R. I. P.

Today’s poem (R.I.P. - Rest in Peace) is centered on an actual event that took place in the year 1881 at Tombstone, Arizona.  The town was a lively place, open 24 hours-a-day to “serve” the miners who worked in shifts around the clock.

The silver mined brought lots of money into the town and the living was good. Poker games, taverns, dance halls, lovely ladies and music by old time piano players all could be found in Tombstone

The people were real, the statics are real, but the stories may have been glamorized somewhat over the years. One aspect that is conveniently overlooked is the fact that the Earp’s and Doc Holiday all had numerous criminal charges brought against them which they seemed to be able to sidestep.  They were not “lily-white”, so to speak.

The photo was found on the internet. Enjoy the poem……

R.I.P.

At the mining town of Tombstone in the Arizona Territory
A western-style drama, unfolded, leading to a gruesome story

An ongoing dispute, festering, came to a climatic head
Leaving two lawmen wounded and some cowboys dead

This thriving mining town attracted many to come and stay
Among them, the five Earp brothers and a “Doc” Holiday

   A spirited lifestyle of the hard-working miners did abound

     It was Wyatt Earp, the lawman, who kept the peace in town

    Ike Clanton, a cowboy, started the historic ruckus into play

     With a heated, drunken argument with old “Doc” Holiday

         Deadly threats were made, guns strapped on; the “die is c

Wyatt and his deputies sensing trouble acted fast

          It was eyeball to eyeball near the O.K. Corral that fateful day

      Tensions high, anger brewing; a showdown was on its way

A few harsh words were said . . . . Two cowboys fled

               Some lawman’s blood was shed . . . . Three cowboys were dead

A simple service was later held on Boot Hill for the dead

The preacher man, opening his weathered bible, read

       Ashes to ashes, dust to dust etc., Amen. . . . uttered with grace

   Wooden grave markers still locate their final resting place

                                                  Poem by Herm Meyer

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Stuff:

The silver mines had to be closed when the water came into the mine faster than they could pump it out and the mine flooded.

Guns played a big part in the “law of the West”!

The gunfight occurred on October of 1881. In December, Virgil Earp survived an assassination attempt. He lost the use of his left arm. The following March, Morgan was gunned down and killed while playing billiards.

In revenge, Wyatt, Warren Earp, Holliday and others went on a “vendetta ride” for justice, in which they killed three cowboys, including the group’s leader, Curly Bill Brocius.