The sun., 1894-11-11
OLD TINES IN TOMBSTONE.
EVENTS THIT LED UP TO RO-
NANCE AND MUCH SHOOTING.
Ths Header OF the Rustierr Fen n Love
with the Daughter OF Onc OF the Rob-
bers, and then Ensued Scencs stranger
than Those Described In a Dime Novel

Tombstone has departed, and the Tough Nut
Contention, and score Of other mines are nc
longer fountains of wealth as they were dozen
years or 80 ago, but the town is still interest.
ing one and the tales Of the early days told Ivy
its old inhabitants more interesting still.
The Bird Cage Opera House, now fallen on
evil days, was the most popular resort in Tomb
stone from 1879 to 1882. Billy Hutchinson, q
character in his way. was its proprietor, and its
doors swung wide open 305 days in the year.
| II was the headquarters of all the bloods
| of Tombstone, and between at night
and in the morning 1t was one of
the liveliest institutions In the Western
country. There was an excellent variety troupe
always maintained. and the bar generally gave
employment to three bartenders twenty -four
| hours daily. The Bird Cage was the soul of
Tombstone at night. II you wanted to meet a
leading lawyer, mine or mill superintendent,
the sheriff of the county the Chief of Police.
| the Mayor of the city, the editor of any of the
| daily papers, or any of the bright particular
stars of desperadodom, the chances are that If
| you penetrated tho Bird Cage you would have
found them. AS general rule all the male pop
ulation of Tombstone. not otherwise engaged,
spent the night at the Bird Cage.
| In 1880 Virgil carp was the City Marshal and
| John ii. Behan the Sheriff OF the county.
Between these two officials there was deadly
feud. Behan was an honest man, a good official,
| and possessed many OF the attributes of u gem
| tleman. carp was the head of n band of dCs-
pcradoes. partner of stage robbers, and a
| was the custom that the friends OF Bchau should
| occupy the boxes on the right Of the stage and
| that Earp's followers and friends should hold
the boxes on the LETT Of the stage. What pleased
| the Bchan people was certain to displctsc the
carp people and II applause or dissent on one
side the other became too enthusiastic shoot
ing was sure to cnstle. Bchan was n thorough
bred. He would fight buzz saw in full motion,
and after doing up his worst enemy he would
give him his last cent IL the prostrate foe needed
Il. Virgil E2rp pS, was equally brave; ent he was
or rather infamous, Enrp family. At that time
the people Of Cochise county, Of which Tomb
stone was the county seat, were in reality di-
vded between two factons-the stage robbers
and COW robbers. The current name for the
stock thieves was the rustlers, while the stage
robbers were known as such.
Sheriff Behan. though not a boy or ruster
himself. was soidly supported by the cowboys,
the ranchmcn, and the wandering cavaliers who
had nothing to-day, but were possessed of their
ton Of the Earps with the stage robbers was a
matter of question, suggestion, and suspicion for
some time. About the beginning of lss:, how.
straight. The agent of Wells, Fargo u Co. in
Tombstone was named Barshall Williams. The
latter and the Earps were great friends. They
ate together, played together, fought and killed
side by side, and were chums at all times, The
was the only man In the settlement who
knew to a certainty the value of the freight
that LEFT Tombstone on the stage. 1t hap
pened that the stage was never attacked and
robbed except when the booty was considerable.
ms, O1 course, tnkcDutrtu some talk. nut no.
body could prove anything. Agent Williams
and the Earps were like brothers, Virgil Earn
Hn Mas It., the vy Caty Marshal Of Tomi3}SStone; his
region, and another brother. Warren. was the
chief express guard on board stages carrying
valuable express freight between Tombstone
and the railroad station at Contention. When
ever the stage was robbed. as il was whenever
there was anything worth taking on board. the
City Marshal Of Tombstone and his brothers
always organized a posse to pursue the robbers.
This was profitable employment for the Earps
and very expensive for the express company
=, y was discovered after ~ while that Agent
for express ro6bSry Wheaevep the agent hSa
valuable consignment OF bullion or currency he
rusty and RELIABLE mem along re 'Gd snd his
brother Warren, ON the stage front as guard.
sn orar ,a oe nv 90 .St ks nna 10
1t was an interesting enterprise. The agent. a
partner of the thieves. pipcd of the booty to the
thieves were intrusted with the capture OF them
selves. or course the Earps always put the
properly resented by the rustlers, ana IA feud,
dangerous to life and properly, ensued.
was excited with a rulnor that the stage coach
had been robbed about four miles from town.
only professional robbers or those affiliated
with them. were more than ordinarily heated
enterprise. 1t was more daring than usual and
the booty amounted To S25.OUO. The Earp peo-
the robbs s sehs
laughing and insinuating broadly that II the
Earps would go into jail themselves the thieves
would DO secured. There good deal
of talk among the partisans on the streets, and
about o'clock as one Of the stars OF the variety
the Behans applauded her The Earps on the
other side of the hall, hissed. All of a sudden
shots Were exchanged and the ball opened.
Johnny Behan and Jack klngo were sitting in
box on the east side OF the house. On the knees
OF each sat one Of the lnnets OF the cage. The |
Earps were on the other side. Dolly Adama q |
new arrival from San Francisco, whose reputa-
haDneneu before 81
frapd haa gone Jnsk iHPpsE Pnp WITH b9 a. ss bosom
cheered her efforts and the stage robbers |
groaned her. The Behan people made some re- |
OF stage robberes, and the Earp people an |
swered that the stage robbers, with all their
cIated by Behan. While these remark We're |
being exchanged, Ned Curtis, one OF the carp |
boots, spurred and muddied, rested on the slen-
der De para parapet; eth, Al a. once Curey Bill lost his
through the foot OF Curtis.
This was the signal for shooting. The Inen In |
below was crowded, and as the shooting began
there was rush for the door. The actors, who |
were aligned with the factions acc oring to their
Jealousies, took hand in the proceedings. Pts
tolls kept popping for twelve minutes. aud then
the rustlers found themselves in possession OF
the house. When the smoke cleared away
twelve dead men and seven badly wouaded, rep
resentInY both s!dsi, were rs, E2nnd. Among tue
the express company.
Williams was badly wounded and DIR. Nc
Sheedy told him he was going Ia die. Under the
shadow of DEATH IS he supposed, ne made full
confession. lie told that there a partner
ship between himself and the Earps. and that
a. agent ut the express company hc gave away
10 The Earps all the big CuHsignments The
Earps ran Tombstone and the stages. They
were the thieves, and they were chosen to cap
ture the thieves. H. the fuliiimcuI ut both posi-
tiOns they did their duty we'll Wyatt Earp
when Williams made his confession was ona
hunt for the robbers ia the Surrounding hills.
When lie returned he heard ui Wi.Iams's con
fessiOn and Immediately prepared Iu defend
himself. Behan, the SheriH, was sustained by
the Ciantons, McLowTys, and liIngo, leading
spirits among the rustlers, and the Earps. with |
their followers, armed and preparcd To rrsis,.
The Earps were sustained by the Republicans |
and the Republican Governor uf the Territory, !
and by th" kPpu ubliCGn Administ alton at NASH |
ington. The President was induced by Repub-
lican representations in ATiluuH to issue a
proclamation ordering the cowboys 10 dispense
and go TO their nOmes in peace The cowboys
were in reality the posse the Sheriif had SUM
mOned TO arrest the stage robLers. Tie Presi-
ienIill nrnc lnnALinn. however, had TIN nlE--L nf