Bat Masterson’s Death – Cause and Date

The legendary figure of the American Old West, Bat Masterson, died at the age of 66 at his desk.

Legendary Lawman and Journalist

Bat Masterson was born William Barclay Masterson on November 26, 1853, in Quebec, Canada. He was renowned as a lawman, gambler, and journalist. Masterson’s life was marked by his adventurous spirit and diverse career.

In the 1870s and 1880s, Masterson gained fame as a lawman in Dodge City, Kansas, where he worked alongside notable figures like Wyatt Earp. His skill with a gun and dedication to upholding the law made him a formidable presence in the lawless frontier towns.

After his law enforcement career, Masterson transitioned to journalism, becoming a sportswriter and columnist for the New York Morning Telegraph. He brought the same tenacity to his writing as he did to his law enforcement, covering boxing and other sports with keen insight and wit.

His brothers were lawmen James and Ed Masterson.

Death

On October 25, 1921, at age 67, Bat Masterson died in New York City of a heart attack at his desk after writing his final column for the Morning Telegraph.

Funeral

Around 500 people attended his service at Frank E. Campbell’s Funeral Church. His honorary pallbearers included Damon Runyon, Tex Rickard, and William Lewis. Runyon, a close friend, delivered a memorable eulogy, praising Masterson as a genuine, kind-hearted man with a great sense of humor and a talent for storytelling.

Burial

Masterson was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. His gravestone, inscribed “William Barclay Masterson,” bears the epitaph “Loved by Everyone.”

His legacy endures as a symbol of the rugged determination and multifaceted life of the American West.