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| Black Powder and Close Quarters |
On October 25, 1881, whilst Ike Clanton was in Tombstone, a very drunk and very loud Doc Holliday accused Clanton of lying about the Benson stagecoach robbery. Holliday didn't like being implicated in that robbery. Tombstone City Marshal Virgil Earp intervened and threatened to arrest both Doc and Ike if they did not stop arguing.
With Wyatt's help, Doc Holliday went home. The fact is that after the confrontation with Ike Clanton, Wyatt Earp took Holliday back to his boarding house at Camillus Sidney "Buck" Fly's Lodging House to sleep off his drinking, then went home and to bed.
Virgil played cards with Ike Clanton, Tom McLaury, Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, and a fifth man (unknown to Ike and to history), until morning. At about dawn on October 26, the card game broke up and Behan and Virgil Earp went home to bed. Ike Clanton later testified later that he saw Virgil take his six-shooter off of his lap and stick it in his pants when the game ended.
Shortly after 8:00 am, bartender E. F. Boyle spoke to Ike Clanton in front of the Telegraph Office. Ike had been drinking all night. Boyle encouraged him to get some sleep, but Ike insisted he would not go to bed.
Boyle later testified he noticed Ike was armed and covered his gun for him, recalling that Ike told him "'As soon as the Earps and Doc Holliday showed themselves on the street, the ball would open—that they would have to fight'... I went down to Wyatt Earp's house and told him that Ike Clanton had threatened that when him and his brothers and Doc Holliday showed themselves on the street that the ball would open." Ike said in his testimony afterward that he remembered neither meeting Boyle nor making any such statements that day.
Later in the morning, Ike picked up his rifle and revolver from the West End Corral, where he had stabled his wagon and team and deposited his weapons after entering town. By noon that day, Ike, drinking again and armed, told others he was looking for Holliday or an Earp.
At about 1:00 pm, Virgil and Morgan Earp surprised Ike on 4th Street where Virgil buffaloed (pistol-whipped) him from behind. Disarming him, the Earps took Ike to appear before Judge Wallace for violating the city's ordinance against carrying firearms in the city. Virgil went to find Judge Wallace so the court hearing could be held.."
Ike reported in his testimony afterward that Wyatt Earp cursed him. He said Wyatt, Virgil and Morgan offered him his rifle and to fight him right there in the courthouse, which Ike declined. Ike also denied ever threatening the Earps. Ike was fined $25 plus court costs and after paying the fine left unarmed.
Virgil told Ike he would leave Ike's confiscated rifle and revolver at the Grand Hotel which was favored by Cowboys when in town. Ike testified that he picked up the weapons from William Soule, the jailer, a couple of days late
So on the morning of October 26th, 1881, a loud-mouthed Ike Clanton was boasting about what he was going to do to the Earps "one of these days." He was fully armed, and shouting threats against the Earps.
Let's look at this again, from late that previous night to that morning, Ike Clanton was drinking and and socializing and playing cards with Tombstone City Marshal Virgil Earp, Cochise County Sheriff Johnny Behan, Tom McLaury, and a fifth unidentified man in the back room of Tombstone's Occidental Saloon until early that morning. That's true.
The fact is that despite their sharp divides, supposed lawmen versus outlaws, and taking into consideration all of the backroom deals and betrayals, all of the earlier threats made by the Earps against the Clantons and the earlier threats made by the Clantons against the Earps and Doc Holliday, these people sat together socializing, drinking together, and gambled in the same card game for hours throughout the night. That's what took place the night and early morning before the gunfight in that vacant lot near the O.K. Corral.
For Ike Clanton, tension started as the game went on, and he lost money and grew agitated. It shouldn't be a shock to anyone that someone would get agitated from losing money all night. And yes, he later testified that when the game broke up around dawn, he noticed Virgil remove a six-shooter from his lap and tuck it into his pants.
It was after that, that a still drunk Ike Clanton is said to have become paranoid and started brandishing a rifle and making threats that morning. It was then, when Ike Clanton was running his mouth after their card game had ended, that Ike had his pistol and rifle confiscated by Virgil Earp for violating the town's gun ordinance.
Virgil testified later that "the first man who spoke to me about any threats was Officer Bronk. I was down home in bed when he called. He came down after [a] commitment I had for a party that was in jail. It was about 9 o'clock I should think, on the 26th of October. While he was getting the commitment, he said, "You had better get up. There is liable to be hell!" He said, "Ike Clanton has threatened to kill Holliday as soon as he gets up." And he said, "He's counting you fellows in too," meaning me and my brothers. I told him I would get up after a while, and he went off. The next man was Lynch; I've stated what he said. The next I met, was Morgan and James Earp. One of them asked me if I had seen Ike Clanton. I told them I had not. One of them said, "He has got a Winchester rifle and six-shooter on, and threatens to kill us on sight." I asked Morgan if he had any idea where we could find him. He said he did not. I told him then to come and go with me, and we could go and arrest him, and disarm him."
So at this point, we know that Ike Clanton and Doc Holliday had argued the day before, an argument that ended with threats from both men. Then, shortly before noon on the 26th, Virgil Earp was awakened and told Ike Clanton, armed with a rifle and revolver, was visiting the Allen Street bars, threatening Doc Holiday. Carrying weapons inside the town limits was a violation.
