Cowboys, Tombstone and Wyatt Earp

This Day in History: October 26, 1881 

On this day in 1881, the Earp brothers face off against the Clanton-McLaury gang in a legendary shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

 

  Shootout at the OK Corral. (2013). The History Channel website. Retrieved 8:25, October 25, 2013, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/shootout-at-the-ok-corral.

The Cowboy

Taken in 1888 by Grabill, John C. H., photographer

What is it about the early days of the American West that people find so facilitating? Killing in the streets occurred regularly and hangings were public displays of capital punishment. The law and the lawless constantly battled over cattle, sheep, horses, water rights and land. Bandits or nortorious outlaws were as common as bandaids along with Old West Scoundrels, Outlaw Gangs and Vigilantes.

Cowboys, Tombstone and Wyatt Earp were destined to collide and by the spring of 1881, it was apparent they were already on that collision course. The most famous gunfight showdown in history featured thirty shots fired in 30 seconds leaving three cowboys dead along with Virgil and Morgan Earp wounded.

Gunfight at the OK Corral strarring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas & Rhonda Fleming (1957)

Tombstone starring Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer & Sam Elliott (1993)

Wyatt Earp starring Kevin Costner, Dennis Quaid & Gene Hackman (1994)


Related articles:

Wyatt Earp: Tombstonian http://www.tombstonetimes.com/stories/wyatt.html

PROFILES OF THE "COWBOYS" http://www.bignosekates.info/history5.htmlv