TOMBSTONE IS READY TO DIE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1938, Page 28

TOMBSTONE IS READY TO DIE

For sixty-one years this, hoom settlement of the .1880 silver rush has called itself' the Town That's Too Tough to Die,r says: a message from Tombstone, Arizona, to the "Chicago Tribune." It was .the dark and bloody ground of the silver days, and it outstripped Phoenix and Tucson in ■ population. The ' heavy bellow ; of . the frontier pistol sounded daily in its streets. Its people had a fierce pride in this shack town • that nestles beneath-- the purple hms. ■■ ; . , Arid even during; the years that Tombstone has been, a ghost town that spirit has persevered. ' It has .been a town too tough to die—runtil today. ■ : Now it appears that Tombstone noj; only is willing to die, but will accept pay for doing it. Walter...H., Cole, editor of "The Weekly Epitaph,",. took a poll 'of citizens and found that they are willing to sell but—lock, stock, and barrelr-r-to any Hollywood film coin-1 pany that wilT plank ;down 75,000 dollars. •• Editor Cole, so. reported to Producer Harry Sherman, who is on location he,re. =. Sherman referred the offer to a film company in Hollywood. •To. most/old settlers of the region the town's decision came as- a great shock. But to one old T time' prospector, who stood in front of the building that had housed the notorious Oriental Saloon, the decision was no surprise. "I seen it coming," he said. "There was lots of signs, but I was sure when everybody . started, writing poetry a couple of years ago." '/,',". ; <He referred to six-foot. Hal Smith, who took office as city marshal and wrote-an-ode to. celebrate.: •; The old-timer, shook his head as he recalled the. days wheh Wyatt Earp and Bill' 'Breakenridge ; were ; the law and order men of the town. In those days a newly-elected official would celebrate by arresting road agents and having them hanged. In Boothill Cemetery there still stands a marker bearing the names of five road agents hanged in-one day on' Such an "occasion.