THE ENGLISH WESTERNERS' SOCIETY
MAY 2009 BOOK REVIEW
This review first appeared in the Tally Sheet (Summer 2007, Volume 53, Number 1)
CLASSIC GUNFIGHTS: BLAZE AWAY! THE 25 GUN FIGHTS BEHIND THE O. K. CORRAL
By Bob Boze Bell.. Published by Tri Star-Boze Publications, Inc. 3110 North 35th Avenue, Suite 4, Phoenix, Arizona 85017. 128 pages. ISBN 1-887576-10-X soft cover, $29.95; ISBN 1-887576-11-8 Hardbound, $39.95.
Any type of western book by Bob Boze Bell will certainly be profusely illustrated with Bell’s own art work and this is no exception. There are full-page colour paintings as well as smaller ones, black and white drawings, and in addition many photographs, most of which are from the incomparable collection of Robert G. McCubbin. Numerous maps round out the high quality of this work, contributed by Gus Walker. Even those with little interest in the gunfight aspect of the book can certainly appreciate the art-work.
That said, another positive aspect of this work is the quality of research and writing, although the amount of narrative is diminished by the profusion of illustrative materials. Arizona expert Neil B. Carmony contributed to the research to make sure everything was accurate, and the book is appropriately dedicated to him.
The twenty-five gunfights begin with the killing of Mike Killeen by “Buckskin Frank” Leslie on 22 June 1880. The last gunfight described is the confrontation between Billy Claiborne and, ironically, Buckskin Frank Leslie. Between these two killings by Leslie are the affrays dealing with the Earps, Doc Holliday, Curly Bill and Fred White, Johnny-Behind-the-Deuce’s killing of Phillip Schneider, Luke Short’s killing of Charlie Storms, the attempted assassination of Virgil Earp, John Ringo killing himself ... . To round out the racial lines we have the Clanton cow-boys fighting the Mexican militia, and a Tombstone posse fighting San Carlos Apaches. Of course the gunfire exchange near the O.K. Corral is included.
Are all these deadly engagements “classic gunfights”? It is difficult to see how Ringo shooting himself is a classic gunfight, certainly not if we compare it with the “duel” acted out between “Wild Bill” Hickok facing Dave Tutt across the square in Springfield, both men armed, both men looking for the other, both men facing each other and – wasn't it almost high noon by the clock on the square? These are all gunfights by almost any one’s definition of the term, but the word classic is difficult to accept for several of those highlighted in Blaze Away!
Nevertheless, the book is an outstanding presentation of art, photographs and exciting - and sometimes humorous narrative – by men who love the Old West. That they share the love of this aspect of history comes out on every page.
We hope that future volumes will include the classic gunfights of Wild Bill Hickok, Harry Love (vs. Joaquin Murrieta), some gun battles between Texas Rangers and outlaws, or Texas Rangers and Indians. Certainly there are no few gunfights which can be described with words and art. There were enough to keep Bob Boze Bell busy with his paint brush for some time to come, classic or not.
Chuck Parsons
Copyright © 2009 English Westerners' Society