Sam Strawhun and his pals had been wreaking havoc on John Bitter’s Saloon in Hays City, KS, early in the morning of September 27, 1869. Ellis...
Don’t Take a Beer Mug to a Gunfight
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A Not So Heroic End
John Kile was a hero who came to a bad end. As a corporal in the 5th Cavalry, Kile won the Congressional Medal of Honor. In July 1869, he and two...
A Voice That Is His Own Derision
“Father and mother he does not resemble, sons and daughters he will never have; vindictive and patient (it is a known fact that he will labor ten...
The Gunfighter: Cool Under Fire
It took more than just the ability to shoot fast and straight to make a real gunfighter. Anyone who practiced long and often enough could learn to...
Wyatt: The Early Years
Wyatt Earp was not considered a legendary gunfighter during his lifetime. Others of his ilk such as Wild Bill Hickock, Bill Cody, Billy the Kid,...
The Return of Doc Holliday
We've all learned a lot since "The illustrated Life & Times of Doc Holliday" appeared in 1993. And, of course, most of it appeared on the pages...
Credit Where Credit is Due
Skookum Jim Mason failed to get credit for one of the great gold finds in the West. Skookum—which means big or strong—was of the Tagish First...
The Johnson County War: The Grandaddy of the Old West’s Range Wars
On April 9th, 1892 in Johnson County, Wyoming a column of hard-looking men rode up to within a short distance of the small ranch headquarters just...
The Bitterest Pill
Carl Sutherland was a nephew to Aurilla Sutherland, the first wife of Wyatt Earp. But Carl chose a different path, becoming a small time criminal...
A Real Horse Opera
History was made when a real, live horse opera based on Zane Grey’s immortal classic, “Riders of The Purple Sage” premiered in Phoenix at Symphony...
Sneak Attack on the James Farm
During the early morning hours on January 26th, 1875, the Samuel family was again punished for the actions of Zeralda Samuel’s two sons, Frank and...
Trouble for the Thompson Kin
Texas gunfighter Ben Thompson’s family were no strangers to violence. In July 1851, his uncle and aunt—who had emigrated to the US in 1834, were...