The Dead Man's Hand
Wednesday August 3, 2005
On August 2, 1876 James "Wild Bill" Hickok was killed by Jack Mc Call in Deadwood, Dakota Territory. He was playing poker when he was shot and his hand held a pair aces and a pair of eights. This two pair hand will forever be called the "Dead man's Hand."
Comments
Actually, the dead mans hand is not just aces and eights, but more specifically the black aces and black eights. There is debate about what the kicker was.
The supposed actual cards from the hand played in Deadwood are on display was the 5 of diamonds.
According to eye witness accounts of the game it was the 9 of diamonds.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not contends it was the Queen of Clubs.
And in the 1936 movie “The Plainsman” with Gary Cooper it was the King of Spades.