Thursday will mark the 125th anniversary of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral. On Oct. 26, 1881, building tension between the Earps, who represented law and order in Tombstone, and the Clantons and McLaurys, cattle rustlers and outlaws, erupted into a bloody confrontation.
Naturally there will be a big celebration at Tomstone. Click on the headline to read an off-beat story about the gunfighters on the BJ Retirees web site or go to the web site set up for the celebration at
http://www.okcorralgunfight.com/
I've walked in the O.K. Corral, and seen the lifesize cardboard cutouts of the shootout participants placed where they stood and listened to the audio recreation of the gunfight. This is a SMALL place. And the Earps and Clantons and friends were 20 feet apart when the shooting began. I don't know how so many shots missed their targets.
ReplyDeleteI also visited Boot Hill cemetery, where the three fatalities rest. Again, this is a SMALL cemetery.
I don't think there were any good guys in this scenario. After all, this was a place where might makes right.
My favorite tombstone in Tombstone is the one that says:
"Here lies Les Moore.
"No Les no more."