The Loss of Life for Americans Trying to Fulfill Manifest Destiny Was High

So, let's talk about how the loss of life for Americans trying to fulfill Manifest Destiny was high. But first, let's recognize that the California Gold Rush dramatically accelerated the "American Westward Expansion" by drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the West. That influx of settlers fueled the idea of Manifest Destiny.

The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was first used by newspaper editor John O'Sullivan in 1845. He created the term to advocate for the United States to annex Texas. Coined by John O'Sullivan, his idea was that America was "divinely ordained" to expand and settle across the entire North American continent, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Let's remember that it was his opinion that God wanted the United States to settle all of the territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific.  

If you're wondering why I put "divinely ordained" in quotes, it's because it seems to me that many people throughout human history have felt that God, or their Gods, have ordained certain things. For example, various Native American tribes, long before Europeans ever set foot on American soil, felt that their Gods meant for them to have certain lands at the expense of war with other tribes. And yes, in many cases, genocidal war took place between tribes. The same situation was with Hawaiian King Kamehameha, who believed that conquering the other islands was ordained by his Gods. Of course, he probably wouldn't have been able to do that without European warfighting arms and technology, but that's an inconvenient point of fact that Hawaiian history revisionists prefer not to discuss. Remember, to Hawaiians, the Europeans were perceived as bad people for 'colonizing' Hawaii. And sadly, some of that hate for Whites still exists in Hawaii today. 

So, no, I don't see Americans in the 19th Century believing that America was guided by God to go West as being something that was that much different from what many people around the world have thought at different points in human history. Of course, while America's belief in "Manifest Destiny" is often portrayed as American arrogance at the time, I don't see it as being much different from other people who believed that their God or Gods ordained something or other. 

The core idea that Americans had a "manifest destiny" to expand from one ocean to the other influenced a great many people and provided a powerful rationale for Westward migration, despite the high cost in American lives. And yes, besides the thousands of lives lost during the Mexican-American War, the cost in American lives, those pioneers who died trying to go West, was extremely high.

 
That's the part of "Manifest Destiny" that no one talks about. People do talk about how Manifest Destiny played a significant role in the displacement of some Native American tribes, for the role Americans played in the annexation of Texas, and for the impact that concept had on the acquisition of territories from Mexico after the Mexican-American War. And yes, people talk about how the addition of new territories fueled debates over slavery and increased tensions between the North and South, which contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

But, for some strange reason, I never hear people talk about the cost of American lives, or how much blood, treasure, and hard work it took to fulfill the idea of Americans having to go West because
God intended for that to take place. There is never a mention of the thousands of American pioneers who died expanding and spreading the American culture or attempting to spread America's democratic ideals across the continent.

 
So how bad was it in the case of lives lost? 

Well, there are factors that complicate getting an accurate toll of how many Americans died attempting to fulfill the dream of "manifest destiny." A dream for many that turned into a nightmare. 

For example, because of the lack of accurate records, it is almost impossible to know the exact number of settler deaths along the trail. One reason is the unrecorded burials. It's true. Graves were often unmarked to protect them from vandals or were intentionally placed in the wagon trail to be trampled over, making them undetectable to animals that might dig them up. 

And frankly, between 1841 and 1869, anywhere from 350,000 to 400,000 Americans embarked on the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails. Estimates suggest that anywhere from 30,000 to 40,000 or more American settlers died on the Oregon, California, and Mormon Trails during the 20-year span between 1840 and 1860. 

That means that about one in ten, or one in eight, settlers who attempted the journey died along the way. And really, those figures don't capture the overall death toll for settlers during the entire era of Westward expansion, which also includes the countless lives lost in other conflicts, accidents, and diseases. To be realistic, about one in five people during that period died from all sorts of things, including disease, accidents, the weather, starvation, violence, and dumb decisions.

 
The leading cause of death for American settlers was disease. That was the greatest killer on the trails, in mining camps, towns, on homesteads, farms, ranches, and other settlements. Cholera was the most feared and deadly disease. It is caused by bacteria that thrive in unsanitary water and can kill a healthy person within hours. Typhoid, dysentery, smallpox, measles, and influenza were also common due to poor hygiene and the close quarters of most temporary camps. 

As for the weather and other natural disasters, they could be lethal. Extreme heat, thunderstorms, lightning, and deadly hailstones all posed risks to traveling settlers. Severe storms and early snowfalls trapped some parties, leading to starvation, as in the case of the Donner Party, where 35 people died. Of course, the Donner Party is a prime example of the consequences of a poor decision. And yes, their decision to proceed over the Sierra Mountains when they did was dumb.

As for bison stampedes? Yes, they could also cause injuries and wreak havoc on wagon trains. As for bear attacks, there are documented instances of attacks occurring when settlers set out from their wagon trains in search of game. 

Of course, just because people made it to where they were going, it didn't mean they would survive. The death toll statistics of those making the journey don't include the deaths of settlers who died in less-documented land acquisition, skirmishes, new homesteads, on farms, ranches, in towns, mining camps and mines, in mills, and in forests falling trees, on ships, during the building of the railroad. And yes, while in reality relatively uncommon compared to dying from disease, starvation, and accidents, deaths from Native American conflicts did take place. Of course, it is impossible to determine exactly how many lives of settlers were lost in various battles and skirmishes throughout the decades of Westward expansion. 

While many accounts with Native Americans were exaggerated and sensationalized, and some were overreported in contemporary accounts, the events did happen. And really, while people talk about Manifest Destiny, they focus on the expansion of the United States; the expansion itself led to violent conflicts and wars with Native Americans. Those conflicts, big and small, and while not always noted, resulted in numerous settler deaths. One example is during the 1862 Dakota War, when over 1,000 white settlers were killed or captured by rebelling Dakota Sioux. 

As for deaths by criminals, those outlaws who stole and murdered? Widespread lawlessness and the resulting vigilantism did take place for a reason. It's a fact that, along with the good, comes the bad, even during the Western expansion. What took place during the rapid, often chaotic, expansion into new territories was the creation of conditions that led to lawlessness. This resulted in a high incidence of crime, particularly in newly settled mining and cattle towns. 

The rise of vigilante justice? Yes, as you've heard me talk about before, from mining camps to new towns springing up, there was no organized law enforcement. So yes, the people had to create what they already knew as "Citizens Committees," also known as "Vigilance Committees." And with official law enforcement often sparse and ineffective, settler communities formed vigilante groups to enforce their own versions of justice, often with brutality. This led to lynchings and summary executions. Was it effective in deterring crime? In most cases, it was. Of course, as is in life, some outlaws were too stupid to understand that the outlaw life was not a really healthy way of life until they were dancing on the end of a rope under some lone tree. 

The romanticized image of the American outlaw arose from this era of lawlessness. Figures like Jesse James and Butch Cassidy, who committed acts of violence and theft, became iconic figures in the frontier mythology. As life in the West became more settled, the crime rate in the West did come down. This was mainly because most residents were armed, and outlaws were dealt with accordingly.  

As for accidents that took lives in the pursuit of Manifest Destiny? Well, accidents along the way West were a constant danger. During the journey West, wagon accidents occurred frequently, with children and adults falling under the wheels and being crushed. River crossings were particularly perilous, and drowning was a common cause of death. Actually, drownings were a significant risk, especially during perilous river crossings where swift currents could capsize wagons. Gunshot wounds, often self-inflicted by inexperienced gun owners, were also common.

If memory serves me right, long before the outlaw Johnny Ringo became famous and his family journeyed to San Jose, California, in a wagon train, he lost his father as a result of a gun accident. It's said that he was pulling a shotgun out of a wagon from the muzzle when it went off. It killed him instantly. And yes, he was buried in an unmarked grave along the trail. 

During the 1800s, accidents, especially those we would today term "occupational accidents," were often caused by hazardous industrial work, primitive and dangerous machinery, inadequate ventilation, and a lack of safety regulations, resulting in injuries such as lost limbs, burns, and fatalities from explosions and collapses. In the West, common industries such as mining, logging, and fishing were especially perilous, with workers facing risks on a daily basis. For example, in the case of fishing, it wasn't unusual for capsize-prone fishing vessels and severe storms to result in high mortality rates among fishermen. And yes, buildings, especially mines, could collapse due to structural flaws or explosions, trapping and killing workers. Miners faced risks from explosions, toxic gases, and mine collapses on a daily basis.

