Murder and Infidelity in The Old West
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after 27 years in
Drumheller DRUMHELLER
9
10
FORT CALGARY
the RCMP and
9
570
ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN
Edmonton
Bill Bradshaw today,
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1
Chief of Police in
CALGARY
Camrose for 11 more.
2
FORT MACLEOD
stomach. Wilde died there in the snow, while Charcoal took the sergeant’s fresher horse and rode off. His brutal murder of Sergeant Wilde only served to strengthen the resolve of both the police and Indians alike to capture him.” [1]
Pincher Creek
Brooks
Kindersley
41
36 Medicine Hat 3 Lethbridge Taber FORT WHOOP-UP
Regina 1
Maple Creek 41
Warner WARNER
FORT WALSH
CANADA
89
“Two days (after killing Sergeant Wilde), Charcoal showed up at the home of his two brothers, Left Hand and Bear’s Back Bone. He didn’t realize that the two men had promised the police that they would help capture their renegade brother. To Charcoal’s surprise, his brothers (with their wives’ help) tied him up and turned him over to the authorities. Charcoal was hanged in the corral at Fort Macleod on March 16, 1897, with a death song on his lips.” [3] From the poem ‘Charcoal’ by A.L. Freebairn: Wild tales of whiskey trading Of fearsome Indian fight. Of men who rustled horses Across the line at night. And oftimes some old timer Would tell the tale anew. Of the time they hunted Charcoal And the men that Charcoal slew. [4] Sergeant Wilde’s service, and sacrifice, is honoured to this day on plaques erected both at Fort McLeod and on Hwy 6 south of Pincher Creek. By: Allen Gibson 1, 3 source: http://www.edmrcmpvets.ca/Wall/wilde.w.b.pdf 2,4 “60 Years in an Old Cow Town“ by A. L. Freebairn. C. 2001
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U.S.A.
15 2
Havre FORT ASSINNIBOINE
FORT BENTON Great Falls