Hollywood is joining fort smith in honoring one of the men who hunted outlaws in the wild west. The crowd gathered on the lawn adjacent to the old federal courthouse in fort smith, arkansas, where judge isaac c. Old west legends bass reeves black hero marshal born to slave parents in 1838 in paris, texas, bass reeves would become the first black u. Just in time for the release of disneys the lone ranger movie, the july issue of true west magazine has an intriguing article about the possible reallife model for the masked man. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the man who shot bass reeves. Born into slavery, bass reeves became the most successful us marshal of the wild west. In the early days of the character, the mask covered the lone rangers entire face, which may have been a homage to bass reeves above, if indeed the character was based on the frontier deputy marshal.
He was also notable for being african american in a day and age where it was unheardof among lawmen. The hbo series watchmen has familiarized audiences with the reallife deputy us marshal bass reeves, an africanamerican lawman in the. Volume i chronicles his life from winnign shooting matches in early childhood to traveling with his master, living with native americans in indian territory, and finally becoming a u. See the full list of bass reeves cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Bass reeves july 1838 january 12, 1910 was an american law enforcement officer. Morgan freeman brings bass reeves miniseries to hbo. He fought and struck his master with a garden hoe and killed him in one strike may 24, 1875. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the adventures of bass reeves deputy u. Marshal bass reeves patrolled indian territory during and the wild west era. Though the truth has yet to be determined, historians consider it unlikely that reeves ever served in the last two battles.
He was the most successful federal marshal in the us in his day. The life and legend of frontier marshall bass reeves. In the year 1875 the indian territory was the most dangerous place in the united states, because there was virtually no law to govern the land. A black man becomes a united states deputy marshal in the 1875 west. By the time clayton moore took on the persona of the lone ranger for the 1950s abc series, the black mask covered only his eyes next slide. Many heroic lawmen of the wild west, familiar to us through television and film, were actually violent scoundrels and outlaws themselves. Marshals museum in fort smith has an impressive collection of guns and documents related to famed deputy u. Marshal bass reeves, and he makes a compelling case. During his long career, he was credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons. After oklahoma gained statehood in 1907, jim crow laws prevented him from continuing as a deputy marshal, and he joined the muskogee police department.
Well, it looks like morgan freeman thought the same thing because hes teamed up with hbo for a miniseries based on the bass reeves life. The united states marshals service usms is a federal law enforcement agency within the u. Morgan freemans bass reeves project finally gets a lift, thanks to hbo. With derek ray duncan, samuel godwin, mauricio griffin, david guthrie.
A 25foot work of art honors the illustrious lawman, believed to be the first black u. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Tales of the talented tenth, volume one tells the story of bass reeves, an escaped slave who became one of the most successful lawman of the old west. In this animated educational movie about american westward expansion, learn how u. Black gun, silver star tells bass reevess story for the first time, sifting through fact and legend to discover the truth about one of the most outstanding peace officers in latenineteenthcentury americaand perhaps the greatest lawman of the wild west era. Marshal, an arkansas slave named bass reeves, was the reallife inspiration for the lone ranger.
He escaped to indian territory after severely beating his young master in a dispute over cards and lived among the five civilized tribes, especially the creeks. Bass reeves could well have been one of the greatest lawmen of the wild west. Sam bass was a deputy us marshal who worked the oklahoma territory in the days of judge paker. In the midst of this chaos, nine outlaws attempt to take over a saloon in the worst way. Marshall, staunchly defended territorial law in the american west through many remarkable deeds. A western adventure from the author of bass reeves. See more ideas about black history, african and black cowboys. Watch him defeat notorious outlaws and battle his greatest foe, jim crow.
Bass reeves, the first black commissioned united states deputy marshal west of the mississippi river, was born to slave parents in july 1838 in arkansas. Owned by farmer and politician george reeves, bass worked as water boy and later as his owners personal servant. Marshal bass reeves ever pulled on a criminal a particularly glorious example of fake it til you make it. During the late 19th century no area in the united states was a haven and a refuge for criminals. He worked mostly in arkansas and the oklahoma territory. Bass reeves family however, claims an alternative story which suggests that between 1861 and 1862, reeves attacked his owner in an argument over a card game and escaped into indian territory.
