The Nome daily nugget., 1935-01-19


 the story of his death has been told many times with wide variety of conflicting detail. Be- cause of its historical importance, Tn the light of the quotation from Connelleys book at the beginning of this article. 1t seems worth while, as the anniversary of that event approaches, to give the version of 1t which has resulted from the Kansas historians research.
 There was a 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 coldeyed killer of the plains the unusual and unexpected role of tender and de voted husband, even though the element of TO- 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 rs.AAgnes 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 Abi- lene Kan, In 1871, and in 1874, during his brief career as an actor with Buffalo Bill" Cody in Ned Buntline's Scouts of the Plains" he had met her again in Rochester, N. Y.
 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 adventurers 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 rony-of-fate motif in the story of Wild Bills death-his premonition that he was going to his death in Deadwood Gulch
 According to a 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 hunch 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 Hooking so dumpy." Hickok replied: "Tom I have presentiment that my time Is up and that am going to be killed"
 After arriving in the Hills, Hickok took up several claims and began developing them. How successful he was Is unknown There is extant Gin the museum of the United States Playing Card company at Clncinnati) 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 17th. 1876 My own darling wife Agnes I have but few moments left before this letter starts never was as well in my life but you would laughf to see me now Just got in from Pros pectng will go away again to morrow but god nowse when It will start my friend will take this to Cheyenne if he lives 1 don't expect to hear from you but 1t is all the same I no my Agnes and only live to love hur never mind Pet we will have a home yet then we will be so happy am almost shure will do well ile man Is huring me Good by Dear wife Love to Emma
 "J. B. Hickok
 .'Wild Bill"
 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 a marshal in Kansas, at Hays and Abilene, was well 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 disconcertng to the card sharps, the thieves and the killers who had