 –
October 25, 1921) was a figure of the American Old West
known as a buffalo hunter, U.S. Marshal and Army scout,
avid fisherman, gambler, frontier lawman, and sports ed-
itor and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph.
He was the brother of lawmen James Masterson and Ed Deputies Bat Masterson (standing) and Wyatt Earp in Dodge
Masterson. City, 1876. The scroll on Earp’s chest is a cloth pin-on badge
Name and birth His first gunfight took place in 1876 in Sweetwater, Texas
(later Mobeetie in Wheeler County, not to be confused
Born on November 26, 1853,[1] at Henryville, Canada East with the current Sweetwater, the seat of Nolan County
Masterson,
and baptised as Bartholomew Masterson he later used west of Abilene, Texas). He was attacked by a man in a
the name "William Barclay Masterson".[2] fight, allegedly because of a girl. The other man died of
his wounds. Masterson was shot in the pelvis, but recov-
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bat Masterson
ered. The story that he needed to carry a cane for the rest cock refused to do. Their disagreement grew until threats
of his life is a legend perpetuated by the TV series star- flew, at which time Bat received the telegram. Masterson
ring the late Gene Barry. jumped on the next stage out of Tombstone and arrived
In 1877, he joined his brothers in Dodge City, Kansas. in Dodge City on April 16.[5] Jumping off the train before
Jim was the partner of Ed who was an assistant marshal. it stopped, Masterson saw Updegraff and Peacock. He ac-
Soon after his arrival, Masterson came into conflict with costed them, "Hold up there a minute, you two. I want to
the local marshal over the treatment of a man being ar- talk to you." Recognizing Bat, the two retreated behind
rested. He was jailed and fined, although his fine was lat- the jail, and the three began exchanging gunfire. Citizens
er returned by the city council. He served as a sheriff’s ran for cover as bullets ripped through the Long Branch
deputy alongside Wyatt Earp, and within a few months Saloon. Other individuals began firing in support of both
he was elected county sheriff of Ford County, Kansas. As sides until Updegraff was shot. Mayor Ab Webster arrest-
sheriff, Bat won plaudits for capturing four members of ed Masterson and only then did he learn that his broth-
the Mike Roark gang who had unsuccessfully held up a er Jim was fine. Updegraff slowly recovered, and since it
train at nearby Kinsley. He also led the posse that cap- could not be determined who shot Updegraff, Masterson
tured Jim Kennedy who had inadvertently killed an en- was fined $8.00 and released.[5]:206
tertainer named Dora Hand in Dodge; with a shot Bat was known as an excellent shot. If he fired first
through the shoulder Masterson eventually brought and without warning, as Updegraff and Peacock claimed,
Kennedy down. it was unlikely he would have missed. Updegraff and Pea-
Fighting in Colorado on the Santa Fe side of its war cock did not explain why they were headed towards the
against the Rio Grande railroad, Masterson continued as train depot, guns under their coats. The citizens were
Ford County sheriff until he was voted out of office in outraged, warrants were issued, but Bat and Jim were
1879. During this same period his brother Ed was Marshal permitted to leave Dodge.[5]:210
of Dodge City and died in the line of duty on April 9,
1878.[4] Ed was shot by a cowboy named Jack Wagner who Dodge City War
was unaware that Bat was in the vicinity. As Ed stumbled Main article: Dodge City War
away from the scene, Masterson responded from across
the street with deadly force, firing on both Wagner and
Wagner’s boss, Alf Walker. Wagner died the next day but
Walker was taken back to Texas and recovered. The lo-
cal newspapers were ambiguous about who shot Wagner
and Walker and this led some later historians to question
whether Bat was involved. However, the recent location
of two court cases in which Bat testified under oath that
he had shot both means that most now accept that Bat
avenged his brother.[5][6]
Battle of the Plaza
For the next several years, he made a living as a gambler
moving through several of the legendary towns of the
Old West. Wyatt Earp invited Masterson to Tombstone,
Arizona Territory, in early 1881 where Earp owned a one-
quarter interest in the gambling concession at the Orien-
tal Saloon in exchange for his services as a manager and The "Dodge City Peace Commission" June 1883. From left to
enforcer.[7]:41 He wanted his help running the faro ta- right, standing: W.H. Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, W.F.
