Mark Twain's Laziness At Jackass Hill

Mark Twain Reenactor In Angels Camp, California

Here's a story that you might find interesting. It's from 1854 and talks about a miner by the name of Bob Dull who struck gold on Jackass Hill in 1854.

Union Democrat (Sonora, 1854), Volume LIII, Number 10, 8 September 1906

Bob Dull Strikes Gold on Jackass Hill.

R. E. Dull, who is working a pocket mine on Jackass Hill, near Tuttletown, last Tuesday cleaned up the last of a $3,OOO bunch of gold. The lucky miner has been trying the mining game for nine years, quitting the joys and sorrows of a printing office to try his luck on historic Jackass Hill, James Gillis’ great piece of mining ground from which enough precious metal has been taken to build a golden roof over Sonora.

Dull secured a claim on the usual conditions a percentage of the gross output to be paid Gillis and then went to work. He has taken out a number of pockets, each of which ran into the thousands of dollars, to say nothing of the little bunches of a few hundreds which the genuine pocket miner accepts as a matter of course, but with characteristic disdain unless grub is running mighty low. Wednesday Bob Dull was in Sonora with 136 ounces of gold, the tail end of the pocket.

--- end of story

That's a pretty good story and a lot of gold. It had to be a lot if he found $3000 in gold when gold only went for about $30 an ounce. And think about this, $3,000 in 1854 is worth $112,607.50 today (2024).

And there's this, the California Gold Rush era cabin that famous American writer Mark Twain stayed in is found on Jackass Hill in Tuolumne County. It is where Mark Twain was a guest of the Gillis Brothers during his stay in the county.

The original cabin was built by Dick Stoker in 1850. The present cabin located on Jackass Hill is a replica of the original, rebuilt a few times over the century and more since Twain was there. It was there that while living in that cabin on Jackass Hill where Mark Twain gathered material and wrote the story "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" which made him famous.

American writer Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, spent time in Calaveras County, California in 1864 and 1865. The story of how his laziness stopped him from becoming a rich man is a true story.

On December 4, 1864, Twain arrived at a cabin on Jackass Hill Road between Angels Camp and Sonora, California, to stay with miners Jim and Steve Gillis. On January 25, 1865, Twain traveled from the cabin to Angels Camp to get away from the rain and loaf while he was rained in for almost two weeks. It's believed that it was during his visit to a saloon in Angels Camp that he heard a story about a jumping frog.

On November 18, 1865, Mark Twain published his story titled "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" in the New York Saturday Press. Twain's story about those jumping frogs was republished as "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." That story is what launched his career as a writer and brought him national acclaim. But really, if he weren't sitting in that saloon, and had actually kept working his claim, he could have been a fairly wealthy man.

Here's the story behind that as reported in the newspaper, the Truckee Republican, on March 1st, 1911:

THE GOLD WAS THERE. 

But Mark Twain Missed It by Just One Pail of Water.

With Steve Gillis, a printer of whom he was fond, Mark Twain went up into Calaveras County to a cabin on Jackass Hill, where Steve’s brother Jim. a lovable, picturesque character (the “Truthful James” of Bret Harte), owned mining claims. Mark decided to spend his vacation in pocket mining and soon added that science to his store of knowledge. It was a halcyon, happy three mouths that he lingered there.

One day with Jim Gillis he was following the specks of gold that led to a pocket somewhere up the hill when a chill, dreary rain set in. Jim was washing and Samuel Clemens [Mark Twain's real name] was carrying water.

The "color" became better and better as they ascended, and Gillis, possessed with the mining passion, would have gone on regardless of the rain. Clemens, however, protested and declared that each pail of water was his last.

Finally, he said in his deliberate, drawling fashion, "Jim, I won’t carry any more water. This work is too disagreeable. Let's go to the house and wait till it clears up."

Gillis had just taken out a pan of earth, "Bring one more pail. Sam," he pleaded.

"I won’t do it, Jim! Not a drop! Not if I knew there was a million dollars in that pan!" said Clemens.

They left the pan standing there and went over to Angel's camp, which was nearer than their own cabin. The rain kept on, and they sat around the grocery and barroom smoking and telling stories to pass the time,

Meanwhile, the rain had washed away the top of the pan of earth left standing on the slope of Jackass Hill and exposed a handful of nuggets — pure gold. Two strangers had come along and, observing it, had sat down to wait until the thirty-day claim notice posted by Jim Gillis should expire.

They did not mind the rain — not with that gold in sight — and the minute the thirty days were up they followed the lead a few pans farther and took out $20,000 in all. It was a good pocket. Mark Twain missed it by one pail of water.

The above story was originally published by The Chicago Post.

Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties were formed in 1850 when gold was discovered in those areas. Tuolumne County sits on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, with Calaveras County to its north.

In regards to that $20,000 gold strike in 1865 when Twain decided that another pail of water was too much to carry, let's just put that in perspective for today. The sum of $20,000 in 1865 would have the same paying power as $386,872.39 does today. Of course, that would have meant that he would have been considered a very wealthy man -- especially by the standards of 1865.

After all, let's remember that a Cowboy would earn between $20 and $40 a month at the time.

Tom Correa

Organizing The 1851 San Francisco Committee of Vigilance

One of my hobbies is reading period newspapers. I love reading first-hand accounts. I also love how different newspapers report the same incident. I especially enjoy reading about Vigilante Groups. 

Contrary to how some describe Vigilante Groups, most were not unorganized mobs made of drunks. In fact, reading the news clipping below, you can see that the San Francisco Vigilance Committee of 1851 was extremely organized. 

There's a good reason for that, the 1851 San Francisco Committee of Vigilance is said to have had more than 700 members. While that's huge in itself for a city in the Old West, later the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance of 1856 would eclipse that number by having over 3,000 members. 

The Committee claimed to work in parallel with the duly constituted city government of San Francisco which they saw as inept and corrupt. During its time, the Committee performed policing and actually conducted investigations. They were mostly interested in the thievery, assaults, crimes of violence, extortion, and arson going on in the city. And add to that their concern with disreputable boarding houses.  

The Committee took a special interest in ships from Australia unloading criminals into San Francisco Bay. There were two reasons for this. First, the Australian government at the time had a policy of emptying their jails and prisons by sending their worst criminals to the United States by way of a direct voyage to San Francisco. Second, the criminal gang known as the "Sydney Ducks" was created when those Australian criminals banded together. 

Simply known as "Ducks," they were killers, arsonists, robbers, thieves, con artists, and extortionists. One of their specialties was to prey on businesses by "selling" them "fire insurance." If a business didn't meet their demands and pay up, the "Ducks" would set fire to their business -- which would also spread and consume entire sections of San Francisco. "Ducks" were public enemy number one for that reason. 

But, even though that was the case at the time, believe it or not, even though the "Ducks" burned the city and murdered the innocent, there are people today who will make it known that the Committee did not offer vicious criminals like the "Ducks" due process and the opportunity for bail. Of course, since the Committee was not a legal law enforcement agency, they didn't observe or provide criminals with the benefits of due process. 

The Committee left due process up to the Courts to provide. Of course, if the organized law enforcement and the Courts had been doing their jobs in the first place, and actually prosecuting criminals, then the 1851 San Francisco Committee of Vigilance would not have had to form to rein in the lawlessness that engulfed that city.  

As for the Committee, besides a public display of its weapons and its militia which they paraded in the city, the Committee also deported criminals attempting to immigrate to the United States, and hanged, whipped, and banished criminals. 

Of those they found guilty of capital crimes, they hanged four criminals. The four who were executed were John Jenkins, a Sydney Duck gang member accused of burglary, who was hanged on June 10, 1851; James Stuart, also a Sydney Duck gang member and murderer, who was hanged on July 11, 1851; and Samuel Whittaker and Robert McKenzie, who were associates of the Sydney Ducks, charged with "various heinous crimes," they both were hanged on August 24, 1851.

As for others caught and punished by the Committee, one criminal was flogged in public; fourteen were deported back to Sydney, Australia, back to the government that sent them to San Francisco; fourteen were told to leave California under penalty of death if they returned; fifteen were handed over to the San Francisco County Sheriff; and forty-one who the Committee apprehended were set free due to lack of evidence of committing a crime.

