October 26th was a very special day for those of us who are scholars, researchers, and writers (and fans) of the life and times of Wyatt Earp and Tombstone. During this next month, I will be reviewing the many books and films about Wyatt Earp.
You will get an insider’s look into the field and tips for visiting Tombstone on the 125th Anniversary of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. I know the best books, which ones to avoid, all the juicy gossip, and where the bodies are literally buried (and a few some authors say are not buried where I say they are)!
First hint: If you do not have a reservation, plan to stay in Tuscon, as the latest report is every motel room between there and Tombstone is already taken.
The Gunfight at the OK Corral occurred a little after 2:30 p.m. on a very windy, chilly Wednesday afternoon on October 26, 1881, one hundred and twenty-five years ago. It snowed later that evening, leaving a dusting of about two inches. When Tombstone is windy and chilly, it is cold. That afternoon, the dust was blowing. Snow flurries were in the air, as well as occasional pellets of sleet.
Not only was Ike Clanton nursing a hangover, he was also nursing a grudge against Wyatt Earp. A few months earlier, Earp had approached Clanton about ‘turning’ on his Cowboy brethren who had been supplementing their cattle rustling income by robbing the select stage of bullion and passengers’ valuables.
Marshall Williams, the Wells Fargo & Company’s agent in Tombstone, had a drinking, gambling, and womanizing problem. One evening, while drunk, he told Ike’s associates that Ike was working with Wyatt. A few months after the shootout, Williams left town, his job, and considerable gambling debts. We will never know if he was in league with the Cowboys or not.
The Cowboys were a loose confederation of outlaws. Several of us consider their depravations to be one of the earliest examples of organized crime in this country’s history. The number of outlaws is estimated to be a low of perhaps fifty, which I feel is much too low. I theorize that there was a minimum of one hundred and fifty.
Article comments
1 - Tombstonian
For information on the official celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, AZ see okcorralgunfight.com. Rooms are available in nearby Sierra Vista, Benson, and Bisbee but not in Tombstone.
2 - SJ Reidhead
Thanks for clearing that up for me. I will reflect that in the next piece I'm doing.
3 - -E
Congrats! This article has been selected as one of this week’s Editors’ Picks.
4 - Jerry Thomas
Nice article about John Slaughter, since he's one of my ancestors.
Jerry Thomas
5 - sr
For sure I was born in the wrong time and wrong place. Thank you SJ for taking me back in time. My best friend Diego who I call El Zorro always wish we could go back into the old west. Now I call him Cisco and he calls me poncho. I tell him we would be great outlaws. Thank you SJ and as Ponco always said, Cisco lets went. Adios amigos, see you soon.