The Earps Role in Tombstone
By James Harvey McClintock, 1913
The dusty streets of Tombstone, Arizona, in 1881, were a stage for a drama of ambition, conflict, and violence, and at the center of it all were the Earp brothers. Wyatt Earp, a Deputy U.S. Marshal, and Virgil Earp, the City Marshal of Tombstone, held positions of authority that placed them squarely in the middle of the town’s turbulent affairs. These offices provided them with the legal justification for their actions, but their influence extended far beyond the official duties of law enforcement. Their story is interwoven with the complex fabric of Tombstone, a town struggling to define itself amidst a surge of opportunists, gamblers, and outlaws.
The political landscape of Tombstone was further complicated by the presence of Sheriff Johnny Behan. He was often at odds with the Earps, and the two factions competed for influence, particularly amongst the gamblers who wielded considerable power in the administration of the town. This rivalry was fueled by a mix of personal animosity and conflicting interests, setting the stage for the events that would forever etch the name "Tombstone" into the annals of the American West.
Adding another layer to the narrative, the Earps were known to have a history as professional gamblers. Allegations of their involvement in robberies were rampant, with claims suggesting they were connected to nearly half of the frequent stagecoach holdups plaguing the roads leading into and out of Tombstone. While direct participation could not always be proven, whispers suggested their involvement in the notorious Bisbee stage robbery, with Frank Stillwell reportedly carrying out the actual deed. Disputes over the division of the stolen spoils were said to be a primary cause of the animosity between Stillwell and the Earp faction.
The dangers of frontier life were tragically underscored by the killing of Bud Philpot, a well-known stage driver, near Contention. Bob Paul, who later became a U.S. Marshal for Arizona, was riding shotgun and may have been the intended target. While the Earps and Doc Holliday were away on a trip at the time, their subsequent return did little to quell the rumors. The shooting of Philpot was widely attributed to Holliday, further tarnishing the already controversial reputations of the Earp circle. Regardless of the source of their income, whether through law enforcement, gambling, or alleged criminal activity, it seemed to be quickly consumed by dissipation, a common characteristic of the transient population that flocked to boomtowns like Tombstone.
The Earp’s role in Tombstone and the events that transpired there, were destined to become one of the most iconic episodes in the history of the Wild West. The incident that would solidify their place in legend took place on October 26, 1881. The Clanton Gang, a group of cowboys who openly challenged the authority of the Earps, had created a climate of tension and animosity in Tombstone.
The night before the fateful confrontation, Ike Clanton, a member of the Cowboy faction known more for his outspokenness than his bravery, was arrested by City Marshal Virgil Earp and fined $50 for disorderly conduct. Clanton’s offense seemed to stem from objecting to what he perceived as the marshal’s abuse of power. The following morning, four members of the Clanton Gang – Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, Billy Clanton, and Ike Clanton – were in Tombstone. Apparently sensing that their presence in Tombstone was no longer welcome, they prepared to leave for their home ranch in the Babacomari Mountains. Their horses were stabled at the O.K. Corral, which had entrances on two streets. Aware of the potential for trouble, they intended to depart via the rear gate on Fremont Street. Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury were unarmed, as city authorities had confiscated their pistols the previous evening. The other two, Frank and Billy Clanton, carried revolvers.
As the men led their horses out of the gate, they were confronted, seemingly ambushed, by Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp, accompanied by Doc Holliday. Virgil Earp, armed with a sawed-off shotgun, issued a profanity-laced demand, shouting, "Throw up your hands!" Without waiting for compliance, he fired almost immediately. Tom McLaury, holding his hands up, protested, "Gentlemen, I am unarmed!" Holliday responded by firing his own shotgun. Billy Clanton fell, mortally wounded, but managed to fire two shots from his pistol while on the ground.
One of Billy Clanton’s bullets grazed Morgan Earp’s shoulder, causing him to fall. Ike Clanton fled into a vacant lot and escaped the gunfight. Frank McLaury, bravely holding his horse’s bridle, returned fire at the three Earps in front of him, hitting Virgil Earp in the calf. McLaury then turned to face Holliday, who was firing from the rear, when his pistol hand was struck. He raised his revolver with both hands and fired, hitting Holliday’s pistol holster. At the same moment, Morgan Earp, still on the ground, shot McLaury in the temple, killing him instantly. The Earps and Holliday then surrendered themselves to the authorities. Justice of the Peace Wells Spicer conducted an examination behind closed doors and ultimately discharged them, ruling that they had acted as peace officers in the performance of their duty. The gunfight at the O.K. Corral, a mere thirty seconds of intense violence, had profound and lasting consequences.
The Earps’ role in Tombstone didn’t end with the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Tensions remained high and retribution was swift. Virgil Earp was ambushed one night, shot in the arm by an unknown assailant concealed in a building. Shortly afterward, Morgan Earp was assassinated in an Allen Street saloon, shot through a rear glass door while playing billiards. Frank Stillwell, a cowboy associated with the outlaw element, was suspected of the murder. Despite being seen in Tucson early the next morning, suggesting a possible alibi, suspicion remained. Ike Clanton was already in Tucson, under arrest for a stage robbery on the road between Tucson and Bisbee.
