Outlaws and Lawmen

The Saga of the Perasich Murder – Darwin, California 1875

While researching historical newspapers for information on Panamint City, California, I stumbled upon a series of articles that detail the murder of a man named Perasich. Perasich, a business owner in Panamint Springs, California, was allegedly gunned down by Ashim in the nearby mining town of Darwin.

The articles lay out a dramatic series of events following the crime; doubt as to Ashim’s guilt, attempted revenge by Perasich’s brothers, and a trial corrupted by both money and influence of the local outlaw gangs.

These accounts provide a glimpse of the violent reality that many lived with in remote and lawless mining districts. The Panamint and Darwin Districts were known to be particularly violent. One article reveals that the area had over 75 unsolved murders in just the few years leading up to the trial.

The The Black Metal Saloon in Darwin, California 1905

Each dated paragraph below is a newspaper article that was printed in a California newspaper in 1875.

The Murder of Perasich

March 16th, 1875 – The Panamint News has the following: “Another horrible murder has occurred. The murdered man was a member of the firm of Perasich & Setrovich, lately engaged in the restaurant business at Panamint. The following statement of the affair is just received from Dave Neagle and James Bruce, who arrived yesterday from Darwin, where the murder was committed. Which one of the two members of the firm our informants are not positive, but it is believed that Perasich was the unfortunate man. He was sitting quietly eating his dinner in Sullivan’s restaurant, when a man entered, and, approaching close to where he sat said ‘Pay me the $47.50 you owe me, you s– of a b—-!’ and immediately began shooting with a self-cocking pistol.

The man who did the shooing is named Ashim, of the firm of Ashim & Brother, engraved in general merchandising business here. Three shots took effect; one in the head of Perasich, another in the body under his arm, and the third, in his hand. He was instantly killed – falling from his chair on the floor speaking not a word, nor was opportunity given to reply before the shooting. Ashim was accompanied into the restaurant by two men, one of whom is named Montgomery, a clerk in Ashim & Brother’s store. The name of the other, is Carroll, of Darwin. Whether these men were aware of Ashim’s intentions is not known. After committing the deed Ashim walked up to E. A. Reddy’s saloon and gave himself up. He was taken to Independence by Reddy, W.T. Grant and Charles Goodwin.”

Newspaper Reports Question the Initial Account of the Crime

March 28, 1875 – In regard to the murder of Perasich by Ashim, at Darwin City, the evidence thus far shows that the murder was not so cold-blooded as at first reported. Bad blood had previously existed between Ashim and Perasich and at the time of the murder Perasich had attempted to draw a pistol before the shooting began.

March 29, 1875 – The Killing at Darwin, From the Panamint News – there are further particulars of the killing of Perasich by Ashim at Darwin City. Sheriff Moore says the evidence introduced so far shows the affair on Ashim’s part was not so cold-blooded as at first reported, there being many extenuating circumstances connected therewith.

The evidence shows hard words bad passed between Perasich and Ashim previous to the shooting the former calling the latter a —–; that at the time Ashim made a demand on Perasich for money the latter got up from the table and attempted to draw his revolver when Ashim fired, hitting Perasich in the back of the right hand. Perasich turned partially around and threw up his left arm when Ashim fired again, hitting him in the left side. This must have been the case, as Ashim approached Perasich on the latter’s right, and the first shot could not have taken effect in Perasich’s left side while be was in a sitting position, as testified to by one witness. Perasich was next shot in the right side of the head whether by Ashim or Carroll is not known.

The Perasich Brothers Seek Revenge

Note: the events of the following article were stated to have taken place in Carson, Nevada. Carson is quite a distance from Darwin, California so I don’t know why Ashim was there. We can only guess at some of the details given the sporadic reports from over 140 years ago.

Carson, Nevada October 14th – This morning a determined attempt was made by the Perasich brothers to obtain vengeance on young Ashim, the man who killed their brother Nick In Panamint some months ago. Ashim arrived here last night on his way to Panamint to stand his trial for the homicide in question. It is understood the young man had received threats from the Perasichs. Early this morning the Perasich brothers were stirring. It having been intimated to officers and the clerk at the Ormsby House, where the stage starts from, that something unusual was transpiring, Ashim was got off in a private conveyance a short time before the stage started.

