GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 2

the white men had no more powder, then they tree for their boys. In the USA there are over attacked with volleys of arrows. 140.000 arming shops, much more than there are schools or book shops. America is a land founded In addition to the tactical disadvantages there was by politically persecuted europeans who would the inexperience. The settlers were out of shooting never allow the gouvernment to restrict their right practice, none of them would have used a rifle to for possesion of weapons. From their point of view hunt for food. They rather set a trap for venison, or a gouvernment that is afraid of an armed people is they just slaughtered a cow or a pig. Only as lever afraid rightly. This means an administration willing against the slaves the guns where suitable - the to disarm the people will surely not have something Black where forbidden to own weapons under good in mind. penality of death.

Up to now even specialists declared the bizzare cult During the War of Independence, records confirm of violence as part of the populace. Bellesiles, by this, there was a permanent lack of rifles. As late as doing his fussy archive studies, found that the early the 19 ^th century the United States weren’t able to settlers weren’t that violent, in 1788 for example equip their army with usable guns, even though there were 6 book shops in Lexington, a small town they started several fund−raising campaigns. In in Kentucky with about 500 residents, but not even 1815 president James Madison declared, that the one shop where one could buy weapons. Americans were simply too peaceful. And there was actually a reason to concern. The voluntary militias, This seems to be very unspectacular and boring, founded all over the country didn’t now anything while on the other hand there are interesting stories about disciplin and ambition. If the members about tricky outlaws and lawmen trying to catch apeared to the roll calls at all, they prefered to them, sometimes even with the intend to kill them. discuss about the color of their uniforms instead of One name surely everybody has heard about is Billy practise themselves in shooting. Even the „Second the Kid.

Amendment“ indroduced by president Madison to allow owning nearly all kind weapons, didn’t BILLY THE KID succeed in arming the people.

Billy the Kid was reportedly born in New York City In 1850 when the territory of the United States on November 23, 1859, the son of William and reached from coast to coast, arms trade grew up Kathleen (or Catherine) McCarty Bonney, and strong. Instead of ignition by a flint now there named William H. Bonney. Another story has it that where cardriges made of paper with primers. In he was born on September 17, 1859, as Patrick addition to the new technique the manufacturer Henry McCarty to Catherine and Patrick McCarty. advertised the guns with myths of hunting. Political And still another account has it that he was born in pressure and technical evolution met each other Indiana to Joseph McCarty of Cass County. The under disastrous circumstances in these times: first report seems to be the most reliable, especially Wherever there was racial hatred against proud since the Kid used the name of William H. Bonney, Indians or rebeling slaves there were now enough signing his letters as such. One report has it that the guns. In his advertisements Samuel Colt claimed family lived for a while in the newly establish town that his new and cheap revolvers decided the war at of Coffeyville, Kansas, and it was here that Billy the border to Mexico. Clever as he was, he added an first got into trouble, arrested for pilfering butter instruction manual to his weapons to serve the and other items from a local store. Billy later left laymen. In short, the arming economy prospered. town, drifting about Arizona, performing odd jobs Rifles and pistols were soon offered at reasonable on ranches and in small towns. It was during this prizes, got handy and rose up to a status symbol for loosely recorded period of wandering that the Kid the US−Man.

supposedly shot his first man. One account claimed Short after the Civil War between the Northern and he killed an unknown gunman in Coffeyville even Southern States began in 1861, the deadly effective before he and his family left that town and, a few magazine rifle was invented. years later, shot and killed three Apache braves near the Chiracachua Reservation, killed a Since this time, even Michael Bellesiles throws in, blacksmith in Fort Bowie, three cardsharps in guns are mythical and seen as a sacered cow in the Mexico, two more Indians in the Guadalupe United States. Cowboy romantics wouldn’t be Mountains, and so on. It is known that he was first worth anything without smoking Colts. The called the Kid in 1877 when he got into an powerful „Nationonal Rifle Association“ hinders argument with Irish blacksmith Frank P. Cahill at every attempt to control weapons, and family Camp Grant, Arizona, on August 17, 1877. The fathers proudly put revolvers under the Christmas

GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 3

blacksmith who was in a saloon, called Billy a rode out of Lincoln. The Kid’s brutal ambush of pimp, slapped the Kid’s face, and threw him to the Brady and Hindman was one of the most ruthless, floor. The Kid realized he was no match for the cowardly murders ever committed in the territory burly Cahill and he immediately drew his six−gun and it lost Billy the support of many who, up to that as the blacksmith came towards him, firing a single time, had backed him. shot that mortally wounded Cahill who died the Later he ran into Texas gunman Joe Grant who had following day. Billy was locked up in the post told anyone who would listen that he intended to guardhouse but he escaped and began running. make his reputation by gunning down Billy the Kid. The Kid had also heard the story and, when meeting This was the first official recorded killing by Billy Grant, told him how much he admired Grant’s the Kid. He had wandered into Lincoln County in expensive six−gun, asking if he could inspect it. late 1875 and was hired as a ranch hand by the Grant foolishly handed over the gun and Billy Murphy−Dolan forces. L.G. Murphy and J.J. Dolan reportedly turned the cylinder to three empty owned giant ranches in Lincoln County and were in chambers. A short time later, after the Kid had mortal combat with other ranchers for water rights returned the gun, Grant and Billy squared off and and grazing land, chiefly Alexander McSween and fired at each other.

John Tunstall who were supported by the greatest cattle baron of that day, John Chisum. Billy spent It seemed as if New Mexico was to be forever most of his time rustling Chisum’s cattle from the plagued by the gunplay of Billy the Kid. That sprawling Jinglebob Ranch and turning these over changed in 1880 when Pat Garrett was made sheriff to Murphy who sold them to Mexican and Indian of Lincoln County. He had known the Kid well; buyers. By accident, the Kid met John Tunstall, a they had both ridden for the Maxwell ranch and had cultured, kingly man who became the father figure played cards and gotten drunk together on their Billy never had. The Kid went to work for him, days off. There was a deep and genuine friendship idolizing Tunstall and his gentlemanly ways, trying between them, but that too changed when Garrett to emulate his mentor’s style and sense of nobility. put on his badge. He had been ordered to capture Tunstall thought the Kid showed promise and was the Kid at all costs by Governor Wallace, who had later quoted as having said of Billy: "That’s the placed a $500 reward on the Kid’s head for not finest lad I ever met. He’s a revelation to me every keeping his promise to stand trial for the Brady day and would do anything on earth to please me. killing.

I’m going to make a man of that boy yet." The Kid and his men were now on the run and The Kid at this time was not an impressive looking Garrett pursued them relentlessly, finally cornering fellow. He stood about five−feet−ten−inches tall, the band in a deserted farmhouse near Stinking had a receding chin, an overbite that made him Springs on December 21, 1881. Inside of the house appear to have exaggerated buck teeth, and narrow, were Billy, Charlie Bowdre, Dave Rudabaugh, Tom squinting eyes of icy blue that were piercing to look Pickett and Billy Wilson, the Kid’s closest friends into, eyes that seemed to dart about nervously and most ardent followers. The lanky Garrett whenever danger was near. He was a clever killer, stepped out from cover in the moonlight and called an expert bushwacker who would not hesitate to for the gang to surrender. The Kid’s response was shoot from ambush, fire a bullet into an enemy’s typical; he fired off several shots, attempting to kill back, or sneak up on an adversary in the middle of his one−time friend. Garrett and his men, about the night with a knife and dispatch his man without twenty strong, opened up a withering fire on the a second of sorrow. farmhouse. When Bowdre crossed in front of an open window he was hit in the chest and let out a On April 1, 1878, the Kid and five of his friends piercing scream. "I’m killed, Billy, they killed me," rode unseen into Lincoln and hid behind an adobe he said as he crouched in the one−room farmhouse. wall. They cut holes in the wall through which they could see the entire main street, with a view of the Billy stood Bowdre up and shoved him to the door, courthouse and through which they could fire their ruthlessly telling his friend: "They have murdered weapons. A short time later Sheriff Brady, you, Charlie, but you can get revenge! Go out there Hindman, and Matthews appeared on the street, all and kill some of the them before you go!" With carrying rifles and six−guns. As soon as they came that, the Kid swung the door open and shoved his under the Kid’s guns he and his companions opened friend Bowdre out into a hail of bullets. Bowdre fire from their ambush. Brady fell dead with several lifted his six−gun but did not have the strength to bullets in him. Hindman fell next to him, mortally fire. He was hit several more times and fell face wounded. Matthews raced to a row of buildings and forward. Then he died and his body laid there as took refuge. Then the Kid’s party saddled up and Garrett and his men kept up the siege for two days.

GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 4

Olinger, who had been drinking in a nearby saloon, The Kid and his men, starving and panting for soon appeared, running towards the court house. water, surrendered and were taken to Santa Fe. Here "Hello Bob" a friendly voice called out, and Olinger the Kid sent a letter to Governor Wallace, looked up to see Billy on the balcony, a shotgun requesting his pardon. Wallace refused to answer, aimed straight at his head. The Kid pulled back telling newsmen that the Kid reneged on promise to both hammers of the shotgun as Olinger stood stand trial for the murder of Sheriff Brady. There petrified in the middle of the street. Billy let loose would be no pardon. With great fanfare, the Kid both barrels at the hated Olinger and the lawman was taken to Mesilla, New Mexico., where he was was blown twenty feet into the ruts of the road, his tried before Judge Warren Bristol for killing head almost blown away. The Kid hobbled down Andrew "Buckshot" Roberts. He was convicted and the stairs and stopped a handyman, ordering him to Judge Bristol, a stern, unrelenting jurist, sentenced get an ax. Then the handyman was ordered to chop the Kid to death, telling the stoic Billy that he off the manacles from the Kid’s ankles and wrists, would hang "until you are dead, dead, dead!" The which he did. Billy gathered several pistols, a Kid reportedly yelled back: "And you can go to Winchester, and the shotgun, went to the street and hell, hell, hell!" While awaiting execution, the Kid mounted a horse tethered to a hitching post outside gave expansive interviews to eager newsmen, the courtroom. He rode up to the spot where posing as a persecuted victim in the one−sided Olinger’s body lay and dropped the shotgun next to Lincoln County War, telling reporters: "I expect to it. To startled witnesses gaping at him, Billy the be lynched. It’s wrong that I should be the only one Kid swept off his wide hat and waved it, shouting: to suffer the extreme penalties of the law." He went "Adios, amigos!" Then he galloped out of town as on to complain that he was being singled out for the news of his spectacular escape was flashed punishment where there were many others more across the country.

deserving of the hangman’s rope. He was removed to Lincoln to await execution by two of Garrett’s Such daring caused local residents to believe that top deputies, J.W. Bell and Robert Olinger. On the Billy the Kid, who escaped the noose two weeks trip, Olinger made no secret of his hatred for the before his scheduled execution, would never be Kid. Once the Kid was locked up in the old brought to justice. Garrett vowed he would get the courthouse in Lincoln, Olinger kept prodding Billy Kid and spent three months tracking him all over with the butt of his shotgun whenever the Kid had New Mexico. Finally, on the night of July 14, 1881, to go to the washroom, saying: "I can save you from he rode onto the old Maxwell ranch where he and the hangman, Kid. Just make a run for it...I’d love the Kid had worked and spent many happy hours to put a load of buckshot in your back...give it to together. The Kid was visiting a young Mexican you the way you gave it to Sheriff Brady!" woman at the ranch and stepped out of a bedroom, into the moonlight, when he heard the hoofbeats of Billy said nothing, only took the punishment, horses outside. Garrett, meanwhile, had entered the biding his time. Bell, on several occasions, told large ranch house, gone down a corridor and Olliger to stop persecuting the Kid. His kindness entered the darkened bedroom. The Kid stood toward Billy caused the Kid to become friendly outside in the shadows, calling in a loud whisper in with the deputy but this was only an act. He was Spanish: "Quien es?...Quien es?...Quien es?" (Who determined to escape and he would kill anyone who is it?) When no one answered, the Kid stepped back got in his way, including the gentle deputy. On through the outside door to the bedroom, he turned April 28, 1881, Billy asked Bell to help him to the to see his old friend Garrett holding a gun on him. latrine which was down the stairs and in back of the The Kid was armed, according to Garrett’s later courthouse. As he was hobbling in leg chains report: "He came there (into the bedroom) armed towards the stairs en route to the outhouse, the Kid with a pistol and a knife expressly to kill me if he knocked Bell down with his shoulder and hopped could. I had no alternative but to kill him or suffer quickly into Garrett’s gun room which was only a death at his hands." Two shots rang out and Billy few feet away, grabbing a pistol. Bell came running the Kid, living legend, fell to the bedroom floor into the room and saw the gun in the Kid’s hands, dead. Garrett’s first shot struck the outlaw in the pleading with him to put it down. "Sorry Bell!", heart and killed him instantly, the second shot said the Kid and shot the deputy dead. He then going wild.

