"Wild Bill" Hickok

James Butler Hickok was born on May 27, 1837 in Troy Grove, Illinois. Bill became an outstanding marksman at a young age and at the age of 18 headed out west. He got his nickname in 1861 when he dispersed a drunken linch mob in a face off that involved firing two shots over there heads and standing his ground. A gratefull woman supposedly called from the sidelines, "Good for you Wild Bill!" Even though she might have mistaken him for someone else the nickname stuck. Wild Bill worked as stagecoach guard, lawman, pony express, and scout for the Union Army. Wild Bill came to Deadwood to make an easier living winning gold from the miners in poker and other games of chance. Bill was well know for his gun handling ability and therefore a target for gunmen looking to make a name for themselves. For this reason he always sat with his back to the wall when playing poker. On that fatefull day in August of 1876 Bill entered the Saloon #10 to find a poker game in progress. His favorite chair by the wall was taken and nobody would move so he took the one available chair with his back to the door. Jack McCall entered the saloon but Bill was not alarmed as he knew Jack. A few minutes later as Jack walked behind Wild Bill he pulled his gun, yelled "Damn you Bill, take that" and shot him in the back of the head. After the smoke cleared someone noticed the cards Bill was holding was the two black aces, two black eights, and the much disputed nine of diamonds, for ever more to be known as the Dead Man's Hand.

Mike was a well liked bar and casino owner when gaming was legalized in Deadwood in the fall of 1989. Mike called his faverite hand, ten of diamonds and eight of clubs the Deadwood Nuts. After he passed away it became common for local players to play any ten eight off suited cards for luck and as a tribute to Mike.