The Perasichs did not know this and went out ahead of the stage, which contained both male and female passengers. Elias, one of the brothers, bid himself among the corn stalks by the roadside, near McGardner’s residence. On the approach of the stage be rushed into the road and demanded the stoppage of the stage, at the same time firing his pistol at the stage. The driver having enough to do in caring for his six horses drove on at his best speed. Fortunately no one was hurt. Two of the brothers were arrested and Elias held to answer in the sum of $3,000.

Ashim is Vindicated at Trial

November 21, 1875 – The case of the people vs. B. Ashim, charged with the murder of Nicholas Peraslch, which lias been on trial at Independence, Inyo county, closed a few days ago with a verdict of not guilty. Perasich was formerly a resident of this city. The killing took place at Panamint.

The Perasich Brothers Make Further Threats Against Ashim

Note that the following article was published in Eureka, Nevada, but it was not made clear if that was the location of Ashim after the trial. We can assume Ashim had some connection to Eureka and was staying there after he was released.

November 25, 1875 – A letter was received here yesterday from Independence, Inyo county, California, which states that the Perasich brothers, with their gang, are watching every outlet from the town with the view to murder young Ashim when he leaves. It strikes us that this vendetta has been carried about far enough to suit the average American taste, and it the people of Inyo county will vary the monotony of the proceedings with the judicious use of a little native hemp, they will evince their patriotism in a manner which will merit the approbation of all who do not approve of the introduction into our country of a practice as totally at variance with our institutions as it is repugnant to every principle of humanity and justice.

Young Ashim braved the dangers of assassination by his relentless foes to return to Inyo county to stand his trial. He was tried and honorably acquitted, and it reflects no credit upon those who administer and execute the laws in that section that he cannot leave Independence except at the cost of his life. The authorities owe it to him and to themselves to see that be has safe-conduct to a place of security. If a band of murderous ruffians are to take it upon themselves to overrule the decisions of the Courts, and the civil authorities are unable to suppress them, they had better throw up the sponge and allow the government of their county to pass into the hands of the military.

A Report on The Trial Reveals Corruption and Casts Doubt on the Verdict

December 3, 1875 – The Carson Appeal of November 30th gives a synopsis of the testimony in the late trial in the District Court of Inyo county, California, of B. Ashim, for the murder of Nicholas Perasich, at Darwin, Inyo county, March 11, 1875.

According to the testimony as condensed by the Appeal, the killing of Perasich was on atrocious, unprovoked murder. As our readers know, Ashim was acquitted, and the concluding portion of the Appeal’s article explains the reason why:

The brief statement of a few facts regarding the circumstances surrounding this farcical trial will remove all astonishment over the verdict. Judge Reed, the Judge of the District Court before which this trial was held, says with shame and sorrow that there have been in that district (which includes Panamint) not less than seventy-five or eighty homicides, and never one conviction in the Courts.

Pat Reddy, the attorney for the defense, is a king among the desperadoes in that country – his own brother being one of the number. This man Pat Reddy manipulated this case. The jury was selected on a special venire by a Deputy Sheriff who is an intimate friend of Ashim. During the trial this jury, instead of being kept together and apart from outside influences, were, as soon as the Court took a recess or adjourned for the day (the trial lasted five or six days), set at liberty to go where they pleased. That they were dined and wined and openly flattered and tampered with as no jury, not even in a civil case ever should be, are notorious matters of fact.

It is also a fact that all the ruffians whom Ashim’s money and influence and the money and influence of his friends could bring together to intimidate witnesses, to bully the Court and bar, and corrupt the jury, were congregated at independence during the trial. And yet, in the face of these shameless acts and adding a monstrous lie to the still more monstrous mockery of justice, Ashim and his helpers had the effrontery to declare his life to be in danger from the surviving members of the Perasich family!

We present the facts of record as they are given to the world by the newspaper Inyo Independent, whose opinions are in suspicious harmony with Pat Reddy’s and his client’s, and we leave them to speak for themselves, and if the conclusion be not reached that poor Nick Perasich paid the penalty of his irascible temper by being assassinated in cold blood by a deliberate murderer, backed by two hired accomplices, then we are greatly mistaken.

“Fooled the Robbers” – an Incident of the Days of Stagecoach Holdups

The Trick by Which the Old Time Mining Man of Colorado Saved Himself and Sacrificed His Fellow Travelers and the Story Sequel.

