The Truth About The Truth About The Gunfight At The O.K. Corral 

We live in Tombstone helping our friend on his ranch. I take visitors on Dr. Jay’s tour. He is a walking Tombstone historian who is entertaining and interesting. I highly recommend his tour.

My daughter and I did the Tombstone walking tour with Dr Jay (and his wife) when we visited from Australia five years ago. He's such a nice man and entertaining while sharing history. I hope he makes more videos.

The only thing we really have to go on, are the official legal proceedings, including coroner's findings, judicial ruling and statements. And all made within days of the fight. That is as close as anyone is ever going to get to the "truth." And so what was that? The antagonists faced each other and started shooting. (Nobody knows for sure, who started shooting first.) Ike Clanton and instigator, ran away, leaving his brother and friends to die in a hail of bullets. Nobody died, surrendering with their hands held high, apove their heads (contrary to what was claimed.) Both parties sustained wounds. The "cowboys" had repeatedly been overheard, threatening death and violence against the Earps. The Cowboys were (or presumed to be) armed and dangerous and in violation of city ordinance. They hated each other and both wished each other dead. The Earps and Holiday however, were all legally deputized and acting within their duties as lawmen. Anything more or less than this, is just "his story."

Also, lets be honest. If your from the west, you welcome tourists money. BUT... If they mention moving here, now they are "outsiders! Hence, over the years the story tellers from the area had a tendency to favor the "locals" in the story. Even the fabled vendetta ride has a another side. Back in those days, if someone killed a family member of yours and you hunted them down, it was considered justified. Want proof? Jack McCall was found innocent in Deadwood because he said Wild Bill killed his brother. His second trial didn't go so well for him because the brother story was false.

I love this video, but history is not going away. THE Gunfight will always be around and will always be a part of history. My grandson will know about it if I teach him anything.

Wonderful video! Informative and entertaining.

Maybe, just maybe Walter Noble Burns, a novelist embellished the story especially since Wyatt had died before Burns book was released and Wyatt had no chance to stop the release or challenge Burns' remarks. Burns was trying to sell a book not a biography.

I went to Tombstone and found that everyone from the tour guides to the restaurant staff were aggressive sales people😆😆

My husband's family lives in AZ and when we came to visit them in 2016 We made a point to take them to Tombstone to introduce them to and take the tour with Dr Jay. What a great storyteller and guide! Then we enjoyed lunch with him at the Crystal Palace. We and our family enjoyed it so much!! Watching this makes us relive our experience there. Great job Dr Jay and Linda!!! Hope you will do more in the future.

Wow had to laugh, Mr. Clark is very entertaining and well versed on Tombstone lore. I highly recommend this to folks of all ages

Well that was 8 minutes of no information. From what I've read, despite numerous claims of "I was there!" only one person is known to have seen the gunfight from start to finish: Kate Elder, Doc Holliday's on again/off again mistress, from her boarding room window above the alley. "Big Nose Kate," as she was known locally because she always stuck her nose in the business of others, was considered so unreliable a witness, that neither side dared call her to testify. Her testimony had been purchased for a bottle before. The rest of the "eye witnesses" wisely took cover as anyone else would do when bullets started flying. One bit of lore does pop up in almost all recounting of the events: Two men fired first, simultaneously, but no one is certain who - not even the participants. Wyatt is generally considered to be one of them, but he said he wasn't sure. This is curious as most accounts say that two men fired two shots simultaneously, but not at each other. Then there was a pause, then, as Wyatt testified, "The fight commenced to being general."

One thing is clear. The cowboys were not expecting a gunfight if they were they would have pulled the rifles off the scabbard and wipe out all the Earp Brothers. There's really just no way around that I mean it's not logical to think they were expecting a fight yet they leave their best weapons in stuck in the scabbard. In addition Tom mclaury was unarmed. Upward of ten witnesses saw the sheriff search Tom maclaury and find no weapon. His weapon was found to be in the saloon so he evade the law on that the first building you come to your supposed to check your gun and that's exactly what he did. Frank mcclory refused to give up the gun and said I done told you no and that's final. He said the Arabs have been busted head since daylight and they're not going to bust my head. He did offer to disarm if the sheriff would disarm the earps and I think that's a reasonable request request since the earos were cracking heads. And he also told me hand you will have no trouble from us I'm going to get the boys out of town but I have business to attend to here. Besides that the herbs are not going to run me anywhere I'll leave town when I'm damn good and ready. Billy clanton different books give different ages some say he was 16 some say he was 19 I believe he was 19. Be that as it may he was clearly scared and he said in the saloon with 20 or more witnesses I didn't come to town to fight anybody and nobody wants to fight me I just want a ike to go home. At the end Billy clanton in Frank mcclory who are severely outgunned both died bravely. Poor Tom was shot down unarmed the only two that had a gun both were not ready to quit the fight and both shot back after they were wounded that's according to even the earp side.

