Comments on: Missing grave of Hickok’s killer

By: Merle

Merle — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:05:24 +0000

I read McLaird’s book on Calamity Jane. Seems she took credit for a lot of things that she wasn’t involved in. Other people gave her credit for things she didn’t claim to do. To me, she’s one of the more fascinating characters to come out of Deadwood.

By: Martyn

Martyn — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:20:35 +0000

Tons of interesting/wild information out there about Jack McCall. James McLaird, in his recent book, “Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane,” notes that Calamity Jane claimed to have been present at McCall’s hanging, and that a witness said that McCall hissed at Calamity just before he dropped. McLaird does point out that this was not true, but as with the legend of the church noted by John, these things have a habit of creeping into popular lore.

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:27:47 +0000

Thanks, John, for the info. The part about passing down the secret of McCall’s grave is a great story. I’ll grab a copy of South Dakota Magazine when it comes out. Great pub, by the way.

By: John Andrews

John Andrews — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:09:50 +0000

I forgot to add, in the upcoming July/August issue of South Dakota Magazine, we have a letter to the editor from a gentleman whose great-grandfather was a saloon keeper in Yankton in 1877 and actually tied the hangman’s knot in McCall’s noose.

By: John Andrews

John Andrews — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:08:15 +0000

Interesting post. I’m a relative newbie to Yankton (I’ve been here four years), but from what I understand McCall’s grave is only sort of missing. He is indeed buried in the Catholic cemetery in town, but his grave is unmarked. I’ve heard that only a few people within the Catholic church (3-5) know the exact location, and when one dies another member is told. Whether that’s true or just local legend, I don’t know. Sort of sounds like something out of a Dan Brown movie.