This article from the June 5, 1909 edition of the Marin County Tocsin recounts the story of how a traveler fooled stage robbers in Colorado mining country.

“When the passengers In the old coaching days found themselves In the clutches of the ‘road agents’ they instinctively hurried, during the short time that driver and guard were being put In a proper state of helplessness, to secret money and valuables In the first safe place that suggested itself,” said a veteran Colorado mining man. “But such precautions were useless, for there was small time and smaller opportunity of place to hide anything in a mere shell of a coach. If a man was found without money, they stripped him and searched the stage as well.

“The experience of Pat Clohesy, an old time mining man of Colorado, is historic. One afternoon he took the stage from Silver Cliff camp, bound for the railroad, sixty miles away. In the coach were a dozen other passengers, none of whom knew him. As they reached the narrowest part of the gorge that leads out of Wet Mountain valley a loud command of ‘Hold up your hands’ brought the stage to a sudden standstill and every passenger in it to a swift realization that unless quick action was taken he would go broke. One crammed his wad of bills down his boot leg; another thrust his roll down the back of his neck; a third took off his hat, put his wallet inside and set it back on his head. Every man Jack of them attempted to secret his money except Pat Clohesy. and Pat sat perfectly quiet.

“In a few moments a rifle barrel appeared at the window, and there came the order, ‘Hands up and all out!’ Out the passengers tumbled and stood in line with lifted hands. Pat at the far end. When the searching highwayman went through the first man he found nothing. Irritated at this, he started through the second, with the same lack of success. Angry at this, the bandit turned to his fellow robber, who stood covering the line with his Winchester.

“They have been tryin’ to hide their stuff, d—n ’em!’ he exclaimed. ‘We’ll Just make ’em strip, and then we’ll go through the stage. They’ll pay for puttin’ us to all this trouble!’

“Then up spoke Pat Clohesy from the far end of the line. ‘Gentlemen,’ he said, addressing the highwaymen. ‘I know you’re In a hurry, and I know I’m a poor miner with all my property in the world—just the $l5 I’ve got—in my pocket. If you’ll leave me that little roll, I’ll tell you where these other fellows have hidden their swag, so’s you can collect It quick and skip out is it a bargain?’

” ‘Sure.’ said the man with the guarding rifle. Fifteen dollars meant nothing to the band compared to the risk. ‘Well,’ said Pat. pointing to the first in line, ‘that fellow’s money is stuffed down his right boot leg.’

“The holdup Investigated and drew forth a plump roll of bills from the boot leg. That next man.’ went on Pat, ‘has got his money hid under the hind seat In the stage.’ The bandit found a fat wallet stuffed under the cushion. The next has got bis money in his hat and the next crammed his stuff down the back of his neck, and the next’— Pat went down the line of them, while the highwayman drew forth money from all manner of places. Swiftly collecting their booty, they bundled the passengers back In the coach, set driver and guard back on their seats and told them to go ahead, not however, before they had given Pat a twenty dollar bill and a hearty slap of thanks on his Irish back.

“The storm that broke over his head inside that coach after It had rolled a safe distance from the bandits threatened his very life before he could get a hearing. Had It not been that the robbers had disarmed them all and Pat was a huge man he never would have got away alive.

” ‘Each of you figure up just how much you’ve lost,’ he said to his fellow passengers when at last they would listen, ‘and I’ll pay you back not only what that is, but an equal amount In addition, for the bother I’ve given you,’ and he pulled from an inner vest pocket a huge roll of bills. In bewilderment the travelers counted up their losses. Collectively It was about $1,000. Pat peeled off two $1,000 bills from the bulky mass of money and. handing them to a responsible passenger, asked him to make correct division when they reached the railroad.

“‘I’m sorry for the unpleasant quarter hour I caused you.’ he continued, ‘but it was the only thing I could do to save myself. I have Just sold a mine back in Silver Cliff for $60,000 cash and had no other way to bring the money out except In my pocket here is the bundle of it’ and he held up the fat roll. ‘When I heard the holdups outside I thought it was all up, for you can’t hide money from those hounds. But when you fellows pulled out your money to hide it and I saw that none of you had any large amount I thought I would work a game on the road agents and give you away to the villains in order to save myself. I surely did! They’ve got $1,000, but I’ve saved my money!’ “—Washington Post

From Express Rider to the Superior Bench

Settled after rich gold discoveries in 1862, Canyon City, Oregon was one of eastern Oregon’s earliest settlements. The town was located in the center of a vast wilderness, and troubles with Indians and outlaws on the stage roads were common.

