Wild Bill Hickok - Gunfighter of the Wild West

James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 - August 2, 1876), also known as Wild Bill Hickok was a legendary figure in the old west. He was known as a gunfighter and gambler who fought in the Civil War and was a scout for Custers Cavalry. He later became a lawman before settling down in Deadwood, South Dakota where he would soon meet his death.   Early Years James Hickok was born in Homer (todays Troy Grove), Illinois in 1837 to William Hickok and Polly Butler. Not much is known about his early education, though he was known as an excellent marksman. In 1855, Hickok left Illinois and the Jayhawkers, a vigilante group in Kansas. At that time, Bleeding Kansas was in the middle of tremendous violence as pro- and anti-slavery groups fought over control of the state. Jayhawkers were fighting for Kansas to become a free state, not allowing slavery in its borders. It was while Hickok was a Jayhawker that he first met Buffalo Bill Cody. He would work with him again in later years.   Pony Express Incidents In 1859, Hickok had joined the Pony Express, a mail service that delivered letters and packages from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. While delivering freight in 1860, Hickok was injured when he was attacked by a bear. After a fierce struggle that left Hickok gravely wounded, he was finally able to slit the bears throat. He was removed from duty and eventually sent to Rock Creek Station to work in the stables.   On July 12, 1861, an incident occurred that would begin Hickoks claim to fame.  While employed at the Rock Creek Pony Express Station in Nebraska he got into a gunfight with an employee looking to collect his pay. Wild Bill may have shot and killed McCanles and wounded two other men. He was acquitted at the trial. However, there is some question on the validity of the trial because he worked for the powerful Overland Stage Company. Civil War Scout With the start of the Civil War in April, 1861, Hickok joined the Union army. His name was listed as William Haycock at this time. He fought in the Battle of Wilsons Creek on August 10, 1861, acting as a scout for General Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general to die in the war. The Union forces were slaughtered and the new general, Major Samuel Sturgis, led the retreat. He was discharged from the Union Army in September 1862. He spent the rest of war either acting as a scout, spy, or police detective in Springfield, Missouri.   Gaining a Reputation as a Fierce Gunfighter Hickok was part of the first recorded fast draw gunfight on July 1, 1865 in Springfield, Missouri. He fought with a former friend and gambling partner who had turned into a rival named Dave Tutt. There is a belief that part of the reason behind the rift in their friendship had to do with a woman they both liked. When Tutt called in a gambling debt that he said Hickok owed him, Hickok refused to pay the full amount saying that Tutt had it wrong. Tutt took Hickoks watch as collateral against the full amount. Hickok warned Tutt that he should not wear the watch or he would be shot. The next day, Hickok saw Tutt wearing the watch in the square in Springfield. Both men fired simultaneously, but only Hickok hit, killing Tutt. Hickok was tried and acquitted for this gunfight on the grounds of self defense. However, his reputation in the minds of those living in the east was settled when he was interviewed for Harpers New Monthly Magazine. In the story, it was stated that he had killed hundreds of men. While newspapers out west printed corrected versions, this cemented his reputation.   Life as a Lawman In the old west, the move from one on trial for murder to lawman was not that far. In 1867, Hickok began his career as a US Deputy Marshall at For Riley.  He acts as a scout for Custers 7th Calvary. His exploits are exaggerated by writers and he only adds to his own growing legend with tales of his own. In 1867, according to a story told by James WIlliam Buel in Life and Marvelous Adventures of Wild Bill, the Scout  (1880), Hickok was involved in a gunfight with four men in Jefferson County, Nebraska. He killed three of them and wounded the fourth, while only receiving a wound to his own shoulder.   In 1868, Hickok was attacked by a Cheyenne war party and injured. He was acting as a scout for the 10th Calvary.  He returned to Troy Hills to recover from the wound.  