Bat Masterson – Loyalty in Lawlessness

William Barclay "Bat" Masterson, a name synonymous with the untamed American West, remains an enigmatic figure. More than just a lawman or a gunfighter, he was a complex individual whose life was woven into the very fabric of the frontier. Unlike many who sought fame and fortune amidst the lawlessness, Bat Masterson wasn’t driven by a desire to carve notches on his gun belt. He was a man of genuine character, known for his unwavering loyalty and steadfast defense of his friends, even in the face of danger.

Born on November 26, 1853, in Iberville County, Quebec, Canada, Masterson’s early life was rooted in agriculture. His father, Thomas Masterson, a Canadian farmer, and his Irish immigrant mother, Catherine McGurk, raised a large family of five sons and two daughters. The family migrated across North America, farming in Quebec, New York, and Illinois before finally settling near Wichita, Kansas, in 1871. It was during these formative years that young William developed a keen understanding of firearms and honed his skills on buffalo hunting expeditions. This early exposure to the wilderness would prove invaluable in shaping his future.

The allure of the West beckoned, and in the fall of 1871, at the age of 18, Bat Masterson embarked on a buffalo hunting venture with his 19-year-old brother, Ed. Their travels led them to camps along the Salt Fork River, within the present-day boundaries of Comanche and Barber Counties in Kansas. These camps served as meeting grounds for a diverse array of characters, many of whom would later become legendary figures in Western history. It was here that the Masterson brothers crossed paths with the likes of Wyatt Earp, Billy Dixon, Tom Nixon, and "Prairie Dog" Dave Morrow, individuals who would leave their indelible marks on the era.

The moniker "Bat," forever associated with William Masterson, originated from a contemporary figure named Baptiste Brown, affectionately known as "Old Bat." Brown’s reputation as a leader, hunter, and trapper was widely recognized in the generation that preceded Masterson on the Western stage. The younger Masterson’s associates playfully bestowed the nickname upon him, recognizing a similar spirit of adventure and leadership.

In the summer of 1872, Bat Masterson and his brother Ed sought employment with a construction crew tasked with extending the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad into Colorado. However, the lure of the hunt soon proved too strong, and that winter, the brothers returned to buffalo hunting, joined by their younger brother, Jim. Their camp was situated along Kiowa Creek, southeast of Dodge City. By January 1873, the Masterson brothers decided to abandon buffalo hunting. While Bat remained in Dodge City, his brothers returned to the family farm in Sedgwick County. Ed, however, was quickly drawn back to Dodge City, finding work at the Alhambra Saloon. Though Bats briefly returned to buffalo hunting, the herds were rapidly dwindling. By 1874, the once-vast buffalo populations of Kansas had been decimated, prompting many hunters to migrate south and west into the perilous Indian Territory.

The decimation of the buffalo herds led to the establishment of Adobe Walls in the Texas Panhandle. Dodge City merchants, recognizing the opportunity, followed the buffalo hunters south and established Adobe Walls, a sprawling complex situated near the ruins of Fort Adobe. The complex included a corral, a restaurant, and other amenities catering to the influx of buffalo hunters. In April 1874, a second store opened, followed by a saloon and a blacksmith shop. By the end of spring, an estimated 200-300 buffalo hunters roamed the area, and trade at Adobe Walls flourished.

The increasing presence of white hunters and settlers in the region did not go unnoticed by the Native American tribes, who correctly perceived it as a threat to their existence. Tensions escalated, leading to attacks on buffalo hunters. Despite the dangers, James Hanrahan, the owner of the Adobe Walls saloon, led a party of Dodge City buffalo hunters, including Bat Masterson, southward on June 5, 1874. During their journey, a band of Cheyenne Indians stole their cattle stock approximately 75 miles southwest of Dodge City. The hunters eventually joined a wagon train heading to Adobe Walls, arriving just hours before the infamous Indian attack known as the Second Battle of Adobe Walls.

On the morning of June 27, 1874, a formidable force of around 700 Comanche, Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Arapaho warriors, led by Comanche Chief Quanah Parker and Isa-tai, launched a surprise attack on the buffalo camp. The 28 men inside, including Bat Masterson and Billy Dixon, sought refuge in the two stores and the saloon. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the hunters’ superior weaponry proved decisive in repelling the Indian assault. After four days of intense fighting, reinforcements arrived, and the Indians were forced to retreat. Estimates of casualties vary, but it is believed that as many as 70 Indians were killed, while the men at Adobe Walls suffered only four fatalities.