A few days later, Wyatt and Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, and John Johnson escorted Morgan Earp’s body to California. The train stopped in Tucson, where Ike Clanton, out on bail, went into hiding upon learning of their presence. Stillwell, perhaps attempting to maintain his innocence, went to the depot and walked along the train as it departed. The following morning, Stillwell’s body, riddled with buckshot, was found near the railroad tracks. It was widely assumed that one of the Earps had jumped off the train, killed Stillwell, and then reboarded.
At Rillito station, west of Tucson, all but Virgil Earp disembarked from the train. They walked back to Tucson, flagged a freight train, and rode it to Benson, where they acquired horses and returned to Tombstone. Sheriff Behan, having received a telegram ordering their arrest, informed them they were under arrest. However, the Earps evaded capture, obtained fresh horses, and fled Tombstone. They were later sighted in the Dragoon Mountains, where they allegedly shot and killed a Mexican man chopping wood for Pete Spence, one of their rivals. From there, they rode to Hooker’s Sierra Bonita Ranch, where they obtained fresh horses and continued their escape to Silver City, New Mexico. They disposed of the horses and boarded a train for Colorado.
On May 16, 1882, Governor Tritle of Arizona issued a requisition to Governor Pitkin of Colorado, requesting the extradition of Wyatt and Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, Sherman McMasters, and John Johnson, all charged with murder. Governor Pitkin refused the requisition, citing defects in the paperwork and the fact that Holliday was already facing charges in Colorado. The legal pursuit of the Earps, however, proved ultimately unsuccessful.
The Earp’s role in Tombstone may have ended, but their lives continued to unfold elsewhere. Virgil Earp died of pneumonia in Goldfield, Nevada, on October 19, 1905, at the age of 63, and was buried in Portland, Oregon. He had been married three times. Before his involvement in the Tombstone drama, Virgil had a varied career. He came to Arizona in 1876 with his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, and Doc Holliday. Once, while Ed Bowers was Sheriff of Yavapai County, Virgil was part of a posse that confronted two cowboys who had been shooting up saloons in Prescott. In the ensuing gunfight, Earp killed one of the cowboys. Later in life, Virgil returned to Arizona and engaged in mining in the Hassayampa district. In 1900, he ran for sheriff but was unsuccessful. He had also served in the Civil War as part of an Indiana regiment.
Wyatt Earp relocated to Colton, California, where he was later elected Chief of Police. He gained further notoriety as the referee of the Sharkey-Fitzsimmons fight in San Francisco. His decision, awarding the victory to Sharkey, was upheld, largely due to his reputation as a skilled gunfighter. He later spent time in Nome, Alaska, during its boom period.
Doc Holliday succumbed to consumption in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Warren Earp, the youngest brother, worked as a stage driver and met his end in Wilcox, Arizona, in the summer of 1900, killed by John Boyett in what a coroner’s jury deemed justifiable homicide.
Doc Holliday, a central figure in the Earp saga, was a complex and controversial character. Bat Masterson, in an interview, described Holliday as having a mean disposition and a tendency to seek out fights, unlike most gunfighters. Masterson noted that Holliday’s consumption and physical weakness likely contributed to his temperament. Born into a respected Georgia family and educated as a dentist, Holliday’s life took a dark turn after shooting several Black youths in a dispute over a swimming hole. He fled to Dallas, Texas, where he briefly practiced dentistry before turning to gambling. Accusations of shooting the Black youths followed him, contributing to his reputation as a dangerous man. He then killed a man in Jacksboro, Texas, and later a soldier, leading to a desperate flight to Denver, Colorado. There, he carved up the face of a man named Bud Ryan. Holliday then moved to Dodge City, Kansas, where he encountered Bat Masterson. After leaving Dodge City, he shot and wounded Kid Colton in Trinidad, Colorado. He eventually arrived in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he killed Mike Gordon in a doorway.
The Earp’s role in Tombstone remains a captivating chapter in American history, shrouded in myth and legend. The gunfight at the O.K. Corral, the subsequent acts of revenge, and the lives of the men involved have been immortalized in countless books, films, and television shows. While the historical accuracy of these portrayals is often debated, the story of the Earps and their tumultuous time in Tombstone continues to fascinate and intrigue.
The story of the Earps in Tombstone is a complex and multifaceted one. It is a story of law and lawlessness, of ambition and revenge, of friendship and betrayal. It is a story that continues to resonate with audiences today, offering a glimpse into a bygone era of the American West.
James Harvey McClintock, 1913. Compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated December 2019.
Also See:
- Earp Vendetta Ride
- My Friend Wyatt Earp by Bat Masterson
- Wyatt Earp – Frontier Lawman of the American West
- Tombstone – The Town Too Tough to Die
Notes and Author: Wyatt Earp died years after this article was written, succumbing to prostate cancer in Los Angeles on January 13, 1929, at the age of 80. James Harvey McClintock, the author, was born in Sacramento in 1864 and moved to Arizona at the age of 15. He worked for his brother at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). He later earned a teaching certificate and served as Theodore Roosevelt’s right-hand man in the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War and as an Arizona State Representative. Between 1913 and 1916, McClintock published a three-volume history of Arizona called Arizona: The Youngest State (now in the public domain), in which this article appeared. McClintock continued to live in Arizona until poor health forced him to return to California, where he died on May 10, 1934, at the age of 70. The article is not verbatim; spelling errors and minor grammatical changes have been made.