Thomas Nixon
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A shot rang out across the bluegrass prairie. Fire from the muzzle of the sharp rifle was once again seen from the spectators on a small hill above the shooter. A thud to the land, an ancient roar followed as the last beast fell from a day's hunt. Today would be Tom Nixon's supreme slaughter of all time. He bolstered 120 buffalo kills in less than 40 minutes.
The spectators on the hill were amassed by his marksmanship-witnessing the buffalo hunters' ability to use two big 50 sharp rifles simultaneously for the kills. The hunters' repeated kills blazed rounds through his rifle until the boor of one rifle became hot. To cool the octagon barrel down, the hunter broke the rifle's breech in a downward motion to cool the first rifle with a wet cloth. The hunter then used the second rifle while the first had time to cool. By the time 40 minutes passed a bloody sight laid in front of him, and the spectators on the hill - 120 buffalo carcasses ready to be striped on hides for the wagon trip home. |
Tom Nixon was born around 1837 in Georgia. A Southerner by birth, he had come west to try his hand at prospecting before moving with his family in 1870 to the site of what would soon become Dodge City.
Nixon, one of the early settlers to the Dodge City area, built a ranch in the region and earned a reputation as a buffalo hunter by the time he arrived in the early 1870s. About 1870, he married Cornelia Houston, and the two had a son, Howard Nixon. Nixon is famous for shooting 120 buffalo in just 40 minutes and killing 3,200 in 35 days.
By the mid-1870s, the buffalo were virtually gone, and Nixon turned to work on Charles Rath's "Bull Trains," which hauled buffalo bones to Dodge City for shipment back east. Loath to stay at one job for very long, Nixon went into the wagon repair business, but in a political turnaround in 1881 he was tapped to replace the existing assistant city marshal. He held the post for the next two years, during which time he and an associate named Orlando A. "Brick" Bond.
Nixon, one of the early settlers to the Dodge City area, built a ranch in the region and earned a reputation as a buffalo hunter by the time he arrived in the early 1870s. About 1870, he married Cornelia Houston, and the two had a son, Howard Nixon. Nixon is famous for shooting 120 buffalo in just 40 minutes and killing 3,200 in 35 days.
By the mid-1870s, the buffalo were virtually gone, and Nixon turned to work on Charles Rath's "Bull Trains," which hauled buffalo bones to Dodge City for shipment back east. Loath to stay at one job for very long, Nixon went into the wagon repair business, but in a political turnaround in 1881 he was tapped to replace the existing assistant city marshal. He held the post for the next two years, during which time he and an associate named Orlando A. "Brick" Bond.
Along with his associate Brick Bond, Nixon became the owner of the Lady Gay Saloon in 1883 and served as an Assistant Marshal. In 1883 the Dodge City War was in full swing. This "war" was a nasty piece of political business involving the former mayor Alonzo Webster (who owned saloons) who had passed ordinances taxing saloons other than his and those of his friends such as Tom Nixon. From a historical perspective, Tom Nixon was probably not on the 'right side of this little war which sought to run competitors out of town.
In 1884 Tom Nixon had been hired to replace Mysterious Dave Mather as Assistant Marshal under Bill Tilghman. Mather then went to work under Sheriff Pat Sughrue of Ford County. Further resentment came towards Nixon from Mather when he was sure his rival had played a part in banning the dance hall girls in the Opera House, of which Mather was the part-owner. The Opera House that was located upstairs from Dog Kelley's place).
In 1884 Tom Nixon had been hired to replace Mysterious Dave Mather as Assistant Marshal under Bill Tilghman. Mather then went to work under Sheriff Pat Sughrue of Ford County. Further resentment came towards Nixon from Mather when he was sure his rival had played a part in banning the dance hall girls in the Opera House, of which Mather was the part-owner. The Opera House that was located upstairs from Dog Kelley's place).
The enmity between Nixon and Mather grew. One night at the Opera House, words were exchanged, and Nixon shot at Mather with the bullet lodging in a railing next to Mather's hand. Nixon was arrested by Sheriff Sughrue but acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
The following week on 21 Jul 1884, Tom Nixon was shot and killed by Mather on the boardwalk in front of the Opera House. Witnesses stated that Mather shot the body multiple times after Nixon was dead. The murder of Nixon and the subsequent trial of Dave Mather were covered by each of Dodge City's many newspapers. Mather was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense based primarily on Bat Masterson's testimony, who stated that Nixon's gun was half-drawn.
Pictured Right: Tom Nixon’s wife Cornelia and their son Howard Tracy, circa 1877.
The following week on 21 Jul 1884, Tom Nixon was shot and killed by Mather on the boardwalk in front of the Opera House. Witnesses stated that Mather shot the body multiple times after Nixon was dead. The murder of Nixon and the subsequent trial of Dave Mather were covered by each of Dodge City's many newspapers. Mather was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense based primarily on Bat Masterson's testimony, who stated that Nixon's gun was half-drawn.
Pictured Right: Tom Nixon’s wife Cornelia and their son Howard Tracy, circa 1877.
