Childhood & Early Life
Bat Masterson was born on November 26, 1853 in the Eastern Township of Quebec, to Thomas Masterson and Catherine McGurk. He had six siblings – five brothers and two sisters. His brothers, James and Edward Masterson, were also prominent lawmen.
He was raised in family farms in different places, including Quebec, New York, Illinois, and Missouri. The family finally settled in Wichita, Kansas, in 1871.
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Career
Bat Masterson and his brothers left their home to become buffalo hunters in the Great Plains. This marked their move to the Western frontier. They were hired by Raymond Ritter to grade a railroad track in 1872, but when cheated of their wages, Bat recovered it at gunpoint a year later.
In a five-day siege on June 27, 1874 in Adobe Walls, Masterson was engaged in one of the most celebrated fights in the Wild West. He defended his outpost successfully. Soon, he signed to be a U.S. Army Scout, and participated in gunfights along with Colonel Nelson Miles.
His stay in Dodge City was sensationalized by violence. In an attempt to interrupt Robert Gilmore’s arrest in 1877, he fought the city marshal – Lawrence Deger, and let Gilmore escape. He was later pistol-whipped and had to pay a heavy fine for it.
He was selected as an Under-Sheriff to Charles Bassett in July, 1877. When the opportunity arrived for him to contest as Sheriff in Kansas, he found himself facing an old enemy, Lawrence Deger, as his opponent. Masterson was however, elected as county sheriff of Ford County, Kansas. His brother consequently became the City Marshal.
Masterson captured notorious thieves – Dave Rudabaugh and Ed West, in 1878. A month later, when his brother Ed was killed on duty by a cowboy Jack Wagner, Bat fired his gun and killed Jack. Later, with his group which included Wyatt Earp and Bill Tilghman, he caught James Kenedy, son of the wealthy Texas cattleman, who had shot and killed an actress Dora Hand, or ‘Fannie Keenan’ as she was popularly known.
He was asked to recruit men to fight the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad forces. He recruited the famous gunmen Ben Thompson, ‘Mysterious Dave’ Mather, John Joshua Webb and Doc Holliday. His interests outside his county resulted in him losing the re-election to George T. Hinkel.
He left Dodge City in 1881 to join Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Arizona. They met Luke Short, and started working as faro dealers or “look outs” for Tombstone’s Oriental Saloon, an upscale bar at that time. He had to return to Dodge City to save his brother. In the fight, Masterson was arrested, and released with a fine.
In 1882, he was appointed City Marshal of Trinidad, Colorado. Another adventure came through when Earp wanted his assistance to avoid the extradition of Doc Holliday. Such undertakings ensured that he was defeated in the elections with a heavy margin.
He returned to Dodge City in 1884, and started a newspaper ‘Vox Populi’. Though it was closed after printing a single issue, it received a flattering response.
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He later settled in Denver, and got involved with the crime honcho Soapy Smith. They were a part of the scandal involving fraudulent ballot casting in 1889. He later frequented boxing and other sports, picking up a keen interest in them. He maintained his interest in fights, supporting champions, placing bets, and serving as a timekeeper.
He moved to Creede in 1892 and was the manager of the Denver Exchange gambling club until the town was destroyed by fire in June 1892. He briefly moved to New York City after this before returning to Denver as a Deputy Sheriff of Arapahoe County.
In his final years at Denver, he founded a boxing club, The Olympic, in 1899, and was the sports editor for ‘George’s Weekly’. He returned to New York City later as a columnist for the ‘New York Morning Telegraph’. He also wrote a series of sketches about his adventures for the ‘Human Life’ magazine.
Masterson was introduced to President Theodore Roosevelt by Alfred Henry Lewis, and their friendship resulted in him being appointed Deputy U.S. Marshal. His tenure however, ended when the new President William Howard Taft came into office in 1909.
Alfred Lewis published ‘The Sunset Trail’ in 1905. This was based on the life and adventures of Masterson, and chronicled his experiences. Lewis remained a close friend to Bat. Lewis’s article ‘The King of the Gun-Players: William Barclay Masterson’ was published in ‘Human Life’ magazine.
Masterson remained a sports writer for the rest of his life, covering major boxing events for ‘New York Morning Telegraph’ until his death.
Personal Life & Legacy
A Dodge City census from 1880 records that Bat Masterson was living with the 19-year-old Annie Ladue, described to be his concubine.
His affair with Nellie McMahon Spencer caused troubled between Masterson, and Nellie’s husband Lou Spencer. In a Denver theatre, Lou Spencer confronted Masterson and hit his face with a pistol before they started fighting. They were arrested and released later. Though Nellie divorced Lou, there is no evidence that she pursued her relationship with Masterson.
He met Emma Moulton at the Palace Variety Theater in 1888. They lived together, and were assumed to be married later, in 1891.
He died on October 25, 1921 from a heart attack while writing at his desk. He was 67 years old. His funeral was attended by over 500 people. He is buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx with the epitaph ‘Loved by Everyone’.
Facts About Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson was known for his impeccable fashion sense, often donning a stylish derby hat and carrying a silver-tipped cane.
Despite his reputation as a skilled gunslinger, Masterson preferred to use his wit and negotiation skills to resolve conflicts whenever possible.
Masterson had a soft spot for animals and was known to rescue stray cats and dogs during his travels across the American West.
He was a talented writer and newspaper columnist, contributing articles on a wide range of topics beyond just his adventures as a lawman and gambler.
Masterson had a keen interest in sports and was a frequent attendee at boxing matches, developing friendships with many prominent fighters of his time.