Reading the newspaper clipping below from the Daily Alta California, Volume 2, Number 185, 13 June 1851, you can see for yourself how the famous 1851 San Francisco Committee of Vigilance was organized. 

The Daily Alta California, Volume 2, Number 185, 13 June 1851

Organization of the Vigilance Committee.

Whereas, It has become apparent to the citizens of San Francisco that there is no security to life and property, either under the regulations of society as it at present exists, or under the laws as now administered, therefore, the citizens whose names are hereunto to attached, do unite themselves into an association, for the maintenance of the peace and good order of society and the preservation of the lives and property of the citizens of San Francisco, and do bind ourselves, each unto the other, to do and perform every lawful act for the maintenance of law and order, and to sustain the laws when faithfully and properly administered.

But we are determined that no thief, burglar, incendiary, or assassin shall escape punishment either by the quibbles of the law, the insecurity of prisons, the carelessness or corruption of the police, or laxity of those who pretend to administer justice. And to secure the objects of this association we do hereby agree:

First, That the name and style of the Association shall be the Committee of Vigilance, for the protection of the lives and property of the citizens and residents of the city of San Francisco.

Secondly, That there shall be a room selected for the meeting and deliberations of the committee, at which there shall be some one or more members of the committee, appointed for that purpose, in constant attendance at all hours of the day and night, to receive the report of any member of the association, or of any other person or persons whatsoever, of any act of violence done to the person or property of any citizen of San Francisco. And if in the judgment of the member or members of the committee present, it be such an act as justifies the interference of this committee, either in aiding in the execution of the laws, or the prompt and summary punishment of the offender, the committee shall be at once assembled for the purpose of taking such action as a majority of the committee, when assembled, shall determine upon.

Thirdly, It shall be the duty of any member or members of the committee on duty at the committee room, whenever a general assemblage of the committee is necessary, to cause a call to be made, by two strokes upon a bell situated ———, which shall be repeated with a pause of one minute between each alarm; the alarm to be struck until ordered stopped.

Fourthly, That when the Committee have assembled for action, the decision of the majority present shall be binding upon the whole Committee, and that those members of the Committee whose names are hereunto attached, do pledge their honor and hereby bind themselves to defend and sustain each other in carrying out the determined action of this Committee, at the hazard of their lives and their fortunes. 

Fifthly. — That there shall be chosen monthly, a President, Secretary, and Treasurer, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary to detail the members required to be in daily attendance at the Committee room.

A sergeant at arms shall be appointed, whose duty it shall be to notify such members of their detail for duty. The sergeant at arms shall reside at, and be in constant attendance at the Committee room. There shall be a standing committee of finance and qualification, consisting of five each, and no person shall be admitted a member of this Association unless he be a respectable citizen and approved of by the committee on qualification before admission.

S. E. Woodworth, S. Brannan, E. Gorham, Fred. A. Woodworth, George J. Oakes, Frank S. Mahoney, Francis E. Webster, R. D. W. Davis, James C. Ward, Wm. N. Thompson, Wm. H. Jones, R. S. Watson, Clinton Winter, Edward A. King, Geo. Mellus, James B. Huie, W. H. Howard, J. D. Stevenson, B. Frank Hillard, Henry Dreschfeldt, Chas. R. Bond, S. W. Haight, James Ryan, B. B. Arrowsmith, George H. Howard, William Browne, S. E. Teschmacher, Caleb Hyatt, Robt. Wells, C. H. Brinley, Samuel R. Curwen, H. D. Evan, J. W. Salmon, James F. Curtis, John Y. Bryant, Benj. Reynolds, L. Hulsemann, E. Kirius, A. W. Macpherson, A. G. Randall, John S. Eagan, Thos. N. Diblois, J. C. L. Wardsworth, N. T. Thompson, Stephen Payran, William Hart, N. Reynolds Davis, C. Spring, George M. Garwood, Gabriel Winter, A. Wheelwright, M. B. Lucas, R. S. Lamott. James Shindler, B. F. Fourgeaud, Jesse Southam, J. W. Ryckman, H. Jackson McDuffie, Z. H. Robinson, W. L. Bromley, P. D. Hedley, George R. Ward, H. Ottenheimer, S. B. Marshall, C. L. Wilson, B. H. Davis, Hazen Hazeltime, Wm. H Tabor, P. Frothingham, W. Iken, Isaac Bluxom, Jr., G. E. Schenck, George D. Lambert, Lathrop L. Bullock, Geo. Austin Worn, John P. Haff, John W. Rider, E. Betteher, Jos. T. Hanem, Thos.W. Walker, Theodore Kulhman, Samuel Marx, J. Seligman, Joseph E. Dal, Dan'l J. Thomas, Jr., H. F. Von Leugerke, Julius D. Schultze, J. E. Farewell, J. C. Derby, J. Pratt Sevens, Jacob P. Leese, T. J. West, Thos. McCahill, Edgar Wakeman, Wm. T. Coleman, Wm. Peake, A. Wardwell, J. S. Clark, Jonas Minturn, Sam. H. Sloan, C. H. Clark, F. O. Wakeman, H. F. Teschemacher, J. Thompson Huie, John W. Jackson, W. L. Hobson, Wm. Meyer, Jos. R Curtis, W. H. Tillinghast, John G. McKaracher, Wm. H. Graham, J. F. Hutton, John Raynes, J. H Fisher, Horace Morrison, John H. Walson, Joshua Hilton, F. L. Dana, J. Quincy Coale, James Pratt, A. P. Sutton, George W. Douglass, Wm. G. Budger, A. J. Ellis, Chas. H. Vail, S. J. Stabber, Henry M. Naglee, Wm. Forst, Wm. J. Sherwood, Olin F. Sawyer, A. L. Tubbs, E. W. Travers, W. N. Hostin, N. D. Hill, Wm. Langesmen, Eugene Hast, B. E. Babcock. T. K. Battelle, L. Minturn, Herman R. Haste, J. C. Treadwell, Hartford Joy, Augustus Belknap, Wm. Barling, Jno. F. Osgood, Horatio S. Gates, Thos. N. Cazneau, E. Kemp. Jeremiah Spalding, William C. Graham, J. Meid Huxley, John M. Coughlin, Charles Minturn, Saml Morse jr, George Clifford, Howard Cunningham, C O. Brewster, Chas Soule jr, Chas L Case, Chas L Wood, Robert H. Belden, Chas Moore, Wm. Fell, N. Smith, Jas R Duff, Jas Dows, John O. Earl, E. M. Earl, E. W. Crowell, Randolph M. Cooley, J. L. Van Bocklin, A. H. Gildemeester, Chas H. Hill. Geo N. Blake, Saml S. Phillips, J. Neal jr, Dewiitt Brown, Chas Del Vecchio, F. A. Atkinson, Ed. F. Baker, Jos Post, Chas Millar, F. Argenti, James King of Wm.

The above, a portion of the Committee of Vigilance lately established in this city, for the preservation of order, punishment of vice, and for the purpose of meting out that justice so long withheld from criminals, unwilling that the names of a few of their associates should be selected by the Coroner's jury as the principal actors in the trial and execution of Jenkins, inform the public that they, with all the members of the committee, are equally responsible for the first act of justice that has been dealt to a criminal in San Francisco, since California became a State of our Union.

Our fellow citizens, remembering the escape of Withers, Daniels, and Adams; of Stuart, Windred, and Watkins, and the tardy manner in which the incendiary Lewis is being brought to justice, will see the necessity of the strongest measures we have adopted. This publication also informs those friendly to the cause that the Committee of Vigilance have nothing secret in their proceeding but such matters as would tend to defeat the object for which we are associated were they made public.

Preamble and Resolutions. — The following also emanated from the vigilance Committee: 

Whereas, The citizens of San Francisco, convinced that there exists within its limits a band of robbers and incendiaries, who have several times burned and attempted to burn their city, who nightly attack their persons and break into their buildings, destroy their quiet, jeopardize their lives and property, and generally disturb the natural order of society. And whereas many of those taken by the Police have succeeded in escaping from their prisons by carelessness, by connivance, or from the want of proper means or force to secure their safe confinement, therefore be it 

Resolved, That the citizens of the place be made aware that the Committee of Vigilance will be ever ready to receive information as to the whereabouts of any disorderly or suspicious person or persons, as well as the persons themselves when suspected of crime. 