Overall aspects of an old west gunfight can be known. But details, especially minute ones, of a violent chaotic event cannot be perfectly known. There was no video, body cams or audio recordings in those days. Forensic analysis was limited. Today even with modern technology officer involved shootings can still be confusing. When this event took place newspaper reports had to rely on witness accounts and limited physical evidence to determined what happened. And witnesses who are running and ducking for cover are not likely to agree with each other about what they actually heard and saw.

Oh my goodness sir what a fantastic video! You my friend are a great storyteller! Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge on the subject.

Dr Jay is the truth teller he focuses on the history of tombstone not all the other crap . Way to go love it.

Thanks Dr Jay, great to revisit this after doing our fantastic tour with you a few years ago.

Yup !. When the Legend becomes fact. Print the Legend. The Man who shot Liberty Valance.

I got married by this Beautiful couple in Tombstone 2017.. I to love the western days and see it is fading away but I'll always keep the memories alive in my head and heart.. Thank you Dr Jay and Mrs Linda.. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!

So good to see you (albeit on video) again Dr. Jay! Cannot wait for the next one and say howdy to Miss Linda.

I have the distict pleasure of being friends with all those in this video, Especially Dr. Jay and Wyatt. In fact, I played Wyatt and Virgil at the OK Corral recreating the shoot out.

Happened in fly's vacant lot fifteen foot wide

This told me nothing about what supposedly happened in any versions of the story.

A single thirty second event...

Fight happened three months after billy the kid was killed and 6 months before Jesse James was gunned down

DOES ANYONE HAVE A HISTORICALLY ACCURATE DIAGRAM OF THE SHOOT OUTS LOCATION ? HOW BIG ? WHAT BUILDINGS WAS IT A DIRT ALLY OR PAVED

Dr Jay your a classic.... I wanted to look you up when I was in Tombstone but time constraints kept me from doing so.... Your such an encyclopedia of knowledge in the area of the events during that time span ..... I could listen to you for hours..... Doc.

Good job Bro, fun, entertaining and funny. And let's not forget the great backdrop with actors to boot. Great job gang! (c= Someday I'd like to visit.

Great! Thank You Dr. J!!!

It was intense.

Fun video Thx. One of my favorite places to visit and definately, my all time favorite movie with Kurt and Val and Sam

I've driven past that town dozens of times but never went in. This was worth seeing and look forward to the Georgia Boy turned dentist.

You can read Wyatt’s Courtroom testimony under oath, Also other peoples court testimony

When I first saw this title, I thought for sure it was going to be yet another neo historian trying to rewrite history by stating that the Earps and Holliday set out to murder the Clantons and McLaurys. The facts just don’t support this hypothesis. Wyatt and Doc hated Ike, and if murder was intended, Ike would have been the first one to get shot. Yet Ike was unarmed, and came out of the gunfight unscathed. So, thank you Dr. Jay for a very entertaining video‼️

As a young boy I would go visit my grandpa who lived across the street from the city park. I would go over and swing and try to get up high enough that you could sometimes get to see over into the corral area. for those that lived there for a long time you might remember my grandpa, his name was wayne eyler.

Every time a new version of a historical event is made, that past becomes a little bit blurrier and out of focus, until it becomes “-a fable agreed upon.”

Great job with your commentary, Doc Jay, and for really looking the part, with a very impressive holster rig and six-gun sidearm! Must get out there to take your tour! Doc Holliday, meet Doc Jay!

Met you on the trail in Glenwood Springs. Looking forward to that video!

The 1st version was and is the most accurate to what happened. We know listen to the testimony in court. Read the transcript of the trial you will learn a lot. Do a history check on wyhett Earp he was a robber at gun point he slole a Man of he horse in the next day a family member who was a federal judge gave him some and told him to run west because he would be found guilty and be hanged to death you your self need to look it up and see for yourselves who he was and look up he clanton family members and make your own informed decision on what really happened that day. All the towns people gathered and were going to hang all the Earps for murder the sheriff had to talk the people down and escort the earps out of the territory to save there lifes . Its on fortunate that the government want complete control of that territory so they protected the Earp's get a complete history on all the people in the fight at the ok corral . You may have a different view after you do

Lots of information, very entertaining and love your ponytail.😄.

If this happened now more then 100 people would have it on cell phones and we would be watching it on you tube before the bodies were cold. Its fun to wonder what life was really like back then and this man does a good job of taking you back to that time in history.

Nicely done! Can't wait to see more!

There will always be differing points of view on events that have no living witnesses. History is full of them. My favorite piece of advice in these circumstances comes from the editor of the Shinbone Star in the movie "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". He tells Jimmy Stewart, "This is the West. When the fact becomes legend, print the legend."

A Tombstone experience with Dr. Jay and Linda R. enriches your life. You'll find yourself recalling it often and gladly sharing with others.

With all of the participants dead, history apparently is now up for debate. Show me proof - not heresy.