He then acted as a guide for Senator Wilsons tour of the plains. At the end of the job he received his famous ivory handled pistols from the Senator. In August, 1869, Hickok was elected to be the  Sheriff of Ellis County, Kansas. He wound up shooting two men while in office. They were seeking to gain fame by killing Wild Bill. On April 15, 1871, Hickok was made the marshal of Abilene, Kansas. While Marshal, he had dealings with a saloon owner named Phil Coe. On  October 5, 1871, Hickok was dealing with a violent crowd in the streets of Abilene when Coe fired two shots. Hickok tried to arrest Coe for shooting his pistols, when Coe turned his gun on Hickok. Hickok was able to get his shots of first and kill Coe. However, he also saw a figure approaching from the side and shot two more times, killing a man. Unfortunately, this was  Special Deputy Marshal Mike Williams who was trying to help him. This led to Hickoks being relieved of his duties as Marshal.   Wandering Lawman and Showman From 1871 to 1876, Hickok wandered around the old west, sometimes employed as a lawman. He also spent a year with Buffalo Bill Cody and Texas Jack Omohundro in a travelling show called Scouts of the Plains.   Marriage and Death Hickok decided to settle down on March 5, 1876 when he married Agnes Thatcher Lake, who owned a circus in Wyoming. The pair decided to move to Deadwood, South Dakota. Hickok left for a time to try and earn money by mining for gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota. According to her Martha Jane Cannary, a.k.a. Calamity Jane, became friends with Hickok around June 1876. She said that he spent the summer in Deadwood.   On August 2, 1876, Hickok was at the Nuttal   Manns Saloon in Deadwood where he was playing a game of poker. He was sitting with his back to the door when a gambler named Jack McCall came into the saloon and shot Hickok in the back of the head. Hickok was holding a pair of  black aces, black eights, and a jack of diamonds, forever to be known as a dead mans hand. McCalls motives are not completely clear, but Hickok might have upset him the day before.  According to McCall himself at his trial, he was avenging his brothers death who he said was killed by Hickok. Calamity Jane stated in her autobiography that is was she who first captured McCall after the murder: I at once started to look for the assassin [McCall] and found him at Shurdys butcher shop and grabbed a meat cleaver and made him throw up his hands, because through the excitement of hearing of Bills death having left my weapons on the post of my bed. However, he was acquitted at his initial miners trial. He was later rearrested and tried again, this being allowed because Deadwood was not a legitimate US town. McCall was found guilty and hanged in March, 1877.

Nature and the Free Flow of Emotion - 1230 Words

William Wordsworth said, â€Å"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher† (Brainy Quote). According to the poet, we can gain all the knowledge necessary in life from nature. Wordsworth’s poem, â€Å"The World Is Too Much With Us,† can best be interpreted to mean that people have become too wrapped up in worldly things and have lost all appreciation for what nature has to offer. William Wordsworth was born April 7, 1770 in Cockermouth, Cumberland in England’s Lake District which is why he is known as one of the â€Å"lake poets† of the Romantic Era. He lost his parents at a very young age and lost touch with his sister, Dorothy, because of it. Wordsworth was a very intelligent man who received his education from St. John’s College,†¦show more content†¦The sestet starts off with the use of alliteration to emphasize his rage when he exclaims, â€Å"Great God!† (9). Fralin interprets that the last 6 lines ar e an apostrophe to God in which Wordsworth expresses his anger toward the world. Wordsworth even goes as far as to say that he would rather be â€Å"A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn† (10) so that he may celebrate nature rather than a Christian who only sees nature as a tool for profit. The allusions to Proteus and Triton provides more support for the argument that even though Paganism is â€Å"a creed outworn† (10), a way of life long gone, at least they saw nature as something to be worshipped and made divine. He states that if this was the case, he would feel â€Å"less forlorn† (12) and there would be hope for nature to be seen as an element of beauty once again. Wordsworth uses many symbols to better argue his point that nature is not appreciated the way it used to be. â€Å"We have given our hearts away† (4). Our hearts symbolize the respect we once showed toward nature. Wordsworth uses a paradox by stating that this is â€Å"a sordid boon!† (4) or a foul gift. The elements Words worth talks about, the sea and wind, symbolize the power and beauty that nature has. It also symbolizes the longing for a restored connection between nature and man which is best shown by the sea and wind trying to attract the attention of man by, â€Å"baring her bosom† (5) and â€Å"howling at all hours† (6). The metaphor used to compare people to a musicalShow MoreRelatedA Long Way Gone By Emily Bronte1567 Words   |  7 PagesGustavo Leon Kathryn Overbeck ENC 1102 October 28, 2015 A Long Way Gone Emily Bronte and Paul Dunbar Have you ever had that feeling of wanting to free yourself from something, breaking the wall that holds you back, cutting the string that won’t let you go on and be free? Emily Bronte in her poem â€Å"The Caged Bird† and â€Å"Sympathy† by Paul Dunbar portray their feelings in their lyric poems. Bronte was born in 1818 in Yorkshire, England. 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Law Enforcement and the Aging Process Free Essays