hobbled over to the outside second−story balcony with a loaded shotgun and waited for Bob Olinger Possemen who had accompanied Garrett to the whom he knew would come running at the sound of ranch and who nervously waited in the shadows the shot that killed Bell. outside were shocked to see Garrett suddenly dash outside, yelling triumphantly: "I killed the Kid! I killed the Kid!" He stood outside the ranch house

GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 5

Blood money for some time, trembling and saying nothing. Then Bought and then sold you he went back into the bedroom where Deluvina But your conscience is all you can take to your grave Maxwell, the pretty woman the Kid had come to see, held the lifeless body of the killer boy in her As with most of the Kid’s story, his death remained arms. She looked up at Garrett, accusing the a subject of heated controversy for decades and still lawman of shooting her lover in the back, adding causes endless debate. Did Garrett, one time friend with a sneer: "You didn’t have the nerve to kill him of the outlaw, murder the youthful gunman when face to face."

his back was turned? Was Billy armed? It did not

Billy the Kid was reportedly shot down with such a gun; Deluvina Maxwell placed a cross over his grave and that’s why it is called PEACEMAKER. with a marker stating "Duerme bien, Querido." (Sleep well, beloved.)

These dramatic scenes became myths and even Souvenir hunters, however, soon arrived and the today musicians write songs about this historic and grave was despoiled many times until the body was heroic topics. removed to the common grave at Fort Sumner where Billy the Kid was buried with his two best BLOOD NONEY [2] friends, Tom O’Folliard and Charlie Bowdre, who Lyrics & Music by: Jon Bon Jovi had died for their chief. The stone over this grave (1990) bore the names of its three occupants and the word "Pals." Garrett went on to fame but little reward. He Hey Patty Garrett that’s what I used to call you had a small ranch and employee problems. On Feb. They tell me you want me but I hear they’ve got you 28, 1908, he was shot to death by an angry tenant They made you a lawman with a badge made of silver rancher who felt Garrett had cheated him out of They paid you some money to sell them my blood wages.

But you say this ain’t about me, this ain’t about you All this is supposed to be just a legend, though Or the good and the bad times we’ve both been trough there are some historical dates, that are cerified by When the lines between brothers and justice have changed town books or similiar records. To what extend You do what you’ve got to cause you can’t walk away these informations are correct or not is not easy to decide. But the story of Billy the Kid is not the only I wonder what would have happened one that is worthy to be told. For example there was If you were the killer Henry Starr. And I was the hero Would things be the same

Henry Starr is no doubt one of the most interesting Or would I have traded characters who ever came out of the Old West. Your life for my own life During his 32 years in crime, he claimed he had Would I have paid

robbed more banks than both the James−Younger Your depts in your place Gang and the Doolin−Dalton Gang put together. However, in all of his life as a criminal he only But you say this ain’t about me, this ain’t about you killed one man, a U.S. Deputy Marshall who was Or the good and the bad times we’ve both been trough about to arrest him. He started robbing banks on When the lines between brothers and justice have changed horseback in 1893 and ended up robbing his last in You do what you’ve got to cause you can’t walk away a car in 1921. He was the first bank robber to use an automobile in a bank robbery. A total of 21 bank is Blood money

what he is alleged to have robbed. If he did pull all That’s what I call it ‘Cause money for blood ain’t no fair exchange

GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 6

of those robberies, he would have made off with In all cases gunpowder and bullets were loaded into nearly $6,000,000. the revolving cylinder while the primer was placed into a nipple located on the outside of the cylinder. Some other outlaws who can’t miss in this There it would be struck by the hammer when the enumeration are Robert Clay Allison, William trigger was pulled. "Bloody Bill" Anderson, Sam Bass, Charles E. Bolton or Charles E. Boles alias Black Bart, Butch The revolver wasn’t really successful, sales were Cassidy, The Dalton Gang, John Wesley Hardin, sluggish. The U.S. gouverment purchased some Tomas E."Black Jack" Ketchum, Joaquin Murieta Colt ring−lever rifles and Colt 1839 carabine from whose head was presented in a jar after he was shot Colt, but quantities never exceeded 100. In 1842 the down by Captain Harry Love, Isom Printice Olive Paterson company closed and began bankruptcy and many more. proceedings.

