Earp Vendetta Ride

The American West, a land etched with tales of courage, conflict, and the relentless pursuit of justice, witnessed few sagas as dramatic and consequential as the Earp Vendetta Ride. This infamous chapter in the lives of the Earp brothers, fueled by loss and a thirst for retribution, unfolded against the backdrop of the Arizona Territory in the spring of 1882. It was a time when the line between lawman and outlaw blurred, and personal vendettas were often settled with a Colt Peacemaker.

The roots of the Earp Vendetta Ride lie in the simmering tensions and rivalries that plagued Tombstone, Arizona, a boomtown built on silver and ambition. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in October 1881, though brief, served as a catalyst, igniting a feud between the Earp brothers – Wyatt, Virgil, and Morgan – and the Clanton-McLaury faction, a loose association of cowboys and outlaws who challenged the Earps’ authority.

The animosity escalated tragically on March 18, 1882. Morgan Earp, while playing billiards at Campbell & Hatch Billiard Parlor in Tombstone, was ambushed and fatally wounded. The cowardly act sent shockwaves through the Earp family and their allies. Already reeling from the earlier gunfight and its aftermath, the murder of Morgan served as the tipping point, setting in motion the events that would define the Earp Vendetta Ride.

Following Morgan’s assassination, Wyatt Earp, along with his brother Warren, the legendary Doc Holliday, "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson, and Sherman McMasters, undertook the somber task of escorting the Earp family, including the wounded Virgil, out of Tombstone. Their destination was Tucson, Arizona, where Virgil could receive medical attention and the family could find temporary refuge from the escalating violence.

It was in Tucson that Wyatt’s simmering rage began to boil over. While at the train depot, he spotted Frank Stillwell, a known associate of the Clanton gang and a suspect in Morgan’s murder. Wyatt had also received intelligence suggesting that Stillwell was plotting to ambush Virgil. Fueled by grief and a burning desire for revenge, Wyatt confronted Stillwell.

The following morning, the lifeless body of Frank Stillwell was discovered near the train tracks, riddled with bullets. This act of violence marked the beginning of the Earp Vendetta Ride, a period of relentless pursuit and deadly encounters that would cement the Earps’ place in Western lore.

Wyatt Earp would later recount the events leading to Stillwell’s death, claiming that he and his men had encountered Stillwell and Ike Clanton lying in wait on a flatcar, armed with shotguns. According to Earp’s account, he killed Stillwell, but Ike Clanton managed to escape. This version of events, like many aspects of the Earp saga, remains shrouded in controversy and subject to historical debate.

The death of Stillwell triggered a swift response from law enforcement in Tombstone. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Wyatt Earp, Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson, and Sherman McMasters, charging them with Stillwell’s murder. Sheriff Johnny Behan, a political rival and known antagonist of the Earps, was tasked with apprehending the group.

However, the Earps received an unexpected advantage. The manager of the telegraph office in Tombstone, a friend of the Earp brothers, intercepted the telegram from Pima County Justice of the Peace Charles Meyer ordering the arrest. He showed the message to Wyatt, giving the Earp party precious time to leave Tombstone before Behan could act. As they departed, Behan confronted Wyatt, but Wyatt rebuffed him with a veiled threat, and the group rode out of town.

For the next three weeks, Wyatt Earp, now deputized as a U.S. Deputy Marshal, led his posse on a relentless hunt for those he believed responsible for Morgan’s death and those who supported the Clanton faction. This "posse" included his brother Warren, Doc Holliday, Sherman McMasters, "Turkey Creek" Jack Johnson, and "Texas Jack" Vermillion. Other men, including Dan Tipton, Charlie Smith, Fred Dodge, Johnny Green, and Lou Cooley, are also believed to have provided support to the Earps during their campaign of vengeance.

The Earp Vendetta Ride was marked by a series of violent encounters. The first victim of the Earp posse was Florentino Cruz, also known as "Indian Charlie." Cruz, along with Pete Spence, Frank Stillwell, and Curly Bill Brocius, had been identified as a suspect in Morgan’s murder. On March 22, the Earp posse rode to Pete Spence’s ranch at South Pass in the Dragoon Mountains, seeking Spence. Instead, they found "Indian Charlie." According to Wyatt’s later testimony, Cruz confessed to acting as a lookout while the others ambushed and killed Morgan. Wyatt shot him dead.

Two days later, on March 24, the Earp posse encountered a group of cowboys led by Curly Bill Brocius at Iron Springs, Arizona. The ensuing shootout was a chaotic and deadly affair. The Earps, heavily outnumbered, were forced to retreat. However, before withdrawing, Wyatt Earp allegedly killed both Curly Bill Brocius and Johnny Barnes. While some accounts claim that Curly Bill survived the encounter, he was never seen again. This version of events, primarily based on Wyatt Earp’s recollections, is often disputed and considered unreliable by historians.

Meanwhile, back in Tombstone, the trial for Morgan Earp’s murder commenced. However, Pete Spence, who had turned himself in to be held in Behan’s jail for protection, was released due to a lack of witnesses willing to testify against him. Spence would later serve time in prison on a different murder charge.

By mid-April 1882, after nearly three weeks of relentless riding, the Earp posse sought respite at Henry Hooker’s Sierra Bonita Ranch, located in the shadow of the Graham Mountains. Behan’s posse, after losing most of its members, discovered their location, but lacked the manpower and resolve to confront the Earps directly. Following this, the Earp faction forced Ike Clanton, Pony Deal, Hank Swilling, and others to flee the Arizona Territory.

Realizing that they could not obtain a fair trial in Tucson for the killing of Stillwell, the Earp posse finally abandoned their vendetta and headed for Colorado around April 15, 1882. The Earp Vendetta Ride, though relatively short in duration, had a lasting impact on the history of the American West.

Although the Earp Vendetta Ride appeared to be over, the violence associated with the Earp-Clanton feud continued. On July 18, 1882, Johnny Ringo, a prominent member of the Clanton faction, was found dead. Some accounts attribute his death to Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, who supposedly returned to Arizona to settle the score. Other cowboys also met violent ends in the following months, further solidifying the reputation of the Tombstone area as a lawless and dangerous frontier.

The Earp Vendetta Ride remains a subject of enduring fascination and historical debate. While some view it as a necessary act of retribution in the face of injustice, others condemn it as a vigilante campaign that undermined the rule of law. Regardless of one’s perspective, the Earp Vendetta Ride stands as a stark reminder of the violence and complexities of the American West, a time when personal vendettas often trumped legal proceedings and the pursuit of justice was often intertwined with the desire for revenge.

©Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated March 2025.

Also See:

Clanton Gang

Wyatt Earp – Frontier Lawman of the American West

John Henry “Doc” Holliday – Deadly Doctor of the Frontier

Tombstone – The Town Too Tough to Die

See Sources.