The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-07-26
Hickok,s Last Letter to His Wife

the story of his death has been told many times
with wide variety of conflicting detail. Be
cause Of it's historical Importance, In the light
of the quotation from Connelley's book at the
beginning Of this article, it seems worth while,
as the anniversary Of that event approaches, to
give the version Of it which has resulted from
the Kansas historians research.
There was curious irony of fate in the man.
ner Of Wild Bills dying which makes it more
than another illustration of the age-Old saying
that those who live by the sword shall die by
the sword, with the substitution of the word
"six-shooter" for the word Sword" Woven into
the red fabric of the narrative Of Wild Bills
last days is white thread which seems strange
ly out of place In the chronicle of the violent
end of life of violence. It Introduces into the
story Of this cold-eyed killer Of the plains the
unusual and unexpected role Of a tender and de-
voted husband, even though the element of ro-
mantle love may be lacking.
In 1876 Hickok was living In Cheyenne, Wyo,
listening to the siren call of gold in the Black
Hills Of South Dakota. But Before he could
answer that call he learned that Mrs. Agnes
Thatcher Lake, the widow Of famous circus per-
former and herself one of a long line of show
people, was visiting relative in Cheyenne. He
had first met her while he was marshal Of abb
lene, Kan. in 1871, and in 1874, during his brief
career as an actor with Buffalo Bilr Cody In
Ned Buntline's Scouts of the Palms." he had
l. q
The result of their meeting in Cheyenne was
their marriage on March 5. Says Connelley:
"There is no doubt that the two venturesome
and full of courage and life, appealed to each
other. But the question of love is very dubious
one. The marriage was the practical sensible
combining Of forces Of two people who knew
that they could be Of mutual help" After the
marriage they went first to st. Louis, then to
Cincinnati. Two weeks there found Hickok rest
less and eager to get back to the West and go
to the Black Hills.
Accordingly he returned to st. Louis and set
about organizing company of adventures whom
he was to lead into the gold country. This he
did, going by way of Cheyenne where his old
friend Colorado Charley" Utter, Joined him.
They arrived in Deadwood early In May Con-
nected with that arrival is one of the elements
of the irony-of-fate motif In the story OF Wild
Bills death-his prem0nitfon that he was going
to his death in Deadwood Gulch.
~ According to wellauthenticated story, as he
and Utter came to the top of Break Neck Hill
and looked down into the gulch, Wild Bill said
to his companions: Boys have bunch that
am in my last camp and will never leave this
gulch alive" Some time later, in fact the very
evening before his death, he was leaning against
the side of the open door of the ''66" saloon
when friend noticed his downcast appearance
and asked him why he was "looking so dumpy."
Hickok replied: "Tom ] have a presentiment
LndL my lille Is up anu ludI dH SOiuS W UC
killed"
= After arriving in the Hills, Hickok took up
several claims and began developing them. How
successful he was is unknown. There is extant
Tin the museum of the United States Playing
Card company at Cncinnatr his last letter to
his wife, written on July IT. which does not
indicate any considerable success as gold
hunter. His letter read:
"Dead Wood black hills. Dacota July 18th. 1875.
my own darling wife Agnes have but a
few moments left before this letter starts I
never was as well in my life but you would
Taught to see now Just got in from Pros
pecting will go away again to morrow but god
nowse when It will start my friend will take
this to Cheyenne If he lives I don't expect to
hear from you but It is all the same I no my
Agnes and only live to love hur never. mind Pet
we will have home yet then we will be so
happy I am almost shure will do we'll the man
is huring me Good by Dear wife Love to Emma
u. B. Hickok
''Wild Bill" Il q
When Hickok arrived In Deadwood, that camp
was in the grip of the most lawless element.
Although he was there only as peaceful pros
pector. his reputation as marshal in Kansas,
at Hays and Abilene, was we'll known. Soon the
law-abiding element in Deadwood began talking
of making him marshal of that town and having
him "clean up the camp" Hickok neither en-
couraged nor discouraged such talk but went
quietly about his work
But such talk was disconcerting to the card
sharps. the thieves and the killers who had