28. He Managed to Make a Bad Situation Worse
While Ike was inside the courthouse getting his fine, right out front, Wyatt Earp almost walked straight into Tom McLaury, one of the other Cochise County Cowboys. The two men ended up nose-to-nose, and Earp asked the Cowboy if he was armed. McLaury sneered that he was not, but Earp could clearly see a revolver in the man's waistband. Apparently, that was not the answer that Earp was looking for.
Earp suddenly drew his own sidearm and, as he was wont to do, hit McLaury over the head with it twice.
29. The Cowboys Were Armed and Out For Blood
Shortly after, three more Cowboys—Ike's brother Billy, Tom's brother Frank, and Billy Claiborne—finally showed up in town. As soon as they arrived, they heard that the Earp brothers had spent the morning beating up their brothers. Furious, they set off in search of their comrades. Since they'd come in from the country, they were armed to the teeth, and they didn't bother to deposit their arms at the hotel, as was required by law.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
30. The Earps Didn't Back Down
Having five angry Cowboys wandering the streets, at least three of whom were armed and dangerous, made Virgil Earp nervous. He decided to take it upon himself to remove their arms by force. He called upon his brothers Wyatt and Morgan, as well as Doc Holliday, and headed across the streets of Tombstone—towards the fated O.K. Corral.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
31. The Sheriff Tried to Stop the Gunfight
As the Earps strutted across Tombstone, they came across a frantic Sheriff Johnny Behan. Behan desperately pleaded for them to turn around, crying out, "For God's sake, don't go down there or they will murder you!" According to one eyewitness, Virgil Earp coldly looked Behan in the eye and replied, "Those men have made their threats and I will not arrest them...but I will kill them on sight."
According to Wyatt, Behan then claimed that he had already disarmed the Cowboys (a lie). Still, the Earps decided that they would go and check for themselves.
32. The Most Infamous Day in the Wild West
Despite its name, the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral didn't actually take place at the O.K. Corral. Rather, it took place in an empty lot a few doors down. The Earps finally confronted the cowboys, and it wasn't long before the shooting started. Nobody really knows who shot first, but most witnesses generally agreed that the first two shots happened at almost the exact same time. Clearly, both sides were itching for a fight.
By the time the street fell quiet again, the men had fired their weapons 30 times in just 30 seconds.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
33. The Man Who Started It All Was the First to Run
In a way, Ike Clanton started all of this by stumbling around and threatening the Earps' lives to anyone who would listen. How ironic, then, that as soon as the shooting started, Clanton ran forward, grabbed Wyatt Earp by the shoulders, and cried out that he was unarmed and didn't want to fight. Earp spitefully responded, "Go to fighting or get away," and Clanton chose the latter.
He sprinted through the doors of a nearby boarding house, leaving his friends—and his own brother—to their grim fate.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
34. The Earps Made Out Better Than the Cowboys
When the shooting stopped, Doc Holliday had a horrible bruise from a bullet that grazed his holster. Virgil Earp had been hit in the calf, and Morgan Earp had a wound in each of his shoulders. Only Wyatt remained unhurt. But while the Earps were injured, the Cowboys fared much, much worse. Tom McLaury, Frank McLaury, and Billy Clanton all lay dead in the dust. Billy was only 19 years old.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
35. He Gave a Legendary Comeback
As the wounded Earps stumbled away from the empty lot, they came across Johnny Behan once again. The flustered sheriff shouted, "I will have to arrest you!" Wyatt Earp slowed for a moment, turned, looked him in the eye, and simply stated: "I won't be arrested today. I am right here and am not going away. You have deceived me. You told me these men were disarmed; I went to disarm them." Mic. Drop.
36. Tombstone Wasn't Exactly Subtle
Just to give you an idea of what kind of town Tombstone was, the local funeral parlor displayed the bodies of the three Cowboys, including 19-year-old Billy, in their shop window, with a sign that read: "Murdered in the Streets of Tombstone."
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37. The Sheriff Lied to Have the Earps Tossed in Prison
Ike Clanton did everything in his power to have the Earps and Holliday thrown in jail. In his defense, they did kill three men. The judge in the matter took sworn statements from over 30 witnesses. One of them was Wyatt's mortal enemy, Sheriff Behan, who, the weasel he was, claimed that the Cowboys had been completely innocent. He said they had all thrown up their arms and turned out their coats to show that they were unarmed, but that the vicious Earps had opened fire anyway.
It was a complete lie, but lucky for the Earps, there were plenty of other witnesses poking their heads through windows to see what happened that day.
38. They Got Of Scot-Free...At First
The judge eventually ruled that there wasn't enough evidence to indict the Earps and Doc Holliday, but that doesn't mean there weren't consequences for their actions. Not only had they gained the reputation of cold-blooded killers, but the rest of the Cowboys weren't going to take the deaths of their friends sitting down. The gang started plotting their revenge—and they would have it before long.
