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How far apart were Wild Bill Hickok and Dave Tutt in their famous 1865 showdown in Springfield, Missouri?

by | Apr 1, 2003 | Inside History

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Tom Shepard El Monte, California Dave Tutt and Wild Bill were, according to many accounts, 75 yards apart; however, Hickok expert Joseph Rosa, in Wild Bill Hickok: The Man and the Myth, says they were 50 yards apart. Either one is still a heck of a pistol shot. Evidence indicates that Tutt was standing sideways, duelist-style, which makes Hickok’s shot even more remarkable, proving once again the old adage, “Speed is fine . . . accuracy is final.” See “Classic Gunfights” in the August


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