In mills, exposed gears, moving belts, and unguarded blades on machines led to amputations and other severe injuries. Lack of safety regulations, poor ventilation, and crowded environments increased the risk of accidents and illness. Of course, fires and explosions were frequent. For example, from flour dust in mills to methane gas in mines, faulty steam boilers in factories and on trains, fires, and explosions were frequent causes of death and injury. 

So yes, besides the large number of Americans who died heading West, Manifest Destiny created harsh conditions and devastating consequences for Native Americans and American settlers alike. 

The perilous journey, traveling westward on trails like the Oregon Trail, was a long, difficult, and dangerous ordeal that lasted for months. American pioneers faced brutal weather, starvation, and diseases like cholera, which in many cases wiped out entire wagon trains. Of course, after arriving, they found frontier life brutal. 

In most instances, settlers, especially those who moved to the Great Plains, found it difficult to cultivate the dry, tough soil with limited rainfall. Many homes were poorly constructed from mud, and the lack of supplies made for an extremely tough existence. And, in reality, many faced financial failure since the cost of starting a farm was high, and many who took advantage of acts like the Homestead Act were unable to make their farms profitable. Many failed and ended up working as migrant laborers for larger commercial farms. 

So, please, when discussing Manifest Destiny, let's not make the mistake of portraying it as though it was a cake walk for American settlers heading West. Let's remember that, driven by a belief that justified America's Westward expansion, American settlers faced many hardships. And yes, the loss of life for Americans trying to fulfill Manifest Destiny was high. Let's refrain from criticizing or belittling, especially in an unfair manner, or disparaging and downplaying what those American pioneers accomplished. 

Those American pioneers, those who followed the promise of Manifest Destiny, faced extreme difficulties, a high rate of failure, at a huge loss of life. And for that, they should be admired for their tenacity. 

Tom Correa

Charles Marion Russell, The True Cowboy Artist

Story By Terry McGahey

Charles Marion Russell, also known as C.M. Russell, was born on March 19, 1864, in Missouri. He left his home around eighteen years of age and headed out to experience the wild west firsthand. This landed him in Montana, working for a short period of time on a sheep ranch. Russell then went to work for a fellow by the name of Jake Hoover, who was a hunter, tracker, and trapper who became a rancher in central Montana within the Judith Basin.

 
Russell was working as a cowhand during the winter of 1886-7, which became known as "The Big Die Up". The winter that year was deathly cold, reaching forty-six to even seventy below zero with sixteen inches or more of snow, the snow is one thing but with those below average temperatures life outside becomes impossible to deal with for any more than about ten to fifteen minutes. 

Myself, I have dealt with thirty-five below, being out in it for short periods of time, but I can't even imagine seventy below zero. 

When spring finally came in 1887, that's when the horrible realization set in. The loss of cattle was so terrible it would change the ranching business forever, the carcasses were scattered all across the fields and many more even washed down several streams and the cattle that survived were nothing but skin and bone. The "Big Die Up" and overgrazing brought an end to open range ranching for the most part.

During that time, Russell was working for the O.H. Outfit when the owner of the ranch contacted the ranch foreman to ask how his cows made it through the winter. The foreman sent the owner a watercolor made by Russell, about the size of a postcard of a very gaunt steer being watched closely by a pack of wolves. The caption of this watercolor is called "Waiting For A Chinook". 

A chinook is a warm, dry wind that blows down the Eastern side of the Rocky Mountains at the end of winter. Later, Russell re-painted that scene larger, and it became one of his best-known works of art.

After this time period, Russell began receiving commissions for his work and became a full-time artist. Unlike Remington and other Western artists, not to take anything from them, Russell was a true cowboy, and Remington's work was done by observation rather than first-hand experience. 

Russell's art covered not only cowboys, but also landscapes and Native Americans, as well as bronze sculptures. Russell's works are displayed in several places today, including the C.M. Russell Museum Complex in Great Falls, Montana, the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming, the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, the Montana Historical Society in Helena, Montana, and the Sid Richardson Museum also in Fort Worth.

In 1896, Russell married his wife, Nancy, and in 1897, they moved to Great Falls, Montana, where he spent most of his time until his death on October 24, 1926. By the end of his life, Russell had been a local celebrity but had also become a celebrity through art critics around the world. 

By the time of his passing, he had created approximately four thousand works of art. Upon the day of his funeral, the school children were let out of school to watch the funeral procession in which his coffin was carried in a glass-sided coach pulled by four black horses.

Terry McGahey is a writer and Old West historian.

This once-working cowboy is best known for his epic battle against the City of Tombstone and its historic City Ordinance Number 9, America's most famous gun-control law.


Terry was instrumental in finally repealing Tombstone City Ordinance Number 9. He is directly responsible for compelling the City of Tombstone to adhere to Arizona's laws.

If you'd like to read about his epic battle against the City of Tombstone, click here: The Last Gun Fight -- The Death of Ordinance Number 9 (Chapter One)

They Have No Souls

By Terry McGahey

With the horrible assassination of Charlie Kirk, this terrible act has been promoted mostly by the far-left radicals who, in my opinion, lack any sense of honesty, decency, or, may I dare say, a lack of soul by many of these anti-American socialists and or communists. These people are truly insane!

I ask, where do we lay the blame for all of the lawlessness, violence, and anti-American rhetoric? Like it or not, it's all coming from the Left. 

As I have stated before, just look at our education system, especially within our colleges and even down to our public schools and school boards, where in many cases parents are shunned and even thrown out of meetings for voicing their concern about the education of their children.

Yes, I do blame our educational system for the indoctrination of our young minds; even more, I blame the so-called Democratic socialist movement, which has taken place within the Democratic Party for quite some time now. Personally, I believe these socialists within our government should be tried for treason because all they do is disrupt our government and laws. 

If you are a voting Democrat, you need to take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror and finally come to realize that a vote for any Democrat right now is a vote for tyranny, lawlessness, and the ruination of our country's values -- and possibly our way of life. 

It makes no difference to me if you are a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent; it's time to vote for our American values and our Constitution, not for the radical values that have divided our nation so vividly. This is no longer about Democrats and Republicans; it's about saving our freedoms, our nation, and our independence.

What many people do not seem to grasp is that when Socialism, any kind of Socialism, invades our government, we lose. Sure, we have social programs such as Social Security and others, but we are not a socialist run government! Socialism is like a malignant cancer; once it takes control, it only grows larger and larger until such point you are only one small step away from Communism. 

Wake the hell up people before it's too late because our government has been invaded by Socialists such as Bernie Sanders, of Vermont, Greg Casar of Texas, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Cori Bush of Missouri, Jamaal Bowman of New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, llhan Omar of Minnesota but born in Somalia, and Danny Davis of Illinois. 

 
Every person I have mentioned above belongs to the DSA, which is the organization of Democratic Socialists of America. They need to go! 

Not only that, but now we have another socialist running for mayor in New York by the name of Zohran Mamdani. This socialist, born in Uganda, wants free city buses, public childcare, city-owned grocery stores, rent-free on rent-stabilized units, and a thirty-dollar-per-hour minimum wage. My question is simple: Who is going to pay for these outrageous ideals? 

I'll tell you who! Every taxpayer within the state of New York. If you people in New York vote for this person, you are voting to have your taxes raised by a large percentage. Good luck with that.

Now with these radicalized leftists, and make no mistake, that's what they are, they are promoting the killing of people on the right, as well as white people, or MAGA supporters, even though many promoting this are also white people. They have become so radicalized that they have lost their humanity and, in my opinion, their souls as well. 

Advocating murder and other violence within our cities is shameful, and such people should be treated as wild dogs.

If you are being paid to protest and create violence against ICE, then you need to rethink who you are. You are being paid to disrupt this country, and in my opinion, that makes you a traitor.

Terry McGahey is a writer and Old West historian.

This once-working cowboy is best known for his epic battle against the City of Tombstone and its historic City Ordinance Number 9, America's most famous gun-control law. 

Terry was instrumental in finally repealing Tombstone City Ordinance Number 9. He is directly responsible for compelling the City of Tombstone to adhere to Arizona's laws.

As a Constitutional Conservative, his common-sense approach to politics is something that many of us appreciate. As many of you have written to tell me, Terry's brave and honest commentaries are refreshing in a world full of people too afraid to address today's issues head-on. 

