How a failed arrangement helped lead to Tombstone’s street fight. June 2, 1881. Wyatt Earp approaches Cowboy Ike Clanton with a proposal. If Clanton...
A Deal Gone Bad
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Mark Boardman
Hardin Hits Abilene
New adventures for the Texas gunfighter. June 1, 1871. An 18-year-old John Wesley Hardin arrives in Abilene at the end of a cattle drive. He's...
Birth and Death in the Texas Spring
For John Wesley Hardin, May 26 had great importance. May 26, 1853. John Wesley Hardin is born near Bonham, Texas. Over the next two decades, he...
The Famous Female Stage Robber
Pearl Hart’s entrance into Old West legend. May 30, 1899. Pearl Hart and Joe Boot rob a stage running between Globe and Florence, AZ. They get away...
A Change of Career
The editor of The Epitaph made a surprising switch. William H. Kelly was editor/publisher of The Tombstone Epitaph from 1928 through 1930. During...
Where Did the Loot Go?
Whatever happened to the $97,000 from the Reno Gang’s last heist? This is one of those “find the money” stories. And it’s one that has attracted...
Earp Comes to Dodge
But he didn’t really build his legend there… May 19, 1876 (or thereabouts). Wyatt Earp is appointed deputy marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. In late...
Bleeding Kansas
The sacking of Lawrence helped lead to the Civil War. May 21, 1856. Some 800 pro-slavery men sacked the free-state town of Lawrence, Kansas. Two...
The Big Payday
The Reno Gang struck it rich in train robbery. May 22, 1868. Outlaw Frank Reno leads a group of men to rob an Ohio & Mississippi train at...
The Train Business
Ketchum catches the railroad bug. May 14, 1897. Tom Ketchum--already, mistakenly, being referred to as "Black Jack"--goes into the railroad...
Labor Goes to War
A new group becomes militant. May 15, 1893. The Western Federation of Miners (WFM) is formed. It's in direct response to a labor action in Coeur...
Earp Goes to Dodge
Earp Goes to Dodge…and puts on a badge. May 19, 1876 (or thereabouts). Wyatt Earp is appointed deputy marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. Over the next...