Standing on the opposite side of the law there were the lawmen such as Commodore Perry Owens, Judge Roy Bean, William Milton Breakenridge, Dallas Stoudenmire, William "Bat" Masterson, Bass Reeves, Charles Angelo Siringo or William Matthew Tilghman. Of course this list is not complete, but characteristic for the Wild West is the fact that in every story there is one outlaw and his accomplices and one lawman hunting them. The stories are heroic in both sights, maybe because they reflect the idea people have, when they think about the Wild West.

Since the early 1800s the technique of weapons had changed dramaticaly. One name that has to be mentioned is that of Samuel Colt. During 1845, certain units of the U.S. forces and

Some

historians later said his inventiones altered the course of history. The story of his sucsess began in 1836 when he got a patent for the technique later

firearms. This firearms were equipped with called the “Walker”. They were manfactured in revolving cylinders containing five or six bullets - Connecticutand shiped by mid−1847. The revolver was invented. This was really new, because no weapon up to this time provided more In 1851 Colt built up two plants. One in Hartford an than one shot in rapid succession. In 1836 Sam Colt another in England. He was the first American to build up his first plant in Paterson, New York, with built up a plant in England. In the first year of the help of his uncle who was a successful local production he finished 5,000 handguns. The firm businessman. Aged 22 he became the firm’s chief then was incorporated in 1855. In 1856 Colt was salesman and new−business promoter. In Colts firm able to produce 150 weapons a day, and the quality 3 types of revolvers were produced: of his products weren’t just well−known in America

the country moved towards Civil War. Until the

GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 7

Owning $15 million had been one of the calibre revolver on the market in 1871. It was the “ whealthiest industrials of his time (this would be Modell 3” .cal 44.

about $300 million today). Three years after his death the plant burned to the ground. No more than certain military orders could be completed. In 1867, in the rebuild factory, Colt began to produce the world’s first hand−operated semiautomatic machine gun invented by Dr. R. J. Gatling (“gatling gun”).

Then, in 1872 the world−famous Colt SAA 1873 (single action army) went into production. It was Colt’s first revolver to be loaded with metall ammunition.

It provided an automatic ejection system, so that it

The metallic cardriges contained their own primer slow−loading Colt Single Action revolver, they (invented by H.Smith and D.Wesson). Up to that might have possibly survived the Indian attack. time there where just percusive revolvers. But now there were revolvers with front−loaded center−fired In 1880 Smith & Wesson developed the world’s cardriges. The SAA was the most successfull first double−action revolver after more than 4 years revolver of the times that should follow. It was later of design research. Up to this time all revolvers just known as “the weapon that won the west” had the single−action feature. This means one had Prior to 1941 Colt produced more than 350,000 to cock the hammer before the trigger could be SAA’s of varying calibre. Almost 40,000 of the .45 pulled. Double−action revolvers support this calibre model were ordered by the U.S. method too, but they also provide the “double− government. Sam Colt’s widow managed the firm action” of turning the cylinder, cocking the hammer over a period of 39 years until she died in 1901. In and fire at once by pulling the trigger. the 164 years that have gone since Samuel Colt Later in the 20 ^th century it was Smith & Wesson build up his arming company, Colt has sold more than 32 million revolvers, pistols and rifles all over who introduced the calibres .38S&W, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum. .38 S&W has grown up to

GUNS IN THE AMERICAN WILD WEST Seite 8

the standart calibre for security and law Colt is not just a question of ones views but also of enforcement interests in the United States (like ones purse. 9mm Para in Germany). REFERENCES

[1] Michael A. Bellesiles; “Arming America”, Nowadays there aren’t just Colt or Smith & Wesson published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York 2000 competing on the market of handguns. There have [2] Jon Bon Jovi, “Blood Money”, Blaze of Glory, grown up many more (e.g. Rossi Firearms, phonogram 1990

Ruger...). But still Colt and S&W dominate the [3] http://www.colt.com market according to revolvers. Having a S&W or a [4] http://www.smith−wesson.com