From 1860 to 1900, many towns in Nevada sprang up to serve the mining camps in the area. These towns provided the breeding ground for a unique character known as “the mining camp gunman.” This book delves into the violent and gritty lives of various Nevada characters, including gunfighting miner Dick Prentice, lawman and politico Leslie Blackburn, peace officer William McKee, ruthless killer Hank Parrish, outlaw escape artist John Burke and other characters.

Elmer D. McInnes has long been an expert on the lives of outlaws, lawmen and gunfighters of the Old West. He worked in the book industry for over 35 years and has researched, written and published numerous magazine articles as well as five books dealing with Old West history. He lives in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes has worked for over 26 years as an executive for the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly. She contributes to the writing process through research observations and technical assistance. She lives in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Elmer D. McInnes with Lauretta Ritchie-McInnes

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 233
Bibliographic Info: 25 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2022
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8631-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4408-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments by Elmer D. McInnes v
Introduction by Elmer D. McInnes 1
1. A “Cool and Courageous” Man: Thomas Coleman 5
2. “The Best Fighter in Nevada”: Dick Prentice 19
3. The Hard Luck Gunman: Dick Paddock 31
4. A Savage Life and a Dishonorable Death: William Bethards 43
5. Boss Fighter to Political Chief: Leslie Blackburn 58
6. A Dedicated Law Man: William McKee 70
7. The Fighting Irish: Irish Tom Carberry 83
8. Two Dangerous Men: Jack White and Bob Mellon 93
9. “Something of a Noted Rogue”: John Burke 105
10. “One of the Worst Men in the Country”: James Harrington 120
11. A ­Full-Fledged Fighter: George Kirk 136
12. A Venomous Desperado: Rattlesnake Dick Darling 148
13. Eureka’s Paul Revere: Billy Martin 162
14. The Ghost of Ely: Hank Parrish 170
Epilogue by Elmer D. McInnes 187
Chapter Notes 189
Bibliography and Source List 217
Index 221