bles in the Oriental Saloon. Bat remained until April 1881, Petillon. Seated: Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Frank McLain
when Bat received an unsigned telegram that compelled and Neal Brown.
him to immediately return to Dodge City.[8]:206
Masterson spent a year as marshal of Trinidad, Colorado
COME AT ONCE. UPDEGRAFF AND PEACOCK as well as serving as Sheriff of South Pueblo,
ARE GOING TO KILL JIM. Colorado.[9][10] In 1883, he participated in a bloodless
conflict and gunfighter gathering later called the Dodge
Jim Masterson was sheriff in Dodge and was partners City War.
with A. J. Peacock in the Lady Gay Saloon and Dance Hall.
Al Updegraff was Peacock’s brother-in-law and barten-
der. Jim thought Updegraff was dishonest and a drunk,
and demanded that Peacock fire Updegraff, which Pea-
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bat Masterson
Denver, Colorado year from early 1908 until 1912 when President William
Howard Taft removed Masterson from the position dur-
In 1888 Masterson was living in Denver, Colorado, where
ing Taft’s purge of Roosevelt supporters from govern-
he dealt faro for "Big Ed" Chase at the Arcade gambling
ment positions.[18]
house.[11] In 1888 he managed and then purchased the
Palace Variety Theater.[12] It was there that Bat met and
married actress, Emma Walters, on November 21, 1891. Newspaper man
While in Denver, he met and maintained a long term
Bat Masterson worked as a sports writer and editor; and a
friendship with the infamous confidence man, Soapy
columnist. His career as a writer started around 1883 and
Smith and members of the Soap Gang.[13] In 1889 the two
ended at his death in New York City in 1921.
friends were involved together in the famous Denver reg-
He wrote a letter published in the Daily Kansas State
istration and election fraud scandal.[14] In 1892 he moved
Journal, on June 9, 1883, that mentioned his arrival in
to the silver boom town of Creede, Colorado, where he
Dodge City, the famous Long Branch saloon, and his fa-
managed the Denver Exchange Club until the town was
mous cohorts who made the Long Branch their head-
destroyed by fire. On the 1900 Federal Census record for
quarters during the so-called "Dodge City Saloon War." It
Arapahoe County in Denver he lists his name as William
was during this time that Bat met newspapermen Alfred
Masterson with his birth place as Missouri in 1854. His
Henry and William Eugene Lewis. Both journalists were
wife is listed as Emma Masterson married for 10 years
destined to play a role in Masterson’s future as a scribe.
and he list his occupation as Athletic Club Keeper. [15] Bat
Masterson published Vox Populi, a single edition news-
continued to travel around the boom towns of the West,
paper focusing on local Dodge City politics in Novem-
gambling and promoting prize fights. He began writing a
ber 1884. Masterson penned a weekly sports column for
weekly sports column for George’s Weekly, a Denver news-
George’s Weekly sometime after his arrival in Denver,
paper, and opened the Olympic Athletic Club to promote
Colorado, in the late 1890s.
the sport of boxing.
Masterson continued his writing career in New York
at the New York Morning Telegraph, (a sporting newspaper
Fame and notoriety featuring race form and results whose reputation was
part of what was known as "a whore’s breakfast," which
Bat Masterson lived in the American West during a vi-
consisted of a cigarette and the Morning Telegraph) c.
olent and frequently lawless period. His most recent bi-
1904. Hired by the younger Lewis brother, William Eu-
ographer concludes[citation needed] that, Indian-fighting
gene Lewis, he reprised his role as sports writer, later be-
aside, he used a firearm against a fellow man on just six
coming the paper’s sports editor. The politics, sporting
occasions, far less than some of his contemporaries such
events, theaters, fine dining establishments, and varied
as Dallas Stoudenmire, "Wild Bill" Hickok, and Clay Alli-
night life of his adopted city became fodder for his thrice
son. However, the fact that he was so widely known can
weekly column "Masterson’s Views on Timely Topics" for
be ascribed to a practical joke played on a gullible news-
more than 18 years. W. E. Lewis eventually became the
paper reporter in August 1881. Seeking copy in Gunni-
general manager and president of the company and pro-
son, Colorado, the reporter asked Dr W.S. Cockrell about
moted his friend Masterson to vice president and compa-
mankillers. Dr. Cockrell pointed to a young man nearby
ny secretary.
