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Mark Lee Gardner, a respected expert of the American frontier, has authored a new volume titled Brothers of the Gun, which examines the stories of Wyatt Earp and the notorious gambler. The historian expresses annoyance with the oft-quoted line from a iconic western: “When the myth becomes reality, print the tale.”

“Each historian uses it, they just beat it to death,” Gardner remarks cheerfully. “And it’s really not true. I crafted a account. I aim people to be immersed in the era, but I just get so exhausted of that saying. The myth is legend. It doesn't become reality. People can repeat the folklore but it won't make it truth.”

That Notorious Gunfight at the OK Corral

In Arizona's Tombstone, on a day in October 1881, Wyatt Earp and Holliday were involved in a shootout that came to be known as the Tombstone gunfight. Alongside the Earp brothers, the two met the Cowboys, individuals sought for theft and stealing. In less than a minute, three gang members were slain and Holliday was wounded, as were his companions.

Although being one of many frontier conflicts between lawmen and criminals, it became legend, largely thanks to iconic pictures including the John Ford film and the Sturges movie.

Uncertainty and Variation in Historical Testimonies

“A lot of what we learn about it is provable,” Gardner noted of the actual fight and its aftermath. “But I always go back to one of the most telling statements, and it’s a very straightforward comment. Addie Borland, who witnessed the confrontation, remarked: ‘I don’t know. All was confusion.’”

Even the individuals there had conflicting stories. Testimony from the Spicer hearing is also unclear. Witnesses who were friends of the Cowboys were dishonest, and each account is somewhat distinct. It’s infrequent when a person aligns on any point.

“It was all a blur.” – Addie Borland

“Among the participants there were confused,” Gardner states. “So it’s truly challenging to uncover it, and it occurred in half a minute.”

Myth-Making and Hollywood Representations

The lawman survived into the Hollywood era, dying in 1929 at the age of eight decades. Initially shown on a early cinema screen in 1923, he later became the subject of major mid-century westerns. In relatively contemporary decades, he has been portrayed by Kurt Russell in a modern western and another actor in the 1994 movie.

The historian digs through such legend-building to find the individuals beneath. His works explore the range of the American frontier, from a legendary figure and the sheriff to the notorious bandit.

Layered Backgrounds of Earp and Doc Holliday

Hailing in Illinois in 1848, Wyatt was underage to fight in the American Civil War, though he tried to do so. When he was two decades old, he was appointed a peace officer in Lamar, Missouri. Missteps were made. He suffered a loss with the passing of his spouse, his young wife, from typhoid in 1870. Later, as constable, Earp held onto revenue he collected.

“We can't know why he kept it,” Gardner remarks. “He flees, and finds himself in Oklahoma. He’s apprehended for swiping a horse, and then he’s in Illinois, and he’s operating a bawdy house. Finally he heads back west, and he settles in Wichita, Kansas.”

Regardless of his troubled history, Earp excelled as a police officer. Newspapers applauded him often. In one example, he arrested a inebriated man who had $500 on him. He held the cash for the drunk and returned it when he released him from custody.

Contrasting Personalities of the Pair

The historian emphasizes the sharp contrast between the two. Wyatt was aspiring, seeking to better himself and reach offices like county sheriff. Doc, born in Griffin, Georgia in the mid-19th century, was a tooth doctor turned card player. Unlike Wyatt, Holliday did not show signs of establishing roots.

“Doc just travels from one boomtown to the next,” Gardner says. “He doesn't really transform. And a portion of that’s his dependence to wagering. Part of that is consumption, managing that and self-medicating, whether it’s with alcohol or later medicine.”

Influence and Historical Importance

This volume illustrates a fascinating element of the frontier: the friction between authority and lawlessness, and the attempts of officials to exert control over emerging societies. The extent of paperwork that came after a violent incident – hearings, statements, decrees for payment – might startle those versed with simplified versions of the era.

Additionally, Earp and Doc were embroiled in divisive politics. He was a Republican, while local sheriff a Democrat was a opponent, creating a competition for influence and office.

Finally, the historian refuses to glorify these individuals. Wyatt and Holliday passed time on each end