Resolved, That as it is the conviction of a large number of our citizens, that there exists in this city a nucleus of convicts and disorderly persons, around which cluster those who have so seriously disturbed the peace and affected the best interests of our city, such as are known to the Police of the city or to members of the Committee of Vigilance, as felons by conduct or association, be notified to leave our port within five days from this date, and at the expiration of which they shall be compelled to depart, if they have not done so voluntarily within the time specified. 

Resolved, That a Safety Committee of thirty persons be appointed, whose sacred duty it shall be to visit every vessel arriving with notorious or suspicious characters on board, and; unless they can present to said committee evidence of good character and honesty, they shall be reshipped to the place from whence they came, and not be permitted to pollute our soil. 

Resolved, that all good citizens be invited to join, and assist the Committee of Vigilance in carrying out the above measures, so necessary for the perfect restoration of the peace, safety, and good order of our community.

-- end of report in the Daily Alta California, Volume 2, Number 185, 13 June 1851.

The 1851 San Francisco Committee of Vigilance was dissolved by 1853 but resurfaced to take control of San Francisco in 1856 with over 3,000 members when the city's crime was again out of control. 

Tom Correa


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What To Do When Falsely Accused of Sexual Harassment

I am posting this for a couple of reasons. One, I don't like the standard operating procedure of some organizations which presume "the accused is automatically guilty." Second, I don't like that someone's perception of a "sexual advance," even if it is all in the accuser's mind, completely fabricated, completely false, completely a lie, can cost someone accused of such a thing their job, their position, their home, and even their family. 

Understand what happens in many organizations that simply accept such a claim at face value. The person being accused can lose their job, have problems finding a new job, fall back on paying bills, fail to pay their rent or mortgage, and be forced to endure financial hardship and strain. It can also result in the loss of a career and even the termination of a marriage. 

Now, imagine being falsely accused.

Being falsely accused of something like sexual harassment, and dealing with a legal system that may have already convicted you -- coupled with the uncertainty of what to expect next -- can be nerve-wracking. Add to that the personal, financial, and societal repercussions of such allegations, and it can all have a significant negative impact on your mental health.

The potential legal consequences and the overarching uncertainty of what lies ahead can lead to depression, stress, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and shame despite your innocence. Being wrongfully accused can jeopardize your marriage, harm your relationships with family members and friends, and hurt your ability to form and sustain connections with people. 

After being a victim of false accusations, you may find it difficult to have meaningful friendships because you may find it difficult to trust others again. Yes, the emotional toll of being wrongfully accused is more than we realize. 

Of course, if you are a Veteran suffering from PTSD, being falsely accused can be extremely traumatic to your mental health because it can trigger PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. And while such a thing can have you questioning your self-worth, you may also find yourself drinking too much to self-medicate, isolating away from people, and avoiding the things you enjoy. 

As for dealing with your accuser, and possibly the person who she colluded with to attack you, it is recommended you avoid contact with them. 

So, imagine going through all that while being wrongfully accused of something you did not do. That's why I say if a person is falsely accused of sexual harassment, a term which means that a person has made an unwanted sexual advance on another, they are being wronged and need to stand up and fight. 

In this case, if that's you, then you need to get an attorney and prepare to defend your name -- which may mean suing the person and the organization that wronged them. It's important to fight for yourself. If you don't fight for yourself, no one else will. 

My friends, that's why I have attorneys working for me. From my experience with lawsuits, especially being falsely accused of something, they are not fun and can be costly. But getting an attorney to start legal actions against someone who has falsely accused you of something, and the organization that presumed your guilt without looking into the facts of the accusation, is the right thing to do. Sadly, lawsuits are your only recourse to clear yourself of blame or suspicion of doing something wrong. 

No, it's not like an organization will investigate the claim to find out if there were extenuating circumstances, if it was intentional, fabricated, or simply assumed when there was no sexual advance. It's not like an organization will check to see if the accuser had other motives in mind when falsely accusing you. It's not like an organization, whether it's an employer or a non-profit volunteer group, would look into the case to determine if there was malice that the accuser may have against you the accused. And no, it's not as if an organization would issue an apology to the person who was falsely accused. 

That's why lawsuits are important. While there was a time in my life when I didn't believe in lawsuits, and frankly I thought there were too many attorneys in the world, I've learned the hard way that lawsuits can sometimes be the only way that we can get justice for ourselves. 

And by the way, I know real well that suing someone is not what anyone would consider "The Cowboy Way" of doing things. I know real well that a cowboy gets his inner strength from the Bible and knowing what is right and what is wrong. I also know real well that a cowboy is true to his beliefs. But friends, we live in the modern-day world, and not back in the day when we would be able to confront our false accuser in the public square. So whether we like it or not, in today's world, lawsuits are how the falsely accused can get justice and throw light on those who would falsely accuse someone of something that they did not do.

As sad as that is, it's why employers take sexual harassment claims very seriously.  Employers don't want to be sued. That's why employers take the side of the accuser. Of course, employers don't expect the accused to sue them to clear their name of wrongdoing. In fact, employers usually take the side of the accuser because they assume that an accuser wouldn't file such a claim if it didn't happen. They assume the accuser is honest, and usually almost always immediately assume the accused is guilty. 

But sadly, there are dishonest people in the world. And yes, some people will falsely accuse someone of just about anything. Yes, both in the workplace and in non-profit volunteer groups. 

Knowing that fact of life, we should understand that there are people who will falsely accuse someone of something that's not true. It happens every day. It's just a fact of life. There are people who will falsely accuse someone of sexual harassment or something else while knowing full well that their lie will result in the accused being removed from a position and possibly getting fired. 

And yes, just as people are very different, there are a lot of different reasons that people would falsely accuse someone. Some people would file a claim of sexual harassment against someone just so they can watch the accused deal with court costs to fight their lies. Some people would file such a claim in an attempt to create emotional distress and ruin someone's marriage. And yes, some people file a sexual harassment claim just to see someone terminated -- or see them taken out of a position that the accuser feels should have gone to their friend instead. It happens. Yes, it happens. 

There are a lot of reasons why someone would intentionally attack someone with such false claims, employee or volunteer, including the fact that the accuser just might not like you. It's not unheard of for a woman to try to ruin a man's life simply because she felt like doing so. 

If you don't think that happens, take a look at how many police officers have been falsely accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault while in the performance of their duties. Those claims are usually made vindictively with no basis -- but they're made. And yes, they can have an impact on an officer's career.

Knowing this, you should know that if someone has made false accusations against you, you need to get an attorney and be prepared to sue your accuser and the organization involved. Of course, you can sue for defamation. But you can also sue for malicious prosecution. 

So if you've been falsely accused of sexual harassment, especially if you've suffered emotionally or financially from being falsely accused, my recommendation is that you take the first step and contact an attorney. If you find yourself wrongfully accused of sexual harassment or misconduct at your place of work or while volunteering for an organization, it is crucial for you to seek legal counsel promptly. 

Remember, whether we like it or not, in today's world, even false accusations can result in severe consequences -- such as termination and even criminal charges. 

The article below was sent to me by a friend who is an attorney. It is a short article that may help you if you've been falsely accused of sexual harassment. 

False Sexual Harassment Claims: Legal FAQ -- FindLaw

By Christopher Coble, Esq. 

Last updated on March 21, 2019

Sexual harassment in the workplace is a problem, and many instances of sexual harassment go unpunished and even unreported. At the same time, not every claim of sexual harassment is legitimate.

So if you've been falsely accused of sexual harassment at your job, what do you do? In short, you should treat it like a criminal investigation: be quiet, hire counsel, and let the process play out and vindicate you. 

That may not be as easy as it sounds, so read on for a more answers to commonly asked questions regarding false sexual harassment claims.

Can I Respond to False Accusations?

