Bucky O'Neill

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Owen "Bucky" O'Neill (February 2, 1860 - July 1, 1898) was a famous sheriff, newspaper editor, miner, politician, gambler and lawyer in Arizona, but is best remembered as the Captain of Troop A in Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

1 Early life
2 Tombstone
3 Prescott
4 The Hanging of Dennis Dilda
5 Yavapai County Sheriff
6 Rough Riders
7 Daiquiri
8 Las Guasimas
9 Death
10 Movies
11 Trivia
12 References
13 Sources

[edit] Early life

Bucky was born on February 2, 1860, either in St. Louis, Missouri, or Washington, D.C., although he sometimes listed Ireland as his birthplace. This last is doubtful since his parents had been in the United States since the 1850s. During the Civil War, his father, John, served as a captain in the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Irish Brigade, and was severely wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

In 1879, Bucky left home, heading for Arizona Territory.

[edit] Tombstone

In 1880, Bucky settled in Tombstone, Arizona. During this time the Earp Brothers, the city policemen, and the Clanton-McLaury Gang, a group of rustlers and murderers, were at war with each other. Bucky joined up with the Tombstone Epitaph, and being a pro-Earp newspaper, Bucky frequently talked with, and became a casual acquaintance of the Earps. On October 26, 1881 the war escalated. In the Gunfight at the O. K. Corral, Marshal Virgil Earp, and his deputies Wyatt Earp and Morgan Earp, along with their friend/gambler Doc Holliday, shot it out with Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Billy Claibourne, and Wes Fuller. The shoot-out resulted in Billy Clanton and the McLaury's being killed, Virgil and Morgan receiving severe wounds, and Doc Holliday being nicked in the hip. Only Wyatt remained unharmed. Ike Clanton, Wes Fuller, and Billy Claibourne ran away from the battle.

Bucky O'Neill may have been the man to report on the scene, or he may not have. Bucky left Tombstone shortly after, heading for Prescott, Arizona.

[edit] Prescott

Bucky O'Neill arrived in Prescott in the spring of 1882. There he rapidly progressed in his journalist career. Starting as`a court reporter, he soon founded his own newspaper called Hoof and Horn, a paper for the livestock industry.

Bucky became captain of the Prescott Grays, in 1886, and witnessed the hanging of murderer Dennis Dilda, which was an embarrassing event for O'Neill. The Grays were the Prescott region unit of the Arizona militia, now known as the Arizona National Guard. ^[1]

In April 1887, Bucky O'Neill married Pauline Schindler. They had a son, but he died shortly after being born premature.

[edit] The Hanging of Dennis Dilda

On February 5, 1886, Dennis Dilda, convicted murderer was hanged. Bucky O'Neill and the Prescott Grays stood honor guard for the event. When the trap dropped, Bucky fainted. He wouldn't get over the incident until 1891. Bucky wrote a story called ''The Horse of the Hash-Knife Brand." In it, a member of a posse admits to nearly fainting at the hanging of a horse thief.

[edit] Yavapai County Sheriff

In 1888, while serving as Yavapai County judge, Bucky was elected the sheriff, running on the Republican Ticket.

The most famous incident in O'Neill's lawman career happened on March 20, 1889. 4 masked men robbed the Atlantic and Pacific passenger train, in Diablo Canyon. A four man posse, made up of Bucky O'Neill, Jim Black, Carl Holton, and Ed St. Clair, was soon formed and they took off after robbers. On March 21, O'Neill and his posse caught up with the robbers. After exchanging rifle shots, the posse captured the 4 men. During the fight, no men were injured, but O'Neill's horse was killed.

The 4 men were William Sterin, John Halford, Daniel Harvick, and J. J. Smith. All 4 were sent to the Yuma Territorial Prison, but were pardoned 8 years later. In 1898, William Sterin enlisted in the Rough Riders under the name Henry Nash, posing as a school teacher from Strawberry, Arizona. Little did Bucky know, that one of his sergeants was an outlaw whom he had arrested.

After his term was up, Bucky was elected unanimously Mayor of Prescott.

[edit] Rough Riders

In 1898, war broke out between the U. S. and Spain. Buckey soon enlisted as Captain of Troop A in the Rough Riders. Along with Alexander Brodie and James McClintock, Bucky tried to make an entire regiment made up of Arizona Cowboys. Eventually though, only 3 troops were authorized.

[edit] Daiquiri

The Rough Riders landed at Daiquiri on June 22, 1898. Though there was no fighting that took place, Bucky showed his heroism by risking his life.

2 Buffalo Soldiers, of the 10th Cavalry, fell overboard. Upon seeing this, Bucky jumped in the water in full uniform, sabre and all. At a time when Negroes were disliked by white men, this was unheard of. None the less Bucky searched for the men for 2 minutes, before having to come up for breath.

[edit] Las Guasimas

On June 25, 1898, the Rough Riders saw their first action. Here, Bucky once again showed his bravery, leading his men at the front of the line in the Battle of Las Guasimas.

Bucky was, unfortunately, involved in an incident of friendly fire. Bucky saw several men, who he believed were Spaniards, across the road from him during the battle. He shouted "Hostiles on our right, fire at will!" Bucky learned after the firing ceased, that the men he exchanged shots with were Cuban rebels.

Bucky soon led his troop to the Spanish flank, and captured it. The victory gave the men all the hope they needed on winning the war.

[edit] Death

On July 1, 1898, at about 10 o'clock in the morning, the Rough Riders and the 10th cavalry were stationed below Kettle Hill. The Spaniards, who were on top of the hill, poured down on the Americans with machine gun and Mauser fire. Buckey O'Neill was killed in action.

Teddy Roosevelt wrote about the death of O'Neill: "The most serious loss that I and the regiment could have suffered befell just before we charged. Bucky O'Neill was strolling up and down in front of his men, smoking his cigarette, for he was inveterately addicted to the habit. He had a theory that an officer ought never to take cover - a theory which was, of course, wrong, though in a volunteer organization the officers should certainly expose themselves very fully, simply for the effect on the men; our regimental toast on the transport running, " The officers; may the war last until each is killed, wounded, or promoted." As O'Neill moved to and fro, his men begged him to lie down, and one of the sergeants said, " Captain, a bullet is sure to hit you." O'Neill took his cigarette out of his mouth, and blowing out a cloud of smoke laughed and said, " Sergeant, the Spanish bullet isn't made that will kill me." A little later he discussed for a moment with one of the regular officers the direction from which the Spanish fire was coming. As he turned on his heel a bullet struck him in the mouth and came out at the back of his head; so that even before he fell his wild and gallant soul had gone out into the darkness."

[edit] Movies

Bucky O'Neill is a main character in the TNT movie Rough Riders, portrayed by Sam Elliott (web site)

[edit] Trivia

On July 3, 1907, a monument was dedicated to O'Neill's memory in Prescott, Arizona. 7,000 people gathered to witness the unveiling.
One of Bucky O'Neill's best friends was Detective Tom Horn
The statue of O'Neill on horseback is in the courthouse square of Yavapai County courthouse, seen in the 1971 movie Billy Jack, in the Korean martial arts scene.
Not to be confused with John Jordan Buck O'Neil, (1911-2006), Negro league baseball player who took his nickname from co-owner Buck O'Neal of The Miami Giants. ^[2]