Dan Tucker , better known as "Dangerous Dan" Tucker, (1849 – after 1892), is a little-known Canadian - American lawman and gunfighter of the Old West .
51-672: Daniel Tucker or Dan Tucker may refer to: People [ edit ] Dan Tucker (lawman) (born 1849), American lawman and gunfighter Daniel Tucker, bassist for the band Obituary (from 1984 to present) Daniel Tucker, inaugural member of the Indigenous Advisory Council in Australia Daniel Tucker (colonial administrator) (1575–1625), Governor of Bermuda 1616 to 1619 Daniel Tucker (minister) (1740–1818), American Methodist minister, captain in
102-441: A ranch and killed them, with the owner of the ranch agreeing to bury them. Days later, Tucker responded to a domestic dispute, during which a man had clubbed his wife and child to near death. As Tucker entered the house, the man knocked Tucker's gun from his hand with the club. In the altercation that followed, Tucker was able recover his gun from the floor and shot the man, killing him. In 1881, Tucker assisted Sheriff Whitehill in
153-515: A "watering trough, bughouse, shebang, cantina, grogshop, and gin mill". The first saloon was established at Brown's Hole, Wyoming , in 1822, to serve fur trappers. By 1880, the growth of saloons was in full swing. In Leavenworth, Kansas , there were "about 150 saloons and four wholesale liquor houses". Some saloons in the Old West were little more than casinos , brothels , and opium dens . The word saloon originated as an alternative form of
204-403: A Silver City saloon , killing two of the thieves and wounding the third. By this time, Tucker was legendary in the area, and had acquired the nickname "Dangerous Dan" after the shooting of the rock-throwing suspect. In late 1877, deputy sheriff Tucker was appointed captain of a company of thirty mercenary gunmen from Silver City, that were hired to fight for Charles Kerber of the "Salt Ring",
255-488: A double hanging, had previously acted as the hangman in several other hangings for Grant County, and later accepted the position of Marshal for Shakespeare, New Mexico ; in September, he shot and killed rustler Jake Bond. In November, 1881, he arrested outlaw Sandy King after he shot and wounded a storekeeper. On November 9, 1881, he captured outlaw "Russian Bill" Tattenbaum for cattle rustling . The two were hanged by
306-411: A fascination to them and an enigma to the locals after the first shooting. According to witnesses, Tucker merely located the intoxicated man and, without ever muttering even one word to him, killed him with one shot. No charges were ever filed against Tucker for that shooting. In 1878, Tucker shot and killed a fleeing thief, as well as becoming engaged in a gunfight with three suspected horse thieves inside
357-549: A job as Special Officer for the Southern Pacific Railroad. On November 24, 1883, Tucker led a posse , in pursuit of bandits who had derailed and robbed a train near Deming, killing the engineer and messenger near Gage Station. In November of that year, Tucker arrested York Kelly, an outlaw who had killed three men and murdered a woman who was eight months pregnant during a bank robbery in Bisbee, Arizona . For
408-400: A large portion of the population fled across the border into Mexico. After being stationed for a time at Ysleta , the mercenaries were disbanded. Tucker resumed being a deputy sheriff. In 1878, although remaining a deputy sheriff, Tucker had accepted the position of Silver City Marshal , the town's first, and a position he would hold through several terms. By later accounts, Tucker brought
459-541: A law officer he was entitled to retain his weapon. Town Marshal Glaudius W. Moore also threatened to arrest Burns, but he ignored him and continued on his drinking binge, going from saloon to saloon. The following afternoon, Burns, whose binge had resulted in him staying up all night with no sleep, found himself in the "Sam Eckstein Saloon", where he goaded Bob Kerr into a fight, but when Burns produced his pistol, Kerr fled. Burns then left that saloon and walked down in front of
510-577: A national organization and quickly rose to become the most powerful prohibition lobby in America, pushing aside its older competitors the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Prohibition Party . The League lobbied at all levels of government for legislation to prohibit the manufacture or import of spirits, beer and wine. Ministers had launched several efforts to close Arizona saloons after
561-471: A one-quarter interest in the faro concession at the Oriental Saloon in exchange for his services as a manager and enforcer. Wyatt invited his friend, lawman and gambler Bat Masterson , to Tombstone to help him run the faro tables in the Oriental Saloon. In 1884, after leaving Tombstone, Wyatt and his wife Josie , Warren , James and Bessie Earp went to Eagle City, Idaho, another boom town. Wyatt