The following article from the February 17, 1907 edition of the Sacramento Union details some of the dramatic events one Canyon City pioneer lived through while traveling the region in the 1860s.

FROM EXPRESS RIDER TO THE SUPERIOR BENCH

From express rider in the sagebrush and bunch-grass country of Northwestern Oregon, then infested by road agents and bloodhungry Indians, to the superior court bench of Walla Walla county, Washington, south of Spokane, is the rise of Thomas E. Brentz.

He left the East shortly before the outbreak of the civil war, arriving at what is now Canyon City, Ore., in the fall of 1861, and assisted in the building of the first cabin in the settlement. He was the first to discover gold in the district, locating a rich placer claim, which was afterward abandoned because of the lack of water.

He established the Brentz & Nelson express line, carrying letters and parcels between Canyon City and The Dalles, 225 miles, and holds the record by covering the distance in twenty-eight hours by frequent changes of horses.

During the first winter the line was in operation many horses were spirited away by Indians, and later the road agents became troublesome. They stole horses, plundered stages and did murder when they suspected the victim had money or valuables.

Once he was caught in a blizzard and it required more than three weeks to do the trip. He encountered snow fields ten feet deep and was forced to walk at the head of his horse nearly all the way. On his arrival at Canyon City there was a demonstration. Huge bonfires were built and the hills echoed with gun-shots and powder-blasts to celebrate the return of the express rider.

Judge Brentz talked of the early days at & gathering of pioneers in Spokane a short time ago, and in conversation with the writer he told some of his experiences as a stage driver, Cow-puncher and express rider.

He was paid 50 cents for carrying a letter, and sold California newspapers, including the Sacramento Union, at 50 cents a copy, express parcels netting him from $1 to $10, according to weight. He also carried gold dust from the mining districts to the depositaries.

“The express line had been established about a year when the road agents became a menace,” Judge Brentz said, “and many persons were murdered for their money. One of the most notorious bad men was Berry May, an escaped convict from San Quentin, who came to Oregon in 1862, and for a time kept a band of horses, and, being located on the line of my route, I frequently made changes of horses at his place and thus became casually acquainted with the noted outlaw. Later he took to the road and was up to his old tricks of robbery, arson and murder.

“Once on my way to The Dalles from Canyon City I encountered his band as they were going into camp for the night, and as my horse was heavily laden and nearly exhausted, there was nothing left but to turn in with them, although it was with feelings of the gravest apprehension as to the outcome. I had made up my mind to make the best of the situation and the most of my opportunities if occasion demanded, for I was aware of the character of the people of whom I was to be a companion for the night, and I had my canteens well filled with gold dust, which would have made a profitable haul for those days.

“I came upon the party, consisting of Berry May, his wife and Jim Partin, at the foot of Rocky canyon, Berry asked me if I hadn’t better stop with them for the night, and I accepted the invitation. Taking off my saddle with the gold dust I threw it carelessly on the grass, exhibiting as little concern about my valuable burden as possible, and thus at once disarmed the desperado’s suspicions, which probably saved my life.

“He asked me if I did not carry considerable gold dust on my trips from the mining regions. I replied: “Yes, sometimes, but on this trip I am carrying chains for a pack train and am not taking any gold dust.’ Knowing me as he did, he believed I was telling the truth; but I slept with my head on my saddle, with one eye upon the robbers and my gun ready for quick action.

“I passed a sleepless night, but my horses were rested and the next morning I resumed my journey. I had got a short distance when I met the sheriff and his posse from Pendleton, who asked me if I had seen anything of Berry May and his party. I replied: “Yes; I stayed with them last night.”

“”The hell you did!’ came the quick reply. We are after them for murder, They shot and killed a man named Gallagher as he lay sleeping, and we found the trail where they dragged the body and the place where they washed the bloody blankets under which the man was sleeping.

“Berry and his party were captured before reaching Canyon City and were confined in an old shack of a jail, from which he made his escape and went to Boise, where he was afterward captured and brought back to Canyon City and again locked up. The jail was soon surrounded by a self-constituted vigilance committee, which took him from the jail and hanged him from the limb of a tree on the hill. Partin was never heard of again.”

