So this is getting down to the level of pool trivia but I’ve been reading a lot of American West history lately. It’s widely known that Morgan Earp was playing pool in the early 1880’s in Tombstone, Arizona when an assassin fired a shot through the window and killed him. I’ve read a good deal about that event and am curious as to whether anyone has ever seen a source that indicates what game Earp was playing when he was killed. I’m guessing it was some form of Balkline but that’s only from my assumption that Balkline was the popular game at that time. If anyone has ever read anything more definitive, I’d be interested. And yes, I have too much time on my hands.
What pool game was Morgan Earp playing when murdered?
- Thread starter Clusterbuster
- Start date
Here are some details from a Tombstone newspaper at the time. No mention of the exact game:
en.wikisource.org
The Deadly Bullet - Wikisource, the free online library
Here is an on-line timeline of billiards history. In 1881 the average carom player was probably still playing straight rail.
Maybe they were playing pool.
Maybe they were playing pool.
Thanks for you information in the timeline and preceding article. Although the article quoted Morgan as saying he guessed this was his last game of pool, I expect “pool“ may have already become a generic for all billiard games. I appreciate your responses.
Here's the original article from the Tombstone newspaper (on which everything else is apparently based). I don't think there is any way to know if he was playing carom games (straight rail), American four ball, or perhaps one of the early pocket games we now consider "pool." Balkline would have still been very new in 1882.
Edit: I see now this is the same article Bob linked above.
Edit: I see now this is the same article Bob linked above.
Thanks for your interest in sending the article. I appreciate it.
Hmmmm rule number 1 in every low class stinky bar I was ever in ....don't stand in front of the window.
I was almost always in a corner with blockers on the opposite side of the door if I could get there. My friends would say , why do you want to sit here and I would tell them, if bad shit starts I got a way out, if it comes after me , they have a tough way in, and I will have time to get ready.
It saved me at least 1 time for positive, probably a lot more I didn't even realize.
One time was in the "" Lounge. For reference I will desribe the bathroom, there was no womens bathroom , it was about 15 feet long and the entire wall was a stainless steel trough bolted with 1/2 inch lag bolts every 4 inches to a concrete wall. You couldn't have pulled that thing off the wall without a dozer. There was a wooden thing that probably held a commode at one time , it had not been used in decades.
I was behind a lath and plaster wall from the side of the doorway, with my back against a block wall sitting at a table playing cards for money and in walks a squirelly guy who is the adopted brother of a card playing buddy of mine. I had seen him there visiting before at games. I had been introduced to him, said hi and bye, and that was the extent of our encounter. He looks around the room, locks eyes with me and says outside mfer blah blah blah. I said hello George , do you remember me from Juniors ? I'm thinking he is really drunk and is looking for anybody. He says I know who you are, f junior, you and me outside. I had already proven myself in this bar of country boys , but you can't just let someone punk you or they will all get ideas.
I didn''t care, I just said , we got no beef George , I barely know you. Then he starts coming toward me . he got to about 8 feet which is too close and I said if you get up on me George I will have to stop you. Please don't make me do that, I don't want to hurt you. He made a small move and I grabbed a big thick chair by the top and he turned around and left. After he leaves half a dozen guys are going ,he's lucky he didn't try that with me , why didn't you blah blah,
A couple hours later a guy who left earlier comes back and comes up and tells me , you know that guy you had the problem with? He went down to the other end of town bar and did the same thing to one of the baddest guys down there and when the guy came after him, he pulled out a butcher knife and stabbed him to pieces. They don't think he is going to live.
I was almost always in a corner with blockers on the opposite side of the door if I could get there. My friends would say , why do you want to sit here and I would tell them, if bad shit starts I got a way out, if it comes after me , they have a tough way in, and I will have time to get ready.
It saved me at least 1 time for positive, probably a lot more I didn't even realize.
One time was in the "" Lounge. For reference I will desribe the bathroom, there was no womens bathroom , it was about 15 feet long and the entire wall was a stainless steel trough bolted with 1/2 inch lag bolts every 4 inches to a concrete wall. You couldn't have pulled that thing off the wall without a dozer. There was a wooden thing that probably held a commode at one time , it had not been used in decades.
I was behind a lath and plaster wall from the side of the doorway, with my back against a block wall sitting at a table playing cards for money and in walks a squirelly guy who is the adopted brother of a card playing buddy of mine. I had seen him there visiting before at games. I had been introduced to him, said hi and bye, and that was the extent of our encounter. He looks around the room, locks eyes with me and says outside mfer blah blah blah. I said hello George , do you remember me from Juniors ? I'm thinking he is really drunk and is looking for anybody. He says I know who you are, f junior, you and me outside. I had already proven myself in this bar of country boys , but you can't just let someone punk you or they will all get ideas.
I didn''t care, I just said , we got no beef George , I barely know you. Then he starts coming toward me . he got to about 8 feet which is too close and I said if you get up on me George I will have to stop you. Please don't make me do that, I don't want to hurt you. He made a small move and I grabbed a big thick chair by the top and he turned around and left. After he leaves half a dozen guys are going ,he's lucky he didn't try that with me , why didn't you blah blah,
A couple hours later a guy who left earlier comes back and comes up and tells me , you know that guy you had the problem with? He went down to the other end of town bar and did the same thing to one of the baddest guys down there and when the guy came after him, he pulled out a butcher knife and stabbed him to pieces. They don't think he is going to live.
Sounds like you were a hell of a lot luckier than Morgan!
I have been blessed for some reason, all my life. I should have been stone cold dead, a half dozen times. Thank you lord.
middleofnowhere
Registered
I think I would guess Billiards although the terms were probably interchangeable
Campbell & Hatch Saloon and Billiard Parlor Historical Marker
Bob Hatch and John Campbell opened a billiard parlor in 1880. Bob Hatch was a colorful character and an amateur thespian. (A historical marker located in Tombstone in Cochise County, Arizona.)
www.hmdb.org