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where the wild west comes alive
Bill Doolin
(1858-Aug.25, 1896)
Drawing by Richard Florence .
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Bill Doolin was born in Arkansas and migrated west in 1881.
He worked as a cowboy, joined the Dalton Gang and participated in three train robberies with
them. After the Dalton Gang was wiped out by the citizens of Coffeyville, Kansas, Bill formed
his own gang which included Bill Dalton (brother of the famous gang members). After a number
of successful robberies, the peace officers Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas and Chris Madsen were
tracking him down. He was captured in Eureka Springs, Arkansas on January 15, 1896 by Bill
Tilghman and brought back to Guthrie, Oklahoma. On July 5, 1896, he escaped. Heck Thomas with
fellow officers found Bill and he died after receiving multiple shotgun blasts.
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- Bill Doolin: Outlaw O.T. by Colonel Bailey C. Hanes
- This book remains the definitive (and only) biography of Bill Doolin. Published by the University of Oklahoma Press, this book can be found in reprints.
Bill was a cool, collective and some say dangerous man, but he stopped one of his gang members from shooting Bill Tilghman saying something to the effect that Bill was too good a man to shoot in the back.
If you have the Eagles album Desperado, the song Doolin-Dalton briefly describes his life and his meeting Bill Dalton. The lyrics are ...'till Bill Doolin met Bill Dalton....."
For more information on Bill Doolin see this fine web page.
I have constructed a crude map which will help you locate Bill Doolin's grave. Click on the Summit View Cemetery link below.
Books about Bill Doolin |
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