"Gunfight at the OK Corral" Topic

We did a run through of Legends of the Old West at the club using some of the character rules for the participants in this famous shootout. This was preparation far a refight of the event on the anniversary on 26th October.

A brief report of the game can be found here-

Link

> i have yet to find out why not much of the action takes place at the OK Corral!

One account, according to Big Nose Kate, was the Clantons were coming to confront Doc Holliday in his apartment just around the way. Of course, BN Kate became a bit of a glory seeker as the news of this fight captured more and more attention. So take her history as one version written by the victors.

Nice set-up, thanks for sharing.

A favorite subject of mine. The actual gunfight at the OK Corral is not like most people think. It was not fought at the OK Corral, but behind it in the small vacant lot between Fly's boarding house and the vacant house next door (going from memory I think it was called the Harrison house). The space was roughly 18 feet by maybe 20 feet and with in it's confines were 9 men and two horses – the 3 Earps and Doc Holliday, and 5 of the Cowboys. When the shooting started Billy Claiborne fled out the front of the lot through Fly's boarding house and eventually going out the back door through Fly's photo studio. Ike Clanton was unarmed and suffering from having been buffaloed earlier, and when the shooting started did indeed grab on to Wyatt as he was the nearest opponent, saying he was not heeled (armed). Wyatt did tell him to get a gun and get to fighting or get out of the way. Ike then also fled through Fly's boarding house and also out the back as well. There was a lull for a few seconds after the first few shots, and then a shot was fired from the direction of Fly's photo studio, but it is not really known who fired it – Claiborne, Ike or another??? The entire gunfight lasted abut 30 seconds and 30-31 shots were fired. All but Wyatt suffered a hit. Billy was shot down and leaning against the Harrison house, Frank McLaury was gut shot by the first shot, which was from Doc Holliday's pistol at near point blank range. He held on to his horse to help hold him up and staggered out into Freemont street, where he started shooting under his horse's head. At the end of the fight he was shot in the head and died instantly by a shot from Morgan Earp. Tom McLaury is the subject of much speculation as to wither he was armed, but there is good evidence he is the one who shot Morgan. He was shot by a blast from the shotgun Doc had and staggered out into Freemont street as well. Tom McLaury and Billy Clanton did not die right away but with in an hour or so. Morgan was shot across his shoulder clipping the shoulder blade. Virgil Earp was shot in the right calf, but the bone was not hit. Doc was grazed across the hip. Wyatt was untouched. This last point is not surprising when you consider where each person was standing. Wyatt was basically out of the line of fire.

Virgil was later ambushed in December 1881. roughly two months after the famous Gunfight of October 26th disabling his arm for life (he continued to live in California and served as a lawman there). Morgan was killed in March of the following year, 1882, while playing pool. Interestingly enough two shots were fired and one was meant for Wyatt who was sitting in a chair – that shot hitting the wall near his head. It was the killing of Morgan that generated the "Vendetta Ride", which resulted in Wyatt killing Pete Spence and Indian Charlie. Many sources feel that Curly Bill was not around for the vendetta ride and had given up being a Cowboy, and set up a ranch down in Mexico so was not shot at the springs. Wyatt also did not shoot Johnny Ringo, as the facts seem to support his committing suicide, in July 1882 I believe. Johnny Ringo suffered severely from depression.

Sheriff survived the events and went on to live a mediocre life. Josey did live with Wyatt until his death in 1929, but no marriage certificate has ever been presented so it is doubtful they were ever married. There is a supposed famous semi-nude photo of her, but most authorities feel that is not her.

Just a few bits off the top of my head, but the story is a fascinating one and the gunfight at the OK Corral considered to be the most famous gunfight.

Terry

The reference to the sheriff above is of John Behan, I see I left his name out.

Terry

Excellent stuff. Thanks for the input and all of this makes me want to get the book finished asap.Its 'The Last Gunfight' by Jeff Guinn. Very readable.

Jeff's book is excellent and I highly recommend it. If you like it and want to delve further there are some others I can recommend that are written about some of the players individually. But to me, Jeff's book is the perfect starting place.

Terry

terry37 what is your opinion of bob Bells book, which is really about what lead up to and happened after more than the OK corral itself?

I liked it, but dont have enough altermnate sources to be sure how accurate it is. Of course he uses an aweful lot of primary source material, so it seems good to me.

Owen

Owen, Although I am familiar with that series of books by Bell, I do not have any of them in my library but will probably get them some day. As for what lead up to the gunfight, Jeff Quinn's Last Gunfight covers it as accurately as any I've read. Basically, what most consider the cause is the stolen army mules, the Wyatt/Ike "deal" over the fatal stage robbery killers, which fell apart, I think served as the last straw.

I also feel that there was only one person who really wanted the gunfight to happen as the Earps and Doc walked toward the vacant lot where the Cowboys were – and that is Doc Holliday. He had a temper, had the night before had a major to-do with Ike Clanton, and he also fired the first shot. The second shot was fired by Morgan Earp, who was also a close friend of Doc's and also a bit easy to anger.

Paul lee Johnson in his book "The McLaury's in Tombstone, Arizona" present a very good case that the McLaury brothers were actually in the process of selling out and leaving Tombstone to go back east. Ike Clanton was a blowhard who stirred up trouble but was too cowardly to back up his actions. He was gunned down during an attempted stage robbery about two years after the gunfight. Billy Claiborne saw the handwriting on the wall and was wise to exit the vacant lot when he did.

Virgil truly was not expecting a showdown resulting in a shootout, and for some time after the bullets started flying had still not pulled or fired his gun.

There are several excellent books I do recommend for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the famous gunfight. Here are a few of them,

"Street Fight in Tombstone" by Michael Hickey. This is out of print, but well worth it if you can find a copy. He actually breaks the fight down second by second and gives very good supporting evidence to back up his position. He does not dwell much at all on the preceding events.

Steve Gatto's books on Wyatt Earp, Curly Bill Brocious and Johnny Ringo.

Water's book on the Earp Brothers is also worth a read.

Of course you have to read Lakes book about Wyatt Earp, but it is more of a fantasy than a book of factual accounts.

And of the book on the McLaury's I mentioned above.

There are other books worth reading on the subject, but these are the ones I feel are the best for a truer insight. One thing to remember is that the actual affair is really one with untold issues, variations and interpretations. There are those who side with the Cowboys and those who side with the Earps, so in the end we each have to make up our own mind on what we feel is the most correct.

I ma sorry I can't speak specifically to Bell's book, but hope the above will offer some help.

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Terry

The Mid-Georgia Doc Holliday Festival will take place on 26-27 September in Griffin, GA (USA).

dochollidayfest.com

There will be Barbecue!

Ron

Ron,

Looks interesting and I might have to check it out. However, it doesn't look like folks dress up in western fashion and they might frown on one wearing six guns?

Terry