Virgil later testified that he "found Ike Clanton on Fourth Street between Fremont and Allen with a Winchester rifle in his hand and a six-shooter stuck down in his breeches. I walked up and grabbed the rifle in my left hand. He let loose and started to draw his six-shooter. I hit him over the head with mine and knocked him to his knees, and took his six-shooter from him. I ask him if he was hunting for me. He said he was, and if he had seen me a second sooner he would have killed me. I arrested Ike for carrying firearms, I believe was the charge, inside the city limits. When I took him to the courtroom, Judge Wallace was not there. I left him in charge of Special Officer Morgan Earp while I went out to look for the Judge. After the examination I asked him where he wanted his arms left, and he said, "Anywhere I can get them, for you hit me over the head with your six-shooter. I told him I would leave them at the Grand Hotel bar, and done so. I did not hear, at that time, any quarrel between Wyatt Earp and Ike Clanton. The next I saw them, they were, all four; Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury in the gun shop on Fourth Street."
Supposedly, someone stated that Virgil's six-shooter made a dull thudding sound as it smacked up against Ike's head, before he was said to be whimpering and threatening the whole way as he was being dragged to Police Court. Ike was fined $25, and his weapons were confiscated.
It's no wonder that later that same day, just moments before the shooting started, that Ike Clanton threw up his hands and yelled that he was unarmed and ran away. He was unarmed earlier by Virgil Earp.
Of course, before that happened later that day, earlier Wyatt and Ike exchanged bitter words during the brief court hearing when Ike was fined. Each of the two threatening the other. Then, an angry Wyatt Earp stalked out of the courtroom and came face-to-face with Tom McLaury. Soon, another argument started between Wyatt Earp and Tom McLaury. It is said to have ended pretty quickly when Wyatt smashed his pistol into Tom McLaury's head when he "buffaloed" him before walking away.
Another town ordinance violation was to bring the Earps and the Clanton crowd to one more face-to-face meeting before that fateful thirty second gunfight. A few minutes after the anger vented inside and outside the courtroom, Virgil and Wyatt Earp saw four of the cowboys, the two McLaury brothers, Billy Clanton, and a friend, Billy Claiborne, a wannabe "gunslinger" youngster who liked to be called "Billy the Kid," walk into Spangenberg's Gun Shop on Fourth street. They watch as Ike Clanton soon joined them.
Virgil testified that "Several men came on Allen Street between Fourth and Fifth; miners whose names I do not know. This was after Ike Clanton's arrest and before the fight. There was one man in particular who came and said, "Ain't you liable to have trouble?" I told him I didn't know, it looks kind of that way, but couldn't tell. He said, "I seen two more of them just rode in," and he said, "Ike walked up to them and was telling them about you hitting him over the head with a six-shooter." He said that one of them rode in on a horse [and] said, "Now is our time to make a fight." This was after the arms of Ike Clanton were returned to the Grand Hotel.
Just about the time the man was telling me this, Bob Hatch came and beckoned to me, as though he wanted to speak to me, and said, "For God's sake, hurry down there to the gun shop, for they are all down there, and Wyatt is all alone!" He said, "They are liable to kill him before you get there!" The other man told me to be careful, and not turn my back on them or I would be killed, that they meant mischief. Lynch remarked [paragraph not completed.
There was a man named W. B. Murray, and a man named J. L. Fonck came at separate times and said, "I know you are going to have trouble, and we have got plenty of men and arms to assist you. Murray was the first man to approach me, on the afternoon of the 26th. I was talking to Behan at the time in Hafford's Saloon, trying to get him to go down and help me disarm them. Murray took me to one side and said, "I have been looking into this matter and know you are going to have trouble. I can get 25 armed men at a minutes notice." He said, "If you want them, say so." I told him, as long as they stayed in the corral, the O.K. Corral, I would not go down to disarm them; if they came out on the street, I would take their arms off and arrest them. He said, "You can count on me if there is any danger."
I walked from the comer of Fourth and Allen Streets, west, just across the street. J. L. Fonck met me there, and he said, "The cowboys are making threats against you." And he said, "If you want any help, I can furnish ten men to assist." I told him I would not bother them as long as they were in the corral; if they showed up on the street, I would disarm them. "Why," he said, "they are all down on Fremont Street there now. Then I called on Wyatt and Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday to go with me and help disarm them. I saw Wyatt Earp shooing a horse off the sidewalk and went down and saw them all in the gun shop, filling up their belts with cartridges and looking at the pistols and guns."
The visit of their enemies to a gun shop might have given the Earps pause to consider what lay ahead. Of more immediate concern, however, was Frank McLaury's horse, standing on the sidewalk, a legal violation. To that, Wyatt grabbed the horse by the bridle and started to back the horse into the street.
Frank dashed out, and grabbed the bridle too. There was a moment of silence between the two men that might have become the Battle of Spangenberg's Gun Shop. But, instead silently, Wyatt was smart enough to all Frank to finish backing his horse off the wooden sidewalk.
Tom McLaury was in town at this time, in fact, as we know, he'd spent the night in a poker game with Ike Clanton, Virgil Earp, John Behan, and a unidentified fifth card player. They finished playing cards at around dawn.
So later that morning he got into an argument with Wyatt Earp which ended with Wyatt publicly striking him over the head with a pistol. It was after that that Frank and Tom McLaury and Ike gathered together with Billy Clanton and Billy Claiborne at the vacant lot near the rear of the O.K. Corral.