39. Their Actions had Consequences
A couple months after the O.K. Corral, Virgil Earp was suddenly ambushed on the streets of Tombstone. A shotgun blast hit him in the arm and shoulder, seriously maiming him. He didn't see his attackers, but Ike Clanton's hat was found on the scene. Wyatt Earp was absolutely livid. He sent a telegram to the U.S. Marshals, asking to be deputized so that he could go and claim revenge.
I'm not sure why, but the Marshals granted his request—they even let him pick his own deputies and gave him as much as $3,000. But still, it wouldn't be enough to save his other brother, Morgan.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
40. The Cowboys Made a Fatal Mistake
The feud between the Earps and the Clantons continued bubbling for months. Wyatt didn't manage to bring anyone in, and finally, in March, the Cowboys got their ultimate revenge. While Morgan Earp was playing billiards in a saloon, a group of gunmen shot him through the windows from the dark street. One of the bullets struck him in the spine, and he passed 40 minutes later. That's when Wyatt Earp finally snapped.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
41. Wyatt Earp was Out for Blood
On the day his brother Morgan drew his last breath, Wyatt Earp left law and order behind. He lost all faith in civil justice and set about avenging his brother himself. He gathered together a posse of eight men and swore that he would have his revenge on the Cochise County Cowboys. It was the start of the infamous Earp Vendetta Ride, which would claim the lives of several more men before it was finished.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
42. They Wanted To Bring Their Brother's Body to California
Before he could set about getting vengeance, Wyatt had to mournfully deal with his brother Morgan's remains. Their parents, as well as Morgan's wife, were in Colton, California, and they wanted to see him one more time before his burial. Wyatt and his posse accompanied Morgan's remains by train, heading west—but they had no idea what awaited them.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
43. The Cowboys Ambushed Them, and Paid a Terrible Price
When the Earps' grim train arrived in Tuscon, they found several Cochise County Cowboys waiting for them. The outlaws planned to ambush the Earps—but they severely underestimated their opponents. Little record of their encounter exists, but there's one thing we know for sure: All of Earps' posse left Tuscon unharmed, while Cowboy Frank Stilwell was found along the train tracks, riddled with holes.
This was the Wild West, sure, but too many bodies were piling up around the Earps. The Tuscon Justice of the Peace indicted Earp and his men, and issued warrants to apprehend them.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
44. He Embarrassed Behan Yet Again
The Earps' warrants made it back to Tombstone before they did. As they walked into town, they came across Johnny Behan with a small posse of his own. Behan had come to take them to jail, but he was no match for the fearsome Earps. Quaking, Behan cried out, "Wyatt I want to see you." Earp didn't even stop—and his reply was absolutely legendary.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
45. If He'd Had a Mic, He Would Have Dropped It
When Johnny Behan came up to him in front of Tombstone's Cosmopolitan Hotel, Wyatt Earp didn't even break stride. He simply turned his head and said, "Johnny, if you're not careful, you'll see me once too often." No one was going to stop Earp from getting vengeance, but especially not Johnny Behan.
Wyatt Earp (1994), Warner Bros.
46. He Was Cold-Blooded
The Earps chased the remaining Cowboys out into the wilderness. Ironically, one of the men they chased was Curly Bill Brocius, the man whom Wyatt had saved from a lynching little over a year earlier. When the Earps finally caught up with them, yet another gunfight ensued. Curly Bill himself shot directly at Wyatt, but missed by a hair. Wyatt Earp, calm and cool as always, didn't even flinch.
He returned fire, hitting Curly Bill in the chest from 50 feet away. The infamous Cowboy fell back into a spring that went through the campsite...and never came out.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
47. Now the Law was After Them
After the gunfight that claimed the lives of Curly Bill and several other Cowboys, the Earps were satisfied—but they had another problem on their hands. Remember, the Earp Vendetta Ride was completely outside of the law, and you can't just go around shooting people for the purposes of vengeance. Johnny Behan had assembled his own crew, and he was hot on their trail.
Wyatt Earp (1994), Warner Bros.
48. They Escaped by the Skin of Their Teeth
Behan's posse got within eyeshot of the Earps, but never managed to close the gap. Though the Earps had been prepared to stand and fight if it had come to that, Behan's men never actually found them. The Earps gave them the slip and managed to sneak out of Arizona into New Mexico. Eventually, Behan was forced to give up, and Wyatt Earp got away with his grim justice scot-free.
49. The Feud Was Rather One-Sided
For anyone keeping score, the infamous feud between the Earps and the Cowboys ended with one Earp and seven Cowboys deceased. I'm not great at math, but I'm pretty sure I can figure out who came out on top.
