Hello readers and welcome back to Pale Horse Revelations. where we explore significant people, places, and events in Old West history. While I make no promises, don't be surprised if some of these places, people, or events find their way into future Pale Rider adventures.
This week's post will introduce you to the fascinating character of Luke Short. Like many legends of the west, his story is one filled with fascinating tales containing kernels of truth, obvious embellishments, and outright fabrications. I hope you enjoy.
Luke Short was born in Polk County, Arkansas in January 1854. Luke was one of ten children born to Josiah Washington Short and Hetty Brumley. Shortly after his birth the family relocated to Montague County, Texas.
Much of what we know of his early life falls into the category of legend with very little in the way of records to document any of the sensational stories. In 1862 Luke allegedly witnessed his father being ambushed by Comanches near the family ranch. Luke reportedly came to his father's aid by dragging a large rifle to his brother, who then rand and gave it to their father. Another story claims that at the age of 13 Luke cut up the face of a bully while still in school. According to legend this is the reason that he and his father moved to Fort Worth.
At the age of 15 Luke began working as a cowboy. He must have found the work agreeable because he continued in this role for the next six years. Over that period, he made several trips to the railheads in Kansas.
Luke also built a reputation as an Indian fighter. Bat Masterson reported that Short killed six drunk Sioux over the course of his adventures. Subsequent reporters treated Masterson's story as truthful and added to it, but there has never been any evidence found to validate it.
However, we do know that while working for the government Short was involved in multiple engagements against hostile bands of Native American warriors. The first occurred in 1869, although I could find nothing in the way of details regarding the encounter. Short served as a scout under General George Crook in 1876. They were stationed in the Black Hills during the Sioux insurrection. According to one tale, Short was ambushed by a band of 15 warriors while conducting a scouting expedition for the Army. The band of warriors opened fire with rifles but Short was able to draw his pistols and return fire. He killed three of his attackers and then fled on horseback. Some of the warriors gave chase but Short killed two more of them before finally reaching safety. Again, this is a story with very little in the way of documentation, so I will leave it to the reader to decide whether to consider it fact or fiction.
According to accounts written in Short's later years he spent some time on the wrong side of the law while in Nebraska. Luke allegedly traded whiskey with Native Americans around Camp Robinson. He was arrested by the army and put on a train bound for Omaha. Short somehow managed to escape his army escort and made his way to Denver, Colorado. Here, Luke again reinvented himself by taking up gambling as a profession.
Perhaps one of Short's biggest claims to fame stems from the group of men he befriended in Tombstone, Arizona. The group included Bat Masterson, William H. Harris, and Wyatt Earp. It was there in February 1881 that one of Short's first famous gunfights occurred. His opponent was Charlie Storms, and the incident began while Short was serving as the lookout for Wyatt Earp who was dealing Faro at the Oriental. According to Bat Masterson's account Storms was the instigator and assaulted the smaller man expecting him to back down. Although Masterson was initially successful in diffusing the situation and getting both men outside, Storms wasn't done. He reappeared suddenly and without a word grabbed Small by the arm and pulled him from the sidewalk where he had been standing. He simultaneously pulled his pistol but was too slow. Storms managed to get his pistol out, but before he could fire Short jammed the muzzle of his own Colt against Storms chest and pulled the trigger. Short fired twice more for good measure and Storms was reportedly dead before he hit the ground. A coroner's jury was convened and determined that Short's actions were justifiable.
After this event, Short left Tombstone and traveled to Dodge City. He remained there from April 1881 through the final months of 1883. In February he bought an interest in the Long Branch Saloon, Short's partner was William Harris who made an unsuccessful bid to become the mayor. Harris's opponent ran on a "law and order" platform and once elected approved ordinances against "vice and immorality" within the city limits. As saloon owners, Short and Harris took such ordinances personal. On April 28th, 1883, three prostitutes employed by Short at the Long Branch were arrested. Not long after, Short exchanged gunfire with policeman Louis Hartman. Neither man was wounded but Short was quickly arrested.
On April 30th Short and five other gamblers were arrested and forced to leave town. Short refused to take this lying down. Short paid a visit to Topeka where he presented Governor George W. Glick with a petition. Short then returned to Kansas City where he was joined by Bat Masterson. On May 31 Wyatt Earp arrived in Dodge City accompanied by several gunfighters. Earp met Short in Kinsley Kansas on June 3rd and they took the train back into Dodge City. The next day the mayor issued a proclamation closing all gambling establishments in Dodge.
