Halloween at Leroy's Tombstone

Tombstone Territory Rendezvous Halloween Weekend

What better place to spend Halloween than in Tombstone with Western history buffs and researchers who unearth stories of the dead?

October 30, 2014. Appropriately, Dan and I started our Halloween weekend on a day trip with the Tombstone Territory Rendezvous gang to Johnny Ringo's grave followed by a stop at Gleeson ghost town.

We all gathered around a tree believed to be the place Johnny's dead body had been discovered, while an intuitive cowgal seemed drawn to the fallen tree nearby. Was this really Johnny's tree? Or did she know something we didn't?

October 31, 2014 at rickety Schieffelin Hall reading the love letters of dead people.

I performed a dramatic reading of Mary Clum's last letter to her mother-in-law proclaiming how Tombstone and its weather agreed with her. "I've never felt so well in my life...as I do now." And then I read her husband, John Clum's, letter sharing the sad news that his dear wife had gone to be an angel.

Can't say I channeled Mary or John Clum - although I did get a little teary-eyed reading his heart wrenching letter. Hope Mr. and Mrs. Clum were mighty pleased with my reading.

The rest of the afternoon was spent making the acquaintance of a few of Tombstone's deceased mayors via PowerPoint presentations. Then we were transported back to the 1880's through period music presented by Paul Johnson.

 Old timey saloon music

After spending the day hearing about dead people, Dan and I were in just the mood for a Halloween ghost tour at the infamous Bird Cage Theatre.

From my first visit to Tombstone, I felt drawn to the Bird Cage Theatre. For me there was a sense of nostalgia in the dusty air. Every time I came to town, I felt compelled to chat with Bird Cage manager, "Lightnin' Leroy." I would wait around in the lobby for him to finish his spiel about the longest running poker game (24 hours a day for 8 years, 5 months, and 3 days) and how many bullet holes decorated the walls (over 140). Leroy would then spin yarns about winning quick shot competitions and the hotshot cowboys who challenged him on the streets, guns at the ready. Around this time, the Bird Cage was featured on Haunted History. But Leroy always seemed the skeptic when it came to ghosts - even as he shared the photo he kept behind the bar of the spooky orbs shot in the theater. But he admitted to feeling a cool breeze and getting a whiff of cigar smoke or perfume when he was closing the theater alone at night.

Leroy became the inspiration for a character in my comic screenplay, "Behind the OK Corral." While conducting research for it, I returned to the Birdcage with a group of psychics. Two of the ladies, at separate ends of the theater, simultaneously pointed up to the same crib and said, "See the big Madame in the green dress!"

Madame in green was in crib in back corner

This really struck me because of a similar incident on a previous visit...

I was in town to shoot my short film, "If the Dress Fits."

When I couldn't find a place to rehearse, Leroy generously offered the use of the Bird Cage stage. While touring the theater after the rehearsal, my actress suddenly got ill. She cried out, "I have to get out of here!" I figured it was an allergy to all the dust. She later admitted to seeing someone she knew in the cribs, someone from a past life. A madame with a green dress!

It's been a while since I finished my screenplay, and I no longer feel the same draw to the Bird Cage. (Perhaps in the process of writing, I had resolved my issues.) Though I occasionally bring family and friends. Once I gave a tour to a descendant of Mabel Earp Cason (Wyatt's cousin who collaborated with Sadie on the manuscript that would become, "I Married Wyatt Earp.")  But I ran into Leroy less and less. Then I heard the tragic news. That July, Leroy was shot down in front of his house by a local drunk.

It was weird going back to the Bird Cage with no "Lightnin' Leroy." But there we were on a ghost tour. The guide showed us the cribs in the balcony where the soiled doves (prostitutes) plied their trade. She informed us about the different kinds of paranormal phenomenon. Apparently she boned up on the facts from "Ghost Hunters."

She took us downstairs to the site of the longest continuously running poker game. We peeked into the more expensive $25 dollar a night rooms. She went over the rules on how to treat the ghosts with respect. Apparently they don't like it when you talk about Ouija boards or challenge them to prove they exist. They are there for the interaction. She made an excuse that the ghosts seem less active on Halloween. (Hmph!) Perhaps it's their one night off. One of the tourists, my boyfriend Dan, pointed out a bad smell that wasn't there before. I got whiff of the musty odor.  It smelled like something was rotting in one of the $25 rooms. The guide said that she didn't notice it on the last tour. She would check for a dead rat in the morning.