The Double Hanging of William Lipsey and James Logan 1854

William Lipsey and James Logan were the first men officially hanged in El Dorado County on November 3rd, 1854, at Coloma. This marked the county's first official executions, which were held as a response to the many lynchings that had been taking place in that area.  

On November 6, 1854, the Daily Alta California newspaper, in its Volume 5, Number 308, edition, reported what took place:

Particulars of the Execution: James Logan and William Lipsey.

The execution of James Logan, for the murder of Fennel, at Coon Hollow, and William Lipsey, for the murder of Powelson, at Cold Springs, took place at Columa, on Friday, 3rd instant. They were the first criminals ever executed by the officers of the law in El Dorado County, and the assemblage of people was larger than was ever before known in the county, or probably ever will be again. 

Long before the hour of execution arrived, the streets of Columa were thronged with a dense mass of human beings, while thousands were congregated on the hills around. At 12 o'clock, the Sheriff proceeded to take the prisoners from the jail to the scaffold, which had been erected on the hillside. 

Logan walked out of the jail with as much apparent indifference as a man could well manifest under such circumstances; and although his head was "silvered o'er with age," — notwithstanding the fate that awaited him--he stepped into the wagon that contained his coffin; with the buoyancy of youth and the vigor of manhood, scorning the assistance that was proffered him. 

With Lipsey, it was entirely different. For a week, he had taken scarcely any food; he was debilitated in body and broken in spirit. He was assisted into the wagon and remained as if dead or chained to his seat until he reached the place of execution. 

Logan ascended the scaffold with a firm step, bible in hand, and for all the world with the air of a preacher of the gospel, about to address a sinful people whom he was anxious to exhort to repentance. 

Lipsey was almost carried up — his eyes were fixed, and presenting a vacant, death-like stare. Sheriff Buel, in a loud, clear voice, read the death warrant to William Lipsey. He was informed by the Sheriff that if he had anything to say, an opportunity would now be afforded him. In reply, when directly asked if he desired to speak, he merely shook his head by way of a negative response. 

The warrant was then read to James Logan, who, the while, was apparently calling on his Maker for strength, to support himself in his hour of trial, though not in audible voice. The Bible was still in his hand, and opened where there was a plate representing the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 

The night previous, in the jail, he had opened the Bible at the same place, and pointed out the plate to one of the Deputy Sheriffs, remarking, "There! Mine is a similar case. I have been persecuted even unto death, and am going to die tomorrow, the victim of false testimony." 

When the Sheriff asked him if he had anything to say, he laid down the Bible and turned to address the vast sea of human heads that surrounded the scaffold. Having listened attentively and taken notes at the time, we are enabled to present to our readers the substance of his remarks, as follows:

He felt that he was growing feeble and would not be able to address at any great length those who had come to witness the execution. He stood before them a condemned man, the victim of false testimony. It was true that he had taken the life of a fellow creature, but he had committed the deed in self-defence. He went to the claim where the tragedy took place, not as had been said, to kill Fennel, but because the claim was his own and he went to get possession of it. His own rash threats had brought him to the scaffold. 

In answer to propositions to settle the difficulty either by law or arbitration, he had rashly replied that there was a shorter and better way -- but he did not mean it. He went to the claim to get possession of it, but did not snap or present his pistol — he merely showed it. It was merely a single-barreled pistol. 

Fennel went and got a revolver and came back and presented it at him, cocked. Fennel was advancing upon him with a cocked revolver when he presented his single-barreled pistol. Any other testimony than this was false. He only snapped his pistol a moment before Fennel did his. The man who swore that he snapped his first swore a lie. They both snapped together. He had warned Fennel not to advance. He got behind Swift, and if he (Swift) had stood his ground, nobody would have been killed. But Swift flinched and stepped aside. He then had to be killed himself, kill Fennel, or run away. 

He fired, and Fennel fell. He repeated that it was false that he snapped his pistol first; it was that snap that brought him to the gallows, and the testimony about it was false. In view of the halter (to which he pointed his finger) and in the presence of that God before whom he was so shortly to appear, he was now speaking the truth. He would never have been hung if he had not had a principle of courage in his composition that prevented him from running away. 

He had said that he was not afraid of a pistol, and that he would not run from one. He could not run. He exclaimed, would to God that he had run away! He did not go to the claim to kill Fennel. He was not a murderer. He had sinned against God's laws in not running away from Fennel, but not against the laws of his country. Belhinks had sworn false when he testified that he (Logan) had gone to the claim to kill Fennel. I have lived forty-seven years, fellow citizens -- no, I am not a fellow citizen -- forty-seven years without committing murder; and if I did kill a man who otherwise would have killed me, I die innocent of murder. 

The Court, Jury, and District Attorney had treated him as a murderer for defending his own life. Everything had been against him — nothing in his favor. He had been persecuted. He upbraided one of the witnesses who had sworn against him, but at the same time acknowledged the truth of what he had sworn. Gentlemen, you are all on the broad road to Hell. I was once, but now I am going to Heaven as sure as you are on the way to Hell. 

The prisoner had spoken at considerable length, though he had stated he would not be able to do so. He went on repeating in an unconnected manner what he had said before -- stating some things in a manner quite inconsistent with the foregoing portion of his speech. 

Sheriff Buel informed him that the hour appointed for the execution was at hand. Logan stopped speaking and, turning to Rev Mr. Taylor, remarked, "We had better spend the remainder of the time in prayer." 

The prisoners were then placed on the drop, the ropes put about their necks, the long white shrouds put on, and the black caps drawn over their faces. Meanwhile, Logan uttered an inaudible prayer; Lipsey remained silent and motionless. 

Rev Mr. Taylor addressed the Throne of Grace in an eloquent, appropriate, and solemnly impressive manner. Then the drop fell! 

By an accident as unaccountable as it was impossible to prevent, both knots slipped, notwithstanding that they had previously sustained a weight of four hundred and fifty pounds each, dropped six and a half feet for the prisoners to fall. 

Immediately after striking the ground beneath the scaffold, Logan pulled the cap from his eyes to see if Lipsey had come down with him, then rose to his feet, and with little assistance (his feet having been untied) re-ascended the scaffold. 

Lipsey had to be carried up, though he had not been seriously injured by the fall. No disturbance had been created by the fall, except that nearly the entire crowd seated on the hillside involuntarily rose to their feet. The ropes were speedily re-adjusted. After the cap had been drawn over his eyes, and just before the rope was to be cut, Logan asked the time of day and demanded to see a watch. 

The cap was raised, and a watch was presented. He remarked. "Ah, you have twenty minutes yet — if it was two o'clock, I would demand my liberty under the law," and turned away with a muttered laugh that we could not have expected to witness coming from a dying man.

Lipsey required support to stand up. After being placed on the drop the second time, he said in a suppressed tone as if to himself, "I don't think I'm a murderer at heart. " Just before the rope was cut, he said, "Be as quick as you can — I am fainting — I am just gone." These were his last words. Logan's last words were, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."

 A brief prayer from Mr. Tavlor, and James Logan and William Lipsey passed into eternity, at the fall of the drop, with scarcely a struggle. Lipsey has left a written confession. He said in prison that he belonged to a good family, that he once conducted himself properly, but that liquor had brought him to a terrible end. He was a young man, about twenty-five. We think Logan has also left a written confession. We are informed that Logan's wife and children visited the scaffold after the bodies had been placed in the coffins. They were buried at the foot of a knoll nearby, on the top of which is the graveyard.

-- end of report.

The county's illegal lynchings had prompted its leaders to change the name of "Hangtown" to the more respectable Placerville, and the official executions of Logan and Lipsey were a result of this new formalization of justice.

As for the event, the hangings were attended by a large crowd of thousands, all gathered to watch the executions. At first, the hanging was botched with both men falling through the nooses. The flawed execution was blamed on the inexperience of El Dorado County Sheriff Buel. 

William Lipsey was a 25-year-old gambler who murdered a fellow cardsharp in a drunken brawl over a game of cards. Yes, that was not something that was unusual in the Old West. As for William Lipsey's demeanor, he was that of a man debilitated and broken in spirit. He had to be half-dragged to the scaffold and carried up to the platform. His demeanor was a complete contrast to James Logan's.

