Doc HollidaySome of Their Friends
Doc Holliday
John Henry "Doc" Holliday was Wyatt Earp's best friend although Wyatt's friend Bat Masterson wasn't too fond of Doc. Some historians believe Doc responsible for quite a few of the troubles that ensued in Tombstone. Doc was born in August 14th 1851 in Georgia. He was educated at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery and practiced for a short time as a dentist. Holliday was diagnosed with Tuberculosis soon after and headed out west. Doc tried to keep up with his dental practice, but patients found it uneasy to have a man with Tuberculosis coughing in their face (I know I would!). Doc decided that money and adventure could be had in gambling, so this became his profession. He built himself a reputation as a dangerous man, "homicidal", and "killer" are often used to describe Holliday. As far as Doc was concerned, he had nothing to lose, he was dying of Tuberculosis and this was probably the likely cause of his reckless attitude. Doc's reputation as being an ace with a gun are by most accounts, inaccurate. Doc may have been well and good with a gun when he was sober, but since he spent most his later years in a drunken stupor, we don't really know. He was a lifelong friend of Wyatt's, riding with him on his Tombstone vendetta. He died of Tuberculosis on November 8, 1887, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Bat Masterson
Bartholomew "Bat" Masterson was one of Wyatt's best friends, fellow lawman, and one of the famous Masterson brothers that tamed Dodge City. "Bat", as he was known, was born on November 24, 1853. In his youth he would change his name to William Barclay Masterson. Bat and Wyatt probably met when both were buffalo hunters in their early twenties. They would meet again when both worked on the Dodge City Police Force in the 1870's. Bat would become Sheriff of Ford County, Kansas in 1877and his brother Ed would become Marshal of Dodge City and would be killed in the line of duty. His brother, James also worked on the Dodge Police Force. In 1907 Bat wrote several articles for Human Life magazine about "Famous Gunfighters of the West". He talked Wyatt up as one of the most feared gunfighters/lawmen in the West and said Earp was the only man he ever knew being absolutely fearless. Bat would be a lifelong friend of Wyatt's, and helped save Earp and Holliday from being extradited back to Arizona on murder charges. Bat eventually became a professional sports writer in New York and became a Deputy US Marshal for his precinct. Bat died at his desk on October 25, 1921.
Bat Masterson, Marshall, Deputy