Gunfighters Of The Western Frontier: A Memoir Of The Old West - Softcover

Masterson, William Barclay 'Bat'

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1928757006 ISBN 13: 9781928757009

Publisher: Old West Library, 1999

Synopsis

William Barclay Masterson was born Bertholomiew {later Bartholomew} Masterson in Henryville, Quebec, Canada on 26 November 1853. He died, after a life of adventure, in New York City on 25 October 1921. Belying the dangers of his career as a buffalo hunter, scout, gambler, sheriff of several cowtowns in Kansas, and Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, he ended his days as a newspaperman, writing a sports column for the Morning Telegraph and dying at his desk. Bat Masterson was friends with, enemies with, or knew by reputation nearly all the major figures of the Old West. From his early hunts with Bill Tilghman and Billy Dixon through his scouting days with General Miles, to his friendship with Teddy Roosevelt and the Earps, he saw or heard of the exploits commemorated in hundreds of books, stage plays, television shows, and movies, including the ever-famous gunfight at the OK Corral.

About this title

About the Author

William Barclay Masterson, forever known as Bat to his friends and enemies alike, was born Bertholomiew {later Bartholomew} Masterson in Henryville, Quebec, Canada on November 26th, 1853. He died after a life of adventure, as fat and prosperous as a banker, in New York City on October 25th, 1921. Belying the dangers of his career as a buffalo hunter, scout, gambler, sheriff of several cowtowns in Kansas, and Deputy U.S. Marshal {for the Southern District of New York; he was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905}, he ended his days as a newspaperman, writing a sports column for the Morning Telegraph {from 1903 onward} and dying at his desk. During his sixty-seven years, Bat Masterson was friends with, enemies with, or knew by reputation nearly all the major figures of what is now called the Old West. From his early hunts with Tom Nixon, Bill Tilghman, and Billy Dixon {with whom Bat lived through the siege at Adobe Walls}, through his scouting days with Colonel {later General} Miles, to his friendship with Teddy Roosevelt and the Earps, he saw or heard of the exploits commemorated in hundreds of books, stage plays, television shows, and movies, including the ever-famous gunfight at the OK Corral.With his boots on his feet and with a pen, that deadliest of weapons, in his hand, W.B. Masterson was writing out his thrice-weekly newspaper column when he felt the end coming upon him, after a short illness he thought he'd survived. His last words were these: "...there are those who argue that everything breaks even in this old dump of a world of ours. I suppose the ginks who argue that way hold that, because the rich man gets ice in the summer and the poor man gets it in the winter, things are breaking even for both. Maybe so, but I'll swear I can't see it that way."

Edition details

• Publisher: Old West Library
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1928757006
• ISBN 13: 9781928757009
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 76