and said it was Bat and that he had killed 26 men. Cockrell
While in New York City, Masterson met up again with
then regaled the reporter with several lurid tales about
the Lewis brothers. Alfred Henry Lewis eventually wrote
Bat’s exploits and the reporter wrote them up for the
several short stories and a novel The Sunset Trail, about
New York Sun. The story was then widely reprinted in
Masterson. Alfred Lewis encouraged Bat to write a series
papers all over the country and became the basis for
of sketches about his adventures which were published
many more exaggerated stories told about Bat over the
by Lewis in the magazine he edited, Human Life (c.
years.[16] Masterson left the West and went to New York
1907–1908). Masterson regaled his readers with stories
City by 1902, where he was arrested for illegal gam-
about his days on the frontier and his gunfighter friends.
bling.[17]
He also explained to his audience what he felt were the
President Theodore Roosevelt, on the recommenda-
best properties of a gunfighter.
tion of mutual friend Alfred Henry Lewis, appointed
It was during this time that Masterson sold his fa-
Masterson to the position of deputy to U.S. Marshal for
mous sixgun—"the gun that tamed the West"—because
the southern district of New York, under William Henkel.
he "needed the money." Actually, Masterson bought old
Roosevelt had met Masterson on several occasions and
guns at pawnshops, carved notches into the handles and
had become friendly with him. Masterson split his time
sold them at inflated prices. Each time he claimed the
between his writing and keeping the peace in the grand
gun was the one he used during his career as a law-
jury room whenever the U. S. Attorney in New York held
man.[19]
session. He performed this service for about $2,000 per
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bat Masterson
Death Popular media
Gaming
Masterson is mentioned in various games utilizing the
names of "authentic" historic characters.
• Bait Masteron is a satirically named Non-Player
Character character in EverQuest
• Red Dead Revolver character, Jack Swift, is based on
Bat Masterson
Literature and publications
(Alphabetical, by author)
• In the non-fiction autobiography, You Can’t Win
(1926), written by train-riding hobo and small time
thief Jack Black about his own life in the early
The grave of Bat Masterson
nineteen hundreds, he claims that he and another
thief named The Sanctimonious Kid intend to stick
Bat Masterson died at age 67 on October 25, 1921, while
up a poker game in Denver, CO, but reconsider when
living and working in New York City. He collapsed at his
they see Bat Masterson playing in the game. When
desk from a heart attack after penning what became his
Jack, who didn’t know Bat Masterson, asks "Sanc"
final column for the New York Morning Telegraph. His body
why they didn’t go through with the plan, "Sanc"
was taken to Campbell’s Funeral Parlor and later buried
states that Bat Masterson is the fastest human being
after a simple service in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx,
alive with a gun and would’ve shot them dead before
New York. His full name, William Barclay Masterson, ap-
they could raise their pieces.
pears above his epitaph on the large granite grave mark-
• Bat Masterson, along with many other historical
er in Woodlawn. His epitaph states that he was "Loved by
figures of the time, is a character in the novel The
Everyone."[20][21]
Buntline Special(2010) by Mike Resnick.
• Dell Comics also published a short-lived comic book
Quotations based on the series. The first issue was published as
• "Every dog, we are told, has his day, unless there are Four Color Comics #1013, followed by Bat Masterson
more dogs than days." #2–9 (1960–62). All the issues had photographic
• "New York is the biggest boomtown there is. They covers. The stories were scripted by Gaylord DuBois
will buy any damned thing here." • The main characters in Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from
• "When a man is at the racetrack he roars longer and Mars (1979), written by Daniel Pinkwater, attend Bat
louder over the twenty-five cents he loses through Masterson Junior High
the hole in the bottom of his pocket than he does • The character Obadiah "The Sky" Masterson, from
over the $25 he loses through the hole in the top of Damon Runyon’s short story "The Idyll of Miss Sarah
his pocket." Brown" and the musical Guys and Dolls, was based on
• "There are those who argue that everything breaks Bat Masterson.