Anyone's first impulse when they've been falsely accused is to deny the charge as loudly and comprehensively as possible. But, just like there are things you shouldn't say to a cop, there are things you shouldn't say in response to a false sexual harassment charge.

Remember, the burden is on the accuser and your employer to prove the harassment. So if nothing happened, you should be in good shape. As backwards as it seems, vociferous denials and explanations may only hurt your case.

There's a reason officers tell suspects "anything you say can and will be used against you." So while you should answer formal questions about the incident honestly, outside of the official investigation of the claim, you may want to remain as quiet about the issue as possible.

How Will the Claim Be Investigated?

Every company should have a specific harassment policy and process for addressing sexual harassment claims. You should follow that policy and adhere to your company's procedures for investigating the sexual harassment claim.

You should also make sure your employer follows the procedures as well, and document any deviation from the harassment policy. If your company doesn't follow their own rules on investigating and dealing with the harassment charge, that information could be useful in a wrongful termination claim.

You employer has a legal obligation to thoroughly investigate any and all sexual harassment charges. And while it may be difficult to trust that the investigation will be fair and protect your rights, fighting the complaint on your own terms, or otherwise failing to comply with the procedure may only hurt, rather than help, your case.

Can I Get a Lawyer?

We give this advice to criminal suspects and defendants all the time: you have the right to attorney, so use it. Even if you're innocent, there are legal issues and complexities only an experienced attorney can identify and understand.

In terms of our previous advice about choosing your defense carefully and holding your employer to their own policies and procedures, a good attorney will help you defend yourself and will know whether the investigation is legitimate and whether your company is playing by the rules.

And a knowledgeable attorney can advise you on what to expect from the investigation and claims process. Getting a lawyer doesn't make you look guilty -- it makes you look smart.

What Legal Recourse Do I Have For a False Accusation?

Depending on how the outcome of the sexual harassment investigation, there are counter-charging options. While we advised you to say as little as possible before and during the investigation, if you are cleared of the charge, you could file a defamation claim against your accuser.

Be warned: this type of "scorched earth" response can be risky, and should probably only be used after the internal investigation into the sexual harassment charge has been completed. The standards of proof for a defamation claim are high, and many of the elements can't be met while a company is looking into a harassment claim.

There are other problems with a defamation claim. First of all, filing a sexual harassment claim is generally considered a privileged statement, and therefore immune from defamation claims absent some demonstrable malice on the part of the accuser. 

Second, a key element of a defamation claim is publication, meaning a third party must have heard the claim. This may be difficult to prove if the investigation of the sexual harassment charge has been internal to your company and relatively quiet.

Third, you must demonstrate some injury due to the false allegation. While injury to your reputation qualifies under defamation law, it's more difficult to prove an injury while the investigation is ongoing. And finally, the allegedly defamatory statement must be false. While it may seem obvious to you that you've been falsely accused of defamation, the burden will be on you to prove the falsity of the claim, and that may be easier after the investigation is over and you've been cleared by your employer.

A false accusation of sexual harassment can be frightening and maddening, to say nothing of how it could affect your reputation at work. But responding the right way -- by thinking carefully about your statements, following the proper investigative procedures, and by having legal representation -- can minimize the negative effects of the claim.

If you've been falsely accused of sexual harassment, in the workplace or otherwise, you should consult with an experienced sexual harassment attorney in your area.

So What Do You Do When You Want Vindication When Being Falsely Accused of Sexual Harassment?

Remain calm and hire an attorney.

-- end source.

Allow me to repeat myself, if you've been falsely accused of sexual harassment, especially if you've suffered emotionally or financially from being falsely accused, my recommendation is that you take the first step and contact an attorney. 

When it comes to a defamation case, the best advice that I've heard is to stay calm, have patience, remain resolute, be honest, cooperate with any investigation, avoid making unnecessary statements to the organization, and avoid the accuser. False accusations of sexual misconduct such as sexual harassment can have a devastating impact on the lives of the accused. And really, it can happen to anyone who least expects it. The mere allegation of sexual misconduct can lead to irreparable damage to a person's reputation, career, and personal relationships.

Seeking justice when you've been falsely accused of anything is the right thing to do.  

Tom Correa

Trump Derangement Syndrome -- TDS Commercial -- Ask Your Doctor

"Trump has a lot of enemies: the Democratic Party, the state-run media mob, the deep state, government officials. Trump Derangement syndrome is very real. They have demonized him. They have besmirched him. They have smeared him. They have slandered him. They have created a caricature of him. In less than a decade, Donald Trump has gone from a billionaire and celebrity beloved by Democrats in the media, to a Republican that these same people now refer to constantly as a "threat to democracy" because his politics and rhetoric did not align with this Democratic machine. are also people who hate the former president with a passion, which has now made him, obviously, the number one target in terms of assassination in our country."  

-- Sean Hannity 

Do you want to fight Trump Derangement Syndrome? 

It's easy. Gain some All-American Independence and think for yourself.

That's all you need to do. Stop accepting the hate and the lies coming from the Democrat Party. 

Think for yourself. Open your mind and ask why no one in the Democrat Party wants to cut your taxes, lower your grocery bills, lower the price of gas, keep good-paying jobs in America, or fund the police. 

Ask yourself why Democrats gave millions of dollars to Illegals and are giving nothing to the over 2 Million Americans hit hard in North Carolina, Tennessee, and the rest of the flooded South. 

Ask yourself why Democrats are pushing Trans surgeries on children in schools, pushing a Gay Agenda in grade schools, and pushing hatred for America. 

Ask yourself if supporting American Oil is really that bad. Ask if the over 6,000 petroleum-based products that we use daily would be cheaper if we again supported American Oil companies. Yes, items like your cell phone, computers, everything plastic, and so many things that most people are completely ignorant of how they're made -- actually come from oil. 

Ask yourself, do the research, and find out how the Democrats' war on American Oil has driven up the cost of everything in our lives. Don't let the Democrats lie to you about how they aren't waging a war on American Oil while making Foreign Oil richer, research it for yourself and find out why just transporting goods like food and groceries and clothing and everything else we use daily are all more expensive because of Democrat policies.   

Ask yourself why Democrats see you keeping more of your hard-earned money as a bad thing. Ask yourself what's wrong with lower taxes and keeping more of your money? 

Ask yourself if you need the government to control your life, from telling you what appliance you can have in your home, to what car to drive, and to them monitoring your freedom to travel and live in peace. 

These are just a few things that you should ask yourself. And really, if you realize that there's absolutely no reason for you to pay so much taxes, that grocery bills should be low, that the price of gas should be half of what it is under Biden & Harris, that good-paying jobs and making things should be something done in America, that the police are not our enemy, that it's not right that Illegals are getting thousands of dollars while Americans hit in the South are getting nothing, that there is absolutely no reason that children should be taken away from their parents and undergo horrible gender augmentation surgeries, that making products more affordable is not a bad thing at all, that you don't need the government telling you what car to drive or what washer to us, then you need to vote against Democrats and for Trump. 

Tom Correa

Volcano, California's 1853 Murderer Captured On The High Seas

The first news story about the horrible murder that took place in the mining camp known as Volcano Diggings was reported on July 30th, 1853, in The San Joaquin Republican newspaper. The report actually got the name of the victim wrong. Whereas the victim's name was actually "Beckwith," The San Joaquin Republican initially listed the victim's name as "Beckman." 

Here is what The San Joaquin Republican, Volume 3, Number 67, 30 July 1853, reported:

The Murder of Mr. Beckman at Volcano.

One of the most cold-blooded atrocities that ever came under our observation was the murder of Mr. Beckman of Volcano. How any man, in human shape, could have committed such a foul crime is inconceivable.  The circumstances connected with the affair are horrible and revolting. 

A correspondent of the Times & Transcript thus details the particulars: "Sometime between the hours of 12 o’clock at night and 5 o’clock in the morning of the 25th inst., the storeroom of the firm of Beckman & Klebitz, at Volcano, which was used by Mr. Beckman, both as a store and sleeping apartment, was the scene of the following deed of violence: 

Permit me, however, first to remark that Mr. Beckman was in the habit of sleeping in the store alone. It was with some surprise, then, that the writer of this heard Mr. Beckman on the night of 23rd inst., invite a person to stay with him that night. 