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#1732786974425612-547: A possible lynching in Silver City. Tucker, although previously told he was cleared, was also arrested, and also jailed in Central City. McClellen was released on bail and, while riding after an all-night drunk, his horse threw him and he died of injuries from the fall, thus never coming to trial. Tucker and Moore were eventually cleared of the shooting, but Moore was dismissed as Marshal. Tucker's reputation suffered as
663-793: A professional lawman, gunfighter , and gambler, was later killed on August 2, 1876, by Jack McCall , who shot him in the back of the head, in Saloon No. 10, in Deadwood, South Dakota , as Wild Bill was playing cards. His hand—aces and eights, according to tradition—has become known as the " dead man's hand ". Former lawman, faro dealer, and gambler Wyatt Earp worked in or owned several saloons during his lifetime, outright or in partnership with others. He and two of his brothers arrived in Tombstone, Arizona, on December 1, 1879, and during January 1881, Oriental Saloon owner Lou Rickabaugh gave Wyatt Earp
714-475: A result of the shooting but Tucker himself, as those who knew him later commented, seemed to not be bothered by this. Soon after, Whitehill lost the election for Sheriff and Tucker was dismissed by his successor but continued as a Wells Fargo shotgun messenger. On December 14, 1882, Tucker was ambushed by a Mexican man as he entered a brothel in Deming to investigate a complaint, which turned out to be false. He
765-530: A single wood-burning stove might warm such establishments during the winter months. A pair of "batwing" doors at the entrance was one of the more distinctive features of the typical saloon. The doors operated on double action hinges and extended from chest to knee level. Further in the American West, some sold liquor from wagons, and saloons were often formed of materials at hand, including "sod houses. ...a hull of an old sailing ship" or interiors "dug into
816-426: A time after this, Tucker operated a saloon in Deming, but in 1885 he was appointed as a Deputy US Marshal for that region. In November, 1885, he and friend William Graham were involved in a gun battle with marauding Apache warriors 11 miles west of Deming, but they were able to drive the warriors off. Tucker had resigned his position by 1888, and moved on to California . The last time anyone who knew him saw him
867-581: Is the Long Branch Variety Show that is presented in the recreated Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City , Kansas. When a town was first founded, the initial saloons were often nothing more than tents or shacks that served homemade whiskey that included such ingredients as "raw alcohol, burnt sugar and chewing tobacco ". As towns grew, saloons were often elaborately decorated, featured Bohemian stemware, and oil paintings were hung from
918-866: The Birdcage Theater in Tombstone, Arizona ; the Bucket of Blood Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada ; and the Jersey Lilly in Langtry, Texas . Many of these establishments remained open twenty-four hours a day, six days a week except Sundays and Christmas. In the American West, occasional incidents were connected to saloons. Phil Coe , the owner of the Bull's Head tavern in Abilene, Kansas, outraged
969-421: The "Centennial Saloon", where he began firing his pistol in the air. He then entered the saloon and began gambling with Frank Thurmond, a professional gambler . Marshal Moore entered shortly thereafter, due to several people complaining about Burns. He approached Burns as he was seated at the table, and demanded he come outside to speak with him. Burns refused, stating he had done nothing and would not leave until
1020-533: The 1906 creation of League chapters in Yuma , Tucson , and Phoenix. League members pressured local police to take licenses from establishments that violated closing hours or served women and minors, and they provided witnesses to testify about these violations. Its triumph was nationwide prohibition locked into the Constitution with passage of the 18th Amendment in 1920. It was decisively defeated when prohibition
1071-533: The American Revolution Fictional characters [ edit ] Dan Tucker, a fictional stunt coordinator portrayed by Winston Duke in the 2024 film The Fall Guy See also [ edit ] " Old Dan Tucker ", an 1843 American folk song [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about people with the same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change