The mandatory separation clause, or forced retirement at a certain age for police officers was officially upheld in 1996, as the lobbying efforts of the Fraternal Order of Police were successful in pleading their case.   The group argued that mandatory separation should be enforced because of the physical requirements of the position. They believe that an officer’s ability to physically meet the demands placed his or her body at a certain age naturally diminish, which places the officer in imminent danger. We will write a custom essay sample on Law Enforcement and the Aging Process or any similar topic only for you Order Now    Jim Pasco, the FOP director, stated that â€Å"It’s not only harder to defend yourself, but think of the very strenuous nature of, for example, the foot chase.†Ã‚   (Kennedy, 2007) The director did admit, however that not all police departments choose to enforce mandatory separation based upon officers reaching a certain age, as many departments   believe it’s â€Å"harder to recruit new officers and expensive to train them.†Ã‚   (Kennedy, 2007) Pasco’s comments were in response to the November 2007 fatal shooting and death of Broward, Florida’s Deputy Paul Rein, age 76.  Ã‚   Many believe that the deputy’s death could have been prevented had the department enforced the mandatory separation policy state and local law enforcement agencies are allowed when an officer reaches a certain age.   While transporting a convicted armed robber to stand trial in another location the inmate gained control of the deputy’s fire arm and fatally shot the officer. Deputy Rein’s daily duty was to transport inmates between secure locations and according to the department this was a duty older officers could handle.   Rein was considered safe, as he transported the prisoners while riding in a secure vehicle that contained a locked cage.   Fellow officers however reported that they viewed Rein let the accused inmate out of a medical vehicle prior to his death, which put the officer in danger and violated department policy.   (Kennedy, 2007) Though most workers are protected by strict federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on age, there are some exceptions to the rule.   The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 (ADEA) is the federal government’s protection to employees over the age of 40 that work for a â€Å"regulated employer.†Ã‚   (Pellicciotti, 1991) The ADEA’s laws are not limited to those who hold a current position; these laws also provide protection during the hiring process, salary increases, promotions and more.   State and local government employees are excluded from much of the ADEA’s protection, as the government is not considered a regulated employer. Those workers are protected by the EEOC, which enforces the same discrimination laws.   Extreme limitations are placed on the civil servant – the state and local law enforcement officers and fire fighters, due to the demands of the position and taking into consideration the fact that age may limit an officer’s ability to perform.   (Pellicciotti, 1991) Law enforcement officers have limited protection under the ADEA, as the Act allows the government employer to â€Å"fail to hire or discharge the †¦law enforcement officers because of age† if specific stipulations are met.   (Pellicciotti, 1991) The ADEA allows the government employer to discriminate against law enforcement officers because of age if the action is taken â€Å"(1) with respect to the employment of an individual as a firefighter or as a law enforcement offers and the individual has attained the age of hiring or retirement† and â€Å"(2) pursuant to a bona fide hiring or retirement plan.†Ã‚   (Pellicciotti, 1991) The ADEA will protect officers if the retirement option presented to the civil servant is not legitimate. The ADEA’s definition of â€Å"employer† also excludes the federal government and, like the state and local government workers, these workers are covered under the EEOC.   The federal government established a mandatory separation clause specific to federal law enforcement officers, fire fighters and air traffic controllers.   Under 4 U.S.C Sec. 8335 (a), (b), (c) federal workers holding these three positions are required to comply with the mandatory separation policy established by the federal government and this clause is heavily enforced.   (Pellicciotti, 1991) Experts on both sides of the argument agree that the bottom line is employing the best possible law enforcement officers and fire fighters.   