# Dangerous Dan McGrew — Songs of a Sourdough character guide

> Dangerous Dan McGrew in Songs of a Sourdough by Robert W. Service.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Dan McGrew

**First appearance:** 0015-the-shooting-of-dan-mcgrew

## Who they are

The Malamute saloon's notorious gambler, whose casual call for a spread misere sets the music throbbing and the room on edge.

## Relationships

### [Lou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/lou)

_romantic_

Dangerous Dan McGrew and Lou share a passionate but volatile romantic relationship, with Lou being the object of Dan's possessive affection.

### [the stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/the_stranger)

_rivalry_

The stranger and Dangerous Dan McGrew are antagonists, with the stranger ultimately killing Dan in a gunfight.

### [the stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/the_stranger)

_rivalry_

Dangerous Dan McGrew and the stranger are deadly rivals, culminating in a violent confrontation in the Malamute saloon.

## In the story

### [Songs of a Sourdough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/chapters/songs-of-a-sourdough)

Appears in 'The Shooting of Dan McGrew', a notorious figure whose violent end in a saloon epitomizes the lawlessness and danger of the gold rush.

### [The Shooting of Dan McGrew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/chapters/the-shooting-of-dan-mcgrew)

Sitting at a solo game in the saloon, he is the last to drink to the stranger's health and is later shot dead in the dark.

### [New Year's Eve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/chapters/new-year-s-eve)

Not directly present, but the saloon setting and the mention of 'McGuffy's saloon' evoke the world of Dangerous Dan McGrew.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters/dangerous_dan_mcgrew
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/songs_of_a_sourdough_se/characters