Earp supporters like to say that the Frank and Tom McLaury were in town as part of the gang of Cowboys, there just to murder the Earps. Or there just to break the law and intimidate the public. The fact is, Frank and Tom McLaury were not in Tombstone the day of the gunfight to have it out with the Earps - that story is nothing else but fiction built up by people who think the mundane is too mundane.
No, the fact is, Frank and Tom McLaury were not there in Tombstone that fatal day because they belong to some gang called the "Cowboys". Unknown to the Earps, the McLaury brothers were simply in town to get cash before leaving to travel to Texas to see their brother William before traveling across country back to their hometown in Iowa to attend their sister's wedding.
How do we know this? This is based on the fact that when he died, Tom McLaury had $3,300 in cash on him -- and receipts were found on his body. Historical accounts and testimony from the inquest following the gunfight indicate that Tom McLaury had approximately $3,300 in cash and receipts on his body which prove that Tom and his brother Frank were in Tombstone on legitimate business related to selling part of their cattle herd. The large sum of money became a point of discussion during the subsequent murder trial of the Earps and Doc Holliday.
Hotel keeper Albert Billickie and retired army surgeon Dr. J.W. Gardiner both testified to seeing a bulge in Tom's pants pocket prior to the gunfight. They initially thought it might be a pistol. It was later determined to be the cash and receipts. A bank deposit receipt for a large amount of money, signed by Tom McLaury just days before the gunfight, further corroborates his financial activity in town.
The facts surrounding Tom McLaury's cash and receipts are true. His brother William testified that Tom and Frank McLaury had just sold their cattle herd and were in Tombstone to deposit money before heading to Texas to visit him. A bank receipt found with Tom confirmed he had deposited a large sum ($4,984.50) at the Pima County Bank on October 20, 1881, which he later withdrew, accounting for the $3,000 found on his body.
What significance did that have? The fact that Tom had left his pistol at the Cosmopolitan Hotel earlier that day and was found without a weapon on his person after the gunfight supported the defense's argument that he was unarmed during the shootout and targeted by the Earps and Holliday.
The receipts, along with William's testimony that his brothers were on the way to Texas to visit him, provided evidence of their legitimate business in town and their plans to leave town, which contradicted the false claims by the Earps that the money was stolen -- and that the McLaury brothers were there with the Clantons to kill the Earps.
Since Ike Clanton, Billy Claiborne, and Tom McLaury were not armed, was there really a reason to go to the vacant lot to disarm people who were already unarmed and actually leaving town?
Remember, Ike had his guns taken from him, Claiborne was unarmed. And bartender, Andrew Mehan, testified later that Tom McLaury had checked his pistol in with him earlier that day at Cosmopolitan Hotel as the city ordinance required.
So all in all, Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury were the only two men who were wearing guns. And yes, in reality, though the McLaury brothers both had loaded rifles in their saddle scabbard in case of trouble on the trail to Texas, Frank and his brother Tom were leaving town. They weren't there to assassinate anyone. It was firmly established that they were there on business and were leaving.
Why would the McLaury brothers have loaded rifles in their scabbards when leaving town? It's because they weren't stupid and understood the risk that traveling had at the time.
On October 5th, 1881, local resident and miners joined some of Tombstone's more prominent figures to form an impromptu citizen militia to intercept the Apache raiders. It was a time of ongoing fear as the threat from Apaches hung heavy over southeastern Arizona. All in all, it created a tense backdrop for the region just days before the legendary gunfight.
So, why would the McLaurys have loaded Winchester rifles in their saddle scabbards as they were leaving Tombstone and headed to Texas to visit their brother William? It's because they were smart enough to know that Americans didn't travel unarmed when Apache raiders were on the prowl.
Of course, I don't think that mattered to the Earps, as Virgil said later, "There was a committee waiting on me then and called me away to one side. I turned to Wyatt Earp and told him to keep peace and order until I came back and to move the crowd off the sidewalk and not let them obstruct it. When I saw them again, all four of them were going in Dunbar's Corral. They did not remain long there. They came out and went into the O.K. Corral.
Of course, I don't think that mattered to the Earps, as Virgil said later, "There was a committee waiting on me then and called me away to one side. I turned to Wyatt Earp and told him to keep peace and order until I came back and to move the crowd off the sidewalk and not let them obstruct it. When I saw them again, all four of them were going in Dunbar's Corral. They did not remain long there. They came out and went into the O.K. Corral.
I called on Johnny Behan who refused to go with me, to go help disarm these parties. He said if he went along with me, there would be a fight sure; that they would not give up their arms to me.
He said, "They won't hurt me," and, "I will go down alone and see if I can disarm them." I told him that was all I wanted them to do; to layoff their arms while they were in town. Shortly after he left, I was notified that they were on Fremont Street, and I called on Wyatt and Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday to go and help me disarm the Clan tons and McLaurys. We started down Fourth Street to Fremont, turned down Fremont west, towards Fly's lodging house. When we got about somewhere by Bauer's butcher shop, I saw the parties before we got there, in a vacant lot between the photograph gallery and the house west of it. The parties were Ike and Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, Johnny Behan, and the Kid. "
Sheriff John Behan, of course, did nothing and the Earps with Doc Holiday walked down Allen Street with the intention of disarming the Cowboys. Although Virgil was still carrying his pistol, he had given his Wells Fargo shotgun to Holiday and told him to stick it under his coat to appear peaceful. What exactly happened when the lawmen reached the corral is mostly taken from what the survivors had to say.
