Today in History

October 26, 1881

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

The Tombstone, Arizona Territory gang loosely known as "the Cowboys" had business interests that conflicted with the new Sheriff(s) in town: Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp and their notorious partner "Doc" Holiday. The subsequent events and historical accuracy of much of what happened, and why, are a matter of dispute. To this day, family members of those involved contend the elements of the story.

What is known is that at approximately 3:00 PM on October 26th, 1881, the Earps and Holiday faced down four of the Cowboys in a gunfight at the O.K. Corral. When the encounter was over, three of the Cowboys were dead and only Wyatt Earp was not injured on the side of the Sheriffs. At an inquest, a court exonerated the Earps of murder charges and their legend as lawmen was made.

Wyatt Earp lived to the age of 80 and died in Los Angeles in 1929.

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