The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-11
IEs TO TELL 1T HE HAD SHOT HENDERSON THROUGH The SHOULDER

being near the boundary line between
the United States and Mexico, fugi-
tiVes from justice both from Mexico
and the United States went to Tomb
stone, while several hundred of the
meanest and lowest half-breed Next
cans and Indians focked to the new
town to prey upon the tenderfeet there.
Cowboys quit cowpunching and went
to Tombstone to live on their wits and
hard names. Saloon-keepers went there
from all over California and every
State and Territory along the Rocky
MoutainS. There was no prison or pc
nal institution worthy the name in the
whole Territory of Arizona in those
days, and whatever there was of police
system was at once demoraliZed upon
the discovery of enormous wealth in
the Santa Rita Mountains What man
would serve as constable or marshal
for few hundred dollars year, and
risk his life every hour in the day with
the most desperate characters in the
world, when there seemed a possibility
of finding a gold or silver mine there
with fortune?
From January, 1880, to March. 1881, it
was a never ending battle between
these lawbreakers on one side and the
men who knew no law on the other.
From first to last, forty seven men were
killed with their boots on. Ex-Govern-
or Filkins saw nine men shot down be-
fore his eyes at that time. At least
thirty-five gambling houses had places
on the main street, keeping their doors
wide open day time and night time.
Sunday and all time. One of them, the
Gold Room, was capable of holding 500
or 600 people. Every known kind of
gambling was practiced. A sight was
seen in this place one Sunday night
that is not often witnessed. A Meth
odiSt preacher went to the boss of the
place, Jack Trowbridge, and requested
permission to hold divine services. 1t
was granted and with every gambling
table running, the bar sending out it's
liquid hell, that preacher the Rev. Mr.
Hahn, stood up and told the story Of
the man of Nazareth. Before he had
! finished his sermon quarrel arose at
| one of the card tables. and a man was
shot detailed account of the killing
and murders is not intended. If a. gang
of Mexican vaqueros rode into town
the smallest provocation would set their
guns going, and going to kill.
Mike Fitzpatrick kept dive he called
the Side Door" The unlucky chap
that got in there found himself Side
doored' until his money was gone.
Some of the decent people were bold
enough to protest against some of his
robberies, among others a prominent
ference with his business. and one
morning he loaded himself little fuller
than usual with his vile whisky and
started out to do a little Strengthening.
The merchant was sought, but hap
pened to be out of his store. Mike
went up the street, terrorizing every
body, and walked into a saloon. There
he saw the city's Police Judge. George
Halliday, and without the slightest
provocation or a word of Warming he
shot him through the heart. The Mar
shall, Jack Johnson, had been advised
that Mike was on a raid and had
started to capture him. Seeing Mike
coming out of the saloon Johnson took
rest for his Winchester rifle on the
we'll curb and shot him down.
This was Tombstone's last killing. In
an hour afterward the citizens had
formed a league and the suspicious
characters were notified to leave. They
left. Only a few incidents are men
toned; only few of the shootings de-
tailed. Tom Carson, nephew of old
Kit Carson. was sent for and came to
take the marshalship of the town. He
STAYED three weeks. The toughs had
ii in for him, and to save his life he
skipped.
Ali life in Tombstone conferred about
the saloons and dance halls. If one
wanted to SEGA mining boss. a pros
pector, an editor, a ranchman or a