Judge Brentz had several thrilling escapes. One of these was a massacre in which a party of ten white men were murdered by the Indians while in camp during the night, and their bodies were laid out in rows, after having been scalped. He gave the alarm when he reached the scene and an armed posse was soon on the trail of the Indians and they were pursued for some distance, but were never captured.

On another occasion he escaped by a ruse from the clutches of Jim Romaine, a noted outlaw who had murdered seyeral men at Oregon City. Brentz was told by a resident of a settlement on his route that Jim Romaine and Howard had been there a short time before his arrival and had made inquiry for the express rider, and were evidently watching for him. He went on, however, and after going ten or fifteen miles, descended as it was getting dusk into a hollow, when he heard the sound of horses’ hoofs in the distance.

Looking back, he saw the figures of two men coming on a gallop over the brow of the hill, and he was not long in fixing in his mind the identity of his or pursuers and their purpose. As he came to a spring, surrounded by a thick undergrowth, near the bottom of the hill, he reined his horse to one side, and quickly dismounting, commenced to jerk his horse by the bits to prevent it from whinnying as the outlaws approached and dashed by him at full speed and were soon lost to view in the distance. Later he saw their campfire and took a circuitous route and went on, arriving at The Dalles several hours ahead of them.

Romaine went from there to Lewiston, where he got in with McGruder, who was taking a pack train to Butte, Mont. As they neared the end of their journey Romaine and his party dropped out and awaited the return of McGruder, who had sold his cargo, from which he realized about $15,000.

When McGruder and his two assistants came along they were waylaid and murdered. The outlaws then came back to Portland, where they took a steamer for San Francisco.

A short time afterward Hill Beachy, agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company, volunteered to pursue and capture them, which he did. They were brought back and hanged at Lewiston, Idaho.

Aftermath of the Gunfight at the OK Corral

The Gunfight at the OK Corral, the Wild West’s most famous gun battle, lasts just 30 seconds with approximately 30 shots being fired. The gunfight occurs on October 26, 1881, killing Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton. Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday are wounded. Wyatt Earp is not injured in the shootout.

After the fight the bodies of the dead outlaws are displayed in a window at a local undertakers with the sign: “Murdered in the Streets of Tombstone.” Contrary to what has been depicted in movies about the Gunfight at the OK Corral, the Cowboys did have some popular support, and the Earps were not universally liked. Several hundred people join the funeral procession for the dead Cowboys, and as many as 2,000 people watch from the streets.

Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton in the window of the undertakers

The gunfight may have been the climax of the conflict between the Cowboys and the Earps, but the events of this story lasted many more months. On the map below, hover over the markers to view details on some of the key events from this story.

October 30, 1881
Despite many months of Cowboy threats, Ike Clanton was able to file murder charges against the Earps following the gun battle. Virgil and Morgan could not leave home due to the injuries they sustained in the gunfight, so Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday are the only two to be arrested and they spent 16 days in jail during the hearing. The hearing concluded on November 30th with Justice Spicer concluding that the Earps and Holliday had not broken the law in the events leading up to, or during, the fight.

The graves Billy Clanton, Frank McLaury and Tom McLaury in Boot Hill Cemetery, Tombstone, Arizona

December 1881
Ike Clanton again files murder charges against the Earps, this time in nearby Contention City. Fearing an ambush, a large posse escorts the Earps to the court appearance. The charges are quickly dropped.

December 14, 1881
Justice Spicer receives anonymous death threats and is ordered to leave town. Tombstone mayor John Clum, who had been a supporter of the Earps, is the target of a murder attempt.

December 28, 1881
Virgil Earp is ambushed and hit in the left arm with a shotgun. The wound is serious, and Virgil must carry the arm in a sling for the rest of his life. The following day, Wyatt Earp is appointed as Deputy U.S. Marshal for eastern Pima County.

January 25, 1882
Wyatt leads a posse to Charleston to search for Virgil’s assailants. Upon returning to Tombstone, they find that several Cowboys had turned themselves in but for lesser charges, apparently in an attempt to escape the posse’s wrath. The charges against the outlaws are dropped due to lack of evidence.

Februrary 9, 1882
Ike Clanton once again files charges against the Earps in Contention City. The Earps travel to Contention City under heavy guard for fear of a Cowboy Ambush. The judge refuses to indict the Earps without new evidence.

