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Post by volkssturm on Jun 9, 2018 20:28:57 GMT -5
Speaking of the Old West, I'm just finishing "Dodge City: Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and the Wickedest City in the West," by Tom Clavin. Interesting and very readable history of perhaps the quintessential western "Cow Town" and the lawmen (who sometimes slipped over to the wrong side of the law) that brought a sort of civilization to it. More than just the story of Dodge City, which began as an outpost serving buffalo hunters and then a major rail head for the cattle drives coming up from Texas, it's the story of the relationship between Wyatt Earp and his brothers and Bat Masterson and his brothers, as well as associated characters like Doc Holliday. One things that's rather amazing is how much these guys traveled around, from Missouri and Illinois to Kansas, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Montana, New Mexico. Some of this was made easier by the rapid expansion of the railroads, but they spent a lot of time on horseback or on stages covering a lot of miles. It's also a little surprising that a number of them, like Wyatt and Bat, lived well into the 20th century, passing away in the 1920's.
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Post by norseman on Jul 3, 2018 3:32:16 GMT -5
Yup. Those men were tougher than rawhide. Wyatt jumped a mining claim in my neck of the woods and was run out. LOL. He was always seeking his fortune....
I find it to be the richest and most interesting time period in American history.
Some of the biggest Silver screen Cowboys were pall bearers at Wyatts funeral. Like Tom Mix and William S Hart. Wyatt went to Hollywood to clear his good name. They as outsiders were the villians of the OK corral. The McLaurys and Clantons were long standing ranchers in the area. “Murdered on the streets of Tombstone” was their epitaph. It must of worked because the “Cowboys” are now seen as the villians.....not the good guys.
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