Gold Dust and Gunsmoke : Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen, and Vigilantes

by Boessenecker, John

• ISBN13: 9780471390183
• ISBN10: 0471390186
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-11
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

A lively collection of true tales of villainy and violence during the California Gold Rush "Boessenecker has done as much as anyone to change and illuminate California's Wild West image . . . if you would like a good read about how gold fever ignited a rush not only of families, but prostitutes, feuds, lynchings, duels, bare-knuckle prizefights, and vigilantes, then is this the place to start." -Wild West "A lively, thoughtful, well-researched book, and those interested in the rough, early years of the Mother Lode will not be disappointed." -Ledger-Dispatch (Jackson, Ca) "[Boessenecker] has done an amazing job of researching newspapers, legal documents, diaries, and other sources, as well as making skillful use of the recent research. . . . Excellent narrative . . . . Very well done, Gold Dust & Gunsmoke is a 'must.'" -True West "Boessenecker's meticulous research and vivid prose make this excellent book a fascinating collection of true stories." -Tulsa World Packed with never-before-told tales of the American frontier, Gold Dust & Gunsmoke sends us galloping through the tumultuous California territory of the mid-nineteenth century, where disputes were settled with six-shooters and the lines of justice were in perpetual flux. Armed with meticulous research, John Boessenecker displays a remarkable knack for finding the perfect details to capture all the color, excitement, and hullabaloo of the Gold Rush. Published in tandem with the 150th anniversary of California's statehood, these authentic stories of gunfighters, lawmen, vigilantes, and barroom brawlers are an important contribution to the rich lore of the American West.

Author Biography

JOHN BOESSENECKER is a San Francisco attorney and historian. He is the author of Badge and Buckshot: Lawlessness in Old California and Lawman: The Life and Times of Harry Morse, 1835—1912, and he is coauthor of The Grey Fox: The True Story of Bill Miner, Last of the Old Time Bandits.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xiii
"Boys, I Believe I've Found a Gold Mine"	p. 1
First Blood	p. 13
Judge Lynch	p. 23
Gringos and Greasers	p. 44
Bring Me the Head of Joaquin Murrieta	p. 73
Pillagers or Patriots?	p. 100
The Whores in '51	p. 134
Bears, Bulls, and Bare Knuckles	p. 159
I'll Die Before I'll Run	p. 179
The Field of Honor	p. 204
Pirates of the Placers	p. 225
Gold Rush Lawmen	p. 250
Enforcing the Law	p. 273
Gold Rush Gunfighters	p. 297
Epilogue: A Legacy of Violence	p. 321
Notes	p. 327
Index	p. 349
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.