Good, Bad & Ugly

The Good, the Bad & the Ugly

October 26, 1886

Dear Diary,

this place is unbelievable. No gun laws here. At least it seems like it. Last night our stagecoach pulled into the town. After squealing down the dusty road for days, we finally saw lights and houses. The stagecoach pulled in front of the tall wooden building - the Grand Hotel. We got the room in the Grand Hotel. Nothing fancy, but clean and smelling good. Exhausted, we fell asleep.

Booom... boooom... the sound awaken us. We darted out of the bed like lightening. What in the world is going on? I opened a dusty window and you would not believe what I saw. Out in the dirt road there was a mass of people watching the gunfight. The crowd murmured, and some women chased the children away. Three man with stars on their jacket - must have been lawmen - stood in front of the sheriff's office. They were walking towards the other group. This group looked rough, like they haven't washed for months. But they sure had big guns.

"A gang! A gang!", I heard screech of some women. Suddenly, people rushed to hide. The narrow street was almost empty, just some stray chickens hanging around. The air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. For a while no one moved. They stood staring at each other without blinking, measuring every move the others made.

Then, they started edging towards each other slowly, hands on their guns. I felt the fear run down my spine. As they approached the Grand Hotel, I could hear the squeaking of their boots on the rough hot sand, and I saw their hands gripping those guns. I can't watch this ! I quickly closed the window and covered my head with the pillow. As the sound of bullets pierced the air I thought: "This Tombstone, Arizona is sure a strange place!"

Sarah

LAWMEN

OUTLAWS

GANGS

IMAGE SOURCE:

Western History/Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library, 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver, Colorado 80204.

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