In response to the Adobe Walls incident, Colonel Nelson A. Miles was tasked with leading an expedition against the Indians of the Texas Panhandle, an event that would become known as the Red River War. Masterson joined the expedition as a civilian scout and a teamster, operating out of Fort Elliot, near Sweetwater, Texas. However, by the following spring, he had returned to buffalo hunting and spent time at his friend Charlie Rath’s store, located near the fort, which served as a gathering place for buffalo hunters. He also frequented the many saloons in the area. By early 1876, he was working as a faro dealer in Henry Fleming’s Saloon.

It was in this environment that Bat Masterson was involved in an altercation with Sergeant Melvin A. King over a card game and a dance hall girl named Mollie Brennan on January 24, 1876. The argument escalated into a gunfight, resulting in King’s death. Tragically, King’s bullet passed through Mollie Brennan’s body, killing her, before striking Masterson in the pelvis. The injury left Bat with a permanent limp.

Following his recovery, Masterson returned to Dodge City, Kansas, where he joined forces with his friend Wyatt Earp as a lawman under Ford County Sheriff Charles Bassett. During this era, Dodge City earned the reputation of a "wicked little town." Cattle drives had replaced buffalo hunters, as longhorn cattle were driven up from Texas along the western branch of the Chisholm Trail to the railroad. Over the next decade, more than five million head of cattle were driven into Dodge City.

In July 1877, Bat was appointed under-sheriff of Ford County under Sheriff Charlie Bassett. In the same month, his brother Ed Masterson became an assistant marshal in Dodge City.

In October, Bat Masterson announced his candidacy for sheriff of Ford County, stating his intentions to serve the people with honesty and integrity. He was elected on November 6, 1877, and his reputation as a "cool, decisive, and a bad man with a pistol" preceded him.

Masterson assumed the sheriff’s office in January 1878 and quickly put his skills to use. On January 27, 1878, Dave Rudabaugh and four other men attempted to rob a train at Kinsley, Kansas. The attempt failed, and the bandits fled. On February 1, Sheriff Bat Masterson led a posse, including his brother Ed, in pursuit of the robbers. They captured two of them, Dave Rudabaugh and Edgar West, and the other two were apprehended soon after.

On April 9, 1878, Ed Masterson, now City Marshall, disarmed a drunken cowboy named Jack Wagner. As Ed walked away, Wagner produced another pistol and shot him. Despite being mortally wounded, Masterson returned fire, hitting Wagner in the chest. Ed died 30 minutes later. Jack Wagner also died the next day.

In September, Bat and other lawmen turned their attention to the Cheyenne, who had escaped their reservation in Oklahoma and were raiding throughout western Kansas.

In October, Assistant Marshal Wyatt Earp and Policeman Jim Masterson responded to gunshots fired through the door of a house occupied by Mayor James Kelley. However, Kelley was away, and the shots killed a guest, Dora Hand. A posse was formed, including Bat Masterson, and they caught up with Kenedy, who was injured in the ensuing shootout.

In January 1879, Bat accepted an appointment as a deputy U.S. Marshall and successfully arrested "Dutch" Henry Borne, a notorious horse thief. He was also tasked with bringing Cheyenne prisoners to Dodge City for trial.

In March, Masterson was involved in a dispute between the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad and the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad over right of way. With Bat in charge, he enlisted several well-known gunmen to assist him, including Doc Holliday, "Dirty" Dave Rudabaugh, "Mysterious" Dave Mather, Ben Thompson, and others. Known as the "Royal Gorge War," the conflict involved legal maneuvering and threatened violence.

Bat then returned to Dodge City, where he ran for re-election in Ford County in November but lost. In January 1880, he left Dodge City and spent time gold prospecting and gambling. He then went to Tombstone, Arizona, to work with Wyatt Earp in the Oriental Saloon. In April 1881, he returned to Dodge City after hearing that his brother James had been injured. He was arrested and fined, and asked to leave town.

Bat then returned to Colorado, where he lived as a professional gambler. He also served as Trinidad, Colorado marshal and Sheriff of South Pueblo, Colorado.

In 1883, he returned to Dodge City to defend his friend Luke Short in the Dodge City Saloon War.

In 1888, Masterson lived in Denver, Colorado, where he met Emma Moulton, an actress and singer. They married in November 1891 in Denver.

In 1892, he moved to Creede, Colorado, where he managed the Denver Exchange Club. Afterward, he continued to travel, gambling and promoting prize fights. He also began writing a sports column for a Denver newspaper.

In 1893, he went to New York City to serve as a bodyguard for George Gould.

In 1902, Masterson moved to New York and became a sportswriter for the New York Morning Telegraph. He was also appointed U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York until 1909.

On October 25, 1921, Bat Masterson died of a heart attack while working at his newspaper desk. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York.