Tombstone · Chapter
II: Red Lights and Altar Candles explained
This chapter paints a vivid portrait of Tombstone as a unique frontier town, blending lawlessness with refinement, boomtown chaos with civilized comforts.
What happens
This chapter paints a vivid portrait of Tombstone as a unique frontier town, blending lawlessness with refinement, boomtown chaos with civilized comforts. It describes the rapid growth following Schieffelin's silver discovery, the diverse population of miners, cowboys, gamblers, and businessmen, and the town's vibrant social life—from churches and newspapers to saloons and dance halls. Anecdotes illustrate the community's character, including the murder of McIntyre over a shirt, the generosity of Dutch Annie and Nellie Cashman, and the rivalry between the Nugget and Epitaph newspapers.
Themes in this chapter
Boom and Bust
Tombstone's rapid growth from a cluster of tents to a bustling city, and the eventual decline hinted at by Julius Caesar's fall from restaurateur to lunch counter operator.
Law and Lawlessness
The coexistence of churches and saloons, courts and stage robberies, and the murder of McIntyre over a shirt, all illustrating the tension between order and chaos.
Community and Memory
Anecdotes about Dutch Annie's funeral, Nellie Cashman's charity, and the newspaper rivalry show how Tombstone's residents shaped and remembered their shared history.
Character and Reputation
The story of Bradshaw's shirt murder and the newspaper editors' duel highlight how personal pride and public image drove conflicts.
Characters to notice
- Ed Schieffelin
Credited with discovering silver and suggesting the name 'Epitaph' for the newspaper.
- Nellie Cashman
Ran the Russ House hotel, known for her generosity and respected by miners and gamblers.
- John Behan
His newspaper, the Nugget, was the political organ of his faction, opposed to the Epitaph.
- Bat Masterson
Mentioned as a figure from Dodge City, part of the comparison of Tombstone to other frontier towns.
- Curly Bill
Referenced in the context of stage holdups and attacks on smuggler trains.
- Wyatt Earp
The Epitaph newspaper championed the Earps, indicating his prominence in town politics.
Key passages
“Tombstone was unique among the frontier towns that have achieved lurid distinction in the history of the American West. It had, according to its legend, its man for breakfast every morning, but it was touched with the refinements of old and ordered communities.”
Tombstone stood apart from other notorious Western towns because, despite its violent reputation, it also possessed the comforts and structure of established society.
Highlights the paradoxical blend of violence and civilization.
“A city suddenly stormed into being out of a clear sky. Tombstone soon covered the lion's paw down to the claws in the mesquite.”
The city seemed to appear overnight, rapidly expanding across the desert landscape.
Emphasizes the explosive growth of the boomtown.
“Whereupon Bradshaw, beside himself with rage, draws a six-shooter and kills him, the bullet entering McIntyre's mouth, which is wide open with merriment.”
In a fit of fury, Bradshaw shot McIntyre, the bullet going into his laughing mouth.
Illustrates the absurd and deadly consequences of personal honor in Tombstone.
“The Rev. Peabody returns a note of polite thanks and the church fence is built.”
The reverend graciously acknowledged the gamblers' donation, and the fence was completed.
Shows the unexpected cooperation between the church and the gambling underworld.