Since he reportedly faced his execution with surprising calm and what many there saw as bravery, James Logan's demeanor was one of bravado and a man declaring his innocence. As for him almost becoming an instant legend among those who witnessed the hanging? 

It's said the crowd was impressed watching Logan step into the wagon with the "buoyancy of youth," despite being "silvered o'er with age". And yes, supposedly, some there questioned his guilt after hearing his side of the story. Of course, Logan's composure after the first attempt to hang the two was botched is said to have had a few tip their hats to him. 

And really, I don't find that too strange when we consider that the crowd watched Logan get up from the ground and collect himself before he walked back to the gallows. Again, unlike Lipsey, Logan didn't need help to meet his maker. To add to the talk of Logan was the fact that many there took note of how Logan actually requested a look at a watch before the successful second attempt to hang him.

For those witnessing such a thing, it's said that Logan's actions gave them pause. And frankly, I can understand how that may have been the case since, even back in the day, it wasn't every day that a convicted murderer remained so steadfast in declaring his innocence while meeting their death. 

But really, that's what he did. James Logan was a 47-year-old miner who was convicted of murder and condemned to hang for killing a fellow miner over a mining claim dispute. And remarkably, all the way to the gallows, even after an initial botched hanging, before a gathering of what some say were at least 10,000 souls, all there to watch him die, Logan insisted to the last that he had killed only in self-defense.

Tom Correa

While Republicans Have Most Of The Guns, Democrats Are The Crazies Pulling The Triggers

My friends, even though I'm a Republican who has a couple of guns, I want to make it clear that at no time during the Clinton, Obama, and Biden administrations did I ever want to climb on a rooftop somewhere and shoot anyone for political reasons. No, I leave that sort of lunacy to Democrat crazies who drink the Kool-Aide and have accepted every lie that comes out of the Democrat Party.

In fact, like most Republicans who have most of the guns in America, I've never wanted physical harm to come to Clinton, Obama, Biden, any of their staff, or the talking heads who constantly spewed their lies and demonstrated their loyalty in the form of spreading Leftist propaganda. Yes, like fertilizer, Democrats spread their crap just to see what will grow out of it. If nothing grows, they just keep spreading it. 

Over the years, I've disagreed with them in post after post on my blog. But, because I had always had faith in our system, I've never ever wanted them harmed. Instead, I've wanted them brought to justice. And I'll grant you that I did want their anti-American, corrupt policies exposed for the deceitful dealings that were taking place, and yes, I wanted the payoffs, the bribes, the rampant corruption in Washington exposed for the theft that it is. I also wanted the people responsible for the theft of our money, including those who were purposely giving American taxpayer dollars to people here illegally, to be exposed. The fact is that I still want that.

Though I wanted the inept, incompetent political hacks that they are to be exposed, I never once thought of shooting someone over something that I didn't agree politically. Civilized people don't do that. Democrats do, but let's not make the mistake of thinking that anyone who would climb atop a roof and shoot someone over a political debate, or someone who would shoot children because he's mad at himself for allowing someone to cut off his penis, is civilized.  

Instead, I wanted the names of Clinton, Obama, Biden, and their followers to be associated with their neglect and disdain for the American people. I wanted people to know and remember the crimes that were covered up by the Democrat-controlled Mainstream News Media, and how they were above the law because of their wealth and political connections. Unlike Democrats, I don't see political violence as being productive. 

Think about it, the political violence that we saw take place with the burning of American cities in 2020 didn't accomplish a thing for anyone. All it did was show what happens when Democrat-controlled cities refuse to apply law and order to their cities. They lived with the results, and they seem happy living in the ash heap afterwards. Of course, they showed the entire world how dumb they are -- but even that hasn't mattered to them. 

For me, I didn't want to see any harm come to the people responsible for the corruption, the Climate Change scam, and the payola going out by the Billions of dollars. And yes, I still want the system to catch up with them, even though they think they are above the law. I didn't want anyone to shoot any of them because I still want many of them in those Democrat administrations to be criminally investigated, arrested, and tried in a court of law. No, not just in the court of public opinion, which, as most know, can be swayed by a manipulating Democrat-controlled Mainstream News Media, but in a court of law. 

I wanted those presidents to stop their anti-American policies. And yes, I was tired of those administrations doing things that benefited other nations at the cost of intentionally inflicting pain and hardship on our people. But frankly, as with most Republicans, I know that bullets are the last resort. They are surely not the answer when trying to fix a corrupt authoritarian government bent on making our lives miserable. That's the job of an honest election and a ballot box, not an ammo box. 

And yes, I think it's too bad Democrat crazies with guns can't abide by the results of an honest election and simply get past their hate. Instead, they are such a vile and murderous people that they regularly turn to riots, arson, and murder when it suits them.  

As for me, I didn't want political violence to turn some of the worst people in the United States, people like Hillary Clinton, into instant heroes of the Democratic Party. No, I wanted those presidents and members of their staffs, including their followers, to be held legally and financially responsible for their criminal conduct. 

Besides, I wanted to pull back the curtain so all the world would see who was pulling the strings of the incompetent Biden administration. And yes, even more so, I wanted the world to see who was responsible for that attempted Russian Collusion Hoax that was nothing less than a Coup against a sitting elected American President, Donald Trump, during his first term. 

For me, I'm getting everything that I've wanted in the way of exposing Obama and Biden, and the Clintons. Yes, the Trump administration is also exposing all of their Deep State operatives, and the corruption in the FBI, the CIA, as well as other agencies. No, I don't need to climb onto a rooftop to shoot an innocent man. I can see that many things are coming to a head these days thanks to the Trump administration. 

So, no, not once have I ever thought about taking a rifle to a rooftop with the intent and desire to kill anyone because I disagreed with their political opinions or because I "hated" their political stance on an issue. Not once have any of my Republican gun-owning friends ever come to me and said so-and-so should be shot because of something that they may have said. Not once have any of my very passionate anti-Liberal friends ever said we need to start shooting Democrat politicians and their supporters as a solution. No, not once have any of my Republican gun-owning friends ever acted like a Democrat crazy wanting to shoot someone from ambush. 

Whether People Want To Admit It Or Not,  Democrats Actively Promote Vile And Murderous Political Violence As A Solution.

And before you write to tell me that I've restrained myself from acting out some sort of urge to shoot a Democrat because of my Christian faith, please don't make the mistake of thinking that I'm some sort of holier-than-thou Christian. I'm not and never have been that sort of Christian. I'm a sinner and I know it. 

Besides, I've never been the sort of Christian who believes in turning the other cheek or letting God deal with bad people. No, I'm the sort of Christian who believes in punching an aggressor in the face as hard as I can, and as many times as possible. And make no mistake about it, I'm the sort of Christian who has a Conceal Carry Permit for a reason. When times get really bad, I'm the kind of Christian who won't put up with dangerous Democrat crazies who want to hurt me or my family. 

And yes, that brings me to that mass shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis. So how did the Democrat-controlled media and Democrat politicians react to what took place? First, they tried to bury the story by not talking about the shooter. Second, they took their usual tact by trying to pin the blame on guns instead of the monster who took the lives of two school children and wounded 17 others, including 14 kids, as they attended a Mass on the first day of classes. 

For Democrats, it's easier to blame guns than it is to talk about personal responsibility. And really, I sort of understand why they would rather focus on an inanimate mechanical object, something that's not alive, something void of a soul or a conscience or morals, something not an animal or a human, rather than have to address how a crazy person of their creation became a mass murderer. 

Republicans like me have most of the guns in America. So to Democrats, it just makes sense to their sick way of thinking that all gun-related political violence, like school shootings, must be our fault. Of course, if we look at the sort of political violence, especially gun-related political violence, Democrats are the crazies pulling the triggers. And that's the problem that Democrats have when reporting gun-related political violence. 

For example, Democrats make a conscience effort to bypass reports where the killer has mental health problems dealing with their sexual identity. In the case of the Catholic school in Minneapolis, the Democrat-controlled media and Democrat politicians didn't want to report that the killer had "trans" identity psycho problems, or that he was angry at the world, or that he had some sort of modern-day strange "furry" girlfriend weird relationship thing going on, or that he had a need to be called a "she" when he was in fact a he. Of course, Democrats hate mentioning when one of their crazy followers is an antisemite who worships Adolf Hitler and admires Timothy McVeigh. 