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#17327869744251122-594: The French word salon ; it first appeared in 17th century France and was derived from the Italian salone (for a large reception hall of Italian mansions). A European salon became associated with a 'large hall in a public place for entertainment, etc.'" In the United States, the word had evolved into "saloon" with its present meaning by 1841. Saloons in the U.S. began to have a close association with breweries in
1173-898: The beer in kegs stored on racks inside the saloon. Some saloons made their own beer. Sometimes the beer was also kept in chairs, as seen in the motion picture Fort Apache (1948). Among the more familiar saloons were First Chance Saloon in Miles City, Montana ; the Bull's Head in Abilene, Kansas ; the Arcade Saloon in Eldora, Colorado ; the Holy Moses in Creede, Colorado ; the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas;
1224-467: The book Deadly Dozen , by author Robert K. DeArment, who included Tucker as one of the twelve most underrated gunmen of the Old West. Western saloon A Western saloon is a kind of bar particular to the Old West . Saloons served customers such as fur trappers , cowboys , soldiers , lumberjacks , businessmen, lawmen , outlaws , miners , and gamblers . A saloon might also be known as
1275-565: The early 1870s. Born in Canada , Tucker was said to have been soft-spoken and laconic, and with a slight accent often mistaken for being southern. Famed New Mexico sheriff Harvey Whitehill was, at the time, serving as the Grant County, New Mexico , sheriff. Whitehill first met Tucker in 1875, when the latter drifted into Silver City, New Mexico , after managing a stage station near Fort Selden . Although some were suspicious of Tucker, he
1326-596: The early 1880s. With a growing overcapacity, breweries began to adopt the British "tied-house" system of control where they owned saloons outright. Schlitz Brewing Company and a few others built elaborate saloons to attract customers and advertise their beers. Politicians also frequented local saloons because of the adaptable social nature of their business. Beginning in 1893, the Anti-Saloon League began protesting against American saloons. In 1895 it became
1377-400: The exchange. In early May, 1880, Sheriff Whitehill dispatched Deputy Tucker to track down two suspects who had broken into a prospector 's cabin and stolen numerous goods and personal property. Tucker was gone for two days, then returned with all the stolen property, along with the horses, saddles, and weapons of the two suspects. He reported to Sheriff Whitehill that he had located the two on
1428-402: The fact Burns had been extremely popular with the local miners, and there was a loud public outcry for justice, despite the shooting having been justified. Tucker was not to be charged. On September 3, 1882, an attempt by local authorities to arrest both men was made, but they refused and no one pressured them. Instead, they went to nearby Central City and surrendered to authorities there, to avoid
1479-884: The fall of 1897, Earp and Josie joined in the Alaska Gold Rush and headed for Nome, Alaska. He operated a canteen during the summer of 1899 and in September, Earp and partner Charles Ellsworth Hoxie built the Dexter Saloon in Nome, Alaska , the city's first two-story wooden building and its largest and most luxurious saloon. The building was used for a variety of purposes because it was so large: 70 by 30 feet (21.3 m × 9.1 m) with 12 feet (3.7 m) ceilings. Wyatt and Josie returned to California in 1901 with an estimated $ 80,000. In February 1902, they arrived in Tonopah, Nevada , where gold had been discovered and
1530-415: The first to react, drawing and shooting Burns in the ribcage. The percussion of both the first two shots extinguished the lamps, thus leaving the men in the dark. Moore and McClellen then also fired on Burns, with McClellen firing one round and Moore firing four in quick succession, all hitting their mark. Burns died immediately. A decision to file charges against McClellen and Moore was made, based mainly on
1581-633: The game was finished. Marshal Moore again ordered him up, and again Burns refused. At this point, Marshal Moore produced his pistol and yet again ordered Burns outside. Also seated at the table were former deputy John W. Gilmo and Dan Tucker. Gilmo convinced Marshal Moore to holster his pistol, but as soon as he did, Burns jumped to his feet, pulling his own pistol. Tucker then drew on Burns and ordered him to drop his gun, which he did. Marshal Moore departed to obtain an arrest warrant for Burns. After he departed, Burns began verbally confronting Tucker, stating Tucker