Virgil Earp is no longer drawing a salary and for increased security the brothers and their wives had been living at the Cosmopolitan Hotel since the gunfight. Hard up for cash, Wyatt takes out a mortgage on his house and ultimately loses the house when he defaults on the loan.

March 18, 1882
While playing a late round of billiards, shots are fired through the billiard hall window, and Morgan Earp is struck in the spine by the gunfire. Morgan dies from his wounds less than an hour later.

Cowboy Pete Spence, who is suspected in Morgan’s murder, turns himself into Sheriff Behan presumably so he could be protected in Behan’s jail. Charges against Spence are dropped due to lack of evidence. Doc Holliday would later say that he considered Behan responsible for the assassination of Morgan Earp.

March 21, 1882
Wyatt received information that Frank Stilwell, Ike Clanton, and two other cowboys are watching the passenger trains in Tucson intending to kill Virgil Earp, who is leaving Tombstone for California. Wyatt forms a posse with Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, “Turkey Creek” Jack Johnson, and Sherman McMaster to accompany Virgil and Allie (Virgil’s wife) to the rail head in Benson. They board the train to Tucson along with Virgil and his wife, armed with pistols, rifles and shotguns.

Upon their arrival in Tucson, the Earp posse spot Stilwell and other Cowboys. “Almost the first men we met on the platform there were Stilwell and his friends, armed to the teeth”, Virgil later told the San Francisco Examiner “Upon seeing the posse, the Cowboys initially withdraw. Returning later to finish the job, the Cowboys are met with gunfire from the Earp posse, and Frank Stilwell is killed.”

Statues of Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday commemorate the shootout at the Tucson train depot where Frank Stilwell was killed by the Earp posse. Photo courtesy of Marine 69-71 at English Wikipedia

The Tucson sheriff issues arrest warrants for Wyatt and Warren Earp, Holliday, McMaster, and Johnson for the death of Frank Stilwell.

Following the events in Tuscon, Wyatt concludes that they will get no justice from the courts, and that it was time to take the law into their own hands. It turns out that Wyatt will not being going it alone though, as some Federal assistance becomes available as attitudes start to sour about the lawlessness of the Tombsone area.

With funds available to hire more men, Wyatt and Warren Earp, Doc Holliday, Johnson and McMaster are now joined by “Texas Jack” Vermillion, Dan Tipton, Charlie Smith, Fred Dodge, Johnny Green, and Louis Cooley to form a federal posse under Wyatt’s authority as the Deputy US Marshal.

March 22, 1882
County sheriff Behan forms his own posse consisting of many deputized cowboys, including Johnny Ringo, Phineas Clanton, Johnny Barnes and about 18 more men. The posse rides out to arrest Wyatt and his men for the murder of Frank Stilwell.

That morning, Earps posse locates and kills wanted cowboy “Indian Charlie” Cruz.

March 24, 1882
The Earp Posse unknowingly ride into a Cowboy camp at Iron Springs. The Earp posse had six men at this encounter, to the Cowboy’s nine. Both parties were surprised, and gunfire started almost immediately. Curly Bill shot at Wyatt but missed. Wyatt returned the fire and hit Bill in the chest with a shotgun blast, killing him instantly.

In the chaos that ensued, Wyatts posse were pinned down by the Cowboy gunfire. Wyatt, still standing in the middle of the fight, without cover, shot Johnny Barnes in the chest and Milt Hicks in the arm. Wyatt was then able to get back on his horse and retreat. Incredibly, he was shot seven times through his clothes, but not one shot injured Earp.

March 25, 1882
Sheriff Behan again rides out with a 25-man posse in pursuit of Earp’s posse. Remarkably, Behan’s posse pursued the Earps for 10 days, but never finds them.

Epilogue
The true story Wyatt Earp’s vendetta ride is much less spectacular than movies like Tombstone have portrayed. After killing “Indian Charlie” Cruz and Curly Bill Brocius, it seems that Wyatt considered his brother’s avenged, or maybe he was well aware of how lucky they had all been over the last few days. Whatever the reason, the Earp Posse left Arizona and hid out in New Mexico for several weeks. Near the end of April, the posse split up, and Wyatt and Doc left lawless territory behind permanently.

The Gunfight at the OK Corral

The Gunfight at the OK Corral is certainly the most famous shootout of the Old West. This event has been the subject of numerous books and movies, some of them becoming Western classics like the movie “Tombstone”.