But Mayor Degler had miscalculated by closing the saloons during cattle season. Such closers would significantly lessen the amount of money being spent in the town. Considerable pressure came from the governor and the Santa Fe Railroad, which did a significant amount of business in the town. Just five days after closing the order was given to reopen all gambling halls, dance halls, and saloons in Dodge.
That evening the two sides met in a dance hall and resolved their differences. Eight of the men gathered the next day and posed for a picture. Dubbed the Dodge City Peace Commission the group included William Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, William Petillon, Charles Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Michael Francis McLean, and Cornelius Brown. Short sold his interest in the Long Branch and moved to Fort Worth, Texas in November 1883.
In Fort Worth, Short became a part owner of the White Elephant Saloon. Short maintained an office there and was responsible for running the many games of chance. Here it is worth mentioning that Short had an interest in three of the most well-known establishments in the Old West, the Oriental in Tombstone, the Longbranch Saloon in Dodge City, and the White Elephant in Fort Worth. Short became involved in multiple sports that included boxing and horse racing. In 1887 he was forced to sell his interest in the White Elephant to raise money to defend his younger brother against murder charges.
Short was involved in two additional gunfights during his lifetime. The first occurred in February 1887 when an argument broke out between Short and Jim Courtright. The root of the problem between the two men was allegedly Courtright's attempts to extort protection money from Short's establishment. After the initial argument Courtright stormed out but soon returned with two pistols. Courtright called Short out to meet him. Jake Johnson, a friend to both men, attempted to calm Courtright down. Short met with the two men and they discussed the dispute as they walked down the street. According to multiple reports the group stopped at Ella Blackwell's Shooting Gallery. Luke stood facing Courtright, just a few feet away, when Courtright suddenly went for his gun. Short was once again the faster man. By the time his lifeless corpse hit the ground Courtright had been shot five times. As in the previous shooting a coroner's jury found Short's actions justifiable.
The final shooting Short was involved in occurred in December 1890. Short had become partners with a group of men that included Charles M. Wright. Together they held interests in several Memphis faro games. When the group won a significant amount of cash Wright was appointed banker and entrusted to get the funds in the hotel safe where the group stayed. He instead decided to keep the funds in his room and was robbed of the entire amount. Needless to say, Short and the others were not pleased with this turn of events.
Hostilities grew between the two men until violence was inevitable. On the night of December 23 Short arrived at the Bank Saloon which was owned by Wright. Short evicted all of the patrons at gunpoint. At that point, Wright ambushed Short with a shotgun. Short was wounded in the left hip, leg, and hand. Short drew his pistol and returned fire, shooting Wright in the wrist and disarming him. Short then fled the building while Wright hunkered down inside.
Most people assumed that Short would succumb to his wounds. He remained bedridden for months but did eventually make a full recovery. Both men were indicted and charged with assault with intent to murder. The trial date was moved several times, and the matter did not reach a final conclusion until March 1, 1892. In the final verdict Short was found guilty of aggravated assault and received a $150 fine.
Soon after this incident Short began exhibiting signs of kidney disease. These symptoms included puffiness in the face and the accumulation of fluids in the lower legs that make standing for prolonged periods difficult. Hoping that a change of climate would have a positive impact on his symptoms, Short, along with his wife and several friends, moved to Geuda Springs, Kansas. Unfortunately, such hopes were not fulfilled and Short died at the Gilbert House in Geuda Springs on September 8, 1893, at the age of thirty-nine.
This brings us to the end of another edition of Pale Horse Revelations. I hope you found it to be both interesting and entertaining. As usual, I have tried to provide some interesting historical information while trying not to bog the casual reader down with too much detail. I strongly encourage anyone interested in learning more to dig in and do a little research of their own. There is much that I simply didn't have the time to delve into within the scope of this blog.
As a reminder, I would love to hear your suggestions for topics to focus on in future editions of Pale Horse Revelations. If there's a particular location, person, or event that you would like to know more about, please let me know. Just fill out the Contact form found on the "Contact the Author" page of this website and indicate your desired topic in the message box at the bottom of the form. I look forward to hearing from you all.
Please be sure to check back next week for the next installment of Pale Horse Revelations and thank you for your continued interest and support.
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