That sort of crazy Democrat follower gives the Democrat-controlled news media fits. And no, they didn’t want to report that the killing of those innocent children could have had something to do with the killer reportedly regretting his gender "transition" surgery at age 17 from a male to a woman in 2019. 

Frankly, it shouldn't surprise anyone with half a brain that some nutcase who had allowed doctors to cut off his penis would go off the deep end sooner or later. I mean, imagine for a moment the shock this guy had when he realized that the weird "furry" girl that he wanted a relationship with was breaking up with him because she wanted an intact male and not some neutered critter. It must have come as a surprise to him when he realized that having his penis cut off just to be a wannabe girl was not exactly an attraction to girls.  

But then again, that's what Democrat crazies are all about. They are confused, not very bright, uneducated, gullible, easily influenced, angry, deeply depressed, and hate-filled. Most of the political violence we've seen over the last 20 years has been from Democrats is from their crazies. 

Lastly, here's something to think about. While the usual way for Democrats to address any sort of shooting is to want more gun laws, Democrat politicians don't want to talk about more gun laws in response to the Catholic school shooting in Minneapolis. So why is that? 

Well, the reason is this: it was a maniac of their creation who killed those children. Yes, just as it was a crazy of their creation who climbed on a roof to shoot someone who he had been indoctrinated to hate, Charlie Kirk. So no, Democrats don't want to talk about restricting gun ownership this time around because we're talking about restricting gun sales to mentally ill transgender people who live in a made-up, delusional world where they can't even identify what a woman is. 

Such a move would limit the Democratic Party's crazies from having guns. That would mean a part of their voter base would be unable to carry out political violence. And really, while you may disagree with me, I believe political violence, whether it's in the form of the KKK in the 1860s, the White Shirts in the 1870s, or the Occupy Wall Street groups of the 1990s, and BLM or ANTIFA, and other political violent groups today, are something that Democrats have historically used as a militant arm of their party. 

With that, and the fact that large Democratic Party donors support such politically violent groups, I don't see any reason for Democrat politicians to stop supporting political violence. So yes, I truly believe that while Republicans own most of the guns in America, it's Democrats who are the crazies pulling the triggers.    

Tom Correa

Shooting Affray At Panamint City 1875

From what I've been told, the Panamint City silver mine claim took place in late 1872. But for some reason, the town of Panamint City didn't get going for another year. As most of us know, reading about the way such things worked back in the day, once the word leaked out that gold or silver, or even copper, was discovered, a rush took place to get in on the early findings. And no, I can't find out exactly why, once silver was discovered that a boom didn't take place in this instance. 

Of course, there are a couple of stories about how silver was discovered by three prospectors, William L. Kennedy, Robert P. Stewart, and Richard C. Jacobs, and how an outlaw gang kept them from filing their claims for months. One story goes, the outlaw gang followed the three men for months whenever any of the outlaws saw any of the three return to work their claim. The men were so busy evading being followed that they didn't work their claim. Another story says that the outlaws overheard the three miners talking about their big strike and followed them to their claim. Once there, the outlaws demanded to be partners, and they all became rich. 

I don't know if I believe either tale. But the latter of the three miners being forced into a partnership with the outlaws sounds a little too tall a tale to believe. After all, claim-jumpers didn't share their victims' wealth once they had it. They normally showed them the door or buried them in some shallow grave.

As for the area taking off and the town being founded between 1873 and 1874, most sources note how a prominent mining investor, although some say he was a "sidewalk barker," by the name of E.P. Raines convinced Los Angeles businessmen to build a wagon road to a suitable staging site for supplies. Soon afterwards, Nevada Senators John P. Jones and William M. Stewart created the Panamint Mining Company with $2,000,000 of capital. Jones and Stewart then arranged for the importation of hundreds Chinese laborers. It was their interest in Panamint that started the boom. From their efforts, the town of Panamint City grew to a population of about 3,000 people of the usual sorts that flocked to boom towns. 

The town is located in the Panamint Range, near Death Valley, in Inyo County, California, about three miles northwest of Sentinel Peak. The town included stamp mills, saloons, stores, a very unhealthy red light district, and a cemetery. 

On April 20, 1875, the Daily Alta California newspaper reported the following story: 

Shooting Affray At Panamint City

On Friday evening last, at Panamint City, two men, named James Bruce and Robert McKinley, got into a dispute about the ownership of a gun, and finally hard words passed between them. Both men attacked each other, and the latter, drawing a pistol, fired at his opponent. The ball took effect in the left arm above the wrist, shattering the bone. 

Bruce on being shot fell to the ground, and McKinley fired three or four times more, hitting the prostrate man with one of the bullets in the back. Bruce succeeded in getting on his feet, and drawing a revolver, he fired six shots at his opponent in rapid succession, nearly all of which took effect. 

McKinley ran a short distance, when he fell, and is undoubtedly mortally wounded. Bruce walked to his house, but soon became unable to move and complained a great deal of the wound in his back. 

The stage left before any further facts could be obtained.

-- end of the newspaper report. 

While fistfights were the common way of settling problems in saloons and in gambling halls in the Old West, and someone pulling a knife on someone came in second, shootouts did take place. And as for shootouts, when we look at records, one of the things that may surprise folks is that shootouts taking place in saloons and gambling halls accounted for where most shootouts typically took place in the Old West. Not in the street with two men facing each other like in the movies, but in the places where booze and tempers came into play on a regular basis.

As for Panamint City, it's said to have had its share of bushwhackers and killers who would jump a miner and kill him on the trail, then roll their victim's body into a ravine. That, and knowing what was going on in the saloons, gambling, and the red light district, Panamint City was regarded as a "Bad and Wicked Town" because of its lawless reputation. Yes indeed, the town was like a lot of other mining boomtowns. 

As for the town, luck ran out for Panamint City when, on July 24, 1876, a flash flood washed out most of the town. After that, the big money pulled out to save themselves. When their bosses pulled out, the Chinese laborers who were brought in by Jones and Stewart were abandoned to fend for themselves. They, like the miners, started leaving, and once that happened, it was just a matter of time before the town closed up shop.

Some say some of the Chinese laborers headed to Los Angeles, while most of the miners headed East over the Panamint Range into Death Valley, where Borax claims were discovered. Others say the miners did what miners did back in the day and simply drifted away, still searching for that elusive strike that would make them rich. 

As for Panamint City, the town died out completely by the 1890s. And today, well, Panamint City is just a ghost town that sits on BLM land. 

Tom Correa

San Diego City Marshal and Chief of Police Joseph Coyne 1885 - 1891

CITY MARSHAL JOSEPH COYNE 

12/1885 - 05/08/1889

SDPD CHIEF OF POLICE 

05/09/1889 - 05/28/1891

12/18/1837 - 02/05/1916

Joseph Coyne was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 18, 1837. He was only three years old when his father Patrick, died, leaving his mother, Ann, as the head of the family.

At age fifteen, Coyne came west and found work as a miner in Northern California. It would be his career for a number of years until after the Civil War. Coyne was apparently a fairly lucky miner as he made a number of fortunes, but that’s as far as his luck went. He also enjoyed a good card game and wasn’t so lucky there. Consequently, most of the money he made he also lost.

In 1870, Coyne arrived in San Diego County, where he found work in the gold mines of the mountain town of Julian.

It was there that he probably had his first encounter with some of the lawlessness in the area. Several pieces of gold came up missing from the camp. When Coyne and several other miners went to look for it, they found themselves shot at by the thieves who had made camp in the hills nearby. One shot came so close to Coyne that it actually took his hat right off his head. He wasn’t hurt, but one of his fellow miners took a gunshot to the face.

The man later recovered. The men never found the missing gold.

The bandits were just a small negative part of Coyne’s mining experiences in Julian. After enjoying several good years in the small mountain community, he sold his share of the operation for $50,000 and moved 60 miles west to San Diego, where he was elected sheriff in 1876. His election made him the first Republican to ever serve as county sheriff in the then-partisan office, and he served three two-year terms.

Coyne took the role of lawman very seriously and led many hunts into the backcountry to seek out fugitives with his deputy, Ned Bushyhead, who would also later serve as both Sheriff and Chief of Police. 

