“Dead Man’s Hand”, you may have heard the term before, but what does it mean? Where did it come from? Today, “dead man’s hand” is a commonly used term to refer to any unlucky hand of cards, but the origins of this nickname go all the way back to the wild west and a man named Wild Bill Hickok.
Wild Bill Hickok was a famous folk hero of the American Old West known for his life on the frontier as a soldier, scout, lawman, cattle rustler, gambler, showman, and actor. He earned a reputation as a gunfighter and is said to have killed 100 men in his lifetime.
Born James Butler Hickok in Homer, Illinois, on May 27, 1837, he moved to Kansas in 1855 and worked as a wagon driver and a stagecoach driver. He later served as a scout for the U.S. Army during the Bleeding Kansas conflict and the American Civil War. After the war, Hickok became a lawman in Hays City, Kansas, and Abilene, Kansas. He was known for his quick draw and his willingness to use his gun.
In 1876, he was shot in the back and killed in Deadwood, South Dakota by Jack McCall. At the time, he was gambling and holding a pair of black aces and eights. This hand of cards is now known as “Dead Man’s Hand” because it is considered to be a very unlucky hand to hold.
The year is 1876. The place is Deadwood, South Dakota. The game is poker. The players are a mix of cowboys, outlaws, businessmen, and some of the most dangerous men in the West, including Wild Bill Hickok.
The game is going well for Hickok. He has won several hands, and he is starting to build a big stack of chips. The other players are starting to get nervous. They know that Hickok is a dangerous man, and they don’t want to be on the wrong side of him.
Suddenly, the door opens and a man walks in. He is wearing a long black coat and a hat pulled down low over his face. He walks up to the poker table and sits down across from Hickok.
Hickok is holding a pair of aces and eights, a hand known as the dead man’s hand. He is sitting in his usual spot at the poker table, his back to the door.
Suddenly, the door opens and a man walks in. He is wearing a long black coat and a hat pulled down low over his face. He walks up to the poker table and shows his gun to Hickok.
“Hello, Bill,” the man says.
Hickok sees his gun and looks up at the man and recognizes him. It is Jack McCall, a wanted murderer who has been seeking revenge on Hickok for years.
“What do you want, McCall?” Hickok asks.
“I’m here to kill you,” McCall says.
Hickok laughs. “You and what army?” he asks.
“You’ve been a thorn in my side for too long, Bill,” McCall says. “It’s time for you to pay for what you did.”
“What did I do?” Hickok asks.
“You killed my brother,” McCall says. “And now I’m going to kill you.”
“I didn’t kill your brother,” Hickok says. “He was killed in a gunfight.”
“I don’t care what you say,” McCall says. “You’re the one who killed him, and now you’re going to pay.”
“I don’t need an army,” McCall says. “I just need this.”
McCall pulls out his gun and points it at Hickok, but all of the other players at the table all pull out their guns too and point them at McCall.
“Drop the gun,” one of the players says.
McCall hesitates for a moment, but then he lowers his gun.
“I’m not going to kill you today,” McCall says. “But I’ll be back.”
McCall turns and walks out of the saloon, leaving the other players stunned and back to their game.
Hickok looks around at the other players.
“Thanks,” he says.
“No problem,” one of the players says. “We weren’t going to let him kill you.”
Hickok nods. “I know,” he says. “I appreciate it.”
But just as Hickok picked up his hand to make his next bet, the door swings open and a man all in black with a mask over his face, shoots Hickok in the back and runs off laughing.
Wild Bill was holding a black pair of Aces and Eights (A8).
Many people suspected McCall, for all of the obvious reasons, but he was never caught for the murder, and he eventually dies in prison. However, his name will always be linked to the death of Wild Bill Hickok, one of the most famous figures in the history of the American West.
The story of Wild Bill Hickok’s death is a classic example of the Wild West’s lawlessness and violence. It is also a reminder that even the most famous and feared men were not immune to death.
Hickok’s death was a major event in the American West, and his legend has only grown since then. He has been portrayed in numerous films, television shows, and novels. His image is still used today to sell products and promote tourism in the American West.
Hickok’s life and legend have been the subject of much debate and controversy. Some people believe that he was a ruthless killer, while others believe that he was a misunderstood hero. Whatever the truth may be, Wild Bill Hickok is one of the most iconic figures of the American West and if you find yourself holding a “Dead Man’s Hand”, you might want to keep an eye on your back!
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