The Wild West shootout that turned a Kansas cow town into America’s most feared place

The Newton General Massacre of 1871

What started as a political argument between two lawmen on election day ended with eight men dead in a Kansas saloon.

The Newton General Massacre began when Mike McCluskie shot Billy Bailey outside the Red Front Saloon on August 11, 1871.

This bloody fight broke out when Newton was the busy endpoint of the Chisholm Trail, the main route for moving Texas cattle north to markets.

The full story waits at Newton’s Harvey County Historical Museum, housed in the original 1904 Carnegie Library.

Newton’s Transformation into a Wild West Boomtown

The Santa Fe Railroad reached Newton in mid-1871, as the town grew from just twelve homes to a busy center almost overnight.

The first train arrived on July 17, 1871. Soon, Newton had rows of quickly-built saloons, gambling spots, dance halls, and brothels.

People called the area south of the tracks “Hide Park” because the working women there “showed so much of their hide.”

Perry Tuttle and Ed Krum ran the two main saloons in this rough part of town.

The Original Dispute Between Bailey and McCluskie

Mike McCluskie and Billy Bailey worked as special policemen during Newton’s August 1871 elections.

McCluskie, a tough Irishman from Ohio, had worked as a night guard for the Santa Fe Railroad. Bailey was a Texan gambler.

The men disliked each other from the start. They fought over local politics during efforts to form a new county. Some said they also argued over a woman.

Their bad blood turned deadly in a town already filled with violence.

The Fatal Encounter Between Bailey and McCluskie

On August 11, 1871, McCluskie and Bailey argued inside the Red Front Saloon.

Their shouting match turned into a fistfight that moved outside onto the street. Bailey fell out the door with McCluskie right behind him.

McCluskie pulled his gun and fired twice at Bailey. The second bullet hit Bailey in the chest. He lived through the night but died the next day.

This killing upset the Texas cowboys in town, who saw Bailey as one of their own and wanted revenge on McCluskie.

McCluskie’s Flight and Return to Newton

After shooting Bailey, McCluskie knew Bailey’s Texas friends would come after him. He fled by train to Florence, Kansas, and stayed away for a week.

McCluskie came back after hearing his case might be ruled self-defense. He said he feared for his life during the fight since Bailey had killed men before.

James Riley, a sick 18-year-old who McCluskie had befriended, warned him that Bailey’s friends wanted revenge and would come get it.

Legends of America states Riley was McCluskie’s constant companion or his “shadow” and reportedly trained under him to use pistols.

The Setup at Tuttle’s Dance Hall

On August 19, 1871, McCluskie went to Perry Tuttle’s Dance Hall to play cards.

He brought his friend Jim Martin, a well-liked Texas cowboy. James Riley, McCluskie’s loyal shadow, sat elsewhere in the saloon.

Around 1:00 a.m., the owner tried to close for the night. The customers refused to leave even after the band went home.

McCluskie kept gambling late into the night, not knowing that men seeking revenge had already spotted him there.

The Texas Cowboys Seek Revenge

After midnight on August 20, three of Bailey’s Texas friends entered the dance hall: Billy Garrett, Henry Kearnes, and Jim Wilkerson.

All three carried guns and wanted to avenge Bailey’s death. Garrett had killed men in at least two previous gunfights.

The three watched McCluskie gamble while waiting for the right moment. Hugh Anderson, son of a rich Texas cattle rancher, joined them.

Anderson had ridden with famous gunfighter John Wesley Hardin earlier that summer and helped kill a Mexican cowboy.

Anderson Confronts and Shoots McCluskie

Around 2:00 a.m., Hugh Anderson walked up to McCluskie with his gun drawn. He cursed at McCluskie and threatened to shoot him in the head.

Jim Martin jumped up and tried to stop the fight. Anderson ignored him and shot McCluskie in the neck, knocking him to the floor.

The wounded McCluskie tried to shoot back. His gun failed to fire, leaving him helpless on the floor as Anderson stood over him ready to shoot again.

Riley’s Deadly Response

With McCluskie bleeding on the floor, James Riley pulled out two pistols.

The room was filled with smoke as he started shooting. His first shot hit Jim Martin in the neck, killing the very man who tried to stop the fight.

While Anderson fired more shots into McCluskie’s back, Riley kept shooting wildly into the crowded room. The Texas cowboys also fired their guns.

Riley, who had never been in a gunfight before, emptied both his guns into the chaos.

The Bloody Aftermath

Jim Martin, bleeding badly from his neck, stumbled out, falling dead on the steps of the Alamo saloon across the street.

Riley shot six more people.

Billy Garrett took bullets in the shoulder and chest, dying hours later. Henry Kearnes died from a chest wound a week later.

Patrick Lee, a railroad worker, another casualty, was shot in the stomach.

Henry Kearnes died from a chest wound a week later. Hugh Anderson survived his leg and thigh wounds alongside two others.

The Disappearance of James Riley

After emptying both guns and leaving seven men shot, Riley walked out of the smoky saloon and vanished forever.

A story from 1951 claims that good citizens of Newton helped Riley escape. They gave him a saddle, bridle, and horse to flee town.

Riley reportedly rode to Ellsworth, Kansas that night. Since he had tuberculosis, most historians think he likely died soon after.

His sudden disappearance added mystery to what newspapers called the “Newton General Massacre.”

Aftermath and Legal Proceedings

On Sunday morning, Coroner Bowman held an inquest into the deaths.

After four hours, the jury found that Hugh Anderson had shot and killed McCluskie. This verdict angered the Texans still in town.

They threatened to hang jury members if authorities arrested Anderson. A warrant was issued, but Anderson’s wealthy father arranged his escape.

Local leaders helped sneak the wounded Anderson onto a train to Kansas City to prevent more bloodshed in Newton.

Visiting Newton, Kansas

You’ll find Newton 25 miles north of Wichita in central Kansas. The Harvey County Historical Museum at 203 N.

Main Street offers exhibits about the Newton General Massacre. Downtown features historic buildings from the late 1800s.

After exploring the massacre site marker, check out the 1904 Harvey County Courthouse and the restored Santa Fe Railroad Station.

Annual events include the Kansas State BBQ Championship in May and the Taste of Newton festival in October.

Parking downtown is free.

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