Mr.,Beckman, however, was about his business next day, but on the night of the 25th another individual heard him invite the same individual to which he accordingly did. On the morning of the 25th, Mr. Beckman was found in bed, with three gashes recently inflicted with an axe. He was breathing, but as he was entirely senseless and his brains oozing wounds, he cannot live through the day. 

The man who slept with him was not to be found about the town, and suspicion has fallen upon that person. The following is of the man: In height, he is 5 feet 6 or 7 inches; age about 35; sandy complexion; light sandy hair; whiskers somewhat darker; of the same hue. He has the picture of a vessel on his breast, made with India Ink and other marks made with the same material on other parts of his body and arms. He has the letters H S and F S on one of his arms (the H S being above the F S). He is a German, and a sailor by occupation, his language is broken. The above person is supposed, will make for someplace on the coast; his name is Harry Stevens. 

Mr. Beckman’s store was robbed of a considerable quantity of gold dust, but the exact amount is not known. We trust that the scoundrel will be arrested and shot immediately.

A short article in The San Joaquin Republican, Volume 3, Number 96, on 6 October 1853, reported:

Apprehension Of Murderers on Board the Brother Jonathan. 

We have received from our San Juan correspondent a detailed account of the arrest of two men who went down the last trip of the [schooner] Brother Jonathan, for the murder and robbery of Mr. Beckwith of Volcano. One was known as Harry, or Dutch Harry, a sailor on board, another, name unknown, was a passenger. 

Their guilt was clearly proven, and they were placed in irons to be brought backto San Francisco for trial. They had a large amount of money about them.

The particulars of the murder, robbery, how the murders were found, and their arrest was reported in The Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 6, Number 791, on 6 October 1853:

Arrest of Murderer

Volcano — An account of the murder and robbery at Volcano of Mr. Beckwhh was published in this journal on the day following that on which the tragedy occurred. It was therein stated that the perpetrators of the crime had escaped. 

On the last downward passage of the [schooner] Brother Jonathan, two persons were arrested on suspicion of being the guilty parties, when the following examination was held by a committee of the passengers: 

[Special Despatch to the San Francisco Herald.] A man by the name of John Mace, a steerage passenger on board of the Brother Jonathan, stated to one of the cabin passengers that he considered his life in danger, as a man by the name of Harry, or Dutch Harry, the sailor, was on board of the ship, together with an accomplice, who he (Mace) was confident were the murderers of Mr. Beckwith ofVolcano, he being well acquainted with the circumstances of the case, and with Harry, the sailor. 

A committee of inquiry, of the following gentlemen were selected to report upon the case, viz: Washington, Bates, George F. Sharp, Asa Hull, Toney Oakes, Robbe French, and Charles F. Hamilton. 

The following is substantially the deposition of Mr. Mace, taken before the committee: 

"I, John Mace, the undersigned, came into Volcano diggings on the 9th of August; 1852; I came across the plains into the State of California, from Missouri; I am 42 years of age. I left Volcano on the 29th of August last, to come to Sacramonto, thence to San Francisco. 

During my stay in California, 1 was partially engaged in mining and cutting hay; I had two partners with me while mining, Wm. and Howard Bledsoe; they were acquaintances of Mr. Beckwith, the murdered man. Mr. Beckwith was murdered on Sunday night; I was in the store late in the evening myself; it was sometime in the month of July last; on that day I paid him some money I owed him for goods which I had purchased. Two men went into the store to deep with him on the night he was murdered. 

On the next morning, Mr. Hartman, the tavern keeper at Volcano, was waiting for Mr. Beckwith to come to breakfast, but not making his appearance, Mr. Hartman went to the door to call him, but, of course, received no answer; on entering, Mr. Beckwith was found in bed, his head being cut in three places with an axe; Mr. Beckwith was speechless, but not quite dead; he died about noon. 

The two men who had gone into the store to sleep with Mr. Beckwith were not to be found, and with the exception of about $2 in the drawer, all the money was gone; it was generally supposed that a large quantity of money was in the store; the axe with which the murder was committed was lying on the floor with blood on it. 

My cousin and several others were acquainted with these two men; one of the men was called Fox; the other man was called Sailor Harry; I was not acquainted with Fox; Harry, I was tolerably well acquainted with. 

On the morning after the murder, Fox and the sailor Harry were gone, and suspicion rested immediately on them; they were pursued, but could not be found. A reward of $500 was offered by Mr. Beckwith's partner for the arrest of Fox and Harry." 

In the testimony of Mr. Mace, he stated that he had no doubt but a steerage passenger was one of those who murdered Mr. Beckwith; but to place his identity beyond doubt, Mr. Mace stated that Harry had a ship tattooed on his breast, besides other marks on his person, which he described; and on examination of Harry the sailor, if these marks could be found, it would prove conclusively that he was one of the individuals for whom the reward of $500 was offered by Mr. Beekwith's partner. 

The above is the condensed testimony of John Mace — at the conclusion of which, several of the committee went forward into the steerage, and found the man Harry, the sailor, crouched down underneath the bar, and evidently in great terror, having had some suspicion of what was going on. 

A police officer who happened to be on board, was directed by the committee to arrest him, which was done, and he was pushed forward, in spite of some resistance; and on being examined by the committee, in a room in the lower cabin, the marks were found on his person, exactly as described by Mr. Mace. 

On being questioned by Mr. Sharpe, he stated that he been in California about four years, that he came in a whale ship, and afterwards left, and returned about eighteen months ago; that he had been at Volcano, and knew Beckwith — he was a storekeeper. 

On Mr. Mace, whose testimony we gave, being brought in, he stated that he knew him (Mr. Mace) at Volcano. The prisoner was then informed that Mr. Mace had charged him and his associate with being the murderers of Mr. Beckwith. 

He at first denied all knowledge of the murder and robbery. He stated that he had frequently slept in the store of Mr. Beckwith, and at the time he left, he was living. He said that after leaving Volcano, he went with his companion, Fox, to Hangtown [Placerville, California], where they took horses, with the intention of crossing the plains; and after proceeding on their journey on the other side of the Sierra Nevada, they made up their minds to return, and did return to Sacramento. 

From Sacramento they came to San Francisco, where they remained eleven days before the sailing of the steamer, in a house at Clark's Point; that he and his partner had been unsuccessful in mining, and they had made scarcely anything; that he had only about $100, but that his partner might have more — he could not say how much. 

The prisoner was then searched, and after some resistance, a large buckskin belt was taken from around his body, containing a large amount of gold dust, not less than $l,000. He then said that he had no more, but on searching his pockets a small buckskin bag was discovered, containing $300 or $400 more. He was then asked why he stated that he had not over $100, when he had so much gold dust. 

He answered, that in asking for money, he supposed they meant coin. He was then removed to the firemen's room, and the other prisoner was brought in. He was asked his name. He said his name was —. He was asked in what capacity he was on board the vessel. He said he was a passenger, and produced a passenger ticket. He said he bad been in California about two years, and had been most of the time engaged in mining. He was asked if he knew Harry, the sailor. He said he did; that they had been partners for the last eighteen months; and had been mining at Mokelumne Hill. 

He was then asked if he knew Mr. Beckwith. He said he did; that he was a trader at Volcano, about three months since; that Harry, the sailor, had frequently slept in the store; but he never did. He was then informed that he and his partner were charged with the murder and robbery of Beckwith. 

He stated that he had no knowledge of the death of Mr. Beckwith; that after leaving Volcano, Harry and himself went to Hangtown, where they purchased horses with the intention of crossing the plains; that after proceeding on their journey a few days, they concluded to return, and went to San Francisco; he had made $200 or $300 mining— the whole would not amount to $500.  He was then searched without resistance, and gold dust and coin to the amount of $1,410 was found on his person. 

He then became frightened and said that the gold dust did not belong to him, but that it was stolen from Beckwith; that Harry, the sailor, committed the robbery, and came to him in the night, without informing him that any murder had been committed, but merely stated that he had robbed Mr. Beckwith and that he would give him one-half to assist him in escaping, and that they had proceeded together as he had stated; that had he known that the murder had been committed, he would not have had anything to do with it; he was willing to return and wished them to send him back and give him a trial.

