This is the third in a series of articles that will cover the photos that I have come across during various phases of writing articles and participating in conversations with other museum curators and other amateur historians. (Also see article On the Trail of WyattTHE LUKE SHORT INQUEST
Copyright 2024 (c)
This photo was brought to my attention by Dan Oelrich Sometime in late February of 2024, I connected with Dan Oelrich via social media, this was due to my posting a photo and making comments about a tintype photo that I am personally in possession of. Dan reached out to me, then sent me the above photo. This photo is a total mystery. It appeared on the internet, was downloaded by Dan, and then disappeared completely from the internet. Both Dan and I have spent many hours searching for the photo but to no avail, we have been unable to relocate the photo. The photo can be classified as" unknown at this time".
But as we began to look at the photo and do research independently of each other,( Dan resides in Colorado and I reside in central Iowa. We were comparing notes via email on a daily basis.) We started to realize that we recognized people in the photo, and we began to analyze and make photo comparisons. As our investigations progressed. We both came across some fairly interesting information which seemed to fit together with the photo. But this photo, while having no provenance at this time, was worth looking into. It was fun working with Dan, who is also in the process of writing his own article about the photo for the Cochise County Arizona
FINDINGS-
The story starts with the gunfight
With
Charlie Storms
Short first met Wyatt Earp, William H. Harris, and Bat Masterson in Tombstone. Based on their previous friendship, Harris had no problem convincing his partners to engage Earp as a faro dealer at their Oriental Saloon in Tombstone. On Friday, February 25, 1881, Short was serving as the lookout, seated next to the dealer at a faro game in the Oriental, when he was involved in what became a well-known gunfight. His opponent was Charlie Storms. Bat Masterson, who was in Tombstone at the time, described what happened in a magazine article he wrote in 1907:
Storms did not know Short, and like the bad man (from a previous shooting) in Leadville, had sized him up as an insignificant-looking fellow, whom he could slap in the face without expecting a return. Both were about to pull their pistols when I jumped between them and grabbed Storms, at the same time requesting Luke not to shoot, a request I knew he would respect if it was possible without endangering his own life too much. I had no trouble in getting Storms out of the house, as he knew me to be his friend . I was just explaining to Luke that Storms was a very decent sort of man when, lo and behold!, there he stood before us, without saying a word, he took hold of Luke's arm and pulled him off the sidewalk, where he had been standing, at the same time pulling his pistol, a Colt's cut-off, 45 calibre, single action; but like the Leadvillian, he was too slow, although he succeeded in getting his pistol out. Luke stuck the muzzle of his pistol against Storm's heart and pulled the trigger. The bullet tore the heart asunder, and as he was falling, Luke shot him again. Storms was dead when he hit the ground.
- From Bat Mastersons book
Two Articles located on Newspaperarchive.com
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LUKE SHORTS TESTIMONY FROM THE DEADWOOD PIONEER NUGGET
March 13, 1881
Storms' body was taken to the undertaker, where the coroner's jury was convened and testimony was heard. The jury reached a verdict that Storms died from three pistol wounds at the hands of Short, and that Short's actions were justifiable. Short was free to go, as no further legal action was taken.
Five days after Storms died, the Leadville Democrat wrote about the shooting. It said that Storms approached Short and "catching him by the ear", demanded an apology. According to the account, Storms grabbed Short's ear with his left hand and his right hand contained a pistol aimed at Short. Short drew his weapon and shot Storms, who returned fire, but missed. Short then put two more bullets into "the sinking soul of Storms.
-Wikipedia
Who Could Possibly Be in this Photo?
Dan Oelrich and I started to do a systematic search of the internet, books and known photos of various people who may have been present in Tombstone Arizona when the Luke Short hearing took place.. These are some possibilities;
BEN SIPPY
Tombstone city Marshal Ben Sippy arrested Short for killing Storms. During the preliminary hearing, Masterson testified that Short acted in self-defense, and Short was released. The Arizona Weekly reported that Storms was around 60 years old and survived by a widow in San Francisco.
ref Oriental Saloon Gunfight in Tombstone, Arizona – Legends of America Ben Sippy arrested Luke Short and Wyatt Earp was also involved.
Likeness Known photo
Tombstone City Marshal Ben Sippy
"A total of 688 votes were for City Marshal, The candidates were Ben Sippy and Howard Lee. Sippy was our candidate.
-Mayor John Clum
On February 28, 1881, at the Oriental Hotel, gamblers Luke Short and Charlie Storms had a verbal altercation which was deescalated by Bat Masterson, who was also an acquaintance of Storms as well. Storms later returned to the scene and walked up, said nothing and pulled a gun, On Storms, a cut-off Colt .45 pistol, but Short was quicker. Short shot Storms twice before he hit the ground; the first shot fired was so close that it set fire to Storms' shirt. Short was said to have then turned to Bat Masterson and stated: "You sure pick some of the damnedest friends, Bat." Ben Sippy arrested Short, but the shooting was determined to have been made in self-defense.
Wyatt Earp
Wyatt Earp would later say
that he helped to carry the body of Charlie
Storms back to the San Jose rooming house
where the now-deceased gambler and Lyons
had been staying, so that a post mortem could
be performed by Dr. Goodfellow.
-Peter Brand 2015
"The Killing of Charlie Storms by Luke Short"
Virgil Earp
"According to most sources, he, Wyatt, James and their wives arrived in December 1879 and immediately engaged in mining and gambling ventures. “The Earp boys spent thousands of hours in saloons, yet there was never any indication that Virgil or Wyatt loved the bottle,” writes Chaput in Virgil Earp: Western Peace Officer. “They thrived on the atmosphere, enjoyed the talk and were both inveterate gamblers.”
-History Net
Bat Masterson
Bat Masterson Claimed that he was a direct witness of the shooting,
This claim is most likely correct.
John Clum?
Luke Short
In the Spring of 1881, Luke Short was dealing Faro at the Oriental Saloon in Tombstone Arizona which was managed by Wyatt Earp. There was an incident between Luke Short and Charlie Storms over a gambling issue and guns came into play.. Bat Masterson was present and intervened in the disagreement and initially deescalated the situation. Masterson managed to cool things down, and escorted Storms to his room. Bat Masterson was friends with both Charlie Storms and Luke short. But storms and Short did know one another Masterson walked back over to Short a was trying explain to Short that he thought Storms was a decent guy, when as Bat stated " When lo and behold, there he stood before us." Storms said nothing but started to pull his pistol. Unfortunately Luke Short was faster, pulled his gun, stuck the muzzle of the gun to Storms heart, and pulled the trigger. He probably died instantly. Bat Masterson tells us in his book that Luke was given a quick hearing in front of a Magistrate and was quickly exonerated .Bat Masterson was present in Tombstone and attended the hearing
-Famous Gunfighters of the Western Frontier.
W.B. (Bat) Masterson
Luke Short
Photo of Charlie Storms from the Cantey (Myers) Collection
This image may well be the ONLY image known of Charlie Storms
A well known photo of the Dodge City Peace Commision.
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