However, most movies about the gunfight fail to capture the true scope of this event, both in the length of the feud between the Earps and the Cowboys, and the dramatic events happening in and around the silver boomtown of Tombstone, events which ultimately fueled the conflict.

Note: the Gunfight at the OK Corral did not actually take place at the OK Corral, but rather at a spot nearby in Tombstone. The location of the gun battle was incorrectly identified as the OK Corral in early books and films, and the shootout became known by that name.

What is often overlooked is that the Earps had been in Tombstone for almost 2 years when the Gunfight at the OK Corral occurred. During this time, Tombstone grew from a tent city of a few hundred people, to the largest city in the territory with over 7,000 residents. The mines of Tombstone were rich, and satellite towns were developed to provide ore processing centers for the mines, and as supply and transportation hubs.

Prior to the discovery of silver, the outlaws in the area held power over their territory, and for the most part conducted their criminal activities with impunity. The influx of thousands of miners and related capital interests resulted in the arrival of federal lawmen to the area.

At the time local lawmen were often in league with the outlaw gangs, so arrival of federal marshals introduced conflict with both the outlaws and the local sheriffs.

The story of Tombstone and the Gunfight at the Corral is a long and complicated one. This article lays out some of the key events and provides some context as to where the events unfolded relative to the mines and boomtowns of the area.

March, 1879
The mining boomtown of Tombstone is founded after silver discoveries near the town. The mines of Tombstone are rich and fortune seekers flock to an area that had previously been sparsely populated frontier that was dominated by Apache Indians and outlaw gangs.

On the map below, click the markers to view details on some of the key events from this story.

December 1, 1879
James, Virgil, and Wyatt Earp arrive in Tombstone. Virgil had been hired as Deputy U.S. Marshal for eastern Pima County, and in June 1881 he is also appointed as Tombstone’s town marshal. Tombstone is still a new mining camp with a population of just a few hundred, and most residents are still living in canvas tents.

September 1880
Doc Holliday, noted gunman and friend of Wyatt Earp, joins the Earps in Tombstone.

1881
By 1881 Tombstone has over 7,000 residents, and is the largest settlement in the territory.

Horse rustlers and bandits from the countryside often come to town, and shootings are frequent. During this time, illegal smuggling and theft of cattle, alcohol, and tobacco across the Mexico–United States border, about 30 miles from Tombstone, are common.

The Earps quickly come into conflict with Frank and Tom McLaury, Billy and Ike Clanton, Johnny Ringo, and William “Curly Bill” Brocius, among others. They are part of a large, loose association of cattle smugglers and horse thieves known as the Cowboys, outlaws who had been implicated in various crimes. Ike Clanton was prone to drinking heavily and threatened the Earp brothers numerous times.

The Cowboys are believed to be based out of the Clanton’s ranch, south of Charleston.

March 15, 1881
A stagecoach loaded with silver bullion is robbed by Cowboys outside of Contention City. In the ensuing gunfight, two passengers of the stage are killed, and one Cowboy is injured. Despite losing two of the three men on board, the stagecoach escapes the ambush.

Wells Fargo offers a $3,600 reward for capture of the robbers, dead or alive. One of the robbers, Luther King, is captured but promptly escapes the jail. The Earps form a posse with another famous lawman Bat Masterson and two others. The posse pursues the stage robbers for weeks, over hundreds of miles, but no additional arrests are made.

August 1881
The Cowboys ambush and kill 15 Mexicans traveling through Guadalupe Canyon (later called Skeleton Canyon) on their way to purchase supplies in the Tombstone district. The ambush increases tensions between the Earps and the outlaws.

September 8, 1881
A passenger stagecoach bound for Bisbee is robbed by the Cowboys. Wyatt and Virgil Earp ride with a sheriff’s posse to track the Bisbee stage robbers. Frank Stilwell and Pete Spence are arrested in Bisbee for their role in the robbery.

Following these arrests, Frank McLaury of the Cowboys confront Morgan Earp and insinuate that the Earps would be killed if they attempted to make additional arrests.

October 26, 1881
The infamous “gunfight at the OK Corral” takes place, a 30 second shootout between members of the Cowboys on one side, and the three Earp brothers and Doc Holliday on the other.

