Luke Short
- see also Luke Short (writer)
Western frontiersman Luke L. Short[1] (1854-September 8, 1893) was a noted gunfighter, who had worked as a farmer, cowboy, whiskey peddler, army scout, dispatch rider, gambler and saloon keeper at various times during the four decades of his life.
Early life
Born in Mississippi, Short's family moved to Texas when at the young age of two. As a teenager he left home, rumors say for killing another youth with a pair of scissors, and became a cowboy, working herds north to the Kansas railheads. He traveled to Abilene, Kansas in 1870, and attempted to make a living as a professional gambler.
In 1876 he arrived in Sidney, Nebraska where he obtained employment as a whiskey peddler. During this time he sold whiskey illegally to Sioux Indians from a trading post far north of Sidney. This was a federal offense. Short later admitted to killing a half dozen inebriated Sioux natives on various occasions during this venture. Despite this record, Short was hired as a scout for the US Cavalry, and worked for them from 1878-1879.
According to Ed Lemmon in "Boss Cowman," he hung around end-of-the-Texas-Trail Ogallala, Nebraska, in late 1877 and the first half of 1878 gambling at Cowboy's Rest Saloon, sometimes in the company of Bat Masterson. James Cook, in "40 Years..." he watched Short practicing draw-and- shoot on the banks of South Platte River and said he never saw anyone faster.
Notoriety as a gunfighter
He then wandered through Dodge City, Kansas, where he became associated with Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson, among others. Short later moved to Tombstone, Arizona, at that time a bustling boomtown, to try his hand at gambling again. He developed a habit of "dressing to the nines", which gave him the reputation of being a dandy. By this time, Short had already developed a reputation as being fast with a gun, and as being a man of few words, although there are no real accounts prior to this of any gunfights involving him. It is thought that this reputation, as with many Old West gunmen, was a reputation based more on hearsay than actual fact.
He was still living in Tombstone in 1881 when he was involved in a famous gunfight with a gunfighter named Charlie Storms, outside the Oriental Saloon. Storms and Short had been involved in a verbal argument earlier, which was defused by Bat Masterson, who was friends with both Short and Storms. Storms then met them on the street, jerked Short by the arm off the boardwalk, then went for his own gun. Short was the faster, killing Storms with one shot to the chest before his enemy could use his pistol. The fight was at such close quarters that Short's muzzle flash set Storms shirt on fire. Short was alleged to have then turned to Bat Masterson who was with him, and state "You sure pick some of the damnedest friends, Bat". Short was arrested for the shooting, and given a hearing, at which time the shooting was ruled to have been self defense. Although friends with Wyatt Earp, Short was not present during the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral, and is thought to have been out of town altogether.
In 1883 Short settled in Dodge City, Kansas, where he purchased a half interest in the now famous Long Branch Saloon, partnered with friend W.H. Harris. This put him at odds with the mayor of Dodge and his allies, who made attempts to run him out of town as an "undesirable". In what became known as the Dodge City War, Luke's friends rallied a formidable force of gunfighters to support him, including Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Charlie Bassett. Faced with the threat of force, Short's opponents allowed him to return without a shot being fired. Later that year he sold his interest and moved to Fort Worth, Texas.
Short versus Courtright gunfight
- See also: Luke Short-Jim Courtright duel
In Fort Worth, Short was involved in another of the most famous historical gunfights. Short had developed an invested interest in the White Elephant Saloon. "Longhair" Jim Courtright, a former Marshal of Fort Worth, reportedly ran a protection racket in which he offered his "protection" to saloon and gambling house owners. Short turned him down, telling him he could protect his own place. This irritated Courtright, and many now believe that Courtright felt it was necessary for his other protection interests to make an example of Short as to what could happen if his services were declined.[2]
On a cold February 8th night, in 1887, Courtright called Short out of the White Elephant saloon. Courtright reportedly had been drinking, some words were passed, and the two men walked down the street about one block. There, facing one another, Courtright said something in reference to Short's gun, apparently to give the impression that the inevitable gunfight was "in self-defense." Short stated he was not armed, although he was. Short then indicated that Courtright could check for himself, and walking toward Courtright, he opened his vest. When he did so, Courtright said loudly "Don't you pull a gun on me.", and quickly drew his pistol.[2]
However, Courtright's pistol hung on his watch-chain for a brief second, at which time Short pulled his pistol and fired one shot. The bullet tore off Courtright's right thumb, rendering him incapable of firing his single-action revolver. As he tried to switch the pistol to his left hand, Short fired at least four more times, killing him.[3][2]
The gunfight became a well known event due to the notoriety of both men. Courtright was given a grand funeral with hundreds in attendance, as despite his corruption, he had lowered Fort Worth's murder rate by more than half during his time as town marshal. No blame was held toward Short however, and although he was brought to trial for the shooting, it was ruled justified self defense.[2]
Later life
Short continued his life as a gambler, investing in other saloon interests, and traveling to several other cattle towns over the next five years. Luke Short died peacefully in bed in Geuda Springs, Kansas on September 8, 1893. The cause of his death was listed as dropsy, the 19th century term for congestive heart failure with severe body edema.
Trivia
Featured in the Activision Videogame Gun
References
Further reading
- Luke Short: A Biography, by Wayne Short (Luke Short's great-nephew), 1997, Devil's Thumb Press.
External links
- Find-A-Grave profile for Luke Short
- Luke L. Short; gambler, gunfighter
- Luke Short in Dodge City Peace Commission 1883, Original photograph, Ford County Historical Society
- http://www.thepastwhispers.com/ALHN_lukeshort.html