The Sins of Katie Elder LbNA #44894

Katie Elder was more, much more, than the title character in John Wayne's 1965 western, "The Sons of Katie Elder," She was more than the portrayal by Faye Dunaway in the 1971 film "Doc." Katie Elder was a real person, whose background was perhaps more plaid than checkered. For one thing, there were all those names. Besides being called Katie Elder, she was also known as Kate Fisher, Big Nose Kate, Nosey Kate, Mrs. John H. "Doc" Holliday, Kate Melvin, and Kate Cummings. Actually, she was born Mary Katharine Haroney in Hungary on November 7, 1850. She received the education of an aristocrat and spoke several languages, including Hungarian, French and Spanish. Some historians of the Old West believe she actually was Mrs. Doc Holliday, and some don't. Either way, she was quite a bit more than the "plainswoman" that revisionist history books call her. Katie herself never denied that she was a rip-roarin', hard-drinkin,' gun-slingin' prostitute. By 1878 Kate had moved to Fort Griffin, Texas. There she met and hung out with Wyatt Earp and it was through him that she began her long-time involvement with Doc Holliday. Considering the probable low IQs of cowboys and outlaws on those days, it's possible that the educated Doc reminded Kate of her father. Wyatt Earp told a colorful tale of how Kate got Doc out of trouble in Fort Griffin. Doc was dealing cards to a local bully by the name of Ed Bailey, who was accustomed to having his own way without question. Bailey was unimpressed with Doc’s reputation and in an attempt to irritate him, he kept picking up the discards and looking at them. Looking at the discards was strictly prohibited by the rules of Western Poker, a violation that could force the player to forfeit the pot. Though Holliday warned Bailey twice, Bailey ignored him and picked up the discards again. This time, Doc raked in the pot without showing his hand, or saying a word. Bailey immediately brought out his pistol from under the table, but before the man could pull the trigger, Doc’s lethal knife slashed the man across the stomach. Bailey lay sprawled across the table, his blood and guts spilling over the floor. Knowing that his actions were in self-defense, Doc did not run. However, he was still arrested and imprisoned in a local hotel room, there being no jail in the town. Bully or no, a vigilante group formed to seek revenge. Knowing that the mob would quickly overtake the local lawmen, “Big Nose” Kate devised a plan to free Holliday from his confines. Setting a fire to an old shed, it began to burn rapidly, threatening to engulf the entire town. As everyone else was involved in fighting the fire, Kate, a pistol in each hand, confronted the officer guarding Holliday, disarmed him, and she and Doc escaped. (Much later, in 1940, Kate herself explicitly denied that it had ever happened. Then again, by that time, she was nearly 90 years old and her memory might have been somewhat faulty.) She died in 1940, and was buried under the name Mary K. Cummings in Prescott, Arizona. I don’t have room for her entire story, but she led quite an interesting life. The town of Fort Griffin lay below the fort, on the north side, and was called The Flats. It’s on private property, but is being restored by the owner and is accessible to the public. Ask the employee in the gift shop for information.

Directions:
Fort Griffin State Historical Site is located north of Albany in Shackelford County. Driving north on Highway 283, the park entrance is on your left, or west side. Drive up the entry road and pay the $2/person day use fee. You can visit the ruins if you like, then drive out to the flagpole and memorial marker, which is also a scenic overlook.

To the box:
From the flagpole, walk to the large oak tree at the north edge of the mountain. If you have children, use caution, because there is a steep drop-off. From the tree you can look down to the northwest and see The Flats, the old town of Fort Griffin, and Shaunissy’s Saloon, where Big Nose Kate plied her trade. At the back of the tree, under a rock, you should find the letterbox.