Bat Masterson

William Barclay "Bat" Masterson was born in Quebec, Canada on November 24, 1856.

On January 24, 1876, Bat was dancing with a saloon girl, when a local army sergeant, named King, took offense to the amount of time she spent with him. He left the saloon, only to return and open fire on the two, hitting both. As Bat was falling to the floor, he pulled his pistol and returned fire. Bat's aim was good and King fell to the floor with two bullets in him, dying a minute later. Bat had a bullet lodged in his hip, which caused him to limp thereafter.

In 1877 Bat returned to Dodge City and opened a saloon. In 1878 he became Sheriff of Ford County, Kansas, and worked under Wyatt Earp. In early 1878, Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Charlie Bassett, and Bill Tilghman formed one of the most heralded posses the west has ever seen. The posse chased James W. "Spike" Kennedy into Meade City, were a gunfight broke out. Bat Masterson lifted his rifle up and fired a single shot that hit Kennedy in the shoulder. Kennedy was taken back to Dodge City were he stood trial for murder.

In about the year 1880, he went to Tombstone, AZ at the request of Wyatt Earp. Bat left in 1881 and went to Trinidad, CO. In 1883 Bat became a Peace Commissioner of Dodge City.

On October 25, 1921, Bat took sick and died at the age of 65.