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More About This Title Gold Dust and Gunsmoke: Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen, and Vigilantes
English
"Boessenecker has done as much as anyone to change and illuminate California’s Wild West image . . . if you would like a good read about how gold fever ignited a rush not only of families, but prostitutes, feuds, lynchings, duels, bare-knuckle prizefights, and vigilantes, then is this the place to start."
—Wild West
"A lively, thoughtful, well-researched book, and those interested in the rough, early years of the Mother Lode will not be disappointed."
—Ledger-Dispatch (Jackson, Ca)
"[Boessenecker] has done an amazing job of researching newspapers, legal documents, diaries, and other sources, as well as making skillful use of the recent research. . . . Excellent narrative . . . . Very well done, Gold Dust & Gunsmoke is a 'must.'"
—True West
"Boessenecker's meticulous research and vivid prose make this excellent book a fascinating collection of true stories."
—Tulsa World
Packed with never-before-told tales of the American frontier, Gold Dust & Gunsmoke sends us galloping through the tumultuous California territory of the mid-nineteenth century, where disputes were settled with six-shooters and the lines of justice were in perpetual flux. Armed with meticulous research, John Boessenecker displays a remarkable knack for finding the perfect details to capture all the color, excitement, and hullabaloo of the Gold Rush. Published in tandem with the 150th anniversary of California's statehood, these authentic stories of gunfighters, lawmen, vigilantes, and barroom brawlers are an important contribution to the rich lore of the American West.
English
English
Acknowledgments xiii
1 "Boys, I Believe I've Found a Gold Mine" 1
2 First Blood 13
3 Judge Lynch 25
4 Gringos and Greasers 44
5 Bring Me the Head of Joaquin Murrieta 73
6 Pillagers or Patriots? 100
7 The Whores in '51 134
8 Bears, Bulls, and Bare Knuckles 159
9 I'll Die Before I'll Run 179
10 The Field of Honor 204
11 Pirates of the Placers 225
12 Gold Rush Lawmen 250
13 Enforcing the Law 273
14 Gold Rush Gunfighters 297
Epilogue: A Legacy of Violence 321
Notes 327
Index 349
