Wyatt Earp and the Shootout at the O K Corral - Research Paper Example

Wyatt Earp and the Shootout at the O K Corral Introduction The shootout at the O.K. Corral occurred in Tombstone, Arizona Territory in America amid the Cowboys and the Earp brothers. The gunfight is popularly recalled in American history because of its scary scenery. Wyatt Earp was among the Earp brothers such as Virgil Earp, Morgan. The cowboys consisted of Billy Clanton, Tom McLaury and Frank McLaury. In this essay, the origin and background of the conflict, the confrontation and the gunshot, and the outcome of the ill-fated event are discussed aptly. Background & Origin of the conflict Tombstone was rapidly growing as a potential mining ground at the time. The Earps brothers had settled in the town at around 1879 when the town was developing. Virgil Earp was a recognized and esteemed person, since he was the Deputy US Marshal in the area. The government and society regarded cowboys as an outlaw group at the time. The first clash amid Clanton and McLaury brothers and Earps ensued when Bill Clanton and McLaury brothers threatened Virgil to halt the printing of the handbill, which reported the stolen US Army mules. Ike Clanton was persuaded to reveal the suspects that killed a stagecoach and his passenger in a robbery endeavor. 1Later, Wyatt and Doc Holliday were threatened by Ike who had found out the deal two individuals had in opposition to him. Marshal Virgil Earp detained two cowboys who were close friends to Ike after a robbery endeavor at the Bisbee stage. Ike perceived this action negatively since the Earps were distressing the Cowboys. In October 25 1881, Ike threatened Doc Holliday after having a disagreement, which Morgan Earp intervene. Consequently, the fight was amid the Earps and Cowboys and became publicly and openly known to the populace. The Confrontation & the Gunfight The unarmed Ike armed himself as a self defense mechanism from the threats he received from Holliday. He went to the street to confront and challenge him when Virgil and Morgan attacked and buffaloed him by taking his pistol. 2He was arrested and taken to the court to answer charges for carrying illegal firearm without the consent of the authority, and was fined 27.5 dollars. Ike brothers, Frank, Mclaury and Billy came to witness the troubles his brother faced with law. Later, in the street, Ike, Billy Clanton, Tom, Frank McLaury, and Billy Caliborne discussed outside the Gun Shop. 3In the conversations, Frank is against the actions of Wyatt Earp of taking Ike’s pistol even after knowing that it was for self defense. At the same time, Earp’s brothers who included Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil held a private meeting relating to the problems. They were later joined by Doc Holliday in the Haffords Sallon. Virgil Earp failed to maintain peace among the groups when he made a deal with Doc, a well known drunkard and trouble maker in the town, to fight against the cowboys. He went further to disarm Ike after witnessing the verbal confrontation amid the tow individuals the other day. The cowboys gathered at the OK Corral at a vacant lot amid the Fly Photo Studio and the Harwood house. As they discussed, Sherriff Johny Behan who was heading at the Street towards the vacant house met them. Inadvertently, the Earp’s brothers and Doc Holliday walked towards the vacant lot where the cowboys were standing. Doc Holliday and Morgan Earp mercilessly shot the cowboys. The proximity of the distance between the two groups was about 1.8 to 3.0 meters long. 4The exchange of gunshot continues for about 30 seconds leaving Billy Clanton, Frank and Tom McLaury dead. They were later buried in Tombstone at the Boothill Graveyard. This happened even after Sherriff tried stopping the 2 groups from confronting each other. The cowboys were unfortunate, since only two of them were armed compared to the Earps brothers who were all armed. Defenseless Ike and Virgil Earp tried to stop the two groups from firing gunshots to one another through verbal exchange. Ike survived the ordeal after running for his life, but got a serious injury on his head. 5Interestingly, Wyatt Earp was the only individual who was unharmed during the exchange of the gunshots. According to witnesses, the first gunshots occurred almost at the first time when they came from both sides of the group. There was several gunshots exchange after the corresponding gunshots, which resulted to death of 3 cowboy brothers. Outcome of the battle There were many outcomes of the gunshots such as gun wounds on the bodies of cowboys and the Earp’s brothers. The wounds assisted the police and doctors in their investigation to find out what happened during the gunshot. The wounds were exceptionally severe because of the close range amid the two groups. 6The public disliked what happened at the O.K. Corral and were against the actions of the two groups. They urged the authority to take quick action on the suspects and isolate them from the society. 7The suspects were arrested and faced charges in the law courts for murder, including Wyatt Earp. Many witnesses gave their opinion about the disgraceful day. The cowboy’s allies tried to fight back by revenging. They managed to kill Morgan Earp, and injure Wyatt Earp, who escaped death by whisk. 8The burial of the 3 cowboys was attended by approximately 300 people from the town. Conclusion The background and origin of the shootout was caused by Wyatt’s unfair decisions in making peace. The confrontation and the shooting happened at a close range in OK Corral town. The outcome of the gunshot led to death of 3 cowboys and severe injuries to Ike. Consequently, the government has to disarm everyone to ensure peace prevails in the community. Bibliography Barra, Allen. 2008. Inventing Wyatt Earp: his life and many legends. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Daily Nugget, Coroner's Inquest. (1881). Further Testimony Regarding The Late Tragedy. Retrieved from Tombstone Nugget. (1881). Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - Wyatt's Statement. Welcome to the Wyatt Earp History Page. Retrieved from Waldman, Scott P. 2004. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: Wyatt Earp upholds the law. New York: Rosen Central Primary Sources. Read More