Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-02-14

and a score of other mines are no
longer fountains of wealth, but, ac
cording to a writer in the Philadelphia
Press. the town is still an interesting
one and the tales of the early days
told by its Inhabitants more interest
ing still. In 1850 Virgil carp was the
city marshal and John ii. Behan was
the sheriff of the county. Between
these two officials there was a deadly
feud. Behan was an honest man and
a good official carp was the head of
a band of desperadoes, Il partner OF
stage robbers and friend of gamblers
and professional killers. 1t was the
custom that the friends of Behan
should occupy the boxes on the left
of the stage of the "Bird-Gage' Opera
House What pleased the Behan
people was certain to displease the
carp people, and if applause or dis
sent Oh one side or the other became
too enthusiastic shooting was sure to
ensue. Behan would fight 4 buzz saw
in full motion. and after doing up his
worst e,pfv lie would give him his
ldSI telll IL Tile loS iSNdNN ~
Virgil carp was equally brave, but
he was dishonest. Virgil was the cid
est OF the carp family. At that time
the people of Cochise county, of which
Tombstone was the county seat, were
in reality divided between two factions
the stage robbers and COW robbers.
The current name for the stock thieves
was the rustlerS, while the stage rob
bers were known as such. Sheriff Be
ham, though not a cowboy or rustler
himself, was sol!dly supported by the
cowboys, the ranchmen and the wan
dering cavaliers who had nothing to-
day but were possessed Of their neigh
boris live stock tomorrow.
The connection of the Earps with the
stage robbers was matter of ques-
tion, suggestion and suspicion for
some time. Agent Williams, of Wells,
Fargo & Co, and the Earps We're like
brothers; Virgil carp was the city
marshal of Tombstone, his brother
Wyatt was the boss killer of the
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 1t was
whenever there was anything worth
taking on board, the city marshal of
Tombstone and his brothers always
organized q posse to pursue the rob
herS.
1t was discovered after while that
Agent Williams and the Earps had
formed combine for express robbery.
Whenever the agent had a valuable
consignment of bullion or currency, he
gave Virgil carp the tip, and he posted
his trusty men along the road, and
his brother Warren, on the stage front
az guard. was careful to be caught
so that he had to obey an order to
throw up his hands when ordered,
OF course, the Ealps always put the
blame of the robberies on the ruStlers.
A presidential proclamation had at
length the effect of making the Grim
inals the law officers and the law
officers the disturbers of the peace,
and Notwithstanding certain revela-
tons the Earps continued to lord it
over Tombstone. But only for Il time.
One day the McLoWrys and Frank
Stillwell rode into town and put up
Their horses at 4 corral on Fremont
street. Just as they emerged from the
corral, Earps and Halliday confronted
them and in q minute the two Nc.
piIay MIA and Sfillupl N
were dead Word was sent to their
friends, who were camped in the
Huachuca Mountains, and they pre-
pared to march to Tombstone in force
10 clean out the Earps. The Earps re
cruited and fortified in an adobe
building in the west erd Of town
The rustlers, thirty strong under com
mand of Ike Clanton and Jack R!ngo,
marched TO town and took up head
quarters In a corral al the extreme
end Of the town. Here We're the honest
people of Tombstone between the hos.
tile camps but Tombstone went right
along about it's business and rather
enjoyed the sensation. The saloons
and gambling houses did a thriving
business twenty-four hours daily. The
banks were open and in the evening
four mines We're operated by 5000
hardy workmen and more than 1000
men and 300 mules were engaged haul
ing ore from the miay TO the reduc-
ZION mills at Contention. eight miles
distant. The rustlers circulated through
the town and the carp or stage rob