Gun-Control is a tricky business. Folks might not go along without a fight. Look how enforcing a Gun-Control City Ordinance went wrong at the OK Corral!
We know that the Earp brothers gathered in front of Hafford's Saloon, on the corner of Fourth and Allen streets, wondering what the day would bring. They were joined by Doc Holiday, carrying a cane as he usually did when his tuberculosis particularly was bothering him. They didn't have to wait long.
Soon, a man named Coleman, whether acting as a concerned citizen or was just someone stirring the pot while hoping to see a good fight, supposedly approached Virgil Earp. He supposedly told Virgil that the Clantons and McLaurys were gathered at the rear entrance of the O.K. Corral and were plotting trouble.
That's all it really took, and with that, down Fourth Street marched the Earps with Doc Holliday. They confronted five Cowboys on Fremont Street in an alley between the Harwood House and Fly's Boarding House and Photography Studio, the two parties were initially only about 6 to 8 feet apart.
When asked later, Virgil said he was in the lead and the other 3 were behind him and not along side as the movies depict. He said, regarding Wyatt and Morgan Earp and Doc, "They were right behind me. We were all in a bunch. I think he was also right behind me."
Doc Holliday traded his cane for Virgil Earp's shotgun. He pulled his arm from one sleeve of his coat and held the shotgun between his coat and his body. Virgil later said, "When I called Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday to go and help me disarm the McLaurys and Clantons, Holliday had a large overcoat on, and I told him to let me have his cane, and he take the shotgun, that I did not want to create any excitement going down the street with a shotgun in my hand. When we made the exchange, I said, 'Come along,' and we all went along."
Doc Holliday traded his cane for Virgil Earp's shotgun. He pulled his arm from one sleeve of his coat and held the shotgun between his coat and his body. Virgil later said, "When I called Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, and Doc Holliday to go and help me disarm the McLaurys and Clantons, Holliday had a large overcoat on, and I told him to let me have his cane, and he take the shotgun, that I did not want to create any excitement going down the street with a shotgun in my hand. When we made the exchange, I said, 'Come along,' and we all went along."
As the lawmen neared the corner of Third and Fremont, they saw the Clanton brothers, the McLaury brothers, and Billy Claiborne, arranged along the wall of a small assay office that flanked the west side of the vacant lot. To the east of the narrow strip of open land was the boarding house and gallery of Camillas S. Fly, frontier photographer who ranged through Tombstone and around the wide countryside recording the sights and the events and the people of that fabulous time.
Talking with the men, while Frank and Tom McLaury held their horses, was Cochise County Sheriff John Behan. When Behan saw the Earps approaching, with the maneuvering Doc Holliday swinging wide into the street, Sheriff Behan hurried back to them, told them to stop. Virgil asked if the cowboys were under arrest, and, not getting a reply to his satisfaction, pushed on past, leading his brothers and Holliday to the vacant lot.
Virgil later testified that "Johnny Behan seen myself and party coming down towards them. He left the Clanton and McLaury party and came on a fast walk towards us, and once in a while he would look behind at the party he left, as though expecting danger of some kind. He met us somewhere close to the butcher shop.
He threw up both hands, like this and said, "For God's sake, don't go there or they will murder you!"
I said, "Johnny, I am going down to disarm them." By this time I had passed him a step and heard him say, "I have disarmed them all." When he said that, I had a walking stick in my left hand, and my right hand was on my six-shooter in my waist pants, and when he said he had disarmed them, I shoved it clean around to my left hip and changed my walking stick to my right hand. As soon as Behan left them, they moved in between the two buildings, out of sight of me. We could not see them. All we could [see] was about half a horse. They were all standing in a row. Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury had their hands on their six-shooters. I don't hardly know how Ike Clanton was standing, but I think he had his hands in an attitude where I supposed he had a gun. Tom McLaury had his hand on a Winchester rifle on a horse."
Raising Doc's cane, Virgil called to the men to drop their arms.
Supposedly, Virgil Earp was not planning on a fight. He had given Doc a short, double-barreled shotgun and carried Holliday's cane in his right hand. When finally confronting the Cowboys, he immediately commanded the Cowboys to "Throw up your hands, I want your guns!" But, as in many situations of the sort that law enforcement faces every day, that didn't work, and the Cowboys reached to draw their guns.
Virgil and Wyatt testified they saw Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton draw and cock their six-shooters. Virgil testified later that he heard the "click click" of the pistol hammers and yelled: "Hold! I don't mean that!" or "Hold on, I don't want that!"
Virgil later testified, "As soon as I saw them, I said, "Boys, throw up your hands, I want your guns," or "arms." With that, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton drew their six-shooters and commenced to cock them, and I heard them go "click-click." Ike Clanton threw his hand in his breast. At that, I said, throwing both hands up, with the cane in my right hand, "Hold on, I don't want that!" As I said that, Billy Clanton threw his six-shooter down, full cocked. I was standing to the left of my party, and he was standing on the right of Frank and Tom McLaury. He was not aiming at me, but his pistol was kind of past me. Two shots went off right together. Billy Clanton's was one of them. At that time I changed my cane to my left hand, and went to shooting; it was general then, and everybody went to fighting. At the crack of the first two pistols, the horse jumped to one side, and Tom McLaury failed to get the Winchester. He threw his hand back this way [shows the motion]. He followed the movement of the horse around, making him a kind of breastwork, and fired once, if not twice, over the horse's back."