I remember Liberty Valance, or I should say the man who shot Liberty😊

I’ve made a couple of trips to Tombstone, well worth the drive.

What exactly did he mean at the beginning when he said, "sadly our history is going away"?

Beautifully crafted. Entertaining and informative. Wish there were more.

Doc Jay this is wonderful! Living in Illinois now but will pass this on to those I know and will look for more. Your walking tours were always a treat when we lived there and I will have my grandson knowing the 'true' (?) story of the OK Corral and other wonderful spots in Tombstone. (Madam Dee and Deuce Wylde)

ENJOYED YOUR TAKE ON THIS FAMOUS GUNFIGHT DR JAY!

So this is the truth about the truth of the gunfight... ???😂😂😂

Unless you were there you don't know either bloke

This is excellent! Great fun and well presented. Keep up the good history, Dr. Jay👍👏‼️

I would love to see much more by this gentleman!

Really enjoyed this! I hope to see more content from you in the future!

You didn't say anything!!!

Umm, he never even addressed the real story…

Clickbait bullshit .

Hey! The Wyatt Earp Reinactor is wearing a Free Mason's Symbol. Was Wyatt Earp a Free Mason?!

Way to go Doc Jay! Can't wait to share this video with my students next week when we talk about myth and gunfights in the American West! We're doing a case-study of the Gunfight at the OK Corral. :)

Thank you for sharing the truth. Sad so much of history is being rewritten.

"Busy, snowy street.." Bang! That alone disqualifies maybe like 100% of the flicks, TV shows, and such,

Delightful!!! Well done!

Get 'ay Rev..Luv the vid..& our memories of our marriage at the 'Trail Riders Inn' performed by yourself & Linda in '015 will never be forgotten..howdy from Down-Under ..Mohawk and McGinty

Jay you are awesome!.....right down to the authentic holster and clothing you wear.. Hollywood should hire you to be an advisor.......but is that a Ruger Vaquero on your hip?.....yuk!!

You told us nothing

😂

The real life hosea

excellent

Doc Holliday was a dentist. "You want the tooth? You can't HANDLE the tooth!"

I grew up there

At the 5:00 minute area it looked like I saw a Square and Compass emblem which could have been a watch fob worn by Wyatt Earp. Was he in fact a Brother?

hes right

Enjoyed the tone and viewpoints presented! Still a mystery - don't you know!

Thank you. Great channel. I would like to see a tombstone where everybody is a bad guy and the element of the large train loads of hired gunmen is Incorporated & silver, cash "transactions"

The truth is, the Earps were as shady as the Clantons and McLaurys.

Meh

Is that Bill Traywick ?

Doc Holiday did not pull the trigger. The gun just went off in his hand; like Alec Baldwin.

This was so good until I have watched it multiple times. Great job 👍

There should be a movie about wyatt earp famous layman and be able to play wyatt earp

I really enjoyed this fun informative video. I hope you make more of these, or are you a one trick pony.

I can't image he'd actually be able to get that gun out of the holster

"The truth about the truth"? Are you sure it's not "The truth about the truth about the truth"?

That earth quake looked so real. Was Bob Dalton there too. He should have been dare

We were married by Dr. Jay & we enjoyed the whole service.

It didn't happen there but in lot by flys

Nice.. Great bnb video and story

I'm convinced that the Earps knew the Cowboys were cold blooded killers and they never gave them much of a chance.

Love the video Dr. Jay! You are such a great entertainer and story teller.

Dr. Jay....did Tom Mclaury have a gun? What does the testimony at the inquest say?

But have been in a real gun fight ??? Shot at no I beat not

Doc Jay you look great in that garb

In 8 minutes you didn't tell me anything about what you were talking about.

waiting on docs video

MORE please MORE

I really do not understand the corral thing; if you expect trouble you bring shotguns and, as lawmen, they should had pistols in their best holster, the hands.. Think I read that Earps went down on a ship enroute to AK. BUT, if you want to goad the guys in to " taking a dare", you might want to appear less than ready. But again, would they go against a shotgun?... c

Cheers mate

G'Day Doc and Linda. Good to see you branching out to bring history to more folks around the world. Was talking to a chap on the street this morning - about Luke Short and Charlie Storms, and Bat Masterson. Also about the owner of the Cosmopolitan Hotel - died in 1915 - he went down with the Lusitania. Folks should realize that there's a lot more history in Tombstone than one gunfight. Even the windows on the 5th Street side of the Crystal Palace - all attorneys - are of interest. "Gabby"

A few, (quite a few), years back, I spent the night in a hotel in Tombstone. When I checked out the following morning, the (extremely convivial), gentleman at the desk introduced himself as "My names Holliday... people just call me Doc." After we'd talked for a while I told him, "Well Doc, I've got to get back on the road." Doc replied, "Well, now you can tell all your friends that you got chased outta Tombstone by Doc Holliday!" Thanks Doc! Great memory!