Morning journal and courier., 1888-01-30

"Reminiscences of the Rustlers Who
 made Tombstone Famous in the old
 Days.
 From the St. Louis Republican,
 Tombstone, mining center in Southeas- tern Arizona, is the grave of more romance and adventure, hairbreadth escapes and deeds of daring than any other region in America perhaps. Tombstone is about sixteen miles from the Mexican boundary line, and for four or five years was the headquarters of all leading desperadoes of the West. The four Earp brothers, toughs all, Doc Halliday, Frank and Jack Stillwell, Ike Clanton and his brother Billy, Jack McLowry and his brother Bob, Jack Ringo, Bill Dodge and several gentlemen known as Curly, Slim, Shorty, Texas, Buffalo and similar cognomens were frequently seen on the streets together. All had a reputation to sustain, and some were SO eager to do themselves justice that they would net rely on the ordinary 44-calibre revolver, but had the barrels of shotguns cut off to about foot in length, and thus abbreviated, that terrible engine of destruction, when properly loaded, became part of their personal adornment. There were two factions in Southeastern Arizona in 1879, one being known as tha stags-robbers and the other ps the rustlers. The Earps and Doc Halliday were the recognized chiefs of the stage-rob- Der faction, and Ike Clanton and Jack Ringo were the acknowledged bosses of the rustlers. The faction came into frequent conflict. One day the McLowrys and Frank Stillwen rode into town and put up their horses at a corral on Fremont street. Just as they emerged from the corral the Earps and Halliday confronted them, and in minute the two McLowrys, Billy Clanton and Stillwell were dead. Word was lent t0 WI n the Huachuca Mountains, and they prepared to march to Tombstone in force to clean out the Earps. The Earps recruited and forti- fed in an adobe building in the west end of the town. The rustlers, thirty strong, under command of Ike Clanton and Jack Ringo, In corral at the extreme end of the town. Here were the honest people of Tombstone between the hostile camps of desper- adoes, but Tombstone went right along about it's business, and rather enjoyed the sensation. The saloons and ambling houses did thriving busi- ness twenty-four hours daily. The banks were open, and in tho evenings four churches were jammed with devotees. The mines were operated by 5000 hardy workmen and more than ,000 men and 300 mules were en- gagged hauling ore from the mines to the reduction mills at Contention, eight miles distant. The stores were all open, the clerks were all busy, and the only nervous people seemingly in the city were tho reporters of the two morning papers, and they were only afraid of scoop The writer of this was the city editor of a Tombstone paper at the time. and he visited both the camps daily, and was made the medium of communities tion between the leaders. The Iustlers cir eulated through the town, and the Earp, or stage-robber faction confined themselves to their camp. Ike Clanton, the rustler leader, sent several messages to Wyatt EaEp, the lead CT of that faction, daring hin to come out and show his nose. Earp sent back invitations to Clanton to come and visit him. This thing continued for three days, and at last the Earps began to get tired-in fact, their liquor was exhausted and they were on the verge of thirst famine. Warren Earp one of the brothers, heeled himself properly with two revolvers and shotgun and walked uytown one evening about s o'clock. He went into a saloop took drink at the bar and walked back to the faro department in the rear. He hadn't bucked- the tiger in five days and his appetite was whetted. He sat down in front of the dealer, pulled out handful of twenty-doller gold pieces and ceppered the queen. Just as he did so 8 report was heard and Warren Earp fell off his stool dead. 4 bullet had penetrated his brain. When the report of his death reached his friends they rallied out in force. They were met by the Clanton party on Allen street and exchange of shots took place. The casualties were meagre-only three killed and two wounded. The Earps retreated and skipped the town. When they had left, and there was no hope of catching them, the sheriff of cochiss Coun- ty became energetic. He organized posses to give pursuit. that subsequently, cost the taxpayers of the county $7,0O0. The Earps being absent, sympathy of course was where they remained for some time, and then went to California. The rustlera then had supreme command of the tough ele- ment of Tombstone, and they held it until the leaders quarrelled and gradually killed each other.