The Legend of Deadwood Dick: A Guide to the Fictional and Real Characters of the Old West
- A nickname adopted by several men who lived in Deadwood, South Dakota, such as Frank Palmer, Nat Love, Richard Bullock, and others. - A popular hero of the Old West who had many adventures and exploits. H2: Why is Deadwood Dick famous? - He was a symbol of courage, justice, and romance in the frontier. - He inspired many adaptations in books, comics, movies, and TV shows. - He represented the diversity and complexity of the American West. H3: How did Deadwood Dick become a cowboy? - He was born into slavery in Tennessee and learned to read and write from his father. - He left home at the age of 16 and headed to the Western United States. - He found work as a cowboy with cattle drivers and ranchers in Kansas, Texas, Arizona, and other states. H4: What were some of his skills and talents? - He was an expert marksman and horseman who could rope, throw, tie, bridle, saddle, and ride any bronco. - He was a master of disguise and deception who could outwit his enemies and escape from danger. - He was a storyteller and writer who narrated his own life in his autobiography. H3: How did Deadwood Dick get his nickname? - He claimed to have won a rodeo contest in Deadwood on July 4th, 1876, where he impressed the crowd with his skills and feats. - He was given the name by his friends and fans after the literary character created by Wheeler. - He used the name to promote himself and his adventures in newspapers and magazines. H4: What was the origin of the literary character? - Wheeler was a prolific writer who created hundreds of dime novels featuring various heroes of the West. - He based Deadwood Dick on a real person he met in Deadwood named Richard Clark, who was an actor and stagecoach driver. - He wrote the first story about Deadwood Dick in 1877, titled "Deadwood Dick, The Prince of the Road; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills". H3: What were some of his adventures and exploits? - He fought cattle rustlers, outlaws, Indians, and other enemies of the law and order. - He rescued damsels in distress, helped settlers and miners, and defended justice and freedom. - He traveled across the country and visited many places such as San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Denver, and more. H4: What were some of his challenges and dangers? - He faced many rivals and foes who wanted to kill him or capture him for reward money. - He was captured and escaped several times by using his cunning and courage. - He had to deal with racism, prejudice, and discrimination as an African-American cowboy. H2: Where can you download Deadwood Dick stories? - You can find many online sources that offer free or low-cost downloads of Deadwood Dick stories in various formats such as PDF, EPUB, MOBI, etc. - You can also access some websites that have full-text issues of Deadwood Dick Library at Northern Illinois University. - You can also check your local library or bookstore for physical copies of Deadwood Dick stories or anthologies. H3: What are some benefits of downloading Deadwood Dick stories? - You can enjoy reading classic stories that capture the spirit and excitement of the Old West. - You can learn more about the history and culture of the American frontier and its people. - You can appreciate the creativity and imagination of Wheeler and other writers who created Deadwood Dick stories. Article with HTML formatting: Who is Deadwood Dick?
If you are a fan of the Old West, you may have heard of Deadwood Dick, a legendary hero who had many thrilling adventures and exploits in the frontier. But who is Deadwood Dick, and why is he so famous? In this article, we will explore the origin, history, and legacy of this fascinating character.
Deadwood Dick download
Deadwood Dick is actually a name that refers to two different things: a fictional character created by Edward Lytton Wheeler in a series of dime novels published between 1877 and 1897, and a nickname adopted by several men who lived in Deadwood, South Dakota, such as Frank Palmer, Nat Love, Richard Bullock, and others. Both the fictional and the real Deadwood Dicks were popular heroes of the Old West who embodied the ideals of courage, justice, and romance in the frontier.
Why is Deadwood Dick famous?
Deadwood Dick is famous for several reasons. First, he was a symbol of the American West, a place where anything was possible and where ordinary people could become extraordinary. He represented the spirit of adventure, exploration, and discovery that motivated many people to go west and seek their fortune. He also reflected the diversity and complexity of the West, as he was a cowboy, a miner, a gambler, a detective, a writer, and more.
Second, he inspired many adaptations in various media. His stories were not only published in dime novels, but also in newspapers, magazines, comics, books, movies, and TV shows. He influenced many other writers and creators who followed his footsteps and created their own western heroes. Some of the famous adaptations of Deadwood Dick include:
The serial film Deadwood Dick (1940), starring Don Douglas as Deadwood Dick and Lorna Gray as Alice Norris.
The comic book series Deadwood Dick (1955-1957), published by Avon Comics and featuring art by Joe Kubert.
