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Shootout at the Metropole Saloon
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Shootout at the Metropole Saloon I just watched ' The Shootist ' again for the umpteenth time yesterday afternoon. After watching the flick I wrote this little summary about the picture myself, after doing some internet research on it, and kinda guessing at some of it, and theorizing on a little more about it. Hope you like it. Shootout at the Metropole Saloon Timeline ; January 22nd, 1901 - John Bernard Books, age 58 ex lawman turned hired gunslinger from Creede, Colorado travels to Carson City Nevada by horseback after seeing a doctor in Creede that had given him bad news about his ailing health problem. Books arrives in Carson City at 8:00 am to visit doctor and old friend of his, Doctor E.W. Hosteler age 69, for a second opinion about his health. Dr. Hosteler had saved Books life 15 years earlier in 1886 when he was shot by a third man S. T. Gordon , age 29 of Sparks, Nevada from behind while Books was involved in a called out showdown gunfight killing Albert Sweeney, age 31 of Carson City at the Acme Saloon in downtown Carson City, Nevada. Books also managed to shoot and kill Gordon while laying on floor after being back shot. At the age of 43 in 1886 it was the only time J. B. Books had ever been hit by a bullet. Books told Dr. Hosteler after the Doctor said that newspapers often reminded him that Books was still alive that he was semi retired while still working a little now and then, that he hadn't been involved in a gunfight since July of 1895 in El Dorado, Texas when he shot and killed Nelson McCloud, age 41 of Billings, Montana in a range war with the two men being on opposite sides of the dispute. Nelson McCloud was also well known in his hired gun profession and was a Books equal, that had killed 27 men. After Dr. Hostelers examination he informs Books that he agreed with his colleague up in Creede, Colorado's opinion, that Books did indeed have cancer. Before Book leaves the doctors office Dr. Hosteler tips Books off on a place to stay at the widow Bond Rogers Boarding House while he is in town. Books arrives at Mrs Bond Rogers Boarding house at 500 Mountain Street asking for a room around 11:00 am. Mrs. Bond Rogers age 55, being interviewed eight days later on January 30th by The Morning Appeal newspaper reporter Dan Dobkins said that Books in trying to hide his real name told her when he arrived at her boarding house that he was a U.S.Marshall by the name of William Hickok hailing from Abilene, Kansas in town on Federal business. Mrs. Rogers Gillom Rogers, age 18 found out that afternoon who Books really was after riding his to the livery stable and seeing his name on the underside of Books saddle. Gillom tells his mother later that night that the man renting the room is notorious gunslinger J. B. Books who had killed 30 men. Mrs Rogers became fearful of what may happen in her home. The next morning she demanded that Books to pack up and leave, that she did not want an assassin in her home. Mrs. Rogers told Books if the other lodgers found out who he really was they would all leave and she couldn't afford for them to move out. Books refused telling her he was dying of cancer, that he couldn't leave. January 24th, 1901 ; J. B. Books around 11:00 pm at night shot and killed Ben Shupp age 37 of Shinbone, Arizona, and Jake Norton age 43 of Needles, California, as the two men attempted to assassinate Books as he slept in his room, so as to gain the reputation of having been the men that killed J. B. Books. All of the permanent lodgers moved out of the boarding house the next morning leaving Mrs. Rogers financially strapped. Books however a few days later did compensate an unknowing Mrs. Rogers over the other lodgers leaving, and then some. January 29th, 1901 ; On J. B Books 59th birthday at 11:00 am inside the Metropole Saloon, Books is hit by two 12 gauge shotgun blast in his back in the aftermath of an arranged gunfight set up by Books that were fired by bartender Murray Hamilton age 60, as eye witnessed by Gillom Rogers, after Books had shot and killed, Jay Cobb age 45, a local Milk delivery business man, Mike Sweeney age 62, a cattle rancher ( Albert Sweeney's older brother ), and Jack Pulford age 51, a Metropole employee card dealer, in a three on one gunfight. The bartender Murray Hamilton was also shot and killed, with suspicion surrounding his death. All four men allegedly killed by Books were from Carson City, Nevada or the surrounding area. All five men were pronounced dead at the scene of gunshot wounds by Carson City's Doctor and Coroner E.W. Hostetler. Local undertaker Hezekiah Beckum age 67 was put in charge of the dead bodies for funeral arrangements after a brief investigation by Carson City's Marshall Walter Thibido, age 57, that in his judgement all five men died as the result of a fair gunfight from alleged earlier disputes in days prior to their meet up at the Metropole Saloon. Legend is that eye witness Gillom Rogers took J. B. Books 45 caliber pistol from his hand as he lay dying on the floor firing three rounds into Hamilton's chest and abdomen for cowardly shooting Books in the back. During the brief investigation of the Metropole Saloon shoot out while being questioned Gillom Rogers told Carson City Marshall Walter Thibido, that J. B. Books shot and killed Murray Hamilton as he was reloading his shotgun to fire on Books again while Books was laying on his back on the floor. Two minutes later J. B. Books passed away. Ballistics proved the three rounds in Hamilton's upper torso came from J. B. Books 45 caliber Colt revolver, therefore crediting J B Books with Hamilton's death and his 36th kill. Theorist believe Gillom Rogers told this story to Marshall Thibido either to avoid a possible murder or manslaughter charge or to make one more historic side note for the career of the famous gunslinger Rogers had grown to admire in Books short stay at his mothers boarding house. Five years later in 1906 against his mothers wishes Gillom Rogers bought the Metropole Saloon for $2000, financed by a local bank. Under Rogers management the Metropole Saloon became the most popular Saloon in Carson City, Nevada. Rogers operated the Metropole until he officially retired in 1960 after selling the Metropole for $100,000 to Nate Pulford, one of Jack Pulford's grandsons. The sale of the Metropole Saloon at that time became the highest amount ever paid out for a business venture in Ormsby County, Nevada. During the Summer of Love 66 years later to his dying day of July 13th, 1967 of a heart attack at the age of 85 while living at the very same home of his mother's where Ben Shupp and Jake Norton were shot and killed by J.B Books, Gillom Rogers stuck with his never wavering story re-told by him over and over through out his life of how the gunfight went down at the Metropole Saloon.  J. B. Books picture circa January 29th, 1901 on his birthday and death day moments before his last gunfight inside the Metropole Saloon. Photographer ; Don Siegel ~  ~ |
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Great story, and a great movie !!
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That's the thing about movies back in the day you see the movie then read the book . Most times if you read the book then see the movie you are disappointed .
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Keep it up, Kurt!  ~ ~
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What a great story ..loved it hugsssssssssss V Become a blog watcher sweet_vm
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Thanks for posting.  ~ ~
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I even liked that movie. That's a good story from it.
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I even liked that movie. That's a good story from it. ~ ~
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Interesting! I haven't seen the movie but I'm gonna have to check it out. I like movies like that. Ole J B looks kinda like John Wayne in that pic!
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Interesting! I haven't seen the movie but I'm gonna have to check it out. I like movies like that. Ole J B looks kinda like John Wayne in that pic! ~ ~
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