Bartholemew William Barclay Masterson, better known by his stage name Bat Masterson, was a professional gambler, law enforcement officer, saloonkeeper, writer, and US army scout who made his name in the 19th century in the American West. He was raised on farms in Kansas and New York, while coming from an Irish family that immigrated to Canada. He quickly made a name for himself as the classic buffalo hunter and Indian scout. Known for his antics, he took part in multiple gunfights during his tenure as a sheriff. He moved to Denver following his time spent in Kansas, Texas, and Arizona. Prizefighting piqued his interest, and he attended all the big fights, wagered on the competitors, and developed a reputation as a bookmaker. He relocated to New York City from Denver. President Theodore Roosevelt designated him as the Southern District of New York’s deputy U.S. marshal, and this is where he lived out his last years. As a journalist and sports writer, he was well-liked across the nation, and his mysterious reputation is still clearly recalled today.
Early Life & Childhood of Bat Masterson
Thomas Masterson and Catherine McGurk welcomed Bat Masterson into the world on November 26, 1853, in the Eastern Township of Quebec. There were two sisters and five brothers in his family. James and Edward Masterson, his brothers, were also well-known lawyers.
He grew up on family farms in Missouri, Illinois, Quebec, and New York, among other places. In 1871, the family made their final home in Wichita, Kansas.
Career of Bat Masterson
BAT Masterson and his brothers moved off from their family to hunt buffalo on the Great Plains. They officially moved to the Western frontier with this. Raymond Ritter hired them in 1872 to grade a railroad track; however, a year later, after they were scammed out of their salaries, Bat took it back by gunpoint.
On June 27, 1874, Masterson was involved in one of the most well-known battles in the history of the Wild West during a five-day siege at Adobe Walls. He successfully defended his outpost. He soon enlisted in the American Army as a Scout, and he engaged in gunfights with Colonel Nelson Miles.
Violence during his stay in Dodge City made headlines. He battled Lawrence Deger, the city marshal, in an effort to stop Robert Gilmore from being arrested in 1877 and enable Gilmore to flee. Later on, he was given the pistol-whip treatment and fined heavily.
In July 1877, he was chosen to serve as Charles Bassett’s Under-Sheriff. The time came for him to run for Kansas sheriff, and his opponent turned out to be an old foe named Lawrence Deger. Nonetheless, Masterson won an election to serve as Ford County, Kansas,’s county sheriff. As a result, his brother was appointed City Marshal.
In 1878, Masterson apprehended two infamous robbers: Ed West and Dave Rudabaugh. A month later, after Jack Wagner, a cowboy, killed his brother Ed while he was on duty, Bat pulled out his gun and killed Jack. Afterwards, he apprehended James Kenedy, the wealthy Texas cattleman’s son, who had shot and murdered actress Dora Hand, also known as “Fannie Keenan,” along with Wyatt Earp and Bill Tilghman.
He was requested to gather fighters for the army of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad. Ben Thompson, John Joshua Webb, Doc Holliday, and “Mysterious Dave” Mather were among the well-known gunmen he recruited. He was defeated by George T. Hinkel in the reelection due to his outsider interests.
In 1881, he moved from Dodge City to Tombstone, Arizona, to live with Wyatt Earp. After they got to know Luke Short, they were hired by Tombstone’s Oriental Saloon, an upmarket saloon at the time, as faro dealers or “look outs.” To save his brother, he had to go back to Dodge City. Masterson got into a brawl, got arrested, and got out after paying a fine.
He was named Trinidad, Colorado’s City Marshal in 1882. When Earp asked for his help to prevent Doc Holliday’s extradition, another adventure ensued. These kinds of endeavors made sure he lost the elections by a wide margin.
In 1884, he went back to Dodge City and launched the “Vox Populi” newspaper. It received a positive response even though it was closed after producing just one issue.
Afterwards, he made Denver his home and became friends with notorious criminal Soapy Smith. They were involved in the 1889 controversy concerning the casting of fake ballots. Afterwards, he became interested in sports and boxing, which he frequented. He continued to remain interested in bouts, cheering on winners, making wagers, and keeping time.
After relocating to Creede in 1892, he oversaw the Denver Exchange gaming club until a fire in June of that same year completely destroyed the town. After that, he relocated short to New York City before taking a job as an Arapahoe County deputy sheriff in Denver.
During his latter years in Denver, he worked as the sports editor for “George’s Weekly” and started a boxing club called The Olympic in 1899. Later on, as a columnist for the “New York Morning Telegraph,” he made his way back to New York City. In addition, he wrote a number of sketches for the magazine “Human Life” detailing his travels.
Alfred Henry Lewis introduced Masterson to President Theodore Roosevelt, and as a result of their friendship, Masterson was named Deputy U.S. Marshal. But when William Howard Taft took office as president in 1909, his term came to a close.
“The Sunset Trail” was published by Alfred Lewis in 1905. This recounted Masterson’s experiences and was based on his life and activities. Bat and Lewis stayed great friends. Human Life magazine featured Lewis’s essay titled “The King of the Gun-Players: William Barclay Masterson.”
For the remainder of his life, Masterson wrote about sports and covered important boxing matches for the “New York Morning Telegraph” until his passing.
Honors & Accomplishments of Bat Masterson
On Colonel Miles’ suggestion, Bat Masterson received the “Medal of Honor” for his participation in the 1874 Indian Territory Expedition at Fort Dodge.
On July 4, 1885, he was named the “Most Popular Man in Dodge City” and given a gold-headed cane and a gold watch chain.
Individual Life and Heritage of Bat Masterson
According to an 1880 census from Dodge City, Bat Masterson was residing with Annie Ladue, a 19-year-old who was identified as his concubine.
Lou Spencer, Nellie’s husband, and Masterson were at odds over his liaison with Nellie McMahon Spencer. Lou Spencer confronted Masterson in a Denver theater, hitting him in the face with a revolver before they got into a fight. After being detained, they were later freed. Despite her divorce from Lou, Nellie never seems to have pursued her relationship with Masterson.
In 1888, he went to the Palace Variety Theater to meet Emma Moulton. In 1891, they were thought to have gotten married later while living together.
While writing at his desk on October 25, 1921, he suffered a heart attack and passed away. His age was sixty-seven. More than five hundred individuals attended his burial. The epitaph “Loved by Everyone” is placed on his grave at The Bronx’s Woodlawn Cemetery.
Random Facts of Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson, an NBC television series, is mostly based on his life. Gene Barry did a great job essaying his part. The highly successful series ran from 1958 to 1961.
His role appeared in numerous American Westerns, such as Trail Street (1947), Santa Fe (1951), and The Woman of the Town (1943). Numerous television shows, books, comic books, and other forms of popular media have explored his life.
Net worth of Bat Masterson
The estimated net worth of Bat Masterson is about $1 million.