Some believe that the fight started after Doc Holiday cocked his concealed shotgun. Shotguns of the period, like single-action revolvers carried by both groups, had to be cocked before firing. According to one witness, Holliday drew a "large bronze pistol" -- this is interpreted by some as Virgil's coach gun -- from under his long coat and shoved it into Frank McLaury's belly, then took a couple of steps back. Yes, they were that close.
It is not known who started shooting first. Accounts by both participants and eyewitnesses are contradictory. Those loyal to one side or the other told conflicting stories, and independent eyewitnesses who did not know the participants by sight were unable to say for certain who shot first. Virgil Earp reported afterward, "Two shots went off right together. Billy Clanton's was one of them."
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| Billy Clanton |
Wyatt Earp testified that he shot Frank McLaury after both he and Billy Clanton went for their revolvers. Eyewitnesses testified that Wyatt Earp fired the first shot.
Virgil and Wyatt said later that they thought Tom was armed. When shooting started, the horse that Tom McLaury held jumped to one side. Wyatt said he also saw Tom McLaury throw his hand to his right hip. Virgil said Tom followed the horse's movement, hiding behind it, and he and Wyatt stated later that they believed that Tom fired once, if not twice, from over the horse's back.
At some point in the first few seconds, Holliday stepped around Tom McLaury's horse and shot him with the short, double-barreled shotgun in the chest and right side at close range.
Eyewitness C. H. "Ham" Light saw Tom McLaury stumbling westward on Fremont Street towards Third Street, away from the gunfight, while Frank and Billy were still standing and shooting. Light testified that Tom McLaury fell at the foot of a telegraph pole on the corner of Fremont and 3rd Street and lay there, without moving, through the duration of the fight.
Virgil and Wyatt said later that they thought Tom was armed. When shooting started, the horse that Tom McLaury held jumped to one side. Wyatt said he also saw Tom McLaury throw his hand to his right hip. Virgil said Tom followed the horse's movement, hiding behind it, and he and Wyatt stated later that they believed that Tom fired once, if not twice, from over the horse's back.
At some point in the first few seconds, Holliday stepped around Tom McLaury's horse and shot him with the short, double-barreled shotgun in the chest and right side at close range.
Eyewitness C. H. "Ham" Light saw Tom McLaury stumbling westward on Fremont Street towards Third Street, away from the gunfight, while Frank and Billy were still standing and shooting. Light testified that Tom McLaury fell at the foot of a telegraph pole on the corner of Fremont and 3rd Street and lay there, without moving, through the duration of the fight.
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| Ike Clanton |
After shooting Tom, Holliday, Doc tossed the shotgun aside, pulled out his nickel-plated revolver, and continued to fire at Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton. Despite having bragged that he would kill the Earps or Doc Holliday at his first opportunity, once the shooting broke out, Wyatt told the court afterward that Ike Clanton ran forward and grabbed Wyatt, exclaiming that he was unarmed and did not want a fight. To this protest Wyatt said he responded, "Go to fighting or get away!"
Clanton ran through the front door of Fly's boarding house and escaped, unwounded. Almost immediately when the Earps arrived at the vacant lot, Billy Claiborne ran away before getting killed.
According to the one newspaper of the town, The Tombstone Epitaph, "Wyatt Earp stood up and fired in rapid succession, as cool as a cucumber, and was not hit."
Morgan Earp fired almost immediately as Billy drew his gun right-handed, hitting Billy Clanton in the right wrist. This shot disabled Billy's gun hand and forced him to shift the revolver to his left hand. He continued firing until he emptied it. It's believed that Billy Clanton fired 5 rounds from his Colt 1873 pistol since it was customary at the time to keep the hammer of a Colt Single-Action Army on an empty chamber for safety.
Virgil and Wyatt were now firing. Morgan Earp tripped over a newly buried waterline and fired at Frank McLaury from the ground. Frank is believed to have fired all of the 5 rounds from his Colt 1873 pistol and tried to grab his rifle from its scabbard on his horse. Frank had his horse's reins and was struggling with the horse in the street, when Morgan's bullet slammed in his head. Because Morgan shot hit Frank McLaury in the head, the Coroner later determined that Frank McLaury was dead before hitting the ground.
As for Billy Clanton, he too only had 5 rounds loaded in his pistol. As I said before, it was customary at the time to keep the hammer of a Colt Single-Action Army on an empty chamber for safety.
It's also claimed that while he was doing this that he fired his revolver over the horse's head, but the horse got away before he could withdraw the rifle from the scabbard. A number of witnesses observed a man leading a horse into the street and firing near it, and Wyatt in his testimony thought this was Tom McLaury. But that's not true and couldn't have been the case, and it was indeed Frank McLaury who was trying to retrieve his rifle because his pistol was empty.
