I have to say straight away that I am not a gambler or card player and I have never played poker in my life. But that does not mean that I am interested in one possible historical story which has survived through time to be a selection of cards in poker which is called the “Dead Man’s Hand”.
It all started in what was then called the Wild West and involved one of the better-known characters of the time, “Wild Bill” Hickok. He was a lawman and gambler. He was also pretty good with a gun. But it would be his gambling that led to his death. On the 1st of August 1876, Hickok was playing poker in Saloon 10, in the town of Deadwood which is located in South Dakota.
“Wild Bill” Hickok
The table was joined by a local drunk named Jack “Crooked Nose” McCall. He was either drunk, not good at cards or plain unlucky, but over that evening, he managed to lose every dime he had. Hickok who had done well at the table felt sorry for him and returned a little money so he could buy some food to eat. He also suggested that McCall shouldn’t gamble again until he was sure he could cover his debts. It was these remarks which embarrassed McCall and he left the saloon.
The next evening, Hickok was back at the table in the same saloon playing poker. Being a lawman and used to danger now and again, it was his habit to always sit with his back to the wall in case someone took a dislike to him and tried to kill him. Unfortunately, that evening, that particular seat had been taken and the man occupying it refused to move. So Hickok took another seat; bad decision.
The anger McCall felt had not gone away. Instead, it had festered and he entered the saloon on the 2nd of August 1876 and walked towards Hickok. He drew his weapon, a Colt .45 and shouted, “Damn you. Take that.” He pulled the trigger and shot Hickok in the back of the head. He died instantly. McCall was arrested, charged with murder and was executed seven months later.
But, back to Dead Man’s Hand. As you will have guessed by now, this was the hand Hickok was holding when he died. There is some discussion as to exactly what cards he was holding, but there is an accepted one. Although poker is played with five cards, we only have a description of four cards. Perhaps Hickok was still waiting to be dealt the fifth card when he was shot. We do not know for sure. The cards that we believe Hickok was holding was two pair: black aces and black eights. The first person to claim this was made years later by the Deadwood barber who was asked to prepare the body for burial. His name was Ellis Pierce.
Today, this hand is accepted as the Dead Man’s Hand. The Number 10 Saloon which today occupies the same site as the original, has a large picture of this hand hanging up. However, they have added the Nine of Diamonds as the fifth card. On top of this, a local museum called the Adams Museum also has an exhibit of the hand and they have added the Queen of Hearts as the fifth card.
Finally, this hand has been featured in many movies, TV shows and books including Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
John Pullen 