The room with the rotting odor

We went upstairs to the backstage area and found seats around a wooden table. The guide pointed out all the lights already in the room, so we wouldn't get a false experience. She placed two gadgets on the table: one that sensed paranormal energy and another that amplified paranormal sounds on FM and AM channels. She encouraged us to ask questions of the ghosts and turned out the lights. Our ears peeled for the slightest ghost whisper or footstep, we waited in the dark. No lights on the machine. We heard laughter. The guide said that's just partiers celebrating Halloween. Not the best night for ghosts. Our guide tapped on the table and asked the ghosts to tap back. Nothing. She tried again. "Do you hear that? Tapping on the stage?" Some tourists claimed they heard rapping on wood. I heard nothing. She asked, "Hear that? The clinking of poker chips downstairs?" No...(pout). I just heard the young woman in our group giggling. Dan thought he heard a little hand bell. The guide tried to talk to the ghosts and guilt them into speaking to us. "Hey, guys. This is Halloween. You don't want to disappoint these people." One of the women said that someone touched her hair. The guide switched the receiver to AM. The woman asked the ghost who he was. Something garbled came through the receiver. "Are you the one with the bad odor we smelled downstairs?" Ha! How rude! Someone thought they felt a presence walking behind their chair. Another woman exclaimed, "There's a hand on my head!" The young woman cried out, "I'm scared!"

Location where I saw the light

Staring towards the stage, I thought I saw a light. Finally, the guide wrapped it up. She claimed that we heard more than the last group: the tap in response to hers, the voice on the spirit amplifier, and the woman's head being patted.

Wish I could say I saw Leroy, or even the Madame in green, but I didn't.  After the tour, I asked the guide if she knew Leroy. Leroy had hired her. She was at the Bird Cage when his killer came downtown to brag about shooting Leroy. I asked, "You think Leroy ever drops by?" She shared how Leroy used to hate it when she was on her cell phone at work. Once, her cell phone went flying off the display case. She believed it was Leroy pushing it off and that he occasionally stops by to check up on them.

Leroy Colomy

The Bird Cage sure isn't the same without ol' Lightnin' Leroy doin' his spiel. I wonder if Leroy is still a skeptic when it comes to ghosts. Wonder if he ever met up with a cigar-chomping miner or a soiled dove with a familiar fragrance of perfume.

On Angel Wings and a Prayer

It is night time before we finally hit the road for Tombstone - too dark to read in the car. Instead of practicing for my reading, I sing the songs for my musical theater showcase at Live Theater Workshop (the day after my Tombstone reading.) Dan is so patient as I sing, "Into the Woods!" for the ga-zillionth time.

At Tombstone Territory Rendezvous...

Thursday: After a lovely day trip to Ringo's grave and Gleeson Ghost town, we head to Schieffilin Hall for lectures. The first one is a powerpoint of John Clum based on Gary Ledoux's book! And there are our photographs from Special Collections. The photos we were using in our presentation! The photo of the Clums' white house! Only the caption says it is the home of John and his second wife. This drives us crazy, because in our fervor as new researchers, we are sure that it is John and Mary's house! 

Friday:  My performance is this afternoon. We skip the field trip to the old baseball field so I can practice. But The Tombstone Epitaph is just across the street from our hotel.

We stop in just to ask if they have a copy of the paper about the Townsite issue. Nope. Or if they know the location of the Clums' house...Nope. Maybe Woodie Clum's book has the address... Nope. They explain that, "Apache Agent: The Story of John P. Clum," by Woodworth Clum is out of print. 

Caught up in the search, we stop at the visitor center and ask to look at a plat map, a surveyors map of all the lots in Tombstone. They give us a historical town map, but the Clums' house isn't listed. 

We stop at every book store in search of the elusive book. We use the wifi at Wyatt's Coffee Shop so Dan can download new photographs for the presentation, while I worked on my bio and introduction.

Two hours left until my presentation! I leave Dan at the courthouse bookstore and rush back to our room.  And I still have to put my hair up in a bun and dress up in my "school marm" outfit." One thing good came out of our research...Since we didn't find the article about the townsite issue, I concentrate on telling John and Mary's story. I manage to read three letters out loud. Can't wrap my mouth around the word "seraphic." (John says his wife has become an angel...) Didn't have time to practice the eulogy at all. 

Passed some friends on the way to Shieffilin Hall and they looked pleased that I was in full period wear.

I have 15 minutes to practice at the podium, but people come into the hall to escape the hot lobby. I end up practicing in the hot lobby. Still can't pronounce "seraphic." 

Eric Eardman (a descendant of Wyatt Earp) introduces me, I take off my black bonnet at the podium and say a silent prayer.

I set the stage by reading an excerpt of John's love letter, "My Dear Darling, Precious little sweetheart. My pretty dear. My beloved little wife. I am sorry I can't kiss you tonight." My hand shakes a little as I read the first letter that Mary wrote to her new mother-in-law describing their wedding. Then I read her last letter to her mother-in-law detailing their daily life including the Townsite issue. I rave about the weather and how I have never felt so well in my life. I gush as I describe little Woodie's doings and sayings.