Claiborne said that only one man had a horse in the fight, and that this man was Frank McLaury who was holding his own horse by the reins -- which he lost in the middle of the street when the shooting started at his horse spooked and bolted. Eyewitness Wes Fuller also identified Frank as the man in the street trying to control a horse.
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| Frank McLaury |
Frank and Holliday exchanged shots as Frank moved into Fremont street with Holliday following, and Frank hit Holliday in his pistol pocket, grazing his belt. Frank lost control of his horse and, firing his weapon, crossed Fremont Street to the sidewalk on the east side.
Holliday followed Frank across Fremont Street, exclaiming, "That son of a bitch has shot me, and I am going to kill him." Morgan Earp picked himself up and also fired at Frank.
The smoke from the black powder used in the weapons added to the confusion of the gunfight in the narrow space. Frank, now entirely across Fremont street and still walking at a good pace according to Claiborne's testimony, fired twice more before he was shot in the head under his right ear. Both Morgan and Holliday apparently thought they had fired the shot that killed Frank. But since neither of them testified at the hearing, this information is only from second-hand accounts. A passerby testified to having stopped to help Frank, and saw Frank try to speak, but he died where he fell, before he could be moved.
Billy Clanton was shot in the chest and abdomen, and after a minute or two slumped to a sitting position near his original position at the corner of the MacDonald house in the alley between the house and Fly's Lodging House.
Holliday followed Frank across Fremont Street, exclaiming, "That son of a bitch has shot me, and I am going to kill him." Morgan Earp picked himself up and also fired at Frank.
The smoke from the black powder used in the weapons added to the confusion of the gunfight in the narrow space. Frank, now entirely across Fremont street and still walking at a good pace according to Claiborne's testimony, fired twice more before he was shot in the head under his right ear. Both Morgan and Holliday apparently thought they had fired the shot that killed Frank. But since neither of them testified at the hearing, this information is only from second-hand accounts. A passerby testified to having stopped to help Frank, and saw Frank try to speak, but he died where he fell, before he could be moved.
Billy Clanton was shot in the chest and abdomen, and after a minute or two slumped to a sitting position near his original position at the corner of the MacDonald house in the alley between the house and Fly's Lodging House.
Claiborne said Billy Clanton was supported by a window initially after he was shot, and fired some shots after sitting, with the pistol supported on his leg. After he ran out of ammunition, he called for more cartridges, but C. S. Fly took his pistol at about the time the general shooting ended.
A few moments later, Tom was carried from the corner of Fremont and Third into the Harwood house on that corner, where he died without speaking. Passersby carried Billy to the Harwood house, where Tom had been taken.
Ike Clanton, who had repeatedly threatened the Earps with death, was still running. Eyewitness William Cuddy testified that Ike passed him on Allen Street and Johnny Behan saw him a few minutes later on Tough Nut Street.
In that split second when the firing started all of the pent-up scores were going to be settled as the first bullets tore through the air. The boastful Ike Clanton, the man who was going to kill all the Earps single-handedly and drop Doc Holliday for good measure, ran screaming toward Wyatt Earp, ducked behind him and streaked toward Fly's photograph gallery, where Sheriff Behan had also quickly taken refuge when the bullets started to fly.
Close behind Ike was Billy "The Kid" Claiborne, recently released from jail after killing a man who "bothered" him. But the events at that vacant lot near the O.K. Corral were a different kind of bother to Billy, and he quickly decided that that really wasn't his fight after all.
While it is theorized that Wyatt Earp stood in one place during the shooting because he may have froze paralyzed by fear while his brothers and Holliday moved during the shooting to evade being shot when the shooting started, it is believed that Wyatt Earp actually shot only one round at one of the Cowboys. That was was Frank McLaury who was the first to drop, a gaping wound in his stomach from Wyatt Earp who shot Frank in the belly at almost pointblank range.
A few moments later, Tom was carried from the corner of Fremont and Third into the Harwood house on that corner, where he died without speaking. Passersby carried Billy to the Harwood house, where Tom had been taken.
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| Morgan Earp |
Billy was in considerable pain and asked for a doctor and some morphine. He told those near him, "They have murdered me. I have been murdered. Chase the crowd away and from the door and give me air." Billy gasped for air, and someone else heard him say, "Go away and let me die."
Ike Clanton, who had repeatedly threatened the Earps with death, was still running. Eyewitness William Cuddy testified that Ike passed him on Allen Street and Johnny Behan saw him a few minutes later on Tough Nut Street.
In that split second when the firing started all of the pent-up scores were going to be settled as the first bullets tore through the air. The boastful Ike Clanton, the man who was going to kill all the Earps single-handedly and drop Doc Holliday for good measure, ran screaming toward Wyatt Earp, ducked behind him and streaked toward Fly's photograph gallery, where Sheriff Behan had also quickly taken refuge when the bullets started to fly.
Close behind Ike was Billy "The Kid" Claiborne, recently released from jail after killing a man who "bothered" him. But the events at that vacant lot near the O.K. Corral were a different kind of bother to Billy, and he quickly decided that that really wasn't his fight after all.
While it is theorized that Wyatt Earp stood in one place during the shooting because he may have froze paralyzed by fear while his brothers and Holliday moved during the shooting to evade being shot when the shooting started, it is believed that Wyatt Earp actually shot only one round at one of the Cowboys. That was was Frank McLaury who was the first to drop, a gaping wound in his stomach from Wyatt Earp who shot Frank in the belly at almost pointblank range.