even in this old dump of a world of ours. I suppose • The novel 1999 Masterson, by Richard S. Wheeler,
these ginks who argue that way hold that because describes a fictional trip from New York to
the rich man gets ice in the summer and the poor California, wherein Bat meets film actor William S.
man gets it in the winter things are breaking even Hart and visits Wyatt Earp. The trip takes place in
for both. Maybe so, but I’ll swear I can’t see it that late 1919, just before the imposition of national
way." (These were also Masterson’s last recorded prohibition of alcohol. Among other amusing
words, which were in the bit of column found on the observations he makes is the statement that Las
typewriter Masterson was using before he died while Vegas is just an unimportant whistle stop town--
typing).[citation needed] "always was, always will be."
Music
• Bat Masterson Band is a Chicago-based rock and roll
band named in honor of Bat Masterson
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bat Masterson
Onscreen, in film References
(Ordered chronologically)
[1] Whilst other dates are cited in some sources, his
• Masterson himself can reportedly be seen wearing a
baptism is recorded in the Quebec Archives in a
bowler hat in the 1897 documentary film, The Corbett-
record dated 27 November 1853, and making it
Fitzsimmons Fight
clear he was born the previous day. (See DeArment,
• Albert Dekker portrayed Masterson in the 1943 film,
Robert K., Bat Masterson, The Man and the Legend,
The Woman of the Town, based on the murder of Dora
University of Oklahoma Press, 1979, pp.9–10.)
Hand (portrayed by Claire Trevor). Barry Sullivan
[2] Bartholomaeus Masterson in the 1870 US Census in
played Miss Hand’s killer, named "King" Kennedy in
St. Clair County, Illinois
the film rather than Jim Kennedy. The film suggested
[3] Bat later claimed on U.S. census that he was born
that there was a romantic relationship between
in Illinois or Missouri, but that was probably
Masterson and Dora Hand. The film’s musical score
because he had never bothered to become
was nominated for an Oscar.
naturalised yet had voted and held public office.
• Randolph Scott played Masterson in the 1947 film
[4] http://www.odmp.org/officer.php?oid=8676
Trail Street
[5] ^ DeArment, Robert K.. Bat Masterson: The Man and
• Joel McCrea played Masterson in the 1959 film The
the Legend. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 442.
Gunfight at Dodge City which depicted the famed
ISBN 978-0-8061-2221-2.
westerner during his term of office as Ford County
[6] DeArment, Robert K. (2005) Broadway Bat: Gunfighter
Sheriff
in Gotham (Talei Publishers)
• Bat Masterson was portrayed in the 1994 movie
[7] Woog, Adam (February 28, 2010). Wyatt Earp.
Wyatt Earp (by Tom Sizemore), as well as in a number
Chelsea House Publications. p. 110.
of other movies featuring characters ostensibly
ISBN 1604135972. http://books.google.com/
based upon historic figures
books?id=_y9wsnur9R0C.
[8] "Biographical Notes Bat Masterson".
Onscreen, in television http://www.inn-california.com/articles/
(Alphabetical by series or show title) biographic/masterson1.html. Retrieved 14 April
• Bat Masterson was a U.S. television series loosely 2011.
based on the historical character. William Barclay [9] http://www.pueblo.us/documents/Planning/
"Bat" Masterson was portrayed by actor Gene Barry, Pueblo%20Regional%20Development%20Plan.pdf
who also played a lead role in later television shows [10] http://www.pueblo.us/documents/HPC/
The Name of the Game and Burke’s Law, among others. Register%20Properties%20by%20address%20including%20Union.p
Bat Masterson appeared on NBC in 107 episodes from [11] DeArment, Robert K. (1982) "Knights of the Green
1958 to 1961 and featured Masterson as a superbly Cloth: The Saga of the Frontier Gamblers" Norman:
dressed gambler, generally outfitted in a black suit U OK Press. p. 173.
and derby hat, who was more inclined to "bat" [12] Secrest, Clark. (2002) "Hell’s Belles: Prostitution,
crooks over the head with his gold-knobbed cane Vice, and Crime In Early Denver" Boulder: UP CO.
than shoot them. The half-hour series was filmed in pp. 143-145.
black and white. Hundreds of thousands of plastic [13] Smith, Jeff (2009). Alias Soapy Smith: The Life and
derby hats and canes were sold as children’s toys Death of a Scoundrel, Klondike Research. p. 84. ISBN
during the show’s run. The series was partially 0-9819743-0-9
sponsored by Sealtest. [14] Rocky Mountain News 03/20/1890 & 03/15/1890, p.
