It’s Wednesday, October 26, 1881. The sun has begun its descent into the western sky, its light reflecting off the heat waves coming from the hot desert soil. Four men walk through the entrance to a corral. They have come to disarm five gunslingers who have openly broken the law and made threats against them. When they finally stop walking, the group of four stands six to ten feet away from the men they are there to apprehend. Few words are exchanged. The leader, Virgil Earp, commands the criminals to throw down their arms. Of the five, Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled the scene. The remaining three draw their weapons. The four marshals draw theirs. Within thirty seconds, it’s over. As the smell of burnt powder and dust clears in the arid air, three outlaws are dead, three lawmen are wounded, and one stands coolly in the wake of the violent exchange. A close friend later in life quoted his demeanor, temperament, and lack of anxiety as, “a person whom I regarded as absolutely destitute of physical fear. His daring and apparent recklessness in time of danger is wholly characteristic.” This man was Wyatt Earp.
Join us in this redux episode as we teach you about Wyatt Earp, his demeanor, achievements, and what made him a man of legend. We will have an all-new episode next week.