Morgan, who actively worked alongside his brother Virgil as his deputy to enforce local city ordinances against carrying weapons in town, took a bullet across his shoulder as young Billy Clanton, his right wrist shattered, shifted his gun to his left hand. Billy kept firing as two more bullets tore through his body, and one shot hit Virgil Earp in the calf. Billy is said to have tried to weakly keep firing as he lay on the hard packed sand, but he couldn't muster the strength to pull the trigger. Though out of ammunition,
It's said that Tom McLaury tried to reach the rifle in the saddle scabbard of his brother Frank's horse, but the frightened horse reared - exposing Tom to Doc Holiday's shotgun blast. Tom stumbled a few feet into Fremont Street, where now there were two dead McLaurys. Billy Clanton died a few minutes later, his pistol taken from his hand by Camillas Fly as he was lifted and carried into Fly's boarding house.
It was over. There were a few awful moments of silence, then there was a new sound - the whistles of the Vizina and Tough Nut mines shrilled in the air, calling the members of the Citizens' Safety Committee to form against what many feared might now he a general insurrection on the part of the outlaw elements.
Sheriff Behan told Wyatt Earp that he was under arrest. Wyatt supposedly replied, "I won't be arrested today. I am right here and am not going away. You deceived me. You told me these men were disarmed; I went to disarm them." Wyatt wasn't arrested that day, and outlaw violence hadn't broken out yet.
It's said that Tom McLaury tried to reach the rifle in the saddle scabbard of his brother Frank's horse, but the frightened horse reared - exposing Tom to Doc Holiday's shotgun blast. Tom stumbled a few feet into Fremont Street, where now there were two dead McLaurys. Billy Clanton died a few minutes later, his pistol taken from his hand by Camillas Fly as he was lifted and carried into Fly's boarding house.
It was over. There were a few awful moments of silence, then there was a new sound - the whistles of the Vizina and Tough Nut mines shrilled in the air, calling the members of the Citizens' Safety Committee to form against what many feared might now he a general insurrection on the part of the outlaw elements.
Sheriff Behan told Wyatt Earp that he was under arrest. Wyatt supposedly replied, "I won't be arrested today. I am right here and am not going away. You deceived me. You told me these men were disarmed; I went to disarm them." Wyatt wasn't arrested that day, and outlaw violence hadn't broken out yet.
But within a few days, the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday were charged with murder. And yes, because Morgan and Virgil still were recovering from their wounds, Judge Wells Spicer decided to proceed to trial without them.
Sheriff Behan testified the Clanton party made no effort to begin shooting when the Earp party stalked to the Corral and, according to him, told them to throw up their hands. He said the Earps already had their guns at the ready. He did admit however, that Frank McLaury had told him a short time before the shooting that he would not give up his weapons until the Earps were disarmed.
The movies usually show the shooters firing across expansive corrals and courtyards, as well as in and out of barns and other buildings. In fact, all the participants were no more than a few feet from one another until Frank McLaury went for a horse on the street, trying to pull a rifle from its scabbard.
Tom McLaury was unarmed.
No weapon was ever found in Tom’s possession, or near his body. But that didn't matter because he supposedly went for his rifle, and going for your rifle when a gunfight starts is one of the easiest ways to get yourself killed.
Wyatt Earp later testified that he thought that Tom had been carrying a concealed weapon, but no weapon was ever found. Indeed, earlier in the day Wyatt had confronted Tom about that very issue. One report says that Tom went for his rifle on his horse, but even Wyatt testified that Tom threw open his coat to show that he was unarmed before being shot.
Is it possible that he did go for a rifle and his horse or his brother's horse and got killed while doing so? Frankly, some eyewitnesses testified that he did -- while other eyewitnesses said he didn't. It is very possible that he died as many have during such shootings - for being in the wrong place at the wrong time when shooting started.
It was roughly 25 to 30-second gunfight that took place at about 3:00 p.m. on October 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona Territory of the United States. Although only three men were killed during the gunfight, it is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the Old West.
Despite its name, the gunfight began in a 15–20 feet wide empty lot or alley designated Lot 2 on Block 17 on Fremont Street, between C. S. Fly's lodging house and photographic studio and the MacDonald assay house. The lot was six doors East of an alleyway that served as the O.K. Corral's rear entrance. The two opposing parties were initially only about 6 feet apart.
A full 12 days after the gunfight, as a result of charges of murder filed by Ike Clanton, Wyatt and Doc were arrested and jailed pending a preliminary hearing. Virgil Earp was suspended from his police duties at the same time. Though Ike Clanton filed murder charges against Doc Holliday and the Earps, after a month-long preliminary hearing they were exonerated.
So yes, all 4 Earp brothers and Doc Holliday were charged by Billy Clanton's brother, Ike Clanton, with murder. After a 30-day preliminary hearing and then again by a local grand jury, at the conclusion of an exhaustive inquest, Judge Spicer ruled that the Earps and Holliday did nothing illegal and the charges were dismissed. Doc and Wyatt spent 16 days in jail during the hearing.
The "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" only lasted for half a minute or less. It is estimated that 30 to 34 shots were fired. Of that, at least 5 shots were fired by Billy Clanton and 5 shots were fired by Frank McLaury.
