In the annals of the Old West, the story of Daniel Clifton, a man better known as 'Dynamite Dick,' came to a violent end near Newkirk, Oklahoma. A male outlaw of the era, Clifton had carved a name for himself through a series of robberies, safecracking, and cattle rustling. His association with the notorious Doolin Gang further solidified his reputation as a wanted man, constantly pursued by the relentless forces of the law.
His moniker, 'Dynamite Dick,' was said to have originated from a mishap with explosives, a testament to the dangerous life he led.
Clifton's criminal career was marked by daring escapades and violent confrontations. He was a key figure in several of the Doolin Gang's robberies and was wounded in an infamous 1893 gunfight with lawmen in Ingalls, Oklahoma. Despite being captured and jailed alongside the notorious Bill Doolin, the two orchestrated a mass escape, further fueling their legendary status. However, this freedom was to be short-lived, as the law was closing in, determined to bring an end to their reign of terror.
In the winter of 1896, the final chapter of Dynamite Dick's life unfolded. A posse of U.S. Deputy Marshals tracked him to a farm outside of Newkirk. The specifics of the date and the identity of the lawman who fired the fatal shot are debated in historical accounts, with some records indicating December 4 and Deputy Marshal Alford Lund, while others point to a different date and officer. Regardless of these discrepancies, the outcome was the same. As Clifton attempted to make a desperate escape, he was shot and killed by the pursuing lawmen.
Following his death, there were no arrests or suspects in the traditional sense, as his demise came at the hands of law enforcement officers in the execution of their duty. The man known as 'Dynamite Dick' was buried at the government's expense, his death marking the end of an era for one of the Wild West's most infamous outlaws. His story serves as a stark reminder of the violent and often brief lives of those who chose to live outside the law in a time when justice was frequently delivered from the barrel of a gun.
