Hickok had a couple of habits that served him well in rowdy bars of West. He'd pour his drinks with his left hand, letting his best gun hand at ready. When gambling, Hickok wanted to sit with his back to a wall, eliminating possibility that an enemy could simply walk up to his back and blow his head off.

Ironically, that's exactly what happened on August 2, 1876, during a card game in No. 10 Saloon. Hickok walked in and noticed a poker game was in progress, but only empty seat at table faced away from saloon's doorway. Hickok failed to persuade others at table to trade seats with him, and then decided to take open seat.

It proved to be a fatal mistake.

Focused on a game in which he'd already lost several hands, Hickok never saw a loafer named Jack McCall walk up within three feet, pull a .45 out of his coat and pull trigger. The bullet blew through Hickok's head and out his cheek, lodging in wrist of a gambler on other side of table.

Hickok spilled his hand — pairs of black aces and eights — known forevermore as "Deadman's Hand."

Quickly apprehended, McCall said he'd killed Hickok because "Wild Bill" had killed his brother. A miners' court figured that was an acceptable defense and let him go. The drunken McCall just couldn't keep his mouth shut about killing. He bragged one too many times that he'd killed Hickok and was arrested, tried in Yankton, South Dakota and hung on March 1, 1877.

Calamity Jane was born

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Kriss Hammond, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Dominated by a massive river rock fireplace and glass picture windows facing patio, Prom, and ocean, common Gathering Room sports a dining room table-sized gaming table where guests can indulge in checkers and other board games on gray afternoons. Because, after all, you're in Pacific Northwest, known for rain, weather can be changeable. One day you're flying a kite on beach, and next you appreciate an Irish Coffee in front of fireplace.

While July and August are considered high season in Seaside, "I think we have our best weather in September and October," says Susan's associate, Vicky.

In days past there was an rustically elegant beach home, with weathered gray shingles and white trim, where SeaSide Inn rests now.

"The house was built in 1903 and had just gone into Historic Records," says Vicky, when an electrical fire completely destroyed it in 1987. Owners of house since seventies, Susan and her husband subsequently envisioned SeaSide Inn B&B.

As you help yourself to your first cup of coffee in morning, cheery hearts and ribboned floral bowers greet you on dining room sideboard. Included with your SeaSide stay is a full breakfast, designed to send you to beach in a vacation mood.

Breakfast is served at tables set in one end of Gathering Room, where Susan's sense of humor is reflected in brightly-colored stuffed sea creatures dangling from ceiling.

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Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com