Wyatt Earp 2

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Wyatt was working right up until the end, never taking the time to slow down and relax. In his last few years he was contacted by a man named Stuart Lake, who was interested in writing his biography. Years earlier, Lake had talked to Bat Masterson. Masterson had commented that "The real story of the west will never be known unless Wyatt Earp talks, and he won't talk." Lake managed to talk Wyatt into letting him write his "life story". This was probably due to two reasons, Wyatt wanted to give his side of the story, but probably more, he needed the money. Wyatt had gambled away most of his life's savings by this time. Wyatt had previously made some attempts to get his story published, but Wyatt was no writer. He had made an attempt at a manuscript with friend John Flood, but couldn't find any takers. Lake was given possession of this original manuscript and along with some interviews with Wyatt, came up "Wyatt Earp, Frontier Marshal". The book didn't hit the streets until 1931, 2 years after Wyatt had died. It was due to Lake's book that we know Wyatt Earp like we do today, previously he was not near as well known.

Wyatt died peacefully in a rented Los Angeles cottage on January 13, 1929 with Josie by his side. One of his few remaining Tombstone friends, John Clum, visited Wyatt for the last time the night before. Josie was too heart broken to go to the funeral. Wyatt was buried in the Jewish Section of the Hills of Eternity Cemetery in Colma, California. The pallbearers at Wyatt's funeral included two of his close friends from Tombstone, John Clum and George Parsons as well as his attorney from the Tombstone days, W.J. Hunsacker. Wilson Mizner, a friend from the Alaska days and early Hollywood western stars Tom Mix and William S. Hart were the other pallbearers. Wyatt had lived almost 81 years and been involved in some of the most notorious shoot-outs in western folklore, had watched his friends and brothers killed around him, and yet had lived through it all without a scrape. There are two eulogies written about Wyatt at or shortly after his death. The first one was a newspaper clipping Glenn Boyer wrote about in "I Married Wyatt Earp", the second was written by Walter Noble Burns, the author of the book "Tombstone". I think they sum up the life of one Wyatt Earp, for all his faults and weaknesses, we must look at it all in perspective.
"Mr. Earp was an exceptionally good friend of the writer, and while many unkind stories have been told about him, the writer never knew him to do an unkind or uncharitable act. He was the soul of honor in his dealings, and his word was as good as a rich man's bond. If the writer could make his epitaph, it would read:

Here Lies a Man"

"So hail and farewell to the lion of Tombstone. Strong, bold, forceful, picturesque was this fighter of the old frontier. Something epic in him. Fashioned in Homereric mould. In his way, a hero. Whatever else he may have been, he was brave. Not even his enemies have sought to deny his splendid courage. The problems of his dangerous and difficult situation, he solved, whether wisely or foolishly, with largeness of soul and utter fearlessness. No halo is for this rugged, storm-beaten head. He was a hard man among hard men in a hard environment. What he did, he did. The record stands. But, weighed in the balance, he will not be found wanting. Judged by the circumstances of his career, the verdict in his case is clear - Wyatt Earp was a man."
Walter Noble Burns

"Wyatt Earp was not the man painted and created by Stuart N. Lake. If he had been, he would not have needed a funeral. He would have just ascended to heaven on his own power. On the other hand, he was not the villain and scoundrel portrayed by many of his detractors. If he had been, his funeral would not have been attended by numerous friends of many years standing. Like it was reported about Frank Stilwell, 'His coffin would have been conveyed to the grave on a wagon unfollowed by a single mourner." Wyatt Earp was a product of his times. He was a gambler when gambling was a respectable occupation. When it became illegal, he probably continued that activity anyway. He was not a great man, but nevertheless an outstanding man whose exploits epitomized an interesting age in history that has captured and held the interest and imagination of the American people like no other."

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