The conflict escalated over the next year , culminating on October 26 , 1881 in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , in which the Earps and Holliday killed three of the Cowboys .
The conflict escalated over the next year , culminating on October 26 , 1881 in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , in which the Earps and Holliday killed three of the `` Cowboys '' ( the Clanton / McLaury group ) .