After Frank Stilwell’s death, a local sheriff issued a warrant for the arrest of the five deputies, including Holliday. But the group wouldn’t surrender.
Soon after the ambush, Wyatt Earp and Holliday arrived at Iron Springs in the Whetstone Mountains. Along with Earp, Holliday closed in on eight cowboys, who drew their weapons and began firing. Holliday and his posse killed at least three cowboys in the group. Amazingly, the only casualty for Holliday was a wounded horse. But with the threat of arrest, the group left Arizona for Colorado.
The Famous Showdown
The McLaury brothers and Billy Clanton died on the spot during the shootout and Clanton fled. It was reported that Holliday may have been the one to inflict the fatal wounds on the three men. Although he, Morgan, and Virgil were wounded, they came out victorious.
The shootout happened a few doors down from the Corral and became known as the fight at the O.K. Corral. It is one of the most famous battles of the Wild West, but this fight was only the beginning for Holliday and the Earp brothers, though they wouldn’t stay together forever.
A New Deputy
After the O.K. Corral showdown, Virgil Earp was crippled for life. In March 1882, Morgan Earp got into an ambush and was killed. Virgil Earp was lucky enough to survive several ambushes because Wyatt and his deputies worked to keep him safe. Finding no justice in the courts, Wyatt made Holliday his deputy, and the two decided to avenge Morgan’s death.
Holliday and the Earps rode out to find Frank Stilwell, one of the Cowboys believed to be responsible for Morgan’s death. They found Stilwell on a train, as Virgil Earp boarded it and killed him.
Parting Ways
Holliday and the group traveled throughout New Mexico to escape arrest, but in Albuquerque, Wyatt Earp and Holliday got into a fight. The fight seriously damaged their relationship, leaving Earp in New Mexico, while Holliday traveled to Colorado.
In 1882, Holliday went to Glenwood Springs, all the while battling tuberculosis. Holliday hoped that the springs would aid his health, but as soon as he arrived in Denver, he was arrested and jailed in Tucson for murdering Frank Stilwell. This time, Holliday seemed to have no one to rescue him.
A Lifelong Partnership
Thankfully for Holliday, he could still salvage his relationship with Earp. When Wyatt Earp heard of the charges, he grew concerned that Holliday wouldn’t receive a fair trial in Arizona. He then asked his friend, Colorado Chief of Police Bat Masterson, to put bunco charges on Holliday.
Holliday met up with Masterson two weeks after his arrest. The two then went to Pueblo, Colorado, where Holliday was released on bond. In June 1882, Earp and Holliday reunited in Gunnison, Colorado. Although the two evidently had an unbreakable bond, this was the second-to-last time Holliday would see Earp.