Earp Vendetta Ride - Gunfight at Iron Springs

Gunfight At Iron Springs

Two days later, near Iron Springs (later Mescal Springs), in the Whetstone Mountains, the Earp party was expecting to meet Charlie Smith who was bringing cash from Tombstone about 20 miles (32 km) to the west. They stumbled upon a group of Cowboys including "Curly Bill" Brocius, "Pony" Diehl, Johnny Barnes, Frank Patterson, Milt Hicks, Bill Hicks, Bill Johnson, Ed Lyle, and Johnny Lyle, cooking dinner alongside the spring. Wyatt Earp, who left the only record of the fight, was in the lead of the Earp party when they suddenly came upon the Cowboys' camp less than 30 feet (9.1 m) behind an embankment. He dismounted, shotgun in hand. "Texas Jack" Vermillion remained cool under fire and stuck close to Wyatt during the fight. Lacking cover, Doc, Johnson, and McMasters retreated. Warren Earp was away on an errand at the time.