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William Barclay "Bat" Masterson 

W. B. "Bat" Masterson was born William Bartholomiew Masterson in Iberville County, Quebec, Canada on November 26, 1853.

Bat's professions included army scout, gunfighter, lawman, deputy marshal and marshal.

William Bartholomiew Masterson was better known as "Bat"--his whole demeanor displayed his love for excitement and adventure.

Visiting his brother in Dodge City, Kansas in 1876, Bat found himself being offered a job as deputy marshal.   Wyatt Earp was assistant city marshal who made the job offer.  Bat became a deputy marshal along side his brother, deputy marshal Jim Masterson.

In 1877, still in his early '20's, Bat found himself sheriff of Ford County where his brother Ed Masterson was marshal of Dodge City.   He carried the reputation and instincts of a gunfighter that his brother didn't.

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In 1879, Bat was voted out of office and spent considerable amounts of time gambling in the Tombstone area. During the next decade he worked the gambling halls and saloons, doing a stint as town marshal in Trinidad and later in Creed, Colorado.

After moving to Denver, Colorado, Bat returned to drinking heavily.   His reputation incited the local sheriff to give Bat an ultimatum.

His Choices were:

1. Surrender his side arm
2. Or leave town by morning

Fearing his enemies, Bat was forced to leave town as wearing his sidearm was no longer fashionable but staying alive was.

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In 1905, President Teddy Roosevelt appointed Bat as the United States marshal of the southern district of New York State. Later Bat was offered the appointment of marshal to the Oklahoma Territory.   In a stride only Bat Masterson could commandeer, he stated that someone would want to make a reputation for himself and that he ( Bat Masterson ) would either have to kill or be killed and there didn't seem to be any sense in inviting that to happen.

In 1907, Bat resigned from being marshal and took a job with the Morning Telegraph as sport's editor — something he had never done before. Bat died October 25, 1921 diligently at work writing his sport's column at the Morning Telegraph.

Photos by Melody Hallson

 
 


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