A Wild Affray for Hickok

Wild Bill gets out of a sticky situation.

July 17, 1870–A saloon in Hays City, KS. Wild Bill Hickok is attacked by two soldiers of the 7th Cavalry, Jeremiah Lonergan and John Kile. Lonergan drags Hickok backward so that he can’t get to his pistols. Kile shoves a revolver into Hickok’s ear and pulls the trigger–misfire. Hickok manages to pull his pistol, shooting Kile twice and Lonergan once in the knee. The fight is over, but Hickok fears retribution from other soldiers. He hides out in the local cemetery. Kile dies soon after. Ironically…Kile was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in an encounter with Indians a year before.