Tombstone

Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns

In the late 19th century, the American Southwest, particularly Arizona, was a land of conflict, opportunity, and transformation. The narrative follows Ed Schieffelin, a prospector who, amidst the chaos of Apache raids led by Geronimo, discovers a rich vein of silver in a desolate range of hills. This discovery leads to the establishment of a mining town that would become known as Tombstone, a name steeped in irony and foreshadowing. Schieffelin's journey begins as he scouts the area for the military, but his true ambition lies in prospecting. After a series of adventures, including encounters with hostile Apaches and the discovery of human skeletons near a silver ore deposit, he stakes his claim and names it Tombstone. The town quickly attracts fortune seekers, leading to a boom in mining and commerce. As Tombstone flourishes, it becomes a microcosm of the Wild West, populated by a diverse cast of characters, including lawmen, outlaws, and miners. The Earps, particularly Wyatt Earp, emerge as key figures in the town's law enforcement, striving to maintain order amidst rampant lawlessness. The narrative details the tensions between the Earps and various outlaw factions, including Curly Bill and the Clanton brothers, who embody the chaotic spirit of the frontier. The story unfolds through a series of violent confrontations, political maneuverings, and personal vendettas. The infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral serves as a climax, symbolizing the struggle between law and disorder. The Earps, alongside Doc Holliday, confront the Clantons and McLowerys, leading to a deadly showdown that cements their legacy in Tombstone's history. As the town grapples with its identity, the narrative explores themes of justice, revenge, and the harsh realities of frontier life. The characters navigate a world where morality is often blurred, and survival hinges on strength and cunning. The rise and fall of Tombstone reflect the broader narrative of the American West, where dreams of wealth and glory are often met with violence and tragedy. Ultimately, the tale of Tombstone is one of ambition, conflict, and the relentless pursuit of fortune, set against the backdrop of a land that shaped the destinies of those who dared to stake their claims in its unforgiving terrain. The legacy of Schieffelin, the Earps, and the outlaws who roamed the streets of Tombstone endures, encapsulating the spirit of an era defined by its larger-than-life characters and the tumultuous events that unfolded in the pursuit of the American Dream.

By Walter Noble Burns · First published 1927 · Genre: Historical Non-Fiction, Biography, Western · 22 chapters · 127,037 words

First lines

Geronimo and his warriors were out of their stronghold in the Dragoons. Through all the southeastern part of Arizona from the San Simon to the Huachucas and from the Gila to the Mexican line, the Apache bands were relentlessly harrying the thinly settled land with a warfare of ambuscade and assassination. Through desert mesquite and cactus, the invisible savages slipped with the noiseless swiftness of running water; like poisonous reptiles they wriggled upon their bellies to points of murderous vantage; as still as cougars and as patient, they lurked beside the trails or watched a cabin door. The sudden cough of a rifle through the golden peace of the sunshine gave the first intimation of their ghostly nearness. A wagon train was ambushed in some pass in the hills; a miner in some lonely gulch was murdered from a cholla thicket; a settler with his wife and children was massacred on his homestead claim. Back to their mountain fastnesses from their slinking, silent war trails, the red butchers bore their spoils -- a side of bacon, a sack of flour, a bag of beans, a little tobacco, a pair of overalls, a calico wrapper, a baby's rattle. Then the riotous feasting, the paeans of drumming tom-toms, the wild, impassioned dance of triumph. This was the Apache way in war. No battles, only murder. If the soldiers pressed hard upon their traces, the savages, on their tough, swift ponies, vanished as by magic through secret mountain paths to safety in old Mexico.

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Western · Biography · Non-fiction · History · Crime · Violence · Mortality · Death · Gunslingers · Lawmen · Outlaws · Arizona

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Tombstone is listed on Textopian as a novel by Walter Noble Burns, dated 1927 CE.

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