50. His Friendship With Holliday Went up in Flames
The end of the Earp Vendetta Ride was the end of an era—in more ways than one. Not long after leaving Arizona, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday had a falling out that led to the end of their friendship. They parted ways, and only saw each other twice for the rest of their lives. The final time, just five years later, Earp's wife Josephine noticed that Holliday was a shell of his former self. He was a hollow, skeleton of a man who coughed constantly and could barely hold himself upright.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
51. He Stole His Rival's Woman
Johnny Behan and Wyatt Earp had at least one thing in common—they shared the same taste in women. When Behan arrived in Tombstone, he brought his wife with him, a working girl named Sadie Mansfield. Most people, however, would know her by a different name: Josephine Earp. It turns out, Sadie found Behan in bed with another woman soon after she arrived in Tombstone, so she kicked him out.
Not long after, townsfolk began to see Sadie spending a lot of time with one Wyatt Earp, who everyone already knew was Behan's biggest rival. Hey, if Earp couldn't have Behan's job, at least he could have Behan's woman.
52. He Stayed With His Partner for Four Decades
Following his adventures in the Wild West, Earp ended up in San Francisco with Sadie Marcus, who now went by Josephine Earp. They stayed common-law partners for over four decades until Earp's death. But while they seemingly got their happily ever after, there was just one teensy little problem...
53. He Abandoned His Wife
The thing about Earp's relationship with Josephine was that he was already married! He wed a working girl named Mattie Blaylock not long after he moved to Tombstone. Granted, the two spent almost no time together, but they were still legally man and wife. In fact, Mattie Blaylock has one of the most tragic tales of all...
54. His Third Wife's Life Was Heartbreaking
For whatever reason (he wasn't particularly religious), Wyatt Earp didn't believe in divorce, so even when Mattie begged him to make their split official, he refused. Furious, she ran off with her new lover anyway, but her problems were only beginning. After her man, a degenerate gambler, abandoned her, Mattie took to working again to make ends meet. Around this time, she also developed a crippling addiction to laudanum, a popular opioid.
Her story ended in 1888, when she took her own life. For his part, it seems as though Wyatt Earp couldn't have cared less.
55. He Didn't Exactly Get Along With Josephine
Wyatt Earp spent the rest of his life with Josephine—but they weren't exactly happy together. Like her partner, Josephine was a gambler and a smoker, something that Earp and his family detested (double standard much?). In Earp's defense, Josephine received a monthly allowance from a wealthy half-sister, yet she managed to gamble it away almost every month, leaving the couple struggling to put food on the table.
56. He Struggled To Go Straight and Narrow
Wyatt Earp was never really a respectable man, but he struggled more than ever to find honest work in the years following O.K. Corral. It finally seemed like he'd found something in 1896, when he got the nod to referee a highly anticipated boxing match between Bob Fitzsimmons and Tom Sharkey in San Francisco. But of course, nothing Earp ever did could be without controversy...
57. He Was a Crooked Referee
Fitzsimmons completely dominated Sharkey though the entire fight. Then, just before he could land the final punch, Sharkey suddenly dropped the ground, clutching at his groin and calling a foul. Earp immediately called the fight and disqualified Fitzsimmons for an illegal punch—despite the fact that no one in the arena had seen the offending blow. The crowd was absolutely furious, and a wave of boos flooded the stage, but Earp stuck to his decision.
Most people believed that Earp had secretly bet on Sharkey to win and rigged the fight, but no one was able to prove it.
58. His Life Ended in Tinsel Town
Wyatt Earp spent his final days in Los Angeles, working as an unpaid film consultant in Hollywood and trying to get a movie about his life made. After a wild existence of gunfights and barroom brawls, he passed quietly of cystitis at 80 years old. He had outlived every single one of his siblings, and left no children. By that time, he was one of the final relics of the Wild West, and the days of outlaws and gunslingers felt like a distant memory.
59. His Life Could Have Been So Different
Wyatt Earp almost never had the insane life that he lived. By the time he was 21, his family had moved to Lamar, Missouri, and while eking out an existence there, he met a beautiful young woman named Urilla Sutherland. The two fell for each other instantly, and they married within a year of their first meeting. Earp then bought a small plot of land, built a house for his new wife, and she soon became pregnant.
This young family settled into what appeared to be a rather uneventful, domestic life—but of course, as you know, that's not how Wyatt Earp's story goes...
60. Tragedy Changed Him Forever
Urilla was about to give birth to the couple's first child when tragedy truck Earp's life once again. She contracted the deadly Typhoid fever and passed within a matter of days. Suddenly, Wyatt Earp had everything he loved ripped away from him—and it changed him forever. After that day, he became cold and ruthless. Had his wife lived, the entire history of the Wild West would have been completely different, but apparently, fate had other plans.
Tombstone (1993), Hollywood Pictures
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