In 1885, Coyne was appointed City Marshal for San Diego. He was allotted 24 deputies and an assistant. In 1887, he was re-elected, this time under the title of Chief of Police. This, despite the City Marshal's office was not a municipal police agency.

Coyne’s hiring was on May 14, 1889, with his certificate of election filed on May 16th, officially making him the first member of the SDPD. As chief, his first official act would be to sit in on the hiring of the men who would become the new police force. Even though budgetary issues would only allow 12 men to be hired as San Diego police officers, more than 100 outsiders and all the soon-to-be former deputy marshals applied for the jobs. The competition was fierce.

Officially, political affiliation made little difference in getting hired. However, out of the 12 officers hired, 8 were Republicans and 4 were Democrats. As with lawmen previously, these new officers had no formal training.

As the hands-on manager of a small department, Coyne was able to monitor firsthand the work his officers were doing. His only real trouble came when he attended a council meeting and became involved in a fistfight with a citizen who stood up and criticized the police department.

Coyne served as chief until May 27, 1891, when, on a 3-1 vote, the police commission elected William H. Crawford as his replacement. (One vote was cast for someone else) Now out of a job, Coyne was forced to hand over the department he helped create to someone else.

In 1893, Coyne took a job as a deputy under Sheriff Ben Hill and was soon thereafter appointed a night watchman in the county courthouse. The job only lasted a year before he retired and moved his family to San Francisco. After a three-year illness, Coyne died of a heart attack in San Francisco on February 5, 1916, at the age of 78.

In 1989, one hundred years after Coyne took office, his granddaughter, Laura McGowan-Minto, became a San Diego police officer.

-- end of article from the San Diego Police Department

As for his ornate badge? Here's what the newspapers reported at the time.

Wyatt Earp Just Wasn't A Cowboy

Below is an article published in the Desert Sun on May 11, 1957. The article was written by actor Hugh O'Brian, who played Wyatt Earp on television. His article in the Desert Sun was a publicity piece to generate viewership for his television show The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961). In his article, Hugh O'Brian talks about the clothing that his television character Wyatt Earp supposedly wore as a deputy.

Wyatt Earp Just Wasn't A Cowboy

Editor’s Note: Aline Mosby is on vacation; in her absence, Hugh "Wyatt Earp” O'Brian answered a recent United Press column in which former cowboy star Guinn "Big Boy” Williams blasted Hugh’s fancy western attire for television. 

Story by HUGH O'BRIAN (Written for The United Press) 

HOLLYWOOD — It was interesting to read Guinn "Big Boy'' Williams' comments on the clothes I wear as TV's Wyatt Earp. He said if any real cowboys saw me in my usual Wyatt Earp get-up, they would split their sides laughing. It wouldn't concern me, because on my Wyatt Earp show, 1 don't play a cowboy. 

By definition, a cowboy or "cowman,” as he was called, was a man who traveled the trail driving a herd of cattle to a particular destination. These men would have indeed looked silly dressed as Wyatt Earp. Even the cows would have had to laugh at this one. 

Wyatt Earp was not a cowboy. 

He lived in town and was more like the city policeman of today. He wore the typical garb of a marshal of that time —the vest, black coat, and matching hat, and striped pants. If he did happen to be out on the trail doing a job, he would dress like the typical cowboy we know. 

In fact, when Wyatt first accepted his job as marshal, he had only his "trail'' clothes. The townspeople offered to chip in and buy him his first "town” wardrobe so that he could dress in keeping with the new job. 

If Mr. Williams would care to check the authenticity of the styles depicted on our show, he has but to check any public library or costume corporation. Our technical adviser on the show is Stuart N. Lake, who spent four years with Earp before he died. He is considered a supreme authority on this period and works on all phases of our show. His is the only authorized biography of Earp ever published. 

Our script supervisor is Frederick Hazlitt Brennan, the father of all westerns. He did the first 10 scripts of our shows and supervises all of them to make sure the writers conform to the character of Earp, as well as his manner and dress.

-- end of article. 

Actor Hugh O'Brian was born Hugh Charles Krampe on April 19, 1925. He died at the age of 91 on September 5, 2016. He was best known for his starring roles in the ABC Western television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955–1961). 

The Taming of Wyatt Earp, Bad Man of Other Days 1903

Could the picture above of Wyatt Earp be from 1911, when he was arrested in Los Angeles for being a con artist attempting to cheat an unsuspecting sucker out of $250,000?

Below is an interesting news article published in the Los Angeles Herald on September 6, 1903. It talks about an encounter that Wyatt Earp had with a Canadian Mounted Police Officer. Contrary to the belief of some that Wyatt Earp was a teetotaler, there are newspaper stories from that time that contradict this notion. 

 
Published in the Los Angeles Herald on September 6, 1903:

The Taming of Wyatt Earp, Bad Man of Other Days

SINCE Wyatt Earp, once famous as a gun fighter in Arizona and California, went up into the Klondike, very little has been heard of him by the outside world. The last exploit that brought him into prominence was his decision in the Sharkey-Fitzsimmons prizefight in San Francisco, when he gave the fight to Sharkey on an alleged foul. 

For a few years before that, he had been quite an orderly citizen for someone of his reputation as a gun fighter. From the stories that have drifted down from the Klondike in the last few weeks, it appears that Earp has resumed a favorite trick of his known in the west as shooting up the town. He was much addicted to it in the old lawless days of Arizona and California. Earp was never a man who could easily be tamed. Consequently, a story told of his suppression a few weeks ago by a diminutive cockney member of the Canadian Mounted Police will be interesting to some of his friends here. 

"Earp drifted into Dawson several months ago full of a determination to get action," said a San Francisco man to some of Earp's old western friends the other night. "Civilization, policemen and progress generally knocked out Earp's gun fighting game in the States some years ago, and, like Bat Masterson and a few other relics of the old days, he had been quite orderly and well behaved for some years. 

"But when he got to Dawson he found a settlement like the places in which he made his reputation as a bad man many years ago. He found men carrying guns around in their belts and getting drunk and shooting people who happened to displease them, and it gave him the fever to get back Into the game in which he was an adept in the days gone by. 

"So Earp discarded his store clothes, got himself a flannel shirt, a pair of leather trousers, and a sombrero, stuck a gun in his belt, loaded up on bad whisky, and went around the saloons and faro bank? bullyragging everybody who would stand for his game and taking a few shots at some men who resented it. There were a number of bad men in Dawson who were sufficiently awed by Earp's reputation to stand for him, and for a week he had things pretty much his own way. 

"Well, the fact that Earp was hitting it up got to the ears of a little five-foot cockney member of the Canadian Mounted Police, one of whose duties was to see that Dawson behaved itself. Now, Earp didn't know much about the Canadian Mounted Police and the manner of men who compose it. 

"Therefore when he was interrupted In the gentle amusement of cleaning out a faro bank in Dawson one night by this little chap's coming up to him with a request that he give him his gun, he opened his mouth and his eyes very wide, swore a mighty round of oaths and asked the little fellow in riding boots and cap if he wanted to visit hades at once or wait a few hours. 

"Earp was somewhat surprised when the little fellow simply smiled politely and said: 'You must give me that gun or bury it, sir,' and extended his hand for the weapon. 

"Earp swore some more, but not quite so eloquently, for all the while the little man was smiling calmly in his face. Finally, Earp, clean flustered by the situation, pulled his gun from his belt and fired it three times into the ceiling, whereupon the little man, still smiling, said: 'Now, you'll have to bury it, or I'll have to take it away from you, sir.'" 

"'Take my gun away from me,' roared Earp." 

"Exactly,' said the little man. 'Maybe you doubt I'll do it, sir?" 

"The witnesses of this colloquy didn't know what to expect from Earp, but they knew what would happen pretty soon if Earp became defiant, because in Dawson people know what to expect from the Canadian Mounted Police. They knew, too, that this little cockney had squelched every bad man who had ever come into Dawson, and they didn't doubt that he would attend to Earp. 

"However, a crisis was averted by Earp's putting his gun back into his belt and starting to leave the place. Just as he got to the door, the policeman walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. "'I beg your pardon, sir," he said, "but if you come out with a gun in sight tomorrow, I shall have to take it away from you." 

"Earp turned purple with rage, but he had no nerve left when he confronted that politely smiling face. He roared a few oaths back at the amused crowd in the gambling house and then went to the Golden Lion Saloon, where he took a few drinks and proceeded to tell what he would do the next day when the cockney tried to take his gun. 

