Dodge City War

The "Dodge City Peace Commission" June 1883. From left to right, standing: W.H. Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, W.F. Petillon. Seated: Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Frank McLain and Neal Brown.

1890 copy version of above photograph by C.S. Fly, with Petillon missing and also the background column. All other detail is the same, so this photo is a probable retouch by Fly during the copy.

The Dodge City War was a bloodless conflict that took place in 1883 in Dodge City, Kansas. It came at the close of the first 10 years of the city's history at a time when whiskey and saloons were fading as a dominant force in the city's politics.

Historic reputation

From its founding, Dodge had a reputation for corruption and was often called "the Wickedest City in America." The informal association known as the Dodge City Gang dominated the law enforcement and much of the political life of the community, and monopolized the whiskey trade. In 1879 the anti-gang faction won a closely fought election for Ford County, defeating popular gang member Bat Masterson. This was the first in a number of elections that ousted the members of the gang from positions of power.

Reform

While the new political faction identified themselves as reformers it seems more likely that they wanted to reap the profits of the whiskey trade for themselves. Mayor Alonzo B. Webster, elected mayor in 1881 owned two saloons himself. The new mayor lost no time in firing Bat's brother, Jim Masterson, as city marshal and posting a series of new 'moral' ordinances, complete with a warning.

"To all whom it may concern: All thieves, thugs, confidence men, and persons without visible means of support, will take notice that the ordinance enacted for their special benefit will be rigorously enforced on and after tomorrow."

The Long Branch Saloon

Tensions built between the Mastersons and Webster and his allies over the next several months. What triggered the war was the purchase of a half interest in the Long Branch Saloon by a gambler and gunfighter named Luke Short in 1883. Short was a friend of the Mastersons and other gang members.

Webster hoped to drive Short out of the business and had several of the prostitutes who worked for the Long Branch arrested. Luke went to the jail to protest the matter but was confronted by city policeman, Louis C. Hartman, and there was an exchange of gunplay. Neither man was hurt but Short mistakenly believed he had killed the officer and barricaded himself in the Long Branch. When he learned that Hartman was unharmed Short submitted to arrest. He was sent out of town as an 'undesirable' several days later.

Wyatt Earp

Short contacted his friends to protest the matter and Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp began to assemble a small army of gunfighters to support him. The group included such noted gunmen as Charlie Bassett, as well as a large number of lesser-known gunfighters. Daunted by this impressive show of force, Webster negotiated peace with Wyatt Earp. He let Short return to his place of business in return for a promise there would be no violence.

Photographs

The war was over without any deaths. Seven of the gunfighters posed with Short for the most famous Dodge City Peace Commission photo (see above). Shown are: Charlie Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Frank McLain, Neal Brown, W. H. Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, and W. F. Petillon. However, more than one photo was taken, and there was at least one man not pictured in this most well circulated photo, who was better known as a gunman than Petillon, Brown, Harris or McClain, and who was present in at least one other photo taken at the same time. That other gunman was famed lawman Bill Tilghman, who in one photo replaces W. F. Petillon. In another copy of this photo, Petillon does not appear at all, but background detail is also missing. The figure of Tilghman may also have been added in the photo which shows him, since again there are no changes at all in any other figure.

Doc Holliday

Ironically, Short sold his interest in the Long Branch only months after the war ended in his favor. He moved to Texas where he purchased another saloon. Despite rumors that Doc Holliday took part in the Dodge City War, on the side of Wyatt Earp and Luke Short, he was not present.

Sources

• The Dodge City War by P.A. Mallory
• Dodge City Peace Commission
• Dodge City Peace Commission June 1883. Original photograph, Ford County Historical Society
• Series of Photographs