Tombstone · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Tombstone by Walter Noble Burns.

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Chapter 1
Dedication
A brief dedication of the book to the author's wife.
Chapter 2
Sources
The author details the primary sources used to write the book, including old newspaper files from the Tombstone Epitaph, Tombstone Nugget, and Tucson Star, court testimony from the Earp-Clanton feud trial, coroner's inquests, personal manuscripts and memoirs of key figures like Ed Schieffelin, Billy Breakenridge, and John Slaughter, as well as interviews with numerous pioneers and old-timers who lived in Tombstone during its heyday.
Chapter 3
Tombstone
The chapter introduces the town of Tombstone, Arizona, a booming silver mining camp in the 1880s, and sets the stage for the conflicts and characters that will define its lawless history.
Chapter 4
I: Hills of Silver
The chapter introduces the harsh Apache warfare in southeastern Arizona and follows Ed Schieffelin, a civilian scout under Al Sieber, who discovers silver in the barren Tombstone hills. After leaving the army, Schieffelin partners with his brother Al and Richard Gird to prospect the area, leading to the discovery of the Lucky Cuss, Tough Nut, Grand Central, and Contention mines. The strike triggers a boom, founding Tombstone and making the Schieffelins millionaires. Ed later finds civilization unsatisfying and returns to the wilderness, ultimately dying alone in his Oregon cabin.
Chapter 5
II: Red Lights and Altar Candles
This chapter paints a vivid portrait of Tombstone as a unique frontier town, blending lawlessness with refinement, boomtown chaos with civilized comforts. It describes the rapid growth following Schieffelin's silver discovery, the diverse population of miners, cowboys, gamblers, and businessmen, and the town's vibrant social life—from churches and newspapers to saloons and dance halls. Anecdotes illustrate the community's character, including the murder of McIntyre over a shirt, the generosity of Dutch Annie and Nellie Cashman, and the rivalry between the Nugget and Epitaph newspapers.

Dedication

Sources

Tombstone

I: Hills of Silver

II: Red Lights and Altar Candles