"Why, I'll blow him full of holes," he said. 

"Yes," said a listener, "but when you put a hole in him, you cut a hole in the British Empire, which it will fill with two men. If you kill them, four will take their places. In the end, Earp, you will have the whole British Army here if necessary, just to put you out. Better let him alone." 

"The next day, Earp, very sober and very thoughtful, appeared on the streets of Dawson in the store clothes he came to town with. Almost the first person he struck was the cockney officer, who had evidently been waiting for him, prepared to take his gun away if he showed it. 

"As soon as he saw Earp, he stepped up very politely and said: "Thank you, sir," and then turned on his heel. 

"Earp hasn't been deuce high as a bad man in Dawson since that incident. Incidentally, I might say, if he had elected to mix it with the cockney, he'd be sleeping under an epitaph tonight, for of all of the real tough men I ever saw, either for or against law and order, those Canada Mounted Police are the limit."

-- end of article September 1903.

It would be an understatement to say Wyatt Earp was not happy after reading the above news story. It's said that he was so angry that he decided to compose a letter to the editor in defense of himself. He took special offense at being referred to again as a "Bad Man" in the newspapers -- something that was regularly done when talking about him even since he was involved in that fixed championship boxing match.  

While his fans today might not like it, it is a fact that ever since he was the key figure in the Fitzsimmons-Sharkey fixed fight in San Francisco in 1896, newspapers commonly referred to him as a "Bad Man," "Infamous," "Notorious," and so on, no differently than when describing any other criminal or someone of low character. I've read one news article from that period that referred to Wyatt Earp as "Malodorous" when talking about Earp's character.

Calling Wyatt Earp's character, his moral and ethical qualities, those beliefs and moral principles that can guide his behavior as a "Malodorous character," says a lot about how people felt about Earp back in the day. The idea that he was referred to as someone unpleasant or an offensive smell, as someone described as having behavior deeply offensive or dreadful, says a great deal. 

Among the newspapers to pick up his rebuttal to being called a "Bad Man" was the Ventura Daily Post, which published Earp's rebuttal on September 17, 1903:

Not a “Bad Man.”

Wyatt Earp, of the fighting Earp family, of which Wyatt is the sole survivor, objects to the title “bad man,” which many newspapers are determined to force him to accept. He recently addressed the following communication to the Los Angeles Herald: 

Editor Herald: 

An article published in your Sunday edition entitled “The Taming of Wyatt Earp, Bad Man of Other Days,” does me an injustice. It relates an experience I was reported to have had, in Dawson City, in which I was said to have attempted to “shoot up the town” and to been subdued by one of Canadian Mounted Police. The falsity of the article is shown by the fact that I never was within 1000 miles of Dawson City. I wish to say that neither I nor my brothers were ever “bad men" in the sense that term is used, nor did we ever indulge in the practice of “shooting up” towns. We have been officers of the law and have our experiences in the law, but we are not and never were professional bad men. In justice to me and my friends and relatives, I would like to have you make this.

Wyatt Earp.

-- end of article. 

First, I found it interesting that Wyatt Earp said that he "never was within 1000 miles of Dawson City." The reason I found it interesting is that Dawson City was a key player during the Klondike Gold Rush. And yes, there was a newspaper report in August of 1897 saying that he left Yuma headed for Dawson City. 

The San Francisco Call published the following report on August 6, 1897:

WYATT EARP DEPARTS.

Backed by a Syndicate to Start a Big Gambling-House at Dawson City.

YUMA, Arizona, Aug. 5.— Wyatt Earp, whose career as a fighting man in the palmy and riotous days of Tombstone, Ariz., gained him a national reputation, the luster of which has been dimmed only by his later achievement in the Sharkey-Fitzsimmons fight, today left Yuma, where he has been for several months past, for Dawson City, where it is supposed by the famous gambler-fighter and friends who are backing him that there will be millions to be made this winter if the cards are properly handled. 

Earp is backed by a syndicate of San Francisco sports who have unlimited means at their command, and the garner in the house he proposes to start will have no limit to hamper fortunate miners who may be possessed of a desire to "break the bank." Earp will embark at San Francisco for the goldfieids and will pursue the Yukon route.

-- end of report.

We know that Wyatt Earp traveled to the Klondike Gold Rush area and was in the general region of Dawson City. Let's remember that Dawson City was the main hub for the Klondike Gold Rush. That's the reason Earp was headed there in the first place. And really, while Earp's documented travels focus more on Nome, Alaska, it's a fact that Wyatt Earp and Josie set out for Dawson City by way of the Yukon River. They made it halfway there when they reached the town of Rampart and stopped there because of the bad weather. We know the Earps wintered in Rampart in 1898 and 1899. 

As for making it to Dawson City? The only proof we have that he did make it there is the Los Angeles Herald's, September 6, 1903, news article The Taming of Wyatt Earp, Bad Man of Other Days, which says he was there. To my knowledge, there's nothing else to document that he was there. Of course, we don't know if, while he was there, his business made the newspapers.

So, as for his claim that he "never was within 1000 miles of Dawson City"? Well, that may just be another Wyatt Earp lie. And as for Earp's contention that he was never a "Bad Man," as in an "Outlaw," because he never shot up a town? Well, let's take a look at that.

Let's remember that Wyatt Earp was a pimp, a horse thief, someone with an arrest record as long as your arm, a man who was seen in several places as part of the lowest and most worthless element within a community, a crooked constable who stole funds meant for locals schools, a card sharp, a crooked referee who was the key player of a fixed Championship prize fight, the person responsible for the biggest sports scandal of the 1800s, a man known as a claim-jumper, a cold-blooded murderer who evaded the law and fled Arizona when charged with multiple homicides. Yes, there were reasons people saw him as a notorious individual, a "Bad Man" who fit in with the shady element.  

One writer called Wyatt Earp "a low-rent con artist who tried to sell people painted rocks he claimed were gold nuggets." 

Was he a career criminal into his old age? We know he was arrested several times in his younger years as well as later, when he was in his 60s, when in 1911 he was again arrested for trying to swindle someone in a fixed card game, a con game that could have put him in prison if the police hadn't botched the case by mishandling the case evidence. 

As a lawman in Wichita and Dodge City, he used the heavy-handed tactic of buffaloing cowboys from behind during arrests. He was known to make a lot of arrests, which subsequently made those towns lots of money with every arrest -- legitimate or not. All, while at the same time, he made money for himself by earning a few extra dollars above and beyond his salary for every extra arrest he made. It was a lucrative affair for any lawman back in the day who wanted to roll drunks for extra cash. 

As for the OK Corral gunfight? While it's painted as lawmen walking down Allen Street to take on five armed Cowboys who were gathered in violation of the city ordinance against wearing firearms within city limits, it was really a situation of a feud coming to a boil. 

On one side, the four armed lawmen were Vigil and Morgan, who were the law in Tombstone. Virgil deputized Wyatt and Doc Holliday that day. On the other side were two armed cowboys. They were Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury. Remember, Ike Clanton was not armed. And as for Billy Clayborne, who was supposedly armed, he ran away from the fight when the Earps and Holliday arrived. Tom McLaury was not armed.  

In the end, Vigil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp shot and killed Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury, while Doc Holliday killed an unarmed Tom McLaury with a shotgun blast.

Many believe the Earps and Holliday were there to kill the Clantons and McLaurys, no matter if they surrendered their weapons or not. Some believe that once Ike Clanton and Billy Clayborne ran away from the fight, things would have changed. But it didn't. It was a feud. And yes, many believe the Earps and Holliday hid behind their badges when they killed Billy Clanton and both McLaury brothers. 

As for how the public saw things? The allegations that the Earps used the law as a shield in pursuit of a feud were helped by Earp's friend Judge Spicer, who dismissed the fact that the Earps and Holliday had murdered an unarmed Tom McLaury. And more so, a once divided Tombstone public became almost unanimously appalled at how Wyatt Earp and his posse used their badges to carry out the executions of the cowboys who Wyatt Earp merely suspected of being involved in the killing of his brother Morgan. 