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1632-438: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Daniel_Tucker&oldid=1223750803 " Category : Human name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Dan Tucker (lawman) Tucker first ventured into New Mexico Territory in
1683-625: The manager of the "WS Ranch" and later would comment Tucker was, to his personal knowledge, involved in several gunfights as a shotgun rider while working for Wells Fargo . During 1882, Tucker became involved in the most controversial shooting of his career. On August 24, James D. Burns, who worked as a deputy in the mining camp of Paschal, in Grant County, entered the "Walcott & Mills Saloon". Burns became intoxicated, and began twirling and flaunting his pistol. Deputy Cornelius A. Mahoney attempted to disarm Burns, but he refused, saying that as
1734-400: The most dangerous, albeit underestimated, gunmen in the history of the Old West. Author Bob Alexander, who wrote the biography Dangerous Dan" Tucker, New Mexico's Deadly Lawman , proclaimed Tucker was more dangerous and more effective than better-known lawmen, including Wild Bill Hickok and Wyatt Earp . He was supported in this claim by historian Leon C. Metz. He was also a subject in
1785-828: The operation of beer gardens in outlying neighborhoods. Other ethnic groups added their own features and their unique cuisines on the sideboard, while a few groups, including Scandinavians , Jews , Greeks , and Italians , either preferred intimate social clubs or did little drinking in public . By way of entertainment saloons offered dancing girls, some (or most) of whom occasionally or routinely doubled as prostitutes. Many saloons offered games of chance like Faro , poker , brag , three-card monte , and dice games. Other games were added as saloons continued to prosper and face increasing competition. These additional games included billiards , darts , and bowling . Some saloons even included piano players, can-can girls, and theatrical skits. A current example of this type of entertainment
1836-518: The other two near Sixth and E, all in the "respectable" part of town. They offered twenty-one games including faro, blackjack , poker, keno , and other Victorian games of chance like pedro and monte. At the height of the boom, he made up to $ 1,000 a night in profit. Wyatt particularly favored and may have run the Oyster Bar located in the Louis Bank of Commerce on Fifth Avenue. In
1887-591: The purchase of at least one drink. These free lunches were typically worth far more than the price of a single drink. The saloon-keeper relied on the expectation that most customers would buy more than one drink, and that the practice would build patronage for other times of day. A saloon's appearance varied from when and where it grew. As towns grew, the saloons became more refined. The bartender prided himself on his appearance and his drink pouring abilities. Early saloons and those in remote locations were often crude affairs with minimal furniture and few decorations. Often
1938-605: The sheriff of El Paso County , in the Salt War . The mining interests funding them were interested in a reliable supply of salt for refining their silver ore. Included among the company members was the outlaw John Kinney . Tucker's unit along with elements of the Texas Rangers and U.S. Army was involved in fighting at San Elezario where suspected members of the Mexican "mob" of the "Anti-Salt Ring" there were killed and
1989-725: The side of a hill". As the size of towns grew, many hotels included saloons, and some stand-alone saloons, such as the Barlow Trail Saloon in Damascus, Oregon , featured a railed porch. Saloons' appearance varied by ethnic group. The Irish preferred stand-up bars where whiskey was the drink of choice and women could obtain service only through the back door. German saloons were more brightly illuminated, more likely to serve restaurant food and beer at tables, and more oriented toward family patronage. Germans were often at odds with Temperance forces over Sunday operation and over
2040-546: The town's "Vigilance Committee" that same day. Tucker was sent to Deming, New Mexico , on November 27, 1881, due to several outlaws causing disturbances and basically taking over the town. He began patrolling the streets with a double-barrel shotgun and within three days, according to journalist C.M. Chase who was in the area doing a story on the Southern Pacific Railroad , Tucker shot and killed three men and wounded two more. In 1882, James H. Cook became
