Old West American Frontier, John Reeves [big screen ebook reader TXT] 📗

of gambling and thievery. Things had been lucrative for the cowboys before the peace order was put into place. The McLaurys took a young Johnny under their wing, as he'd taken up a close friendship with Frank.
The McLaurys and the Clantons befriended Johnny, who found a sense of loyalty to them he'd not had for anyone else. Everyone got their fair share of the towns profits before sheriff Behan brought the Earps into Tombstone. While the Clantons and McLaurys took in huge amounts of money for their homestead, Johnny was like a kid who's parents owned the town.
Ike Clanton came into town and during the evening had some little talk with Doc Holliday and Marshal Earp.
"Did you know the McLaurys left town?" Ike asked
Neither Doc nor Wyatt knew exactly what he was getting at. He seemed to be telling them the threats made two days earlier were just hot air.
"Well they are not going to come into town with their guns, just as nobody else is." Wyatt made it clear.
"They don't want no trouble." Ike assured them.

Virgil had a feeling something was strange about Ike's visit to the Oriental Saloon to announce the McLaurys had left town. It was a lie, Wyatt had seen them both earlier that day just below town. Reported that to sheriff Behan,
"They're planning something, and as the law in this town it's your job to find out what." Wyatt told the sheriff.
For the night Wyatt, Morgan and Doc sat waiting for them to hold to their threats of coming into Tombstone to kill them. Without incident Wyatt went home that morning to get some sleep. Ike Clanton and Frank McLaury sat inside Dunbar's corral talking, when Johnny rode in on his horse, drunk and disorderly.
"Where is Doc Holliday?" He shouted at the locals that stood aside the road. Quickly without hesitation, Frank and Ike went to remove him from Main Street.
"Don't pay him no mind, he's drunk!" Frank told the onlookers.
Morgan went to get his brother not feeling the situation was so innocent. Also realizing the sheriff probably wasn't going to act on his hunch. Wyatt knowing the night before had been nothing more than a threat against authority, didn't take the conversation seriously. The word had gotten around to Doc that Ringo was looking to shoot him. He walked out of his room in the hotel over to Wyatt's house where Morgan had confirmed the hearsay.
"Morgan, did you say they were armed?" Wyatt asked.
"Yeah, they're armed alright. There's more of them than there is us too." Morgan reluctantly replied.
"Well that's it then...We go take their guns away" Wyatt stood putting on his gun belt.
"Wyatt, this isn't Dodge City. Things aren't like they were back then." Virgil tried to enlighten his younger brother.
"The law is no guns in the city, that means nobody is to authorized to bring one in town, that doesn't have a badge."
"We go over there and, we'll be out numbered in a shootout."
"Well then deputize Doc, were gonna need him."

At 2:30 reaching Fremont street was Virgil Earp, Wyatt Earp, Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday, in the center of the street, all armed. Frank and Tom McLaury stood in front of the OK coral. Behind them were Bill Clanton, Ike Clanton and Johnny Ringo.
"Give up your arms or throw up your arms." Virgil shouted at the cowboys.
"We ain't gonna drop nothing law man." Frank shouted back.
The shooting started at their refusal to surrender their weapons. Tom McLaury took the first bullet right in the head. Falling instantly to his death. Morgan took a shot in the leg dropping him to the ground. Another shot hit Doc in the hip, but he continued to fire back with the scatter gun. Frank took the next fatal shot that dropped him, with adrenaline he raised to fire once more. Bill Clanton died last. Shot right in the heart.
Ike Clanton had no weapon holding his hands above his head, he was allowed to slip into the dance hall unharmed. Johnny Ringo had either slipped out the back or, he left when the others told him to go home. Clearly he'd been too drunk to be of any help. Sheriff Behan went up to Wyatt Earp and said, "I'll have to arrest you."
"I won't be arrested today. I am right here and I'm not going anywhere. You have deceived me. You told me these men were disarmed; I went to disarm them."

That wasn't the end, Wyatt wanted to see everyone in the cowboy posse face justice. Morgan was shot through the shoulder, the bullet went through his shoulder and out his back.
Virgil was shot in the leg above the knee, an injury that would never really heal. For the rest of his life he walked with a limp. There were about ten able body men ready to fight for the law. Friends from the silver mines came to Wyatt's defense upon the news getting to them.
The townspeople were mostly in favor of law and order in Tombstone. The next day the mayor came out making a public speech clearing the Earps of any wrong doing.

"The Marshal did nothing wrong, he was fired at first, and in an act of bravery shot back. This man will not be charged with any crime for standing up for the rights of the law. I hope this sends the message to the cowboys that they will never again, just ride into town with their six shooters and Henry rifles killing folks in broad daylight."
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Text: Pictures reserved by right of Tombstone, Arizona.
Publication Date: 07-30-2010

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