History Facts for August 2

Dead man's Hand

In James Butler Hickok, the renowned "Wild Bill", remains perhaps the most famous of all Western gunfighters. Hickok was a Union army spy, a scout for General Custer, a marshal for Abilene, Kansas, and a crack shot with a pistol. He stood 6 foot 3 in his custom-made boots. He was handsome, longhaired, and a flamboyant gambler and dresser. Hickok dazzled many woman, including George Armstrong Custer's wife. Doc Pierce, who prepared Wild Bill for burial was quoted as saying, "Wild Bill was the prettiest corpse I have ever seen."

Wild Bill Hickok was gunned down by Jack McCall in the Number Ten saloon at Deadwood, in the Dakota Territory on August second, in 1876. Hickok was playing poker at the time of the shooting. This poker hand he was holding when he was shot consisted of all black aces and eights. This was later referred to as a dead man's hand because it was the card hand Hickok was holding when he died. McCall shot Wild Bill in the back, never revealing his motive before he was hanged for the shooting.

Barbed Wire

Barbed wire was first patented on June 25, 1867. It was patented by Lucien B. Smith of Kent, Ohio. The barbs protruded from small blocks of wood strung along the wire strand. This barbed wire may have never been manufactured. No examples of this barbed wire have ever been located. The following year barbed wire was patented by M. Kelly. His patent was for a twisted two-strand wire with diamond-shaped barbs. Fences made of 'Kelly's Diamond' are still standing today in some parts of the US. On August 2, 1887, Barbed wire was patented by Rowell Hodge. So, who invented barbed wire? It is hard to say. Over 1,5000 different varieties and variations of barbed wire have been identified. The collecting of barbed wire has become a very expensive persuit. Some examples of barbed wire have been sold for as much as $250.00 for 18 linear inch.

Source: The New Shell Book of Facts - Patrick Robertson

© Phillip Bower