The Wild West Extravaganza
Oct. 24, 2020

Luke Short & The Dodge City War

Luke Short & The Dodge City War

In the spring of 1883, a group of very dangerous men began gathering outside of Dodge City, Kansas. Men with names like Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Shotgun Collins, and Doc Holliday. Killers, all of ‘em. Men familiar with the weight of a revolver in...

In the spring of 1883, a group of very dangerous men began gathering outside of Dodge City, Kansas. Men with names like Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Shotgun Collins, and Doc Holliday. Killers, all of ‘em. Men familiar with the weight of a revolver in hand and the smell of black powder smoke.

They gathered to rally around one man, their compadre who had recently been forced out of town by a crooked mayor and a small army of vigilantes. That man’s name was Luke Short.

A cowboy turned scout turned gambler who earned himself quiet the reputation as a man handy with the iron.

What events transpired that forced Luke out of the rough cow town of Dodge City?

How did he come to be friends with the likes of Wyatt Earp?

How short was Luke Short, anyway? And is it true that if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it?

Find out all of this and more on this newest “if your gonna get into a gunfight, make damn sure you shoot first” edition of The Wild West Extravaganza!

Check out this article via the good folks at Legends Of America to see exactly what Bat Masterson wrote about Luke Short's days as a whiskey runner. 

Check out this Spartacus Educational collection of newspaper articles and letters regarding the Dodge City War.

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