As feared as he was fearless, Reeves earned the nickname the “Invincible Marshal” thanks to stories of dramatic close calls where a bullet knocked the hat off his head, or cut the reins to his horse.

What is Bass Reeves' nickname?

Reeves frequently rode with Native Americans much like the Lone Ranger's Tonto. Reeves used disguises while hunting for outlaws. The Lone Ranger wore a mask. People didn't know Reeves's name and called him “Black Marshal.” That was the case with the Lone Ranger as well.

Who was the most feared lawman of the Old West?

Bat Masterson: The Most Feared Lawman of the Wild West.

How many criminals did Bass Reeves have?

For the next thirty-two years Bass Reeves brought to justice over 3,000 criminals and killed fourteen outlaws during his years as a marshal, garnering a reputation as one of the most successful lawmen in the Indian Territory.

Did Bass Reeves escape slavery?

In 1863, Bass Reeves was ultimately freed from his life as a slave and a fugitive by the Emancipation Proclamation. He left “Indian Territory” and bought land near Van Buren, Arkansas, which he used to successfully farm and ranch.

Bass Reeves 5 Things you didn't know

Who was better, Wyatt Earp or Bass Reeves?

Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok may rank as the Old West's best-known U.S. deputy marshals, but those two famous lawmen are strictly minor league when compared to Bass Reeves.

Was Bass Reeves illiterate?

Being a former slave, Reeves was illiterate. He would memorize his warrants and writs. In those thirty–two years it is said he never arrested the wrong person due to the fact he couldn't read.

What are three interesting facts about Bass Reeves?

How many languages did Bass Reeves speak?

Bass Reeves (July 1838 – January 12, 1910) was a runaway slave, gunfighter, farmer, scout, tracker, railroad Agent and deputy U.S. Marshal. He spoke and understood the Five Civilized Tribal languages including Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole and Creek.

Was Bass Reeves religious?

In addition to Reeves' cultural and historical significance, Oyelowo said that one of the things that drew him to the role was how his character's views on justice and equality were shaped by his strong Christian beliefs.

What gunfighter killed the most men in the Old West?

Pursued by lawmen for most of his life, in 1877 at the age of 23, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for murder. At the time of sentencing, Hardin claimed to have killed 42 men, while contemporary newspaper accounts attributed 27 deaths to him. While in prison, Hardin studied law and wrote an autobiography.

Who was the meanest man in the Old West?

Book overview. John Wesley Hardin was the means s.o.b. that ever lived. He shot and killed a man in a rooming house for snoring too loud.

Who was the baddest cowboy in the West?

Hyman G. Neill, better known as Hoodoo Brown, was the leader of the Dodge City Gang in Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1879 and early 1880. According to Harold Thatcher, curator of the Rough Rider Museum in Las Vegas, Hoodoo was "the baddest cowboy of them all".

Did Bass Reeves ride with an Indian?

We can't prove that Reeves was the inspiration for the fictional character, but he is the closest person in real life to resemble the “Lone Ranger.” Reeves had an American Indian companion and aide on many trips into the Indian Territory, he handed out silver dollars, he rode a white horse during one period of his ...

Who was the best Marshall in the Old West?

U.S. Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves is the subject of today's blog post, and a worthy subject he is. He was one of the first black deputy marshals west of the Mississippi, and thus had the authority to arrest any and all who deserved it, regardless of race or gender.

What disease did Bass Reeves have?

According to Burton, Reeves was diagnosed with Bright's disease, a type of kidney disease, in 1909. Bright's disease is an inflammatory disease of the kidneys now known as acute glomerular nephritis, per Science Direct.

What gun did Bass Reeves use?

He was 500 yards away from me when I killed him.” Historically, Bass Reeves eventually came to prefer the Winchester Model 1873 as his long gun of choice due to its ability to share ammunition with revolvers like the Colt Frontier chambered in . 44-40 WCF.

Was The Lone Ranger based on Bass Reeves?

In his book Black Pioneers: Images of the Black Experience on the North American Frontier, John Ravage also suggested Reeves could have been the inspiration for the Lone Ranger. Burton says “unequivocally” that Reeves is the closest real person to resemble the fictional character.

Did Bass Reeves speak any other languages?

Reeves escaped and ended up in the Oklahoma Territory. This is where he became good friends with the Cherokee Indian tribe. During his time with them, Reeves learned how to shoot, ride, and track—as well as fluently speak five Native American languages. These skills helped him become a legendary U.S. Deputy Marshal.

Did Bass Reeves fight in civil war?

As a young man Bass Reeves escaped north into the Indian Territory, and he became acquainted with the Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole. It is believed he served as a soldier with the Union Indian Home Guard Regiments during the Civil War.

What is Bass Reeves' horse's name?

In "Lawmen," Reeves rides a white horse (actually called a gray), works a posse with a Native American (a predecessor to the Native American sidekick Tonto) and wields two Colt pistols, the firearms used by the Lone Ranger. "It's funny because all these story points are taken from Bass Reeves' own story," Oyelowo says.

What happened to Bass Reeves' first wife?

Jennie & Bass Reeves Had 10 Children Before She Died In 1896

One of their children Bennie, whose name was referenced in Lawmen: Bass Reeves episode 2, would later be arrested by Bass himself for killing his wife. Jennie Reeves died on March 19, 1896 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Did Bass Reeves wear a mask?

That sure sounds cool. Might he have been the inspiration for “The Lone Ranger”? Reeves, played in the series by David Oyelowo, wore a mask, had a Native American sidekick, and was known to pass out silver dollars, rather than silver bullets.