Sartaj Singh
‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ is a gritty Netflix docudrama vividly retelling the saga of crime, politics, and revenge between lawman Wyatt Earp and Cowboy gang leader Ike Clanton in the Old West. Transporting us to 1880s Arizona and into the silver mining town of Tombstone, the show follows both lawmen and gangsters as they fight not just for power but also public sentiment. At the center of the conflict is Deputy Marshal Wyatt Earp, squaring off against Ike Clanton, leader of the Cowboy gang. Despite spanning six episodes, the personal, economic, and political factors influencing the feud ensure that the series maintains a brisk pace, warranting further investigation into the chain of events.
Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War Gives Personal Perspective to Legendary Exploits
The Netflix docu-series ‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ expands upon the story of Wyatt Earp beyond his involvement in the legendary shootout at the O.K. Corral. It narrates a personal story, immersing us in the life of the reticent lawman. It tracks his journey from working as a rough but effective dealer of justice to becoming the vengeful vigilante who divided the nation. However, within the focused scope of the series, certain details about the depicted figures and events remain uncovered. Prior to his arrival in the bustling mining town of Tombstone, Earp’s life was marked by wandering across the frontier, run-ins with the law, and developing the skills and reputation that would later help define him.
Wyatt was the fourth of eight children, and his family moved west in search of greater opportunities. The devastating punches he threw to humorous effect in the docudrama’s depiction were honed as a 20-year-old learning boxing while working in Wyoming in 1868. He was hired to grade track the railhead of the Union Pacific Railroad and also began delving into gambling on the side. In the following year, he rejoined his family in Lamar, Missouri, and was appointed as a constable of the township once his war veteran father, Nicholas, retired.
Wyatt’s life up to this point was largely on the straight and narrow, but a singular event seemed to throw it out of balance. In 1870, he married Urilla Sutherland and bought a plot of land on which to build a house and start his own family. She passed away in the same year due to complications in childbirth, leading an undoubtedly grieving Wyatt to sell his prospective house and leave town. For the next few years, he seemed to undertake a number of unscrupulous activities, including gambling, drinking, and spending time at brothels. He was even arrested for his involvement with sex workers and accused of stealing a horse.
Wyatt Earp’s Return to Law Enforcement
Wyatt’s life took a hopeful turn in 1874 when he helped a policeman in Wichita, Kansas, catch a horse thief and received public acclaim for it. He resumed working as a lawman and made a name for himself when it came to keeping the Cowboys in line. After a physical altercation with a politically connected figure, he traveled to Dodge City, Kansas, following his older and historically lesser-known brother, James Earp. He did well as a lawman in the city, even traveling to Texas and tracking down “Dirty Dave” Rudabaugh. That is where he met Doc Holliday, who saved his life during a tussle and would go on to become his closest friend.
When his elder brother Virgil informed the family of a large silver strike in Tombstone, Wyatt, James, and Morgan joined him in the Arizona town. However, they arrived too late to profit from the silver rush. Wyatt initially sought business opportunities in the town, including a stake in a local saloon, but soon found himself drawn back into security work due to the town’s lawlessness. He was initially hired by Wells Fargo as a shotgun messenger to secure their stagecoaches as they transported strongboxes carrying valuable cargo. When Virgil became Deputy Sheriff of Pima County, he appointed Wyatt as his deputy, restarting his days as a lawman once again.
Relevant and Interesting Details Not Covered in the Netflix Series
The Earps’ rivalry with the Cowboys is comprehensively documented in ‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War.’ However, there are several details that were left out of the docu-series, likely owing to storytelling restraints. The Earp Vendetta Ride did include James Earp as well as the younger brother Warren, but their involvement is not covered. Warren had been at the Earp family home in Colton, California when the O.K. Corral shooting took place. After Virgil was shot, Warren traveled to Tombstone to stand by his brothers’ side and was deputized by Wyatt, who took on Virgil’s role of Deputy Marshal.
An event portrayed with a slight alteration in the Netflix series was Sheriff Johnny Behan’s initial attempt to stop Wyatt’s posse as the Earp Vendetta Ride began. When Judge Charles Meyer sent a telegram to Behan to arrest Wyatt and his men, the manager of the telegraph office showed the message to Wyatt first, as they were friends. He agreed to hold on to the message and deliver it after they had left town. However, Johnny Behan had already gathered his own posse in anticipation and approached Wyatt and his heavily armed men as they were leaving town.
The sheriff told Wyatt that he wanted to see him, to which the vengeful lawman replied, “Johnny, if you’re not careful, you’ll see me once too often.” The group rode away without incident but later reports in the press would state that Earp’s group had drawn their weapons on Behan and resisted arrest. Regardless of the minor omissions and creative liberties taken, ‘Wyatt Earp and the Cowboy War’ offers a detailed and compelling portrayal of the legendary lawman’s tumultuous life. It describes the emotional and psychological arc of the reticent figure and captures the brutal realities of justice in the Old West.
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