Trinidad Gunfight
Encyclopedia
Trinidad Gunfight was a gunfight of the Old West that took place in Trinidad, Colorado
, between two professional gamblers, Frank Loving
and John Allen. The gunfight is notable in that Loving was, during his time, known as having a reputation as a gunman, due to his having killed Levi Richardson
in the Long Branch Saloon Gunfight
.
Shielding himself behind another man, Allen fired another shot at Loving, missing, then as Loving bent over to retrieve his revolver Allen fired yet a third shot, again missing. Allen headed for the rear door of the saloon, with Loving in pursuit, firing until his own revolver was emptied, missing. Allen ran into the alley behind the saloon, then took refuge a few doors down in Hammond's Hardware Store.
By that time, James Masterson
, a former Dodge City, Kansas
Marshal
, had arrived. Masterson was at the time working as a town deputy marshal in Trinidad. Loving was disarmed by Masterson, who then went looking for John Allen, but could not find him. When Masterson returned to the Imperial Saloon, he found that Loving had obtained two more revolvers and went looking for Allen. Masterson went after him, catching him at the Catholic
Convent
, at which point Masterson again disarmed Loving, for the second time, then again Masterson went looking for John Allen.
Masterson heard a shot come from Hammond's Hardware Store. Responding, Masterson and local Town Marshal Lou Kreeger found that Frank Loving had entered the store to replenish his ammunition, only to be shot in the back by Allen, who was hiding in the back of the store. The two lawmen arrested John Allen while he hid in the back of the store. Loving stated upon seeing Masterson, "Jim, I'm shot". Loving was treated for his wound, but died five days later, on April 21, 1880. Allen was tried for murder
in September, 1880, but was acquitted due to Loving have some notoriety as being a dangerous man, and Allen being able to successfully argue that he feared for his life. Allen is sometimes referred to by historical references as a "gunman", when in fact he was not. This was his only known armed encounter, and was, by historical accounts, more a result of him hiding until an opportune moment, rather than an actual gunfight. Allen eventually moved to Dodge City, where he became a preacher
.
Trinidad, Colorado
The historic City of Trinidad is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Las Animas County, Colorado, United States...
, between two professional gamblers, Frank Loving
Frank Loving
Frank Loving, sometimes called "Cockeyed" Frank Loving was an Old West gambler and gunman. His two known gunfights were two of the better known and well publicized shootouts of the day, although over time they have become obscure....
and John Allen. The gunfight is notable in that Loving was, during his time, known as having a reputation as a gunman, due to his having killed Levi Richardson
Levi Richardson
Levi Richardson was an Old West gunman, gambler and buffalo hunter. During his lifetime, Richardson was quite well known....
in the Long Branch Saloon Gunfight
Long Branch Saloon Gunfight
The Long Branch Saloon Gunfight was a gunfight taking place in the famed Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Kansas, between Frank Loving and Levi Richardson, both gamblers who frequented the saloon.-The gunfight:...
.
The gunfight
On April 15, 1882, an argument over a game of cards led to both Frank Loving and John Allen drawing their pistols on one another in downtown Trinidad, on Main Street. Friends intervened, before it became violent. However, the next morning Loving entered the Imperial Saloon where Allen worked, with his pistol drawn. Allen drew and fired one round at Loving, missing, to which Loving responded by firing a shot at Allen, also missing. When people began to scramble in an attempt to leave, the gun was accidentally knocked from Loving's hand.Shielding himself behind another man, Allen fired another shot at Loving, missing, then as Loving bent over to retrieve his revolver Allen fired yet a third shot, again missing. Allen headed for the rear door of the saloon, with Loving in pursuit, firing until his own revolver was emptied, missing. Allen ran into the alley behind the saloon, then took refuge a few doors down in Hammond's Hardware Store.
By that time, James Masterson
James Masterson
James Masterson, also known as Jim Masterson, was a lawman of the American West and the brother of gunfighters and lawmen Bat Masterson and Ed Masterson.-Lawman career:...
, a former Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas, United States. Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340.-History:The first settlement of...
Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
, had arrived. Masterson was at the time working as a town deputy marshal in Trinidad. Loving was disarmed by Masterson, who then went looking for John Allen, but could not find him. When Masterson returned to the Imperial Saloon, he found that Loving had obtained two more revolvers and went looking for Allen. Masterson went after him, catching him at the Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, at which point Masterson again disarmed Loving, for the second time, then again Masterson went looking for John Allen.
Masterson heard a shot come from Hammond's Hardware Store. Responding, Masterson and local Town Marshal Lou Kreeger found that Frank Loving had entered the store to replenish his ammunition, only to be shot in the back by Allen, who was hiding in the back of the store. The two lawmen arrested John Allen while he hid in the back of the store. Loving stated upon seeing Masterson, "Jim, I'm shot". Loving was treated for his wound, but died five days later, on April 21, 1880. Allen was tried for murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
in September, 1880, but was acquitted due to Loving have some notoriety as being a dangerous man, and Allen being able to successfully argue that he feared for his life. Allen is sometimes referred to by historical references as a "gunman", when in fact he was not. This was his only known armed encounter, and was, by historical accounts, more a result of him hiding until an opportune moment, rather than an actual gunfight. Allen eventually moved to Dodge City, where he became a preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
.