Sheriff Behan testified the Clanton party made no effort to begin shooting when the Earp party stalked to the Corral and, according to him, told them to throw up their hands. He said the Earps already had their guns at the ready. He did admit however, that Frank McLaury had told him a short time before the shooting that he would not give up his weapons until the Earps were disarmed.
The movies usually show the shooters firing across expansive corrals and courtyards, as well as in and out of barns and other buildings. In fact, all the participants were no more than a few feet from one another until Frank McLaury went for a horse on the street, trying to pull a rifle from its scabbard.
Tom McLaury was unarmed.
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| Tom McLaury |
Wyatt Earp later testified that he thought that Tom had been carrying a concealed weapon, but no weapon was ever found. Indeed, earlier in the day Wyatt had confronted Tom about that very issue. One report says that Tom went for his rifle on his horse, but even Wyatt testified that Tom threw open his coat to show that he was unarmed before being shot.
Is it possible that he did go for a rifle and his horse or his brother's horse and got killed while doing so? Frankly, some eyewitnesses testified that he did -- while other eyewitnesses said he didn't. It is very possible that he died as many have during such shootings - for being in the wrong place at the wrong time when shooting started.
About 30 shots were fired in 30 seconds in Black Powder fog.
Unarmed Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne ran from the fight to avoid being killed. . Frank McLaury, age 32, and 19 year old Billy Clanton were killed. Unarmed Tom McLaury, age 28, was also killed.
Unarmed Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne ran from the fight to avoid being killed. . Frank McLaury, age 32, and 19 year old Billy Clanton were killed. Unarmed Tom McLaury, age 28, was also killed.
Morgan was clipped by a shot across his back that nicked both shoulder blades and a vertebra, although he was able to continue firing his weapon. Virgil was shot through the calf, and Doc Holliday was grazed by a bullet that actually hit his belt. Morgan Earp, Virgil Earp, and Doc Holliday were wounded and survived. Wyatt Earp went untouched.
It was roughly 25 to 30-second gunfight that took place at about 3:00 p.m. on October 26, 1881 in Tombstone, Arizona Territory of the United States. Although only three men were killed during the gunfight, it is generally regarded as the most famous gunfight in the history of the Old West.
Despite its name, the gunfight began in a 15–20 feet wide empty lot or alley designated Lot 2 on Block 17 on Fremont Street, between C. S. Fly's lodging house and photographic studio and the MacDonald assay house. The lot was six doors East of an alleyway that served as the O.K. Corral's rear entrance. The two opposing parties were initially only about 6 feet apart.
A full 12 days after the gunfight, as a result of charges of murder filed by Ike Clanton, Wyatt and Doc were arrested and jailed pending a preliminary hearing. Virgil Earp was suspended from his police duties at the same time. Though Ike Clanton filed murder charges against Doc Holliday and the Earps, after a month-long preliminary hearing they were exonerated.
So yes, all 4 Earp brothers and Doc Holliday were charged by Billy Clanton's brother, Ike Clanton, with murder. After a 30-day preliminary hearing and then again by a local grand jury, at the conclusion of an exhaustive inquest, Judge Spicer ruled that the Earps and Holliday did nothing illegal and the charges were dismissed. Doc and Wyatt spent 16 days in jail during the hearing.
The "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" only lasted for half a minute or less. It is estimated that 30 to 34 shots were fired. Of that, at least 5 shots were fired by Billy Clanton and 5 shots were fired by Frank McLaury.
We know that Wyatt Earp fired 3 rounds during the gunfight. He fired 1 round that hit Frank McLaury in the belly. Some say that was the start of the gunfight. We know that historical accounts indicate that Wyatt Earp also fired at least two shots at unarmed Tom McLaury but missed. And yes, there is the possibility that Wyatt fired 1 round at Billy Clanton which also missed. Some reports say he shot Frank McLaury in the head, but that was Morgan's doing.
As for the rest of the rounds fired that day, we know that Virgil Earp fired 4 shots total. He fired 1 shot that missed Frank McLaury and he fired 3 shots at Billy Clanton. Morgan Earp shot Billy Clanton and Frank McLaury.
Following the October 26, 1881, gunfight in Tombstone, town coroner Dr. H. M. Matthews examined the bodies of Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury. He reported his findings to a coroner's jury. The jury concluded the men died from pistol and gunshot wounds inflicted by the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday, without explicitly ruling on justification.
Dr. Matthews examination results showed that unarmed Tom McLaury suffered a fatal blast from a double-barreled shotgun fired at close range. Tom McLaury sustained roughly 12 buckshot wounds clustered in a small circle on his right side chest and abdomen. Frank McLaury sustained two (2) distinct, severe wounds. One bullet wound entered his abdomen one inch to the left of his navel. A second bullet entered beneath Frank's right ear, passing horizontally through the base of his brain, which caused instant death. As for Billy Clanton, he suffered multiple gunshot wounds, notably to the chest, right arm, and wrist. Medical and ballistic testimony noted that Billy Clanton's arm wound was inconsistent with the claim that he was holding his hands straight up in surrender when shot. He survived for roughly 30 minutes after the exchange.
The coroner's jury officially delivered the verdict that William Clanton, Frank McLaury, and Tom McLaury came to their deaths on October 26, 1881, from pistol and gunshot wounds inflicted by Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp, and John "Doc" Holliday.
Tom Correa
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