It was the public's disdain for how the Earp posse had ceremoniously executed Frank Stillwell in Tucson. Let's remember that Wyatt Earp and each posse member took their turn shooting the mangled, bullet-riddled dead body of Frank Stillwell. It was a gruesome act that Wyatt Earp and his posse would repeat when they murdered Indian Charlie. It was the public's disdain that put pressure on the judicial system to charge Wyatt Earp and his posse with homicide -- something that neither Wyatt Earp nor even one of his posse was ever brought to justice for. 

So yes, there are reasons why people saw him as a "Bad Man," as an "Outlaw," as someone notorious who was in reality a shady character. And while it's said Wyatt Earp didn't like it, he knew the people saw him for who he was -- a low-character, unscrupulous individual who was not on the right side of the law. 

Tom Correa

 

Wyatt Earp Knocked Out In 1900 And Knocked Down In 1903

In 1907, Bat Masterson wrote a series of articles for Human Life magazine, including one titled "My Friend Wyatt Earp". This was an attempt by Masterson to depict his close friend Wyatt Earp in a positive light. In his article, "My Friend Wyatt Earp," Masterson tried to emphasize how Earp had a unique sort of courage and fearlessness. 

Masterson also talked about how his close friend Wyatt Earp was a real terror when it came to fighting with his fists. He famously stated, "Few men in the West could defeat Earp in a hand-to-hand fight." And yes, Earp's reputation for being a formidable fighter was supposedly well-known in Arizona. 

Bat Masterson said, "There were few men in the West who could whip Wyatt in a rough and tumble fight 30 years ago, and I suspect he could give a tough youngster a hard tussle right now, even if he is sixty-one years of age."

Well, Bat Masterson said that in 1907. But Masterson was wrong. He wasn't only wrong about Wyatt Earp's age, he was also wrong about Earp's skill with his fists as the years passed. Since Wyatt Earp was born on March 19, 1848, he was only 59 in 1907 and not 61 as Masterson had thought. Of course, as for him being wrong about his friend Wyatt's ability to whip younger men, Masterson probably didn't hear about what happened to Earp a few years earlier in November of 1899. 

Wyatt Earp would have been 52 years old when, according to a Seattle newspaper report from November 25, 1899, the famous gunfighter Wyatt Earp was knocked out by horse trainer, racetrack regular, Tom Mulqueen after Earp started mouthing off when both men were in the same saloon drinking.

The San Francisco Call published the following report on April 30, 1900:

GUN FIGHTER IS KNOCKED OUT BY BOLD HORSEMAN

Wyatt Earp Floored by a Single Blow From Tom Mulqueen.

Engaged in a Saloon Row Over the Recent Turf Scandal and the Gambler Gets the Worst of It. 

Wyatt Earp, gun-fighter and all-around bad man, was knocked down and out late Saturday night by Tom Mulqueen, the well-known racehorse man. The trouble occurred in a Market Street resort, near Stockton, and was precipitated by Earp. Both men had been drinking at the bar when Earp brought up the subject of the recent scandal at the Tanforan track. He made several disparaging remarks about a jockey who is on very friendly terms with Mulqueen. 

When called down, Earp became belligerently indignant and threatened to wipe the floor with the horse owner. Instantly, Mulqueen grabbed him and, after throwing him against the bar, landed a blow on the gun-fighter's face, knocking him out. 

John Farley, the proprietor of the saloon, fearing serious trouble between the two men, managed to induce Mulqueen to leave the place. Earp, after recovering from the effects of the blow, was also led from the saloon and placed aboard a passing streetcar. Earp was not armed at the time, having left his trusted "gun" with a friend shortly before the occurrence. 

Mulqueen was around as usual yesterday but refused to discuss the affair. He gained considerable notoriety several years ago by calling down Bob Fitzsiminons, the prize-fighter. They were in a saloon drinking when the ex-champion referred to Jim Corbett as a looking-glass fighter. Mulqueen promptly resented the remark and threatened to break Fitzsimmons' head if he repeated it. 

Fitzsimmons, scenting trouble, left the place, not caring to mix it with the plucky horseman. Earp first came into prominence in this city when he officiated as referee in the fight between Fitzsimmons and Sharkey several years ago and gave the decision to the sailor on an alleged foul after he had been knocked out, a decision that created general dissatisfaction.

-- end of article. 

Of course, Bat Masterson might not have heard what also happened to Wyatt Earp in 1903. His old friend was 55 years old when The Press Democrat published the following news story on September 22, 1903:

Wyatt Earp Meets His Match

San Francisco, Sept. 21. — Wyatt Earp, the alleged gun fighter and all-around “bad man,” is said to have met his match at Tonopah a few days ago, where he has been operating for some time. According to the stories that have reached here, Earp was drinking and stayed out very late, when his wife came to the saloon in which he had been carousing and implored him to come home. 

He knocked her down, whereupon a “tenderfoot” by the name of Warren promptly knocked him down, at the same time calling him a coward. Wyatt afterwards wanted to fight, but when Warren agreed to the proposition, Earp took to the woods.

-- end of article.

The same story with a few more details was published in the Santa Cruz Sentinel on September 25, 1903: 

WYATT EARP MEETS HIS MASTER 

YOUNG MAN DEALS THE NOTED GUNFIGHTER A TERRIFIC BLOW.

Earp Wants to Fight Youngster With Revolvers, But Takes To The Woods.

Don Golzman, a prospector and mining man of Tonopah, Nev., is en route East to purchase operating machinery for some claims in which he holds an Interest. They are located lu the Lone Mountain district, a few miles from Tonopah. Mr. Golzman, in discussing the happenings of the camp, mentioned one incident of interest about the well-known gun-fighter, Wyatt Earp.

"This fellow Earp," he said, "came into Tonopah some time ago and immediately commenced to get himself unpopular. A great many of the boys knew him by reputation and didn't want to get mixed up in any fracas, as Earp was said to be a gun man.

"There is one young fellow in the camp named Warren. He's a tenderfoot, not to speak, but a man not afraid of anybody. One night Earp was drinking pretty heavily and commenced to get ugly. None of the men had much use for him, but he was tolerated until a chance would come so that a stand might be taken.

This night, Earp began playing faro in one of the biggest saloons on Main Street, just below the Bank. he won a few bets, had more drinks, and became so ugly that the other players left the table.

"Finally, luck went against him and he was soon broke. He went to his rooms and made his wife lend him $100 more. It was not long before he went broke again, all but $5. With tills $5, he went to the crap table and began to win. It was about half-past 3 Sunday morning when his wife came to the saloon door and called for him to go home. He paid no attention to her. She stayed out there for a few minutes more and then came inside.

Earp was standing at the bar, and she walked up to him. He turned away and wouldn't pay any attention to her. She kept on begging him to come. There were ten or fifteen boys standing around watching the outcome of the affair. 

Earp suddenly turned and struck the woman full in the face. She fell to the floor unconscious. This young fellow, Warren, was standing near Earp, and he walked over and said: "Earp, you're a coward!"

Earp reached for his revolver, but before he got it, Warren shot out his right and knocked Earp spinning across the room. Friends of the two men jumped between them and took Earp's weapon away.

Warren was taken out of the place by several friends and made to go to his hotel a little further up the street. When Earp heard that Warren was gone, he got very brave and wanted satisfaction. He went over to his room and got two pistols. When he came back to the saloon, he held a weapon in each hand and wanted to fight. Someone told Warren, and he, too, got a weapon and started out for Earp.

They didn't meet that night, for friends kept Warren in the hotel. The next day, when the mail came in, they met in Booth's store, Warren saw Earp first. He was unarmed, but Earp had a weapon. 

Warren walked right over to Earp, the latter put out his hand to shake, but Warren wouldn't take it. Earp got out of town a few days later.

-- end of article. 

I've found this news story in more than one newspaper archive. The same story was picked off the telegraph wire and published in The Evening Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 97, 25 September 1903.

While being knocked out once and being knocked down once didn't prove that he didn't have what it took to fight the good fight in his 50s. But it did prove that Wyatt Earp shouldn't have acted up when he was drinking. And yes, one would be correct to say that Wyatt Earp's abilities to "wipe the floor" with anyone were not there by that age -- especially when he was drinking. 

And by the way, that's the other part of this story. Old West Myth has it that Wyatt Earp was a non-drinker. If that was indeed the case, why are there newspaper reports, at least three that I know of, which state Wyatt Earp had been drinking? 

Tom Correa