b'a friend of the Cowboys was the one who first told Billyabout Fourth and Fremont, when they spot the ClantonsThe stage was now set for the most famous gunfight in the Clanton and Frank McLaury of the mornings happenstance.and the McLaurys on the sidewalk near Camillus Flyshistory of the old west. It was now or never, and even if the Remember, they had just gotten into town themselves andphotographic studio, just past Bauers Market. SheriffCowboys did feel trapped, there was no turnin back now. I knew nothin about what was a-goin\' on. Billy Clanton, notBehan is trying to get the Cowboys to surrender their armscan still hear the sound of those six-guns bein cocked as Billy liking what he was hearing, went immediately to his olderbut to no avail. The Cowboys said they would give up theirand Frank thumbed the hammers back. And I can hear Virgil brother, Ike, and told him that they should go home. Billyarms if Behan could get the Earps to do the same. Now yousay, Hold, I want your guns. Somebody said somethin else, had not come to town to fight anybody, but as it turned out,know that just aint about to happen. Sheriff Behan thenbut the words got lost in the first volley of gunfire.he got stuck in the middle anyway. walked the twenty or so paces to Virgil and asked him to let it be, but Virgil brushed by Behan tellin him he wouldNow, here is the way the shootin really happened that Well sir, now is where we really get down to it. The Earpsdisarm the Cowboys himself. chilly afternoon on October 26th. Billy Clanton leveled lives had been threatened time and time again until now,his pistol at arms length at Wyatt Earp. Wyatt ignored him theyre at the point of trying to provoke a fight any way theyAs it turns out, Tombstone was justand pulled a pistol from his coat pocket and fired at Frank can. Virgil had hit Ike that day when he arrested him, andMcLaury, as he was known to be the best shoot among Wyatt had literally pistol-whipped Frank McLaury right ingrowing faster than you can imagine.the Cowboys. Billy missed, but Wyatt didnt. Shot in the front of the courthouse. Even so, the Cowboys had left theWith new places all fancied up. and thestomach, Frank McLaury staggered toward Fremont Street. courthouse and were headed toward Bauers Market withSeeing his brother hit, Tom McLaury drew open his vest only one more stop to make before leaving town. That stopBirdcage Theater with plays and such.and said, I have nothing, but at the same time was trying was to purchase cartridges at the gunsmith shop on FourthThings were really on the move. But ofto reach the rifle on Franks horse. Missing the rifle, he took Street. However, at the gunsmith shop, an incident occurredcover behind the animal. Billy Clanton was the next to be that could very easily have started the famous gunfightcourse, there were still the bawdy houseshit, the target of Morgan Earps six-shooter. One bullet prematurely. Tom McLaurys horse stepped up onto theand the rambunctious cowboys raisin upwent through Billys right wristanother struck him in the boardwalk, a violation of city ordinance, and Wyatt Earp,chest. Billy reeled and fell back against the window of the cool as a cucumber, and with all the Cowboys watchin putthe dickins all the time. It became clear toHarwood house, but even as his body sagged and slid down the animal back on the street where he belonged. Not toothe Earps that they would have to enforcetoward the ground, he switched the pistol to his left hand. much doubt about the "sand" Wyatt had about him. Lying there in the dirt with his legs crossed, he continued the letter of the law, or they would haveto fire, resting the pistol across his other arm. By this time, In their black stetsons and greatcoats, string ties danglinto wield a controlling influence over theIke was trying to save his own rotten hide. He lunged at down their white shirt fronts, the Earps moved slowlyWyatt Earp, grabbing him by the shoulder. Wyatt saw that and deliberately down Fremont Street, with Doc Hollidayfractious goins on of Tombstone after dark.Ike had no weapons in his hands and coldly told Ike to go following in behind wearin a long gray coat and carryin ato fightin or get away. Ike ran around to the other side of cane. Incidentally, theres all sorts of stories about that thereThe Clantons and the McLaurys backed themselves into theFlys, followed by a shotgun blast, which missed, from Doc cane. Lots of folks believe that Virgil carried a cane as a partvacant lot next to Flys Photo Studio with their backs againstHolliday. Youll recollect that Doc and Ike werent exactly of his dapper wardrobe, but that just aint the way it was.the wall of William Harwoods private home. The Earps andthe best of bosom buddies.Virgil, after deputizin Doc, on the spot right there in theDoc moved a few steps forward with Virgil in front, the middle of Fremont Street, took the cane and handed Doccane in his hand; Wyatt and Morgan behind him, and then,Meanwhile, with all this racket goinon, Frank McLaurys his 10 gauge shotgun tellin him to hide it under his coat. Doc Holliday behind them with that 10 gauge scattergun.horse spooked into the street exposing Tom. Docs shotgun The two parties stared at each other over a distance of nohad failed him with Ike Clanton, but by golly, it didnt Now I want you to picture this . . . we have Virgil,more than six feet. Sheriff John Behan ran off to the otherwith Tom McLaury. Doc fired the second barrel, and the Morgan, and Wyatt Earp, along with Doc Holliday atside of the studio and was met there by Billy Claiborne. buckshot tore through Toms vest and on into his side. continued on page 11403 N. Florence StreetCasa Grande, AZ 85122Western Trading Post TVas seen on theCowboy ChannelMonthly Auctions,Check Website for ScheduleArizonaRealCountry.com December 2020 9'