The Committee then proceeded to the Captain, and informed him of all the facts of the case, who stated that the prisoners should be brought before him, and he would hear their statements. Fox was then brought into the Captain's room, and repeated all the facts before stated— charging the murder on Harry the sailor. Immediately after, Harry the sailor was brought into the Captain's room, he stated that he was not guilty of the murder, but that Fox was the man who struck the blow; but he confessed to the robbery.

The Captain then placed them both in irons, with the intention of taking them back to San Francisco on the Brother Jonathan. 

Friday, 8th.— I visited the prisoners last night.— Fox is confined in the baggage room; he stood up nearly all night, reading a novel, and seemed to be utterly indifferent to his fate. The other man (Harry) was lying in his berth. Both were strictly watched. 

-- end of report in the Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 6, Number 791, 6 October 1853.

While I could not find an exact date, I found an undated article stating that both men were hanged for the murder. And here's something else, several newspapers listed the victim's name as "Beckwith" while just as many listed his name as "Beckman." 

For me, I might make a trip over to Volcano to see if I can find a local historian who can tell me which name is correct. And as for those of you who visit the very quaint town of Volcano today, they should know that the store where the murder was committed is supposedly located in the center of the town of Volcano. And really, since the town of Volcano is only two blocks long with a population of 101, it shouldn't be too hard to find. 

Tom Correa 

Harris The Co-Conspirator Who Let 13,000 Illegal Alien Murderers Into America

ICE report shows Tens of Thousands of Illegal Aliens with Sexual Assault & Murder Convictions were let into the United States by the Biden-Harris administration.

Before you read the story reported by Fox News a few days ago, please don't forget when reading this that Kamala Harris has been the Vice President of the United States and is responsible for the crime, the murders, rapes, the car highjackings, the theft, and robberies committed by Ilegals. 

Harris helped create this administration's asinine domestic and foreign policies. Harris has been a co-conspirator in this administration's plot to create policies that attack American Oil, drive up the price of groceries and gas and rents, embolden those from other countries to travel here, encourage nations to release their murderous criminals to send them to the United States. Harris is the co-conspirator who has created the Invasion that we're facing on the border.

Story by Adam Shaw 

Fox News
September 27, 2024 

Tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with sex offenses and homicide convictions could be loose on the streets, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data provided to lawmakers this week.

The agency provided data to Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, about national data for illegal immigrants with criminal charges or convictions. The data, as of July 2024, is broken down by those in detention, and those who are not in detention -- known as the non-detained docket. The non-detained docket includes illegal immigrants who have final orders of removal or are going through removal proceedings but are not detained in ICE custody. There are currently more than 7 million people on that docket.

The data says that, among those not in detention, there are 425,431 convicted criminals and 222,141 with pending criminal charges.

ICE NON-DETAINED DOCKET EXPLODES TO 7.4M CASES

Those include 62,231 convicted of assault, 14,301 convicted of burglary, 56,533 with drug convictions and 13,099 convicted of homicide. An additional 2,521 have kidnapping convictions and 15,811 have sexual assault convictions.

There are an additional 1,845 with pending homicide charges, 42,915 with assault charges, 3,266 with burglary charges and 4,250 with assault charges.

Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on December 07, 2023 in Lukeville, Arizona. Jesus Enrique Ramirez Cabrera, according to federal sources, came into the country illegally in December 2023 through Arizona, was apprehended and released into the U.S. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

"As of July 21, 2024, there were 662,566 noncitizens with criminal histories on ICE’s national docket—13,099 criminally convicted MURDERS!" Gonzales said in a statement. "Americans deserve to be SAFE in our own communities."

In a statement accompanying the latter, ICE took aim at so-called "sanctuary" cities, which refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement in deporting illegal immigrant criminals.

"ICE recognizes that some jurisdictions are concerned that cooperating with federal immigration officials will erode trust with immigrant communities and make it harder for local law enforcement to serve those populations. However, ‘sanctuary’ policies can end up shielding dangerous criminals, who often victimize those same communities," it said.

It also stressed DHS’ efforts to remove illegal immigrants: "From mid-May 2023 through the end of July 2024, DHS removed or returned more than 893,600 individuals, including more than 138,300 individuals in family units. The majority of all individuals encountered at the Southwest Border over the past three years have been removed, returned, or expelled."

The Biden-Harris administration came under fire for releasing many migrants who came to the U.S. border into the interior, which coincided with a sharp drop in deportations as it focused on prioritizing public safety and national security threats. There were 142,580 removals in FY 23, up considerably from 72,177 in FY 22 and 59,011 in FY 21, but still down from the highs of 267,258 under the Trump administration in FY 19.

The number of illegal immigrants on the non-detained docket, meanwhile, has soared from 3.7 million in FY 2021 to nearly 4.8 million in FY 2022 to over 7 million in FY 2023.

Republicans have blamed the border crisis on the policies of the administration, including rolling back Trump policies that limited "catch and release."

"It may be shocking to hear that the Biden-Harris administration is actively releasing tens of thousands of criminal illegal aliens into our communities, but their own numbers conclusively prove this to be the case. This defies all common sense," House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green told Fox News Digital. "Under President Biden and his ‘border czar,’ Vice President Harris, DHS law enforcement has been directed to mass-release illegal aliens whom they know have criminal convictions or are facing charges for serious crimes—and these dangerous, destructive individuals are making their way into every city and state in this country. How many more Americans need to die or be victimized before this administration is forced to abide by the laws they swore to uphold? This is madness. It is something no civilized, well-functioning society should tolerate."

In a statement on Saturday, DHS said the data was being "misinterpreted."

"The data goes back decades; it includes individuals who entered the country over the past 40 years or more, the vast majority of whose custody determination was made long before this Administration," a spokesperson said. "It also includes many who are under the jurisdiction or currently incarcerated by federal, state or local law enforcement partners."

The administration has said it needs more funding and reforms from Congress to fix a "broken" immigration system, including via a bipartisan Senate bill introduced this year – which has been rejected by Republicans. It has also pointed to a sharp drop in arrivals since President Biden signed an executive order limiting asylum at the border in June. DHS also said it has removed over 180,000 noncitizens with criminal convictions since Jan. 2021.

"Despite the challenges of operating within a broken immigration system, and in the face of an enormous workload and consistently limited funding, DHS continues to enforce the law to secure our borders," DHS said in its letter.

That bill would increase the number of ICE detention beds, but critics of the administration have pointed to numbers showing not all beds are being filled currently.

The data’s release comes as Vice President Kamala Harris visits the southern border in Arizona as she seeks to blunt criticism from former President Trump on the matter, and renew her call for the bipartisan border bill. Conservatives were not swayed by the visit.

"Border Czar Kamala Harris has had nearly four years to protect America and failed," RJ Hauman, president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE), told Fox News Digital in response to the data. "She is allowing tens of thousands of murderers and rapists to roam free. She puts criminals first and the safety and security of you and your family last."

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.

How Newspapers Reported The Gunfight At The OK Corral 1881

One of my hobbies is reading period newspapers. I love reading first-hand accounts. I also love reading the difference between how two newspapers report the same incident. To me, there is no better example of two newspapers reporting the same incident and yet reporting two completely different stories about what took place than that now famous 30-second shooting that happened in Tombstone, Arizona, on October 26, 1881. 

Take a look at both newspaper stories for yourself, and see if you can tell the difference in how the incident was reported. First, let's take a look at how The Tombstone Epitaph reported what took place:

Coverage of the Gunfight and Subsequent Developments
October 27, 1881

YESTERDAY'S TRAGEDY

Tombstone Daily Epitaph - October 27, 1881

Three Men Hurled Into Eternity in the Duration of a Moment

Stormy as were the early days of Tombstone nothing ever occurred equal to the event of yesterday. Since the retirement of Ben Sippy as marshal and the appointment of V.W. Earp to fill the vacancy the town has been noted for its quietness and good order.

The fractious and much dreaded cowboys when they came to town were upon their good behaviour and no unseemly brawls were indulged in, and it was hoped by our citizens that no more such deeds would occur as led to the killing of Marshal White one year ago.

