Black Bart (Charles Earl Boles)
(b. 1829; d. after February 28, 1888)

Authorities almost catch the California bandit and infamous
stagecoach robber called Black Bart; he manages to make
a quick getaway, but drops an incriminating clue that eventually
sends him to prison.

Black Bart was born probably in the state of New York around
1830. As a young man, he abandoned his family for the gold
fields of California, but he failed to strike it rich as a miner and
turned to a life of crime.

By the mid-1850s, stagecoaches and Wells Fargo wagons transported
much of the huge output of gold from California. Often traveling in
isolated areas, the Wells Fargo wagons and stagecoaches quickly
became favorite targets for bandits; over the course of about 15
years, the company lost more than $415,000 in gold to outlaw
robbers.

It is believed that Boles committed his first stagecoach robbery in
July 1875.

CARLATA BRADLEY

On this day in 2001, President George W. Bush signs the renewal of
the U.S. Patriot Act after a long battle with Congress.

Pat Sajak (Patrick Leonard Sajdak) is 73 today. 

Sajak is a former weatherman and talk show host, best
known as the host of the syndicated television game
show Wheel of Fortune.

“Wheel of Fortune” hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White.

Wild Bill Hickok threatens the friends of Davis Tutt after defeating
Tutt in a duel.

In what may be the first true western showdown on this day in 1865, Wild Bill Hickok shoots Dave Tutt dead in the market square of Springfield, Missouri.

Hollywood movies and dime novels notwithstanding, the classic western showdown–also called a walkdown–happened only rarely in the American
West. Rather than coolly confronting each other on a dusty street in a deadly
game of quick draw, most men began shooting at each other in drunken
brawls or spontaneous arguments. Ambushes and cowardly attacks were
far more common than noble showdowns.

The first story of the shootout was detailed in an article in Harper’s Magazine
in 1867, making Hickok a household name and folk hero.

James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok (1837-1876)

Davis “Dave” Tutt was born during
1836 in Yellville, Arkansas.

CARLATA BRADLEY

On this day in 2001, President George W. Bush signed the USA
PATRIOT Act, an anti-terrorism law drawn up in response to the
9/11 attacks. Its intent, in Bush’s words, is to “enhance the
penalties that will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them.”

The "Gunfight at the OK Corral" took place in Tombstone, AZ. The
fight was between Wyatt Earp, his two brothers and Doc Holiday
and the Ike Clanton Gang. It occurred around 3pm on the afternoon
of Wednesday 26 October 1881 and only lasted about 30 seconds.

KILLED IN GUNFIGHT AT OK CORRAL PHOTO (LEFT TO RIGHT)
TOM & FRANK MCLAURY BILLY CLANTON.

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

It was on this day in 1923.

Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923)

James Butler Hickok (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876)

The card hand held by Hickok at his death, now
widely known as the "dead man’s hand".

Wild Bill Hickok was shot in the back of the head by Jack McCall
on this day in 1876.

Jack McCall (1852 or 1853 – March 1, 1877) was
also known as "Crooked Nose" or "Broken Nose 
Jack".

Hickok’s star on the Texas Trail of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards, Texas.