Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2025 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= Los Angeles Times Monday, 14 January, 1929 WYATT EARP, picturesque gun-fighting deputy sheriff when Dodge City was a cow camp, and later town marshal of Tombstone, Ariz. - companion and colleague of "WILD BILL" HICKOK, BILL TIGHLMAN, BEN THOMPSON and "BAT" MASTERSON died at 8 a.m. yes- terday at his home, 4004 West Seventeenth street. He was 81 years of age. The last of the famous band that brought law and order into the rough cow camps of the West with 45-caliber bullets, had made his home in Los Angeles for a number of years, occupying himself with his mining properties, horses and love of sports. He had been ill with kidney trouble for the last three years. EARP was born March 19, 1848 at Monmouth, Ill., and early joined the migration to the West with his family. He reached Dodge City and settling there became city marshal in '78 and '79. He had many famous gun fights at Dodge. Probably the most remarkable that in which he fought on after receiving a load of buckshot from the shotgun of the notorious "CURLY BILL" who in turn was brought down by EARP after the outlaw had am- bushed EARP and his posse. He had another tough fight in Tombstone on an October morn- ing in '81. VIRGIL EARP was Chief of Police. WYATT and another brother, MORGAN, were deputy United States marshals. They tangled with the CLANTONS, IKE and BILLY; BILLY CLAYBOURNE and TOM and FRANK McLOWRIE, and killed all except "IKE." A little later MORGAN EARP was murdered. VIRGIL died later in Goldfield (NV), JAMES EARP died in Los Angeles several years ago, and NEWTON, another brother, died three years ago in Sacramento at the age of 91. He left Tombstone in 1882 and went to Goldfield, Tonopah and Denver and thence to the Klondike where he met the late "TEX" RICKARD, WILSON MIZNER, playwright, and may other picturesque figures of the day. He established a gambling hall and saloon, which functioned also as a bank, across the street from the Northern, "TEX" RICKARD'S place. After he made his stake he came back to Oakland at the time the FITZSIMMONS-SHARKEY fight was being promoted. There was talk of possible corruption of the referee and both sides decided that WYATT EARP, against whom there could be no sus- picion of corruption, should be the referee. He took the job provided he could carry his favorite six-shooter at his hip. As he gave the decision to SHARKEY he cast his chilly eye over the audience and there was not a murmur, although some later there were cries of derision - when EARP was out of earshot. Tames Wild Towns As a Deputy United States Marshal, EARP had been sent from town to town to quell disturbances and establish peace. His only recorded visit to California in those days was his mem- orable trip to Colton, then known as the "toughest town un- tamed." Within a week WYATT EARP had the town running like a clock, but at the cost of not a few lives of "prominent citi- zens." EARP could shoot with his two guns from all angles and instantly made his presence felt at Colton. His activities in Arizona are chronicled in the four-volume "History of Arizona," which tells of the taming of the wild, wide open spaces. As a young man EARP was thin and wiry and about 6 feet tall. When he gave up law enforcement - there remaining no "hot spots" in the Far West requiring his services - he devoted his time to his copper mine and the four oil wells he owned near Bakersfield and went in heavily for the breeding and racing of horses. At middle age he looked like a capitalist and dressed like one. Friend of BILL HART "BILL" HART, two-gun man of the movies, and other producers of western films, often sought out WYATT EARP for technical advice and local color for their productions. WILSON MIZNER said yesterday that last week MR. EARP had risen from his bed and that together they had prepared a cheerful telegram to be sent to "TEX" RICKARD, whose death intervened. MR. EARP leaves his widow, MRS. SADIE EARP, and a sister, MRS. W. EDWARDS of Highland. Plans for the funeral, it ws said, probably will be announced today. Many of MR. EARP'S old friends, including WILLIAM S. HART, and WILSON MIZNER will attend the services. HART and MIZNER as honorary pall bearers. ===========================================================================