• In one episode of Beakman’s World, Beakman 6.
portrayed himself in a short film as Bat Masterson [15] 1900 United States Federal Census Record,
when teaching about how actors do not injure Arapahoe, Denver, Precinct #3
themselves when doing things that are meant to [16] Cockrell subsequently apologised to Bat, who
cause injury. insisted he was not even in Gunnison at the time.
• An Early Edition episode was devoted to Bat See DeArment, Robert K., Broadway Bat: Gunfighter in
Masterson. Gotham (Talei Publishers, 2005)
• Animation giants William Hanna and Joseph Barbera [17] "Masterson Laments Loss of Pistol. Was
satirized Masterson in a 1964 Punkin’ Puss and Confiscated, but He Hopes to Get It Back at Auction
Mushmouse cartoon, "Bat Mouseterson", in which Sale.". New York Times. June 8, 1902, Sunday.
Mushmouse’s city-dwelling, cane-wielding cousin ""Bat" William B. Masterson, in his own parlance, is
comes to hill country for a visit and teaches "sore." His forty-five calibre pistol which he has
Mushmouse the gentleman’s way of warding off the carried since the strenuous days of his young
always-feuding Punkin’ Puss. manhood has been confiscated."
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Bat Masterson
[18] "’Bat’ Masterson – Here’s How!". Washington Post. [21] "Bat Masterson". Encyclopædia Britannica.
February 8, 1905. "There is certain to be a vast http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/
amount of insufferable rot written about William article-9371506/Bat-Masterson. Retrieved
Barclay Masterson, who answers to the name of 2007-02-14.
"Bat", who has just been appointed a deputy
United States marshal in and for the city of New
York, with the approval and apparently at the
External links
suggestion of President Roosevelt. The New York • Bartholomew Masterson
papers are already at it, picturing Masterson as the • Findagrave
pattern from which the stage desperadoes have • Bat Masterson biography
fashioned their costumes, bearded like a pard, • Benjamin Cardozo meets gunslinger Bat Masterson
carrying hardware enough to stock an arsenal, and • Photo of Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp
perforating his talk with curdling oaths." • [1]
[19] Uncle John’s Absolutely Absorbing Bathroom Reader. Persondata
Bathroom Reader’s Institute. 1999. p. 275. Name Masterson, Bat
ISBN 1-879682-73-7.
[20] "Bat Masterson Dies at Editor’s Desk. Sporting Alternative
Writer and Last of Oldtime Western Gun Fighters names
Was 67. Beat in Long Siege. Deputy U.S. Marshal for Short descrip-
Southern District of New York Under His Friend, tion
Colonel Roosevelt.". New York Times. October 26, Date of birth November 26, 1853
1921, Wednesday. "William Barclay Masterson,
Place of birth Henryville, Montérégie, Canada East
better known as Bat Masterson, sporting writer,
(Quebec)
friend of Theodore Roosevelt and former sheriff of
Dodge City, Kansas, died suddenly yesterday while Date of death October 25, 1921
writing an article at his desk in the office of the Place of death New York City, New York, USA
Morning Telegraph."
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bat_Masterson&oldid=473787604"
Categories:
• 1853 births
• 1921 deaths
• American gamblers
• American people of Canadian descent
• American sportswriters
• Kansas sheriffs
• Arizona folklore
• Bison hunters
• Burials at Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx)
• Dell Comics titles
• Gunmen of the American Old West
• Lawmen of the American Old West
• People from Dodge City, Kansas
• People from Montérégie
• People from Wheeler County, Texas
• United States Marshals
• Cochise County conflict
• People of the American Old West
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