I fold my hands as I read, "At night he says his prayers so cute. Now I lay me, etc - crossing his little hands - then kisses me, papa and Grandmama. He wanted dolly to say hers so he said the entire prayer and remarked "dolly said at." Finally, I tear up a bit as I read John's letter sharing the news of his dear departed wife going to Heaven to become an angel. My mouth is dry, so I still can't pronounce "seraphic."  I say, "Sorry," and take a sip of water. 

All in all, it turned out to be a really rewarding experience. As I head back to my seat, a twenty-something man says, "Thank you."

It was a good thing that I included the Townsite issue. Bob Palmquist elaborated on it in his lecture. He referred to my presentation three times. He seemed to really appreciate that I had shared the Clum's letters. My friend Soni later responded on facebook, "Thank you for SUCH a great and informative performance last weekend! I learned a lot and will never look at the Clums the same way again! lol"  Thanks, Soni! 

That night we celebrate with a stroll down Safford Street scouting out the Clum's house.

This is NOT the house.

According to Parsons, it was supposed to be "down the street from a church." We find St. Paul's Episcopal Church. (It was actually the wrong church.) Town lot researcher Nancy Sosa explains that the house is no longer on that lot. She laughs at the thought of us looking for a house "down the street" from the church. In a small town like Tombstone, every lot is just down the street.

On the last day we find Woodies' book behind glass at the Epitaph office.

Wrapped up in research, I forget to rehearse.

After going through Mary and John Clum's letters at the U of A Libraries Special Collections, I decide to perform Mary's last letter to her mother-in-law.

I am especially excited to include Mary's insights on the Townsite issue. (I figure this should be of great interest to the researchers and historians at Tombstone Territory Rendezvous.) In the letter, Mary writes, "It is a great outrage to move people off their lots by man force. They tried to move a house last night but did not succeed as the Marshal interfered and put a stop to it.  This morning the citizens moved it back to it's former position. Clark, Gray, and Co. felt somewhat chagrined but do not dare offer any resistance. The entire public is against them. I hope no violence will be used...We have two nice lots of our own and our little house and are comfortable, so are deeply interested in the question at issue."

Intrigued, I put off packing for our Tombstone trip and practicing for my dramatic reading. Instead, I delve into my personal library of Tombstone history. I uncover comments about the Townsite issue in the correspondences of Clara Spalding Brown in, "Tombstone from a Woman's Point of View," and the private journal of George Whitwell Parsons from, "A Tenderfoot in Tombstone." (Both edited by Lynn Bailey.)

Parsons has several entries about the subject as he was heavily engaged in fighting Clark, Gray and Co. about their rights to the town lots. He mentions obtaining two lots himself with Rev. McIntire near the Clum's house on Safford Street. He thinks having the Rev. on his side will help, but also describes the attempt to move the Judge's house while the Judge is away. A judge even! What nerve!

Mary Clum's letter and George Parsons' journal both discuss Clum's articles regarding the Townsite issue in his paper, The Tombstone Epitaph.

I wonder out loud if I can get a copy for my reading. Dan, my ever curious, ever helpful beau, does a search for copies of that paper. Unfortunately, he can't find any copies of the Epitaph from that time period, 1880-81.

Caught up in this research, neither of us gets anything we need to get done for our trip that night. And my reading is Friday! Ahh!

There's always Tombstone...

Celtic Knot in Our Tree of Life

Looking forward to returning to Tombstone with my soul-mate, Dan.

Our last visit was in celebration of our engagement. It was very meaningful to us. We discovered our own, "Tree of Life." The gnarled roots of the Tombstone Rose bush formed a Celtic knot. It's tiny roses were in full bloom symbolizing our hearts opening to each other.

The clipping we took home to commemorate Dan moving in.

Our little tree today, still thriving after 7 months. 

(Be durned if I'll let it die, it representing our relationship and all. lol)

Can our "tree of life" hold up to the weight of our first Christmas? 

Yes! It can! 

Our "tree of life" on our one year and one month anniversary! 

Who Snatched Geronimo's Gun?

Seeking inspiration to rehearse my dramatic reading of the Clum letters, I watched the "true story" of John Clum capturing Geronimo in "Walk the Proud Land" (starring Audie Murphy). 

What fun! It was even shot at Old Tucson Studios! Perfect way to get in the spirit for our trip to Tombstone! Trailer highlights such as Ann Bancroft's sprayed on tan, Audie's full head of hair (John Clum was prematurely bald), and the hilarious musical theater war dance, should have clued us in on the film's authenticity. But the claim that it was a true story sent me and my beau on an ardent search for the facts. After all, it was based on the book, "Apache Agent: The Story of John P. Clum," by his son, Woodie. 

