John Bull (gunman)
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c. 1836
John Bull | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Edwin Bull c. 1836 |
| Died | 1929 (aged 92–93) Excelsior Springs, Missouri, United States |
| Known for | Being gunfighter of the Old West |
John Bull (c. 1836–1929) was a little-known English gunman of the American Old West. He is featured in the book "Deadly Dozen", written by author Robert K. DeArment as one of the twelve most underrated gunmen of the 19th century west.
John Edwin Bull was born in England and little more is known about his early life. It is not known precisely when he ventured to the United States, but it is believed to have been some time during the 1850s.[1] He first appeared in historical texts, in 1861, as a professional gambler who made a living mining in boomtowns.
On August 25, 1862, he was involved in a gunfight while in the mining camp of Gold Creek, located in Montana Territory. He entered the town stating his name was John Bull, and that he and his companion, a man named Fox, were on the trail of horse thieves who had stolen six valuable horses in Elk City, Idaho. The thieves, C.W. Spillman, Bill Arnett, and B.F. Jermagin had entered the camp about three days before Bull and Fox arrived.
Bull and Fox captured Spillman with no incident, and placed him in the custody of several miners while the two continued to search for the others. After locating them in a large tent used as a saloon, Bull stepped inside with a double barrel shotgun, and demanded both men throw up their hands and surrender. Arnett immediately grabbed his pistol, which was lying on the table beside him, at which point Bull shot him dead with one blast from his shotgun in the chest. Jermagin surrendered, and he and Spillman were tried the next morning in a makeshift court. Jermagin was able to successfully argue that he played no part in the horse theft. However, Spillman was convicted and sentenced to hang. The following morning, he was executed.
At this time mining camps in Nevada Territory were booming, most prominently in Aurora, and then Austin. John Bull settled at the silver camp of Austin, in the center of the Territory. Early in 1864 there came about a nationalistic dispute over who was “chief” in Austin - the Irish or the English. In deference of the late editorial against dueling with pistols and knives, the use of those weapons was rejected by involved parties. It so happened another talent of Johnny Bull was fisticuffs. The issue was finally settled between Bull and a particular Irishman. They met up late at night on February 21, in a saloon at the corner of Main and Cedar Streets. Inside, within the presence of an excited crowd, the two combatants (with their seconds) came to an agreement with regard to the rules of pugilism to be allowed:
They thereupon adjourned to the street. Mac Waterhouse was selected by the Englishman as his second, and George Loney by the Irishman, and after these preliminaries had been gone through with, the mauling commenced about twelve o’clock. Twenty-one rounds were fought and for a time the battle was very hotly contested, both giving and receiving very hard knocks and showing no signs of yielding. But Johnny Bull’s endurance was too much for Irish grit, and the victory was decided in favor of the Englishman. It is claimed however, that the result was entirely owing to the instructions Mac gave his man during the twenty-first round; that is, to feint with his left, take one step back, and give an uppercut with his right. This direction was followed and gained the fight. Both men were severely punished. A large crowd witnessed the contest, many being present in dishabille [state of casual attire], not having time to dress themselves when they jumped out of bed to see what was going on. We are making fine progress in "muscular Christianity." A prize fight in our public thoroughfare. Who can beat it?
— Reese River Reveille – February 23, 1864
By 1865 Bull had partnered with Langford Peel, they were moving together next to Belmont, Nevada. [Montana Post – August 4, 1867]