A Good Game Spoiled

The poker game prior to the OK Corral shootout.

The night before the Tombstone “Street Fight,” several of the men involved the next afternoon–Sheriff John Behan, Town Marshal Virgil Earp, Ike Clanton and Tom McLaury–were playing poker together at the Oriental Saloon. The game finally broke up around seven in the morning.

The others headed home, but Ike continued drinking. He became convinced that Doc Holliday wanted to kill him.

Bartender Ned Boyle said later that Ike boasted “as soon as the Earps and Doc Holliday showed themselves on the street, the ball would open and they would have to fight.” He got his wish.