It seems that this quiet state of affairs was but the calm that precedes the storm that burst in all its fury yesterday, with this difference in results, that the lightning bolt struck in a different quarter from the one that fell a year ago.

This time it struck with its full and awful force upon those who, heretofore, have made the good name of this county a byword and a reproach, instead of upon some officer in discharge of his duty or a peaceable and unoffending citizen.

Since the arrest of Stilwell and Spence for the robbery of the Bisbee stage, there have been oft repeated threats conveyed to the Earp brothers -- Virgil, Morgan and Wyatt -- that the friends of the accused, or in other words the cowboys , would get even with them for the part they had taken in the pursuit and arrest of Stilwell and Spence.

The active part of the Earps in going after stage robbers, beginning with the one last spring where Budd Philpot lost his life, and the more recent one near Contention, has made them exceedingly obnoxious to the bad element of this county and put their lives in jeopardy every month.

Sometime Tuesday Ike Clanton came into town and during the evening had some little talk with Doc Holliday and Marshal Earp but nothing to cause either to suspect, further than their general knowledge of the man and the threats that had previously been conveyed to the Marshal, that the gang intended to clean out the Earps, that he was thirsting for blood at this time with one exception and that was that Clanton told the Marshal, in answer to a question, that the McLowrys were in Sonora.

Shortly after this occurrence someone came to the Marshal and told him that the McLowrys had been seen a short time before just below town.

Marshal Earp, now knowing what might happen and feeling his responsibility for the peace and order of the city, stayed on duty all night and added to the police force his brother Morgan and Holliday.

The night passed without any disturbance whatever and at sunrise he went home to rest and sleep. A short time afterwards one of his brothers came to his house and told him that Clanton was hunting him with threats of shooting him on sight. He discredited the report and did not get out of bed. It was not long before another of his brothers came down, and told him the same thing, whereupon he got up, dressed and went with his brother Morgan uptown.

They walked up Allen Street to Fifth, crossed over to Fremont and down to Fourth, where, upon turning up Fourth toward Allen, they came upon Clanton with a Winchester rifle in his hand and a revolver on his hip. The Marshal walked up to him, grabbed the rifle and hit him a blow on the head at the same time, stunning him so that he was able to disarm him without further trouble.

He marched Clanton off to the police court where he entered a complaint against him for carrying deadly weapons, and the court fined Clanton $25 and costs, making $27.50 altogether. This occurrence must have been about 1 o'clock in the afternoon.

The After-Occurrence

Close upon the heels of this came the finale, which is best told in the words of R.F. Coleman who was an eye-witness from the beginning to the end. Mr. Coleman says:

I was in the O.K. Corral at 2:30 p.m., when I saw the two Clantons and the two McLowrys in an earnest conversation across the street in Dunbar's corral. I went up the street and notified Sheriff Behan and told him it was my opinion they meant trouble, and it was his duty, as sheriff, to go and disarm them. I told him they had gone to the West End Corral. I then went and saw Marshal Virgil Earp and notified him to the same effect. I then met Billy Allen and we walked through the O.K. Corral, about fifty yards behind the sheriff. On reaching Fremont street I saw Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday, in the center of the street, all armed. I had reached Bauer's meat market. Johnny Behan had just left the cowboys, after having a conversation with them. I went along to Fly's photograph gallery, when I heard Virg Earp say, "Give up your arms or throw up your arms."

There was some reply made by Frank McLowry, when firing became general, over thirty shots being fired. Tom McLowry fell first, but raised and fired again before he died. Bill Clanton fell next, and raised to fire again when Mr. Fly took his revolver from him. Frank McLowry ran a few rods and fell. Morgan Earp was shot through and fell. Doc Holliday was hit in the left hip but kept on firing. Virgil Earp was hit in the third or fourth fire, in the leg which staggered him but he kept up his effective work. Wyatt Earp stood up and fired in rapid succession, as cool as a cucumber, and was not hit. Doc Holliday was as calm as though at target practice and fired rapidly. After the firing was over, Sheriff Behan went up to Wyatt Earp and said, "I'll have to arrest you." Wyatt replied: "I won't be arrested today. I am right here and am not going away. You have deceived me. You told me these men were disarmed; I went to disarm them."

This ends Mr. Coleman's story which in the most essential particulars has been confirmed by others. Marshal Earp says that he and his party met the Clantons and the McLowrys in the alleyway by the McDonald place; he called to them to throw up their hands, that he had come to disarm them.

Instantaneously Bill Clanton and one of the McLowrys fired, and then it became general. Mr. Earp says it was the first shot from Frank McLowry that hit him.

In other particulars his statement does not materially differ from the statement above given. Ike Clanton was not armed and ran across to Allen street and took refuge in the dance hall there. The two McLowrys and Bill Clanton all died within a few minutes after being shot.

The Marshal was shot through the calf of the right leg, the ball going clear through. His brother, Morgan, was shot through the shoulders, the ball entering the point of the right shoulder blade, following across the back, shattering off a piece of one vertebrae and passing out the left shoulder in about the same position that it entered the right. The wound is dangerous but not necessarily fatal, and Virgil's is far more painful than dangerous. Doc Holliday was hit upon the scabbard of his pistol, the leather breaking the force of the ball so that no material damage was done other than to make him limp a little in his walk.

Dr. Matthews impaneled a coroner's jury, who went and viewed the bodies as they lay in the cabin in the rear of Dunbar's stables on Fifth street, and then adjourned until 10 o'clock this morning.

The Alarm Given

The moment the word of the shooting reached the Vizina and Tough Nut mines the whistles blew a shrill signal, and the miners came to the surface, armed themselves, and poured into the town like an invading army. A few moments served to bring out all the better portions of the citizens, thoroughly armed and ready for any emergency. Precautions were immediately taken to preserve law and order, even if they had to fight for it. A guard of ten men were stationed around the county jail, and extra policemen put on for the night.

Earp Brothers Justified

The feeling among the best class of our citizens is that the Marshal was entirely justified in his efforts to disarm these men, and that being fired upon they had to defend themselves, which they did most bravely.

So long as our peace officers make an effort to preserve the peace and put down highway robbery -- which the Earp brothers have done, having engaged in the pursuit and capture, where captures have been made of every gang of stage robbers in the county -- they will have the support of all good citizens.

If the present lesson is not sufficient to teach the cow-boy element that they cannot come into the streets of Tombstone, in broad daylight, armed with six-shooters and Henry rifles to hunt down their victims, then the citizens will most assuredly take such steps to preserve the peace as will be forever a bar to such raids.

-- end of article in Tombstone Daily Epitaph, October 27, 1881.

Below is how The Tombstone Nugget covered the gunfight near the OK Corral compared to how The Tombstone Epitaph covered it. When you read both, you will be surprised that they were both covering the same shooting and how they came up with two different views of what took place.

The Tombstone Nugget, October 27th, 1881:

A Desperate Street Fight

Marshal Virgil Earp, Morgan and Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday Meet the Cowboys - Three Men Killed and Two Wounded, One Seriously - Origins of the Trouble and its Tragic Termination.

The 26th of October, 1881, will always be marked as one of the crimson days in the annals of Tombstone, a day when blood flowed as water and human life was held as a shuttlecock, a day always to be remembered as witnessing the bloodiest and deadliest street fight that has ever occurred in this place, or probably in the Territory.

The origin of the trouble dates back to the first arrest of Stilwell and Spencer for the robbery of the Bisbee stage. The co-operation of the Earps and the Sheriff and his deputies in the arrest caused a number of cowboys to, it is said, threaten the lives of all interested in the capture. Still, nothing occurred to indicate that any such threats would be carried into execution.

But Tuesday night Ike Clanton and Doc Holliday had some difficulty in the Alhambra saloon. Hard words passed between them, and when they parted it was generally understood that the feeling between the two men was that of intense hatred.

Yesterday morning Clanton came on the street armed with a rifle and revolver but was almost immediately arrested by Marshal Earp, dismissed and fined by Justice Wallace for carrying concealed weapons. While in the Courtroom Wyatt Earp told him that as he had made threats against his life he wanted him to make his fight, to say how, when and where he would fight, and to get his crowd, and he (Wyatt) would be on hand.

