On October 26, 1881 a furious feud flared to a fatal finish in a brief but deadly shootout in Tombstone, Arizona. This bloody fight on Fremont Street has left three men dead and three wounded.
Of the eight participants of this gory gun battle death came to cowboy brothers Tom and Frank McLaury and their comrade Billy Clanton who was know to be of a similar occupation. Billy’s demise was the result of the point-blank firing of Tombstone’s City Marshall Virgil Earp’s revolver. Virgil’s bullet entered Billy Clanton’s chest. A blast from Doc Holliday’s double-barreled shotgun laid Tom McLaury to rest while Wyatt Earp’s blast ended the feud for Frank McLaury.
Those wounded were Virgil Earp who received a gun shot in the leg, and his brother Morgan Earp whose shoulder stopped the last bullet Billy Clanton will ever fire. The third man that was wounded is a friend of the Earp brothers. Doctor John ‘Doc’ Holliday, who had been deputized just prior to the battle, was hit in the hip when fired upon by Frank McLaury. Holliday is said to be a dentist by trade and a gambler by choice.
On opposing sides, Assistant City Marshall Wyatt Earp and cowboy Ike Clanton were the only participants of this bloody fracas who sustained no injuries.
An interesting note concerns John Behan who is County Sheriff of Cochise County, of which Tombstone is the county seat. Though Behan was present at, or near, the scene of the shoot out that took place in the vicinity of the OK Corral, he offered no assistance to the local law enforcement involved, other than to claim he had, previous to the fight, unarmed those opposing the Earps. There are several speculations as to the reason for Behan’s non-participation.
It is believed that the Clantons and McLaurys were involved in dubious livestock dealings. Or, as one local gentleman termed it when interviewed, “It’s fer darn certain sure them thar Clantons and McLaurys were sneekin’ off south of the border and hepin’ they selfs to Mexican cattle, then runnin’ ‘em up har fer to sell ‘em.”
It is also the opinion of many that Behan was sympathetic to this cattle business, and for good reason. In February of this year, Behan received an appointment to his present law enforcement position from Arizona’s territorial governor, John C. Fremont. For Behan to continue in his present position, at his term’s expiration, it is required by law for him to run for election. To accomplish such, Behan must have the majority of the cowboys’ vote. The same local gentleman who was interviewed also had an opinion on this but, unfortunately, it is unprintable here.
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