Frank Stilwell on the losing end of a shotgun

[Monument Valley Mike]

On this date 125 years ago, Frank Stilwell found himself on the losing end of a shotgun in the hands of Wyatt Earp.

Escorting his wounded brother, Virgil, and his wife to the train west to California, Wyatt gets word that Ike Clanton & Frank Stilwell were spotted in Tucson at the train station, watching trains arrive from the south.

Arriving in the evening, the Earps, accompanied by his younger brother Warren, Doc Holiday, Sherman McMaster and Jack Johnson have dinner in Tucson before Virgil & Allie board a train for California.  Wyatt spies two men waiting on flat cars.

The two men run when they see Earp coming.  The second man, Stilwell, falls behind and is confronted by Wyatt.  Grabbing the barrels of the shotgun, Stilwell reportedly says "Morg! Morg!" before he is torn in half by both barrels.  His body is found that morning full of bullet holes, with one witness commenting that it is the most shot up body he has ever seen.

Wyatt Earp's Vendetta Ride had begun.

By the time Earp, Holliday and others arrive in Tombstone on the 20th, a warrant has been sworn out in Tucson for their arrest.  Cochise County Sheriff John Behan tries an impotent arrest of Earp and his posse at the Cosmoploitan Hotel, saying he wants to see Earp.  "You can't see me; I've seen you once too often," Earp replied, and he and his men walk out.

In the next four days, Earp & his posse would kill two other men believed responsible in maiming his brother Virgil & killing brother Morgan.  With the killing of Curly Bill on March 24, the Cowboys criminal grip on Arizona's southeast territory faded.

Monument Valley Mike

[Stump Water]

I dig this stuff.

Thanks Mike.