Historical Event Series - Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park

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Shoot-Out in Tombstone, Arizona

CARRYING WEAPONS IN THE CITY OF TOMBSTONE WAS IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW. This law has been referred to as Wyatt's law, but it couldn't be farther from the truth. In 1880, the City council received a motion from Councilman Gray to create an ordinance against carrying concealed weapons. The motion passed and became Ordinance # 9 which was later revised to include all guns not just concealed. The Earp brothers, Virgil the City Marshal, Wyatt and Morgan with their friend, Doc Holliday decided to bring their unsettled dispute and enforce the law with a few men that had been labeled "the Cowboys". This group of men included Ike and Billy Clanton, locals living on a ranch south of Tombstone, Tom and Frank McLaury who lived east of Tombstone twenty some miles, close to Soldier's hole in the Sulphur Springs Valley and a roustabout by the name of Billy Claibourne.

Around 2:00 p.m. on October 26, 1881, the Earp brothers with Doc Holliday set off for the location over on Fremont Street close to the Fly Photo Gallery where the Cowboys were in discussion with Cochise County Sheriff, Johnny Behan. They were supposedly discussing their need to surrender their weapons, in light of the possible armed confrontation between them and the Earps. The Cowboys split on their decision to relinquish their arms, leave town or remain, risking a fight with the Earps was still in place when the Earps rounded the corner at Fourth and Fremont Streets heading west to the location of the Cowboys.

As the Earps approached the site, Sheriff Behan spotted them and hurried to meet the Earp party, to turn them away from the possible fight. Talking did no good, and the Earps clearly saw that the Cowboys were well armed and looking for a fight. The fight took place and the legend of the battle has taken its appropriate place in the annals of history.

If you would like more information on the infamous gun battle, coined "The Gunfight at O.K. Corral", the following references are provided.

Books on the subject:

• Street Fight in Tombstone Near the O.K. Corral. By: Michael M. Hickey
• The Truth About Wyatt Earp. By: Richard E. Erwin
• And Die In The West. By: Paula Mitchell Marks
• The Earps Talk. By: Alford E. Turner
• The Chronicles Of Tombstone. By: Ben T. Traywick
• The Earp Brothers Of Tombstone. By: Frank Waters

Movies on the subject:

• Tombstone (1993). Starring: Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer
• Wyatt Earp (1994). Starring: Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid and Gene Hackman
• Wyatt Earp, Return To Tombstone (1994). Starring: Bo Hopkins, Martin Kove, Hugh O'Brian, Jay Underwood and Don Meredith
• My Darling Clementine (1946). Starring: Henry Fonda, Linda Darnell, Victor Mature and Walter Brennan.
• Gunfight At The O.K. Corral (1957). Starring: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Rhonda Fleming and Jo Van Fleet
• Hour Of The Gun (1967) . Starring: George Montgomery, Yvonne DeCarlo, Tab Hunter and Brian DonLevy

Television series on the subject that are on video tape:

• Tombstone Territory (1952). Starring: Frank Arrigo, Pat Conway and Henry Fonda
• A&E Series, The Real West, Wyatt Earp, Justice At The OK Corral (1996). Hosted by: Kenny Rogers

ARIZONA STATE PARK, TOMBSTONE WEB PAGE MONTHLY STORY. BY: LARRY L. McFALL and ART AUSTIN