The American Spectator

Mark Davis| 11.25.08 @ 11:38AM

Thanks, Mr. Wittman, for your article on old West boomtowns, focusing on Tombstone, Arizona. My Dad grew up in the Boise, Idaho, area (Star County) and I recall fondly the several visits with my Dad and brothers to ghost towns in California and Idaho, and my later reprised visit with my children to Tombstone. (I was the only licensed driver and had the keys to the car; the kids had to bear up with their dear old Dad for the “short detour” off I-10 west). Yes, Tombstone is a bit commercialized, but, as you note, the history is there to be seen. For a very readable, in-depth story of the Erps and the shoot-out at the OK Coral, see And Die in the West: The Story of the O.K. Corral Gunfight by Paula Mitchell Marks. (Marks notes that commercialization was present even then, since the fight more accurately could be described as having occurred at the vacant lot next to Fly’s Photography Shop, just adjacent to the OK Coral).

dave| 11.25.08 @ 11:43AM

Just a great article! Thanks so much.

Rob| 11.25.08 @ 2:29PM

What a great read. I was amazed to learn that the tenure of Holiday and the Earps were so short lived. Quite a refreshing break.

Tom| 11.25.08 @ 6:26PM

>And Die in the West: The Story of the O.K. Corral Gunfight by Paula Mitchell Marks.<<br />
While I also recommend the above book the aptly named Marks portrays the events leading up to the famous Tombstone street fight (It wasn't widely known as "The Gunfight at the OK Corral until the movie of the same name was released in 1957) as part of a greater class struggle. Ms Marks tosses in every bit of information that she can find, and that's good. Her work should be supplemented with more recent biographies of Wyatt Earp by Casey Tefertiller, "The Life Behind the Legend," and Allen Barra, "Inventing Wyatt Earp."

A visit to Tombstone is fun, too.

cdbmausa| 11.26.08 @ 10:34AM

Visiting Boot Hill, Tombstone's cemetary I noticed the marker for one Jim Davis, the inscription said simply: 'hung by Mistake".