Wild Bill Hickok Shootout
with Dave Tutt placed Springfield MO on the front page of many newspapers around the country.
You normally wouldn't think of Springfield, Missouri as being part of the Old West. But in 1869, the city played an important role in creating the image and legend of an Old West icon, Wild Bill Hickok.
Shootouts are popular in cowboy movies, but in actuality they didn't happen all that much. However, Hickok's 1869 shootout with Dave Tutt had much to do with spreading the image of two men facing off on a dusty road.
Tutt and Hickok were both Springfield residents, and were bitter enemies. Hickok was a Union veteran, and Tutt a Confederate. To make matters worse, they feel for the same woman. The straw that broke the camel's back was when Tutt took Hickok's pocket watch during a poker game at Kelly Kerr Saloon located on park Central Square.
Tutt claimed Hickok owed him money, and took the watch as collateral. To add insult to injury, he bragged that he would wear it and parade around the town square to show that Hickok didn't honor his debts.
The following day the town showed up to witness the face off. Hickok warned Tutt that he better not carry on with his plan. Tutt walked toward Hickok confidently, drew his pistol and fired a shot that barely missed his head. At the same moment, Hickok drew his and fired. Tutt was shot through the heart and died on the spot.
The incident was the first recorded shootout and made national news. Hickok developed a reputation as ruthless killer, which helped him maintain law in far west towns like Abilene, Kansas.
You can visit the Wild Bill Hickok Shootout location at Park Central Square in Springfield. There are markers showing the location of both men, as well as markers describing the events as they unfolded. The tour is free and is self-guided.
