1881 : Shootout at the OK Corral
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.
Clanton-McLaury gang in a legendary shootout at the OK Corral
in Tombstone, Arizona.
After silver was discovered nearby in 1877, Tombstone quickly
grew into one of the richest mining towns in the Southwest.
Wyatt Earp, a former Kansas police officer working as a bank
security guard, and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, the town
marshal, represented "law and order" in Tombstone, though they
also had reputations as being power-hungry and ruthless. The
Clantons and McLaurys were cowboys who lived on a ranch
outside of town and sidelined as cattle rustlers, thieves and
murderers. In October 1881, the struggle between these two
groups for control of Tombstone and Cochise County ended in
a blaze of gunfire at the OK Corral.
grew into one of the richest mining towns in the Southwest.
Wyatt Earp, a former Kansas police officer working as a bank
security guard, and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, the town
marshal, represented "law and order" in Tombstone, though they
also had reputations as being power-hungry and ruthless. The
Clantons and McLaurys were cowboys who lived on a ranch
outside of town and sidelined as cattle rustlers, thieves and
murderers. In October 1881, the struggle between these two
groups for control of Tombstone and Cochise County ended in
a blaze of gunfire at the OK Corral.
On the morning of October 25, Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury
came into Tombstone for supplies. Over the next 24 hours, the
two men had several violent run-ins with the Earps and their
friend Doc Holliday. Around 1:30 p.m. on October 26, Ike's
brother Billy rode into town to join them, along with Frank
McLaury and Billy Claiborne. The first person they met in the
local saloon was Holliday, who was delighted to inform them
that their brothers had both been pistol-whipped by the Earps.
Frank and Billy immediately left the saloon, vowing revenge.
came into Tombstone for supplies. Over the next 24 hours, the
two men had several violent run-ins with the Earps and their
friend Doc Holliday. Around 1:30 p.m. on October 26, Ike's
brother Billy rode into town to join them, along with Frank
McLaury and Billy Claiborne. The first person they met in the
local saloon was Holliday, who was delighted to inform them
that their brothers had both been pistol-whipped by the Earps.
Frank and Billy immediately left the saloon, vowing revenge.
Around 3 p.m., the Earps and Holliday spotted the five
members of the Clanton-McLaury gang in a vacant lot behind
the OK Corral, at the end of Fremont Street. The famous
gunfight that ensued lasted all of 30 seconds, and around 30
shots were fired. Though it's still debated who fired the first
shot, most reports say that the shootout began when Virgil
Earp pulled out his revolver and shot Billy Clanton point-blank
in the chest, while Doc Holliday fired a shotgun blast at Tom
members of the Clanton-McLaury gang in a vacant lot behind
the OK Corral, at the end of Fremont Street. The famous
gunfight that ensued lasted all of 30 seconds, and around 30
shots were fired. Though it's still debated who fired the first
shot, most reports say that the shootout began when Virgil
Earp pulled out his revolver and shot Billy Clanton point-blank
in the chest, while Doc Holliday fired a shotgun blast at Tom
McLaury's chest. Though Wyatt Earp wounded Frank McLaury
with a shot in the stomach, Frank managed to get off a few
shots before collapsing, as did Billy Clanton. When the dust
cleared, Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers were dead,
and Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday were wounded.
Ike Clanton and Claiborne had run for the hills.
with a shot in the stomach, Frank managed to get off a few
shots before collapsing, as did Billy Clanton. When the dust
cleared, Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers were dead,
and Virgil and Morgan Earp and Doc Holliday were wounded.
Ike Clanton and Claiborne had run for the hills.
Sheriff John Behan of Cochise County, who witnessed the
shootout, charged the Earps and Holliday with murder. A month
later, however, a Tombstone judge found the men not guilty,
ruling that they were "fully justified in committing these
homicides." The famous shootout has been immortalized in
many movies, including Frontier Marshal (1939), Gunfight at
the OK Corral (1957), Tombstone (1993) and Wyatt Earp (1994).
shootout, charged the Earps and Holliday with murder. A month
later, however, a Tombstone judge found the men not guilty,
ruling that they were "fully justified in committing these
homicides." The famous shootout has been immortalized in
many movies, including Frontier Marshal (1939), Gunfight at
the OK Corral (1957), Tombstone (1993) and Wyatt Earp (1994).
HAUNTED HISTORY heads west to find the old ghosts
of Tombstone's past. Watch it now!
http://www.history.com/video.do?name=mysteries&bcpid=1676043213&bclid=1716449609&bctid=1634719222
Buy The Wild West DVD
http://shop.history.com/detail.php?p=69030&pa=EMC=0000051
General Interest
1881 : Shootout at the OK Corral
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihVideoCategory&id=51977
1825 : Erie Canal opens
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=7062
1944 : Battle of Leyte Gulf ends
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5470
1984 : Infant receives baboon heart
http://www.history.com/tdih.do?action=tdihArticleCategory&id=5471
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