The night before the gunfight, Ike Clanton gets into a heated argument with Doc Holliday. After the Earps interven in the argument, Ike threatens them saying “You must not think I won’t be after you all in the morning.” Ike then sits down to an all-night card game with Virgil Earp, County Sheriff Johnny Behan, and Tom McLaury.

It is interesting to note that despite the hostilities between the outlaws and the lawmen, they would all sit together for a night of drinking and cards.

The card game broke up at dawn. Ike had been up all night drinking, and had nowhere to go. He continued to wander town making threats against the Earps, and was armed in violation of a Tombstone ordinance that stated all firearms must be checked into a livery or saloon upon entering town.

At around 1:00 pm, Morgan and Virgil Earp pistol whipped Ike from behind, and subsequently disarmed him. Ike was taken to the courthouse to appear before a judge for violating the firearms ordinance.

Outside the courthouse, Wyatt runs into Tom McLaury and demands to know if he was armed. McLaury said he was not, but Wyatt could see a gun tucked into his pants so he pistol whips him twice and leaves him bleeding in the street.

A short time later, Ike’s 19-year-old younger brother Billy Clanton and Tom’s older brother Frank McLaury arrive in town to back up Ike and Tom. A witness later told the The Tombstone Epitaph:

“I was in the O.K. Corral at 2:30 p.m. when I saw the two Clantons and the two McLaurys in an earnest conversation across the street at Dunbar’s corral. I went up the street and notified Sheriff Behan and told them it was my opinion that they meant trouble, and it was his duty, as sheriff, to go and disarm them. I told him they had gone to the West End Corral. I then went and saw Marshal Virgil Earp and notified him to the same effect.”

Virgil decides to disarm the Cowboy’s and enlists the help of his brothers Morgan and Wyatt, and Doc Holliday. Virgil gives Holliday a double-barreled shotgun he had retrieved from the Wells Fargo office.

On their way to confront the outlaws, County Sheriff Behan (know to be frindly with the Cowboys) attempts to dissuade the Earps from confronting the men, stating that he had already disarmed them. Virgil decided to talk to the Cowboys anyway, and the stage is set for the fight.

Because of the lie Behan told them about disarming the outlaws, the Earps were not expecting a fight. Rather than entering the confrontation with weapons ready, they had put their weapons away, putting them at an initial disadvantage.

When the Earps approached the lot, the four law men were initially facing six Cowboys: Frank McLaury, Tom McLaury, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Wes Fuller and Billy Claiborne.

When Virgil saw the Cowboys, he immediately commanded the Cowboys to “Throw up your hands, I want your guns!” Ike Clanton, Wes Fuller, and Billy Claiborne, who were likely unarmed, ran from the fight. Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton draw and cock their six-shooters. The battle begins, and Wyatt would later testify:

“Billy Clanton leveled his pistol at me, but I did not aim at him. I knew that Frank McLaury had the reputation of being a good shot and a dangerous man, and I aimed at Frank McLaury.”

“The first two shots were fired by Billy Clanton and myself, he shooting at me, and I shooting at Frank McLaury.”

Clanton missed, but Earp shot Frank McLaury in the stomach. Doc Holliday then raises his shotgun from under his long coat, steps around Tom McLaury’s horse, and shoots Tom in the chest at close range. Tom dies moments later.

This photograph of Cowboy gang member Ike Clanton was taken in 1881

Billy Clanton begins shooting and is shot in the wrist by Morgan. Although injured, Billy and Frank keep shooting. Frank grazes Hollidays hip, only slightly injuring him, and Holliday goes after him saying “That son of a bitch has shot me and I am going to kill him.”

The fight becomes chaotic at this point, and It has never been established exactly who fired the shots that killed or injured the gun fighters. Either Billy or Frank gets a shot off that hits Morgan in the back. Either Morgan or Holliday fire the shot that hits Frank McLaury in the head, killing him. Billy is shot in the chest and abdomen, killing him. Either Frank or Billy shoots Virgil Earp in the calf.

The gunfight lasts just 30 seconds with approximately 30 shots being fired. Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton are killed. Virgil Earp, Morgan Earp, and Doc Holliday are wounded. Wyatt Earp is not injured in the shootout.

While the Gunfight at the OK Corral was climax of the conflict between the Earps and The Cowboys, the events in this saga were not concluded for another six months. Part II of this article, Aftermath of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, will explore some of the events after the famous gun battle.