(SPOILER AHEAD)

As research for my dramatic reading, I read several letters that the Clums wrote to each other during this time period (1886). It was interesting to discover what Mary meant when she wrote to her mother-in-law, "I fully appreciate the many trials and temptations he must encounter."  The movie dramatizes that temptation with an Apache widow that the chief gives to John. In reality his wife never comes to the reservation to confront the widow, like she does in the film. Nor do they get married in Tucson. The historical letter includes a detailed description of their wedding in Delaware, Ohio, surrounded by Mary's family. 

It is probably more accurate to say that the film is "inspired by a true story." John Clum did in fact fight for the rights of the San Carlos reservation Indians to govern and police themselves. He created a troop of very successful Apache police who even protected settlers from violent Apaches. 

In the movie there is just one chief and a few under chiefs living on the San Carlos reservation. In reality there were several chiefs and their tribes. (I realize this is a plot convention used to tighten the story.) Word arrives that Geronimo's renegades have been attacking settlers and are on the Ojo Caliente reservation. The movie has Clum deciding spontaneously to go after Geronimo, when actually the Commissioner of Indian Affairs directed him to do it. (With a promise of backup troops if needed.)

In the movie Clum has a handful of Apache police with him when he approaches Geronimo, and a scheme (inspired by a biblical story) in which a few Indians surround them in the mountains and shoot off their guns - the echo making them sound more numerous than they were. In reality, Clum found Geronimo on the Ojo Caliente reservation (abandoned by the Indian Agency). Clum had 20 braves with him as he approached the chief. There were 80 more hiding in the commissary poised for a clever ambush that intimidated Geronimo's renegades into surrendering. The next day the cavalry comes to the rescue, marching in formation, flags and pennants flapping. Clum is lounging with his legs up and casually points out Geronimo already shackled in chains. He and his Apache police had captured the great warrior Geronimo without firing a shot.

But what about Geronimo's gun? In real life, John just snatches Geronimo's gun, Geronimo pulls a knife on him, but one of the Clum's Apache police relieves Geronimo of his weapon. In the movie, there is skirmish including some gun shots and John ends up with the gun. I like the actual incident better. History was more compelling than the movie.  

Unfortunately, the movie inspired this blog entry instead of my rehearsal. Leaving tomorrow for Tombstone! My reading is Friday afternoon! Better get at it! Wish me luck!

The Clum Letters: Through the Eyes of Mother Clum

While preparing for my dramatic reading at Tombstone Territory Rendezvous, I conducted research on Epitaph editor and Indian agent John Clum (He actually captured Geronimo!) at the U of A Special Collections library. After poring over Clum family letters, I have decided to portray John Clum's mother reading letters from her son and his wife, Mary. I plan to include: the first letter Mary wrote to her new mother-in-law in which she shares the details of their wedding, Mary's last letter before dying in which she tells about her life in Arizona, and John's letter sharing the sad news of his dear wife's death (as well as the newspaper clipping he enclosed.)

Dear Maddie: Researching Tombstone Mayor John Clum's Letters to His Dear Wife (or They Actually Let Me Touch Historical Letters!)

Researching John and Mary Clum in Special Collections at the U of A.

by Jana Segal

It had been a few years since I performed the dramatic reading of John Ringo's mother's pioneer diary at Tombstone Territory Rendezvous, so I was eager to perform another historic reading. TTR organizer, Jean Smith, suggested that I do something on the wife of one of the mayors of Tombstone since this year's program already included several prominent men. I googled "mayors of Tombstone." At the top of the list were the current mayor of Tombstone and John Clum. John Clum - Earp supporter, Epitaph founder, and Indian agent! His wife at the time was Mary Clum. I was intrigued to find out more about her. Someone was already scheduled to do a presentation on Mayor Clum based on Gary Ledoux's new book, so Mrs. Clum would fit in nicely. Following that lead, I discovered Gary Ledoux on facebook and asked him if he had any copies of the Clums' letters. He didn't, but he graciously sent me some pages from his book that included excerpts from Clum's April 16th letter to his wife (written while serving at the Southern Apache Indian Agency where he captured Geronimo.) I had a date to work with! A google search for that letter, led to a collection of the Clums' letters in the University of Arizona Libraries Special Collections.

I was tickled to find how easy it is to look up historic documents at Special Collections. The research librarians were so helpful bringing up boxes full of folders with letters, newspaper clippings, and old photos. (I imagined them scooting their little cart by row after row of artifact boxes like the iconic scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark.") Plastic envelopes held the fragile, aging letters. I couldn't believe that I was allowed get my grubby mitts (or white gloves) on 130 year old love letters! I read Clum's letter to Major J. F. Wade from the the 9th Cavalry detailing the capture of Geronimo. I struggled to decipher the Clums' messy handwriting and smiled at their gushing affection. Finally, I happened onto John's letter to his mother sharing the heartbreaking news of his wife's death. Profoundly touched, I knew that I had to share their story with a dramatic reading of their letters.

Tombstone Territory Rendezvous will be held October 29th to November 2nd.