Cowboys in History: Wyatt Earp

Wyatt at age 5 with his mother

Wyatt at age 21

Wyatt at home age 75-1923






Over the years the shoot out at the O.K. Corral has been depicted as one of the most amazing gunfights in western history, though few realize it wasn't all television depicted it to be.
On Oct. 26, 1881 the feud between the Earps and local cowboys, Ike Clanton, Billy Claiborne, Tom and Frank McLaury continued with death threats against the Earps adding up. Virgil Earp, acting marshal of Tombstone at the time deputized Wyatt Earp as assistant marshal, Morgan Earp was already Deputy City Marshal and Doc Holliday was deputized for the said event, which began around 3:00pm. The group headed toward Fremont Street where the threatening cowboys had been collecting in wait in the lot between Harwood House and Fly's Boarding House and evidently a photography studio. The most missed item on made for television reenactments is the fact that the Earp's were only about 6 to 10 feet away from the others as the gunfight began.
Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne fled the gunfight where Tom and Frank McLaury along with Billy Clanton stood their ground and were killed. Morgan Earp was clipped by a shot across his back that nicked both shoulder blades and a vertebra. Virgil was shot through the calf and Holliday was grazed by a bullet. The gunfight in Tombstone lasted only 30 seconds, but it would end up defining Wyatt Earp for the rest of his life, much to his dismay.
The last surviving Earp brother and the last surviving participant of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, Wyatt Earp died at home at 4004 W 17th Street, in Los Angeles, of chronic bladder inflammation others labeled as prostate Cancer on January 13, 1929 at the age of 80. His Associated Press obituary described him as a "gun-fighter, whose blazing six-shooters, were for most of his life allied with the side of law and order".
 
Tombstone is one of my favorite movies due to the fact there was Kurt Russell (Wyatt Earp), Sam Elliot (Virgil Earp), Bill Paxton (Morgan Earp) and Val Kilmer (Doc Holliday)--nothing wrong with the line up! "I'll be your Huckleberry."



Kevin Costner as Wyatt Earp showed some of Earps younger years and is one of my favorites as well.




What are some of your favorites?

My Writing

Once I got Sawyer's Rose and All But The Fall submitted for the unpublished Maggies, I went back to Sawyer's Rose and re-edited the entire story and got it off to my wonderful critique partners. (Thanks Maggie and Kim) So now I wait and will then take the time to make what corrections/advice these Ladies offer-and hey, they know what they are doing. So I will be hitting Sawyer's Rose once more before sending him off to various editors. My goal had been to have this done by May 1st of this year, but I have to keep thinking about how much I've gotten accomplished and that the effort at one more edit will hopefully pay off. Time will tell on Sawyer, but in the mean time, I have been reworking All But The Fall to add a bit of fluff to that story. My goal is to have it ready by October when I attend M&M, where I hope to get two or more pitches and I will have both stories to pitch. I might have said some of this in a previous post but somehow writing about it lets me know where I am heading.


So as this posts, my family and I are leaving for a week at the beach, where I hope to edit at night once we return to the condo after the days activities. My goal is to continue editing through All But The Fall for enhancing the story even more. Actually, my goal is to enjoy the beach and my family and the writing will be here when I return, but maybe I can sneak in a bit of editing when the day runs into evening and we are sitting around. Oh, the life of a writer...even when I am actively enjoying something my mind will stray to this character or that story line and how I can make it better. I have a magnet that says, "I am not daydreaming, I'm plotting." And so...stay tuned!!!

Cowboy Bedroom

Just a few pictures from our bedroom. Since I've been writing about cowboys and love that theme all together, I changed the bedroom décor to match about a year ago. Thanks Hobby Lobby! (They have good cowboy stuff!)

Longmire

I happened to catch Longmire season 1 after my father clued me in on the western television series on A&E. I just love the show where sheriff Walt Longmire (Robert Taylor) battles his own demons along with keeping order in Absaroka County Wyoming. The series also sports Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) and was originally a series of best selling books by Craig Johnson. I think I may get a set of those books in the near future. My family and I (yes I let my girls watch) have spent several weeks watching all of seasons 1 and 2 so we can get ready to watch the premier of season 3 tonight. Will you be tuning in? Monday A&E at 10pm June 2!!!

Cowboy Caviar

Cowboy Caviar
1/2 red onion-chopped
1 green bell pepper-chopped
2 cans black beans-drained and rinsed
2 cans black eyed peas-drained and rinsed
2 cans shoe peg corn-drained and rinsed
3 large jalapenos-finely chopped and seeded
1 can of diced tomatoes-drained and rinsed
3 small celery stalked-finely chopped
3 garlic cloves-finely chopped

1 bottle of zesty Italian salad dressing-shake well

1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and chill for one hour-drain and serve with Frito Scoops!!!
Add more jalapenos to taste or try a little Louisiana hot sauce to spice things up a bit. Great for party appetizer or snack!