The other day while reading some old publications in the local library I discovered that a couple of famous western characters were created by Canadians.
Clarence Dadforth and George Striker were actually classmates at Queens University in Halifax.
Dadforth came from Ottawa in Quebec and Striker originated in Toronto, Ontario.
Although they were friends these two budding authors were fierce rivals in the classroom, on the playing fields and later through public correspondence and in their literature.
Dadforth created the
Hopalong Cassidy character that was featured in films and a long-running television and radio series.
Striker created
The Lone Ranger which also featured on radio and television and more recently in film.
After reading an earlier draft of
Hopalong Casidy that Dadforth had sent to him, Striker, looking at the cartoons that Dadforth had sketched in, made disparaging remarks about Hopalong's hat to his friend.
At first these were just in jest but when Dadforth reacted to this criticism Striker made a point of continually teasing him about It.
"He looks like his brain's exploded" Striker wrote in the
Toronto Literary Times and,
"What's he got under there, spare ammunition?" he commented on
CBC radio.
What began as ribbing, over years became a little more serious.
Seeing the success of
Hopalong Cassidy in print, on radio, in film and on television Striker decided to follow in his once-upon-a-time friend's footsteps and he created another western hero. He named him
The Lone Ranger.
In many ways this character was similar to the
Hopalong Cassidy character that Dadforth had created and Striker hoped this would get up Dadforth's nose. Striker, being Striker though had to take things a step further. He knew that Dadforth was half Indian. Dadforth's mother was a full-blooded
Glooscap Indian and had taught Dadforth the ways and culture of the first nation peoples. He was proud of his heritage and would get angry at any disparagement.
Striker created the character
Tonto to be the
Lone Ranger's sidekick.
Now 'Tonto' is a Spanish word for 'moron' or 'fool' and he knew that Dadforth would pick up on this which he did.
As time went on the rivals took every opportunity to slag each other off. The obvious examples were in printed interviews or in university debates but the more subtle ones that largely went unnoticed were in their bodies of work.
Some examples are:
- Dadforth created a sidekick for Hopalong Cassidy named Windy Halliday. This was a direct reference to an unfortunate stomach complaint that Striker had which caused him to suffer from flatulence.
- In several episodes of The Lone Ranger the hero, who was averse to killing his enemies, would shoot off their hats which were usually odd and funny shapes not unlike Hopalong's. The Lone Ranger would make witticisms like "Hats off to you old buddy" or "Now you're 45 litres lighter"
- Hopalong Cassidy's enemies would invariably be wearing masks
On the face of it this could have been seen as spirited banter but there were underlying issues. The truth is that even in their student days the two authors never really got on well together. Dadforth was never invited into the circle of friends that Striker had. It is quite possible that racism was an issue. At the time, in the late 1930's and 1940's first nation people were still referred to as 'redskins' and there were many sanctions against them.
It all came to a head one evening in 1967 at a
Queen's University reunion when Striker said to Dadforth "I hope you haven't taken any wooden indians".
Now Striker, who'd had a few beverages didn't really know what he was saying and in fact the question made no sense. It was his way of trying to make a joke. Dadforth, who'd also had a few beverages took umbrage and challenged Striket to a fight. Things escalated into a shouting match and eventually into a challenge. A duel. At first light in the field next to the university.
Everyone eventually toddled off to bed thinking that this was all bravado and would come to nothing. The old rivalry proved to be too deep unfortunately and at dawn the next day Striker and Dadforth faced each other in the chilly and mist shrouded field.
Striker was armed with a
Walker-Colt .
44 revolver. This was the model that his character
The Lone Ranger used. It was an old weapon in the 1870's, made in the late 1840's but it had been created by a Texas Ranger and seemed appropriate.
 |
| Colt-Walker |
Dadforth was armed with Hopalong's weapon of choice the
Colt Peacemaker .
45. This although old (circa 1875) it wasn't as old as the
Colt-
Walker.
 |
| Colt - Peacemaker |
Striker called out a countdown and at 'Fire" they both pulled their triggers. Striker's revolver blew up in his hand, the barrel splitting sending the bullet ( a specially made silver bullet) off to the trees nearby.
Dadforth, who had intended to just put a bullet through Striker's hat, flinched at the explosion and dropped his aim slightly. His bullet hit Striker between the eyes. Striker fell backwards. Dead.
Dadforth was arrested and in an obscenely short period of time was tried, convicted and executed in 1968 being one of the final victims of capital punishment in Canada. There was speculation as to the summary nature of this with first nation people saying it was because he was an Indian.