Bass reeves july 1838 12 january 1910 was one of the first african americans possibly the first to receive a commission as a deputy u. S marshal when he satrted his line of duty may 29, 1875. Yet another miniseries adapted from a biography is in the planning stages at hbo. Bass reeves escaped numerous assassination attempts on his life, he was the most feared deputy u. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading frontier justice. It was a beautiful, but warm, saturday morning, likely akin to ones in the late.
House, santiago villalobos, craig rainey, wesley blake. However, one historian believes that this 19thcentury deputy u. The legend of bass reeves by gary paulsen goodreads. Reeves according to research is the only deputy on record who started working for parkers court in 1875 and worked up to statehood in 1907. The jurisdiction of this territory fell to the united states court for western arkansas, located at fort smith, arkansas. Reeves, bass the encyclopedia of oklahoma history and culture. Marshal bass reeves, born as a slave in arkansas, grew up in lamar and grayson counties, texas, where he belonged to col. The book uses old west language to tell the story of reeve s exciting life capturing criminals. Reeves, bass the handbook of texas online texas state. Marshal in the indian country bass reeves won a reputation as the most feared u. The legend of bass reeves he rode for judge parkers court in fort smith. He spoke seven native american languages, and set records for apprehending and shooting outlaws. Bass reeves was the first africanamerican to be commissioned as a u. Bass reeves worked a total of thirtytwo years as a deputy u.
During the civil war he escaped and lived among the indians of the five civilized tribes in the oklahoma territories. During the late 19th century no area in the united states was a haven and a refuge for criminals like the indian territory, prestatehood oklahoma. Deputy marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history owned by a man named william reeves, a farmer and politician. Born to slave parents in 1838 in paris, texas, bass reeves would become the first black u. Bass reeves frontier marshal volume 1 phillips, gary, odom, mel, salmon, andrew, ferguson, derrick on. Montgomery lauren hanzelka university of northern iowa bad news for outlaws. African american history online presents bass reeves. During his time as a marshal, reeves caught more than 3,000 criminals. The life and legend of frontier marshal bass reeves. This volume of the trilogy will put the reader in the deadly indian territory and connect bass with pistol pete, belle star and the famous judge issac parker. Bass reeves, a deputy united states marshal in old indian territory for over thirty years, is very ill at his home in the fourth ward and is not expected to live. Bass reeves fullon dances with wolves clip season 3 ep 7 102015 a slave named bass reeves escapes, seeks refuge with native americans and is recruited to work as a u. This project takes us to the classic old west to play out the life of frontier marshal bass reeves.
In 1860, reeves took the distraction of the civil war as an opportunity to escape and live among the indians. Marshal bass reeves, a former slave born in crawford county near van buren in 1838. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. A western adventure from the author of the bass reeves stories kindle edition by ray, charles, thompson, paul l. Reeves was a deputy under leo bennett in the last years of the federal regime in oklahoma and also served in the old days of judge parker at fort smith. Reeves, born into slavery, served for 32 years under federal judge isaac c. Morgan freemans bass reeves project finally gets a lift. But of all the sheriffs of the frontier, one man stands out as a true hero. He was a legend in the indian territory, feared by the lawless and respected by. By 1875, reeves and his family were living back in western arkansas, and it was there that he was approached to apply for a position as a deputy u. The legend of bass reeves by author gary paulsen is a western written for young readers. Marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history. Bass reeves was one of those rugged lawman who brought law and order to the american west, and more particularly to nineteenthcentury oklahoma. Bass reeves lesson plans and lesson ideas brainpop educators.
Nov 7, 2018 bass reeves july 1838 12 january 1910 was one of the first african americans possibly the first to receive a commission as a deputy u. Bass reeves was a paris, texasborn slave who become one of the toughest men of the frontier in history. Maybe the law aint perfect, but its the only one we got, and without it we got nuthin bass reeves. It focuses on the true story of a littleknown marshal who patrolled the old indian territory, now known as oklahoma.
Bass reeves fullon dances with wolves drunk history. Deputy marshal west of the mississippi river and one of the greatest frontier heroes in our nations history. Actor morgan freeman is one of the producers that will adapt the art t. Born to slave parents in 1838 in crawford county, arkansas, bass reeves would become the first black u. The marshals service is the oldest american federal law enforcement agency. Tales of a western legendhe began his life as a slave. Bass reeves was one of the first african american deputy u. The continuing story of bass reeves, the first black us marshal west of the mississippi. Us marshals museum searches for bass reeves relatives ap news. Marshal by vaunda micheaux nelson is a great read, especially for 35 grade students who may be reluctant or uninterested readers.
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