Many believe that the age limitation is non-existent, as Broward Sherriff’s Department spokesman Elliot Cohen stated â€Å"there are different roles that can be filled by individuals of all ages.†Ã‚   (Kennedy, 2007)   Still, the ADEA allows state and local law enforcement officers to be the exception to the rule; however in the case of officer Rein many have once again posed the question â€Å"is age the best proxy for reaching that goal?†Ã‚   (Kennedy, 2007) References Kennedy, K. (2007). Death of Deputy, 76, Raises Age Question. Gefunden am November 9, 2007 unter http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1A1-D8SQF39O0.html Pellicciotti, J. M. (1991). Exemptions and employer defenses under the ADEA. Public Personnel Management , 20 How to cite Law Enforcement and the Aging Process, Essays

Heroism Essay Research Paper Heroism is a free essay sample

Heroism Essay, Research Paper Heroism is a legendary and supernatural quality. The term was foremost applied to narratives concerned with knights, gallantry, and courtly love. Several love affairs trade with Alexander the Great, King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, and Emperor Charlemagne. The Arthurian love affairs autumn into three wide groups. Some, such as Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, are narratives that involve the testing of a immature knight. Others, such as the Tristan und Isolt of Gottfried von Strassburg, describe the struggle between passion and responsibility. The 3rd group, exemplified by Chr tien de Troyes # 8217 ; s love affair Percival, is concerned with the hunt for the Holy Grail. Heroic tradition, is besides referred to as love affairs set in distant or fabulous topographic points and times, they stress escapade and supernatural parts. This type of gallantry was most recognized in the rennaisance. Although some historiographers consider him a fabulous figure, people believe that a historical Arthur may hold led the long opposition of Brittain against the encroachers. We will write a custom essay sample on Heroism Essay Research Paper Heroism is a or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Harmonizing to legend, Arthur was the boy of Uther Pendragon, male monarch of Britain. Kept in concealing during childhood, he was all of a sudden presented to the people as their male monarch. He proved a wise and valorous swayer. He gathered a great company of knights in his tribunal jobs of introducement were avoided by the usage of a unit of ammunition tabular array at assemblages. With his queen, Guinevere, he maintained a brilliant tribunal at Camelot, where the Brittians longest maintained their clasp. His wars and triumphs extended to the continent of Europe, where he successfully defied the forces of the Roman Empire until he was called place because of the Acts of the Apostless of his nephew Mordred, who had rebelled and seized his land. In the concluding B attle, in southwesterly England, the male monarch and the treasonist both fell, pierced by each other’s lances. Arthur was cryptically carried off to the fabulous island of Avalon to be healed of his lesions. ` When Arthur sought to make the knights of the unit of ammunition he asked Merlin # 8221 ; Espy me the most prowess and worship # 8221 ; . In order to be a knight you must sware to a codification of gallantry. Chivalry, the order of knighthood and, particularly, the codification of knightly behavior. . The beginnings of Knighthood The German warriors who overran Europe in the early Middle Ages fought on pes, but in the period between 700 and 1000 horse forces were created to oppose occupying Muslims, Vikings, and Magyars. Knighthood and gallantry, its belief and ideals, acquired a mystique that combined rich qualities, Christian virtuousnesss, and the courtly love of adult females. The ideal knight should be a adult male of art, trueness, and generousness like the heroes. In the eyes of the church, he should set his blade at the service of the hapless and destitute and particularly of the Crusades to the Holy Land. From southern France came the thought that a knight should function a lady whom he loved passionately, if hopelessly. A hero is some 1 who swares to make something braveries in order to do some one elses life better. In the Arthurian fable there is many great knights that are considered heros here a couple illustrations of Launcelot a knight of the unit of ammunition tabular array swaring to put on the line his life for Camelot and Lady Guenevere. This is from Launcelot to Arthur # 8220 ; All of what you desire will be done for I am a true knight # 8221 ; . Another promise but this one is to Lady Guenevere # 8220 ; Fair demoiselle I shall non neglect you by the grace of God # 8221 ; . Person who can do apromise like this definetly proves you # 8217 ; re a hero.