The TV episode "The Resurrection of Deadwood Dick" (1966), from the anthology series Death Valley Days, starring Denver Pyle as Deadwood Dick.
The novel The Life and Adventures of Nat Love (1972), by Robert H. Miller, based on the autobiography of Nat Love.
The graphic novel Deadwood Dick: Black Terror of the West (2013), by Joe R. Lansdale and Sam Glanzman.
Third, he was a real person who lived an extraordinary life. While the fictional Deadwood Dick was based on a real person named Richard Clark, there were other men who used the name Deadwood Dick to promote themselves and their adventures. Some of them were:
Frank Palmer, a gambler who claimed to be the original Deadwood Dick who went west from Illinois to South Dakota at the age of 17 and made his fortune playing games of chance.
Nat Love, an African-American cowboy who wrote his own autobiography titled The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, where he narrated his experiences as a slave, a cowboy, a rodeo performer, a Pullman porter, and more.
Richard Bullock, a Cornishman who worked as a gunman and bullion guard on the Deadwood Stage and was known for his bravery and skill.
How did Deadwood Dick become a cowboy?
One of the most famous aspects of Deadwood Dick's life was his career as a cowboy. But how did he become one? According to his autobiography, Nat Love was born into slavery in Tennessee on June 14th, 1854. His father was a slave foreman who worked in the plantation's fields, and his mother was the manager of its kitchen. He had two siblings: an older sister named Sally and an older brother named Jordan.
Nat learned to read and write from his father at an early age. He also developed a love for horses and learned how to break them. When slavery ended, his parents stayed on the plantation as sharecroppers, but his father died shortly after planting their second crop. Nat then took a second job working on a local farm to help his family make ends meet.
At the age of 16, Nat decided to leave home and head west. He won two horses in raffles, which he sold back to their owners for $50 each. He used the money to buy clothes, a ticket to Kansas City, where he arrived in 1869. There, he found work as a cowboy with cattle drivers from the Duval Ranch, located on the Palo Duro River in the Texas Panhandle. As a cowboy, Nat learned to perform various tasks such as herding, branding, roping, driving, and protecting the cattle. He also faced many dangers such as stampedes, storms, floods, fires, snakes, wolves, and hostile Indians. He traveled across many states and territories such as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and more. He earned a reputation as one of the best cowboys in the West and was nicknamed Red River Dick by his co-workers.
What were some of his skills and talents?
Nat was not only a skilled cowboy, but also a talented horseman, marksman, and storyteller. He claimed to have mastered the art of roping, throwing, tying, bridling, saddling, and riding any bronco. He could also shoot with both hands and hit any target with his rifle or revolver. He was a master of disguise and deception who could fool his enemies and escape from captivity. He was also a writer who narrated his own life in his autobiography.
Some of the examples of his skills and talents are:
He won a rodeo contest in Deadwood on July 4th, 1876, where he competed against hundreds of cowboys and performed feats such as roping a steer in nine seconds, riding a wild mustang for over 10 minutes, and shooting a glass ball thrown in the air with his revolver.
He disguised himself as a Mexican bandit and infiltrated a gang of outlaws who had stolen some cattle from his employer. He then tricked them into returning the cattle and captured their leader.
He was captured by a group of Indians who planned to burn him at the stake. He managed to free himself by cutting his bonds with a knife hidden in his boot. He then stole a horse and rode away while shooting at his pursuers.
He wrote his autobiography titled The Life and Adventures of Nat Love, where he recounted his experiences as a slave, a cowboy, a rodeo performer, a Pullman porter, and more. He published it in 1907 and dedicated it to his wife Alice.
How did Deadwood Dick get his nickname?
Nat claimed to have received his nickname Deadwood Dick after winning the rodeo contest in Deadwood on July 4th, 1876. He said that his friends and fans gave him the name after the literary character created by Edward Lytton Wheeler, a dime novelist of the day. He also said that he used the name to promote himself and his adventures in newspapers and magazines.
What was the origin of the literary character?
The literary character of Deadwood Dick was created by Edward Lytton Wheeler, a prolific writer who produced hundreds of dime novels featuring various heroes of the West. He based Deadwood Dick on a real person he met in Deadwood named Richard Clark, who was an actor and stagecoach driver.
He wrote the first story about Deadwood Dick in 1877, titled "Deadwood Dick, The Prince of the Road; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills". In this story, Deadwood Dick is introduced as a mysterious masked rider who helps Alice Norris, a young woman who is searching for her father in the Black Hills. He also fights against the Skull, a masked villain who leads a band of outlaws.