In reply, Clanton said: “Four feet of ground is enough for me to fight on, and I’ll be there.” A short time after this William Clanton and Frank McLowry [sic] came into town, and as Thomas McLowry was already here the feeling soon became general that a fight would ensue before the day was over, and crowds of expectant men stood on the corner of Allen and Fourth streets awaiting the coming conflict.

It was now about two o’clock, and at this time Sheriff Behan appeared upon the scene and told Marshal Earp that if he disarmed his posse, composed of Morgan and Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday, he would go down to the O.K. Corral where Ike and James [sic] Clanton and Frank and Tom McLowry were and disarm them. The Marshal did not desire to do this until assured that there was no danger of attack from the other party.

The Sheriff went to the corral and told the cowboys that they must put their arms away and not have any trouble. Ike Clanton and Tom McLowry said they were not armed, and Frank McLowry said he would not lay him aside.

In the meantime the Marshal had concluded to go and, if possible, end the matter by disarming them, and as he and his posse came down Fremont Street towards the corral, the Sheriff stepped out and said: “Hold up boys, don’t go down there or there will be trouble: I have been down there to disarm them.”

But they passed on, and when within a few feet of the Marshal said to the Clantons and McLowrys: “Throw up your hands boys, I intend to disarm you.”

As he spoke, Frank McLowry made a motion to draw his revolver, when Wyatt Earp pulled his and shot him, the ball striking on the right side of his abdomen. About the same time Doc Holliday shot Tom McLowry in the right side using a short shotgun, such as is carried by Wells-Fargo & Co.’s messengers.

In the meantime Billy Clanton had shot at Morgan Earp, the ball passing through the point of the left shoulder blade across the back, just grazing the backbone and coming out at the shoulder, the ball remaining inside his shirt. 

He fell to the ground but in an instant gathered himself, and raising in a sitting position fired at Frank McLowry as he crossed Freemont Street, and at the same instant Doc Holliday shot at him, both balls taking effect either of which would have proved fatal, as one struck him in the right temple and the other in the left breast.

As he started across the street, however, he pulled his gun down on Holliday saying, “I’ve got you now.” “Blaze away! You’re a daisy if you have, ” replied Doc. This shot of McLowry’s passed through Holliday’s pistol pocket, just grazing the skin.

While this was going on Billy Clanton had shot Virgil Earp in the right leg, the ball passing through the calf, inflicting a severe flesh wound. In turn, he had been shot by Morgan Earp in the right wrist and once in the left breast. Soon after the shooting commenced Ike Clanton ran through the O.K. Corral, across Allen Street into Kellogg’s saloon, and thence into Toughnut Street where he was arrested and taken to the county jail.

The firing altogether didn’t occupy more than twenty-five seconds, during which time fully thirty shots were fired. After the fight was over Billy Clanton, who, with wonderful vitality, survived his wounds for fully an hour, was carried by the editor and foreman of the Nugget into a house near where he lay, and everything possible was done to make his last moments easy. 

He was “game” to the last, never uttering a word of complaint, and just before breathing his last he said, “Goodbye boys; go away and let me die.” The wounded were taken to their houses, and at three o’clock the next morning were resting comfortably.

The dead bodies were taken in charge by the Coroner, and an inquest will be held upon them at 10 o’clock today. Upon the person of Thomas McLowry was found between $300 and $400 and checks and certificates of deposit to the amount of nearly $3,000.

During the shooting, Sheriff Behan was standing nearby commanding the contestants to cease firing but was powerless to prevent it. Several parties who were in the vicinity of the shooting had “narrow escapes” from being shot. One man who had lately arrived from the East had a ball pass through his pants. He left for home this morning.

A person called “The Kid” who shot Hicks at Charleston recently, was also grazed by a ball. When the Vizina [mine] whistle gave the signal that there was a conflict between the officers and cowboys, the mines on the hill shut down and the miners were brought to the surface.

From the Contention mine a number of men, fully armed, were sent to town on a four-horse carriage. At the request of the Sheriff the “Vigilantes,” or Committee of Safety, were called from the streets by a few sharp toots from the Vizina’s whistle. During the early part of the evening there was a rumor that a mob would attempt to take Ike Clanton from the jail and lynch him, and to prevent any such unlawful proceedings a strong guard of deputies [sic] was placed around that building and will be so continued until all danger is past.

At 8 o’clock last evening Finn Clanton, a brother of Billy and Ike, came to town, and placing himself under the guard of the Sheriff, visited the morgue to see the remains of his brother, and then passed the night in jail in company with the other.

OMINOUS SOUNDS

Shortly after the shooting ceased the whistle at the Vizina mine sounded a few short toots, and almost simultaneously a large number of citizens appeared on the streets armed with rifles and a belt of cartridges around their waists. These men formed in line and offered their services to the peace officers to preserve order in case any attempt at disturbance was made, or any interference offered to the authorities of the law. However, no hostile move was made by anyone, and the quiet and order was fully restored, and in a short time the excitement died away.

AT THE MORGUE

The bodies of the three slain cowboys lay side by side, covered with a sheet. Very little blood appeared on their clothing, and only on the face of young Billy Clanton was there any distortion of the features or evidence of pain in dying. The features of the two McLowry boys looked as calm and placid in death as if they had died peaceably, surrounded by loving friends and sorrowing relatives.

No unkind remarks were made by anyone, but the feeling of unusual sorrow seemed to prevail at the sad occurrence. Of the two McLowry brothers, we could learn nothing of their previous history before coming to Arizona. The two brothers owned quite an extensive ranch on the lower San Pedro, some seventy or eighty miles from this city, to which they had removed their band of cattle since the recent Mexican and Indian troubles. They did not bear the reputation of being of a quarrelsome disposition, but were known as fighting men, and have generally conducted themselves in a quiet and orderly manner when in Tombstone.

-- end of article in the The Tombstone Nugget, October 27th, 1881.

The Tombstone Nugget was published from 1880 to 1882. It ceased to exist after it burned down during the fire of 1882. To me, I find it pretty interesting just how The Tombstone Nugget covered the gunfight versus how The Tombstone Epitaph covered it. It seems that they came up with two different views of what took place -- just proving that media bias is nothing new in the news business.

While there were a lot of articles in Arizona newspapers after the shooting, you'll want to read what The Arizona Star wrote. The article below from The Arizona Star was published about two weeks after the shooting and was carried by The Los Angeles Herald, Volume 16, Number 76, on 16 November 1881. 

I hope you find this interesting. It really is the other side of the coin from what The Tombstone Epitaph printed at the time. 

The Tombstone Tragedy

[Arizona Star] 

The late tragedy at Tombstone, which blah has been termed a fight between the authorities and cowboys, appears from all the evidence thus far brought out on the examination, to have been the aaaasaination of three cattle men —young men who owned their ranches and cattle, and so far as we can learn, no one knows aught against them. 

The McLowry boys were born, raised, and educated in Iowa, and were graduates of colleges. They came to Arizona bat a few months ago, purchased a herd of cattle, and were looked upon as quiet, respectable young men by those who knew them. They had gone to Tombstone to settle for some cattle they had sold to the butchers, and were taking their horses from the stable to return home when they were attacked and shot down. 

William Clanton, a boy of about 19 years, It is said by those who ought to know him, was brave but not known to be quarrelsome, and with his brothers owned a ranch and a number of cattle. They have been living in Arizona for about eight years, and as far as known, William Clanton has never had a difficulty with anyone. 

He was with the McLowrys when the tragedy occurred and met his death with them. Such being the facts, it is, to say the least, very harsh to class these unfortunate young men as criminals of the worst sort, and thus endeavor to palliate the act of those who hurled them into eternity without any apparent cause. 

If we have been misinformed as to the character of the victims of official authority, we bave no hesitation in saying that a large majority of the best citizens of Tombstone are today laboring under tbe same delusion.

-- end of article from The Arizona Star as carried in The Los Angeles Herald, Volume 16, Number 76, on 16 November 1881.

Interesting, isn't it.

Tom Correa