Aces and Eights

Wild Bill Hickok was killed on this day back in 1876 at Nuttal & Mann's Saloon No. 10 in Deadwood. It is interesting to note that Wild Bill's real name was James Butler Hickok but he got the name Wild Bill through a series of events. First he was given the nickname "Duck Bill" in the army because of his big nose and protruding upper lip. The name soon changed to "Wild Bill" after Hickok grew a mustache and gained a reputation as a fierce fighter. Wild Bill stuck for the rest of his life.

Wild Bill was playing poker when he was shot and killed by the coward McCall. The hand Bill had at the time was aces and eights. The dead man's hand.