Wheeler continued to write more stories about Deadwood Dick, who became one of his most popular characters. He gave him a backstory as a former slave who escaped to the West and became a cowboy. He also gave him a love interest named Calamity Jane, a famous frontierswoman and scout. He also introduced other characters such as Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill, and Sitting Bull.
What were some of his adventures and exploits?
Deadwood Dick had many adventures and exploits in the West, both as a fictional and a real character. He fought against cattle rustlers, outlaws, Indians, and other enemies of the law and order. He rescued damsels in distress, helped settlers and miners, and defended justice and freedom. He traveled across the country and visited many places such as San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Denver, and more.
Some of the examples of his adventures and exploits are:
He saved Alice Norris from being kidnapped by the Skull and his men. He then helped her find her father, who was a gold miner in the Black Hills.
He joined forces with Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane to stop a conspiracy to assassinate President Ulysses S. Grant in Deadwood.
He infiltrated a secret society of Ku Klux Klan members who were plotting to overthrow the government in New York. He then exposed their leader, who was none other than the Skull.
He traveled to San Francisco and became a detective for the Pinkerton Agency. He then solved several cases involving murder, robbery, and espionage.
He went to Chicago and participated in the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. He then met Buffalo Bill and joined his Wild West Show as a performer.
Where can you download Deadwood Dick stories?
If you are interested in reading Deadwood Dick stories, you have several options to download them online. You can find many sources that offer free or low-cost downloads of Deadwood Dick stories in various formats such as PDF, EPUB, MOBI, etc. You can also access some websites that have full-text issues of Deadwood Dick Library at Northern Illinois University. You can also check your local library or bookstore for physical copies of Deadwood Dick stories or anthologies.
Some of the sources where you can download Deadwood Dick stories are:
Name
Description
URL
Gutenberg
A website that offers over 60,000 free ebooks, including many Deadwood Dick stories by Wheeler.
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/1166
ManyBooks
A website that offers over 50,000 free ebooks, including many Deadwood Dick stories by Wheeler.
https://manybooks.net/authors/wheeler-e.html
Faded Page
A website that offers over 5,000 free ebooks, including some Deadwood Dick stories by Wheeler.
https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php?author=Wheeler%2C+Edward+Lytton
Northern Illinois University Libraries
A website that offers full-text issues of Deadwood Dick Library, a series of dime novels featuring Deadwood Dick stories by Wheeler and others.
https://digital.lib.niu.edu/islandora/object/niu-dime%3Acollection
Amazon
A website that offers various ebooks and print books for sale, including some Deadwood Dick stories by Wheeler and others.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=deadwood+dick&i=stripbooks-intl-ship&ref=nb_sb_noss
What are some benefits of downloading Deadwood Dick stories?
Downloading Deadwood Dick stories can offer you many benefits. Some of them are:
You can enjoy reading classic stories that capture the spirit and excitement of the Old West. You can follow the adventures and exploits of Deadwood Dick and his friends and foes as they face various challenges and dangers in the frontier.
You can learn more about the history and culture of the American West and its people. You can discover facts and trivia about the places, events, and characters that shaped the West. You can also compare and contrast the fictional and the real aspects of Deadwood Dick's life.
You can appreciate the creativity and imagination of Wheeler and other writers who created Deadwood Dick stories. You can admire their style, language, and humor. You can also analyze their themes, messages, and values.
Conclusion
Deadwood Dick is a fascinating character who has both a fictional and a real dimension. He is a hero of the Old West who has inspired many generations of readers and viewers. He is also a symbol of the diversity and complexity of the American frontier. By downloading Deadwood Dick stories, you can enjoy his stories, learn from his experiences, and appreciate his legacy.
FAQs
Who created the fictional character of Deadwood Dick?
Edward Lytton Wheeler, a dime novelist who wrote hundreds of stories about Deadwood Dick and other heroes of the West.
Who was the real person who inspired the fictional character of Deadwood Dick?
Richard Clark, an actor and stagecoach driver who lived in Deadwood and met Wheeler there.
Who was the most famous person who used the nickname Deadwood Dick?
Nat Love, an African-American cowboy who wrote his own autobiography and claimed to have won a rodeo contest in Deadwood.
What was the first story about Deadwood Dick?
"Deadwood Dick, The Prince of the Road; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills", published in 1877 by Wheeler.
Where can you download Deadwood Dick stories?
You can download them from various online sources such as Gutenberg, ManyBooks, Faded Page, Northern Illinois University Libraries, or Amazon.
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