Originally posted by Bill Duncan:
I wonder if anyone can cite the exact contents of the Dead Man's hand? I thought that it was a full house with eights over aces. I dont' recall who the old west legend who was dealt it was... :confused:
Anyone?
August 1876, Deadwood, South Dakota; "Wild Bill" (James Butler) Hickok was shot in the back of the head while playing poker in Saloon No. 10. His hand held the Aces of Spades and Clubs and the Eights of Spades and Clubs. The value of the fifth card is disputed to this day, but has never been thought to complete a full house; as I recall from research I did years ago, the most persuasive claim was a red Queen.
Hickok's killer, Jack McCall, claimed (falsely) that Hickok had killed his brother and was quickly released by a judge. A few months later, he was "re-tried" in another local, found guilty and hanged.
For a commissioned piece, I inlayed the butt of a pool cue with five Ivory playing cards representing the Dead Man's Hand. I created cards that were representative of the era - without corner pips or numbers - and on the fifth card I engraved a back pattern to represent the unknown filler.
For anyone familiar with the Bob Seger song 'Fire Lake', you now know the reference contained in the lyrics "...Who wants to play those eights and aces? Who wants a raise, who needs a stake? Who wants to take that long-shot gamble... and head out to Fire Lake?"
Regards,
Thomas Wayne
[ October 14, 2001: Message edited by: Thomas Wayne ]
[ October 14, 2001: Message edited by: Thomas Wayne ]