When those old gunfighters are sittin’ around Valhalla discussin’,”Who was the greatest of em all,” the name Bass Reeves is sure to be mentioned....
Bass Reeves: U.S. Marshall
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Marshall Trimble
Was Bill Tilghman Honest?
Was Bill Tilghman honest? Terrel Shields — Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Bill Tilghman was, at best, a flawed character. Zoe Tilghman’s biography of her...
Lady Desperados
Stagecoach robber Pearl Hart is the most famous of the twenty-nine women who spent time at the Yuma Territorial Prison during the years, 1876-1909,...
Poker Alice
The "Queen of the Western Gamblers" was Alice Ivers. She was both gambler and madam. She also had a religious side, closing her brothel on Sundays...
What Pistol did “Wild Bill” Hickok use to Kill Davis Tutt in 1865?
What pistol did “Wild Bill” Hickok use to kill Davis Tutt in 1865? Ron Bolza — Slatington, Pennsylvania. The Hickok-Tutt affair has been described...
Lost Sheep
Geographically, Arizona was an ideal place for sheep ranching. The flocks could be wintered in the balmy deserts then driven up sheep trails to...
Did Outlaws Shoot Locks Off Strongboxes?
Did outlaws shoot locks off strongboxes? John C. Gieske — Prescott, Arizona. Shooting a lock off a strongbox requires a high-powered gun at close...
Jack Swilling’s Arizona Adventures: Part II
For a brief time in early 1862 Confederate troops occupied what would soon become the Territory of Arizona. This was part of a grand Confederate...
Jack Swilling’s Arizona Adventures: Part I
Jack Swilling is a name that goes almost unrecognized by Arizonans today. Much of what is known about him comes from tall tales, lies and...
Did Old West Gunmen Wear Armor?
Did Old West gunmen wear armor? Jeff Mock — Sandy, Utah. Two men come to mind. “Killin’” Jim Miller wore an iron plate sewn inside his black frock...
Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Ladies
Gambling was a favorite pastime in frontier towns and among the most skillful and prosperous were a few free-spirited women. They included Prairie...
What Are Needle Guns?
What are needle guns? Bob Fuller — Vermillion, South Dakota. A European invention, the needle gun got a lot of use (and publicity) during the...