Luke Short Tintype ?

[Shotgun Steve]

Description: Antique Tintype of Luke Short. Excellent condition. This tintype has not been officially authenticated, but through our own research we believe it to be him.
Born in Mississippi, Luke Short was primarily a gambler and saloon owner. He was, however, involved in a number of gunfights.

Luke's early years are hazy. He was a whiskey dealer in Dodge City in 1873 and to the Sioux in 1876 where he killed two indians who became disorderly. In Leadville, CO. a gunfight quickly ended when Luke wounded a man named Brown in the face. Luke roamed here and there. In Tombstone he killed Charlie Storms over a gambling dispute.

Back in Dodge City and co-owner of the Long Branch, Luke fired at one of the city officals after arrests of his saloon girls. Hartman fell and Luke walked away thinking Hartman was killed. Hartman drew his gun and wounded Luke who made haste away.

In Fort Worth, Texas Luke was part owner of another saloon. Long Hair Jim Courtright was running a protection racket of sorts wanting payment for security. Luke balked at this request. The two gunfighters confronted each other. In a confused exchange, Courtright pulled his gun which jammed and Luke pulled his shooting off Courtright's thumb. Jim could not return fire and Short killed him with a bullet through the heart.

In another gambling dispute, Luke was hit in the leg with a shotgun blast, but spun around and returned fire breaking the wrist of the ambusher.

Luke Short died of dropsy in Kansas and is buried in Fort Worth, Texas Oakwood Cemetery.

[kflach]

If I remember correctly, the book "Hell's Half Acre: The Life and Legend of a Red-Light District" by Richard Selcer says that when Courtwright (who as inebriated at the time) tried to draw his gun, it got stuck in his watch chain.

[Dr. Bob]

Dang, I hate it when that happens!     

[Stillwater]

If I remember correctly, the book "Hell's Half Acre: The Life and Legend of a Red-Light District" by Richard Selcer says that when Courtwright (who as inebriated at the time) tried to draw his gun, it got stuck in his watch chain.

When John Wesley Hardin was arrested, his firearm got caught in his suspenders. Which allowed the arresting officer to whack him over the head. When Hardin woke up, he had new bracelets on...!

Bill

[Texas Lawdog]

We have an annual reenactment of that gunfight in the Fort Worth Stockyards in front of the White Elephant Saloon(CD's on Walker, Texas Ranger).

[kflach]

Texas Lawdog,

When do they happen? I'd love to watch one.

[Luke Preston Short]

Shotgun Steve--
The tintype you show with the man wearing a derby-type hat and with a waxed mustache is not Luke Short, the well-known gambler and gunfighter and friend of Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson.  My great-grandfather, Henry Jenkins Short, was a younger brother of the Luke Short of old west fame.  Luke Short was born in Arkansas in 1854 and later the family moved to Texas.  He was given the first name Luke, from his mother's brother, Luke Brumley,  who was a sheriff in Montague County in Texas.  He was raised on a ranch and in his young teens became a cattle drover taking Texas cattle north to the railheads.  Later he was a buffalo hunter and did indeed peddle whiskey for a while around 1877.  After that time he made a living gambling and eventually was part owner of the Longbranch Saloon in Dodge City and later had the White Elephant in Fort Worth.  My father, Wayne Short, wrote a book, "Luke Short: A Biography" which contains four good photos of Luke, including one well-known one with Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp and several other gunfighters of the time.  The photo is titled "The Dodge City Peace Commission of 1883".  It shouldn't be too hard to find a copy of the photo.  There is one in my father's book as well as one in the book by W. B. (Bat) Masterson, "Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier".  My grand-dad's Uncle Luke was also a civilian scout carrying messages between General Crook and Major Thornburgh in 1876 and had some interesting adventures while carrying out his duty.

If you are curious and would like to hear more, let me know--Luke Preston Short 

[Gun Creek Phil]

Very interesting informations about Luke Short, and most of all, coming from a menber of his family.I will sure do like to hear more from Luke Short ant his life on the frontier.Lu :