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On June 22, 1881, a fire destroyed most
of the eastern half of
Tombstone’s
business district. Having no water to put out the fire, buildings in the
path of the fire were dynamited to slow the engulfing flames. The
citizens of
Tombstone
blamed Marshal Ben Sippy for not
controlling the looting that followed the fire and
Virgil Earp,
the senior deputy, was soon appointed marshal, a move that antagonized the
already hostile
Clantons.
On May 25, 1882 another fire devastated
Tombstone,
destroying most of the western half of
Tombstone's
business district, including the
O.K. Corral. This
second fire signaled the beginning of the end of the classic boomtown
mining camp.
Ironically, though
Tombstone
had suffered from a severe lack of water, drilling struck water in the
late 1800's and began to flood the mines, spelling the end for
Tombstone.
For decades many of
Tombstone's
buildings remained unused and decaying in the hot desert sun. However, in
the 1930's restoration began on the town to make it the tourist
destination of today.
More
buildings and pictures next page
Kathy Weiser/Legends
of America, © May, 2007
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