Wild Bill Hickok

The First Showdown Springfield, Missouri July 21, 1865 At 6:00pm as dusk was setting in, Dave Tutt called out James Butler “ Wild Bill “ Hickok in what was considered the first showdown gunfight. The confrontation was the culmination of a feud that began over a women, one Susanna Moore. A disagreement over a poker game the night before in which Tutt accused Hickok of cheating was the last straw. During that dispute, Tutt grabbed Hickok’s pocket watch and refused to return it. The next day, at 6:00pm a large crowd gathered on Main Street as Tutt positioned himself about 75 yards from Hickok. Wild Bill shouted, “Don’t come any closer, Dave !” Tutt fired first and missed; Hickok’s shot landed squarely in Tutt’s chest. Tutt died instantly. Hickok retrieved his watch and surrendered to authorities who immediately cleared him of manslaughter charges. Soon after, Wild Bill made an unsuccessful run for Mayor of Springfield.