2091-523: The town's violent crime rate under control quickly, and was feared due to his lack of hesitation when he deemed violence was necessary to solve a problem. By newspaper accounts from the Grant City Herald , in November 1878 Tucker was shot and wounded during a shootout with cowboy Caprio Rodriguez, when the latter resisted arrest following a disturbance in a saloon. Tucker killed Rodriguez in
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2142-405: The townspeople by painting a bull, complete with an erect penis (pizzle), on the outside wall of his tavern. The marshal at the time, Wild Bill Hickok , threatened to burn the saloon to the ground if the offending animal was not painted over. Instead, he hired some men to do the job, which angered Coe. The two became enemies and in a later altercation, Wild Bill Hickok killed Coe. Wild Bill, also
2193-549: The wall. The hard liquor was improved, often featuring whiskey imported from the Eastern United States and Europe. To avoid rotgut, patrons would request "fancy" mixed drinks. Some of the top ten drinks in 1881 included claret sangarees and champagne flips. Beer was often served at room temperature since refrigeration was mostly unavailable. Adolphus Busch introduced refrigeration and pasteurization of beer in 1880 with his Budweiser brand. Some saloons kept
2244-414: Was also taken from Dan Rose, who was 12 years old at the time but also on the street that night. Another incident, occurring in 1877 and also witnessed by Wayne Whitehill, concerned a report that a Mexican man was intoxicated and throwing rocks at people as they passed by, on a side street in Silver City. Tucker responded, with several young boys running a short distance behind, due to his being somewhat of
2295-501: Was in Colorado for a time, but was rumored to have fled that state for New Mexico after stabbing a man to death. He initially introduced himself as David Tucker, but preferred to be called Dan. Whitehill took a liking to him, and hired him as a deputy sheriff. One of the first incidents of violence in which Tucker took part after accepting his new job occurred in 1876 and was witnessed by Sheriff Whitehill's son, Wayne Whitehill, who
2346-467: Was in 1892, when he made his last known visit to Grant County. Where he went following that, or when or where he died, remains unknown. A 1931 newspaper article on his life, claimed he had died in a hospital in San Bernardino, California . However recent research could not find any confirmation of this. Although little known today, Tucker is considered by some historians to have been one of
2397-644: Was looking for gold in the Murray-Eagle mining district. They opened a saloon called The White Elephant in a circus tent. An advertisement in a local newspaper suggested gentlemen " come and see the elephant ". In 1885, Earp and Josie moved to San Diego where the railroad was about to arrive and a real estate boom was underway. They stayed for about four years. Earp speculated in San Diego's booming real estate market. Between 1887 and around 1896 he bought three saloons and gambling halls, one on Fourth Street and
2448-419: Was repealed in 1933. The free lunch was a sales enticement which offered a meal at no cost in order to attract customers and increase revenues from other offerings. It was a tradition once common in saloons in many places in the United States, with the phrase appearing in U.S. literature from about 1870 to the 1920s. These establishments included a "free" lunch, varying from rudimentary to quite elaborate, with
2499-403: Was shot in the shoulder, but he shot and killed one man and one of two prostitutes who were assisting in the assassination attempt. Several other Mexican men also attempted to involve themselves but backed away when several citizens entered, having heard the gunshots from the street. After Tucker recovered from his injury, he found he could not tolerate the rough ride aboard a stagecoach and got
2550-453: Was then a child but able to give a full account of the incident during an interview in 1949. According to him, two Mexican men began fighting inside "Johnny Ward's Dance Hall", in Silver City. One of the men stabbed the other, wounding him, then ran out into the street to escape. Just as he rounded a corner on Broadway Street, Dan Tucker shot him in the neck in full view of many citizens, the young Whitehill being one. An account of this shooting
2601-402: Was wrong for involving himself in the incident. A while later, Marshal Moore returned with Deputy Bill McClellen, warrant in hand. The two lawmen then demanded Burns turn over his weapons, stating they had "papers" for him. What followed is confusing, and has never been cleared completely. Burns drew and fired, missing everyone and, despite both lawmen having their pistols unholstered, Tucker was
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