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Golden Nugget Saloon

Saloon and gambling hall in Deadwood, Dakota Territory[1] in 1877.[2]

In June of 1876,[2] Tony Cadiz came to the new, booming mining town of Deadwood with his wife, Coral Stacey, and established their saloon and gambling operation[1] in a tent. Profits began rolling in immediately and by early July, the operation was moved into a newly constructed permanent structure on Main Street.[2]

Also in July, Cadiz met Madame Pompey, who was looking for a thriving establishment in which to operate her team of female entertainers. Cadiz was open to a partnership, believing Pompey's girls would draw in more business from his competitors. The business arrangement proved profitable for them both, and the Golden Nugget quickly became a favorite place of local miners to spend their money.[2]

By March of 1877, other saloons in Deadwood had become extremely competitive.[2] Cadiz began looking a new, profitable draw for the Golden Nugget. On a talent expedition, he met Battling Kreuger, an pugilist undefeated from New Orleans to St. Louis. Cadiz brought Kreuger to Deadwood to fight any and all challengers at two-to-one odds.[1]

Once back in Deadwood, Kreuger proved to be a veritable gold mine for the Golden Nugget.[21] But in May,[2] Bret Maverick and Dandy Jim Buckley arrived in Deadwood with personal scores to settle with Cadiz. Having studied Kreuger's fighting technique, they learned Kreuger's one vulnerability was a weak belly. Bret, Buckley, Pompey and her girls and several miners placed $27,500 on Pompey's Mystery Man, Noah Perkins, against Kreuger. With so much money riding on the two-to-one adds, Cadiz had to put the Golden Nugget up as security to cover the bets. Perkins withdrew from the match, having learned Bret had lied to him about the reasons for him to fight. Bret stepped in as Pompey's Mystery Man and, with the knowledge of Kreuger's weakness, was able to win the match. To pay off the bets, Cadiz lost the Golden Nugget to the miners.[1]

See: Stampede