Dodge City War facts for kids
The "Dodge City Peace Commission" June 10, 1883. (Standing from left) William H. Harris (1845–1895), Luke Short (1854–1893), William "Bat" Masterson (1853–1921), William F. Petillon (1846–1917), (seated from left) Charlie Bassett (1847–1896), Wyatt Earp (1848–1929), Michael Francis "Frank" McLean (1854–1902), Cornelius "Neil" Brown (1844–1926). Photo by Charles A. Conkling.
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| Date | June 1883 |
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| Location | Dodge City, Kansas, USA |
| Outcome | Long Branch Saloon reopened |
| Deaths | None |
The Dodge City War was a disagreement that happened in Dodge City, Kansas in 1883. It was called a "war" but no one was hurt. The conflict was between a businessman named Luke Short and the mayor of Dodge City.
The mayor wanted Short to close his business, the Long Branch Saloon, and leave town. Luke Short asked some of his famous friends for help. These friends included Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson. They supported him during the conflict, which lasted from April 28 to June 7, 1883. This event is famous because it led to a well-known photograph of important figures from the American Old West.
Contents
Luke Short and the Long Branch Saloon
Luke Short arrived in Dodge City in April 1881. He got a job at the Long Branch Saloon, which was a popular business in town. William H. Harris, a friend of Short's, gave him the job. Harris owned the saloon with his partner, Chalk Beeson.
In February 1883, Luke Short bought Chalk Beeson's share of the Long Branch Saloon. This made Short a co-owner with William H. Harris.
The month after Short became a partner, Harris ran for mayor of Dodge City. On March 19, 1883, another group nominated Lawrence E. Deger to run against Harris. Deger won the election on April 3. He received 214 votes, while Harris received 143. The citizens also elected all five city council members who ran with Deger.
New City Rules Passed
On April 23, the Dodge City Council passed two new rules. Mayor Deger quickly approved them. "Ordinance No. 70" was about "The Suppression of Vice and Immorality." "Ordinance No. 71" was about "Define and Punish Vagrancy." Vagrancy meant being without a job or a fixed home. Both of these new rules were aimed at businesses like the Long Branch Saloon.
On April 28, 1883, Short and a city policeman had an argument. No one was hurt in this disagreement. Short was arrested but soon released after paying a $2,000 bond. His court hearing was set for May 2. Short later said that the police tried to harm him. He claimed a group of citizens, acting outside the law, forced him to leave town. This meant he could not appear in court against the policeman.
Luke Short Forced to Leave Dodge
On April 30, Luke Short was arrested again. Five other businessmen were also arrested with him. The next day, Short and the five others were taken to the train station. They were told to choose a train going either east or west. Short chose to go east to Kansas City, Missouri.
In Kansas City, Short met Charles E. Bassett. Bassett and Short had both owned parts of the Long Branch Saloon at different times. Bassett had also been the first sheriff of Ford County and the city marshal of Dodge City. Both Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson had worked as deputies under Bassett.
Short, Bassett, and William F. Petillon started making plans for Luke to return to Dodge City. Luke went to Topeka on May 10. There, he gave a formal request to Governor George Washington Glick. The governor learned that Luke and five others had been forced out of town without a proper legal process.
Governor Glick told Sheriff George T. Hinkel that the mayor's actions showed he was not fit for his job. The governor said the mayor should enforce laws through the courts, not by leading a group to drive people from their homes. Glick arranged for a 10-day period for things to calm down. This would allow Short to return to Dodge and sell his saloon.
Some citizens of Dodge City did not like the governor's offer. Thirteen men published a statement in a newspaper on May 18. They said that if Short stayed longer than 10 days, they "would not be responsible for any personal safety."
Short returned to Kansas City, where Bat Masterson joined him. Short did not plan to sell his saloon and leave Dodge within 10 days. Masterson contacted his and Short's friend, Wyatt Earp, on May 31, 1883. Earp and his wife, Josephine, traveled with Masterson and other friends to Dodge City to help Short. These men were sworn in as deputies by constable Dave Marrow. Short, Earp, and Petillon met in Kinsley, Kansas, on June 3, 1883. They took the afternoon train to Dodge City.
The next day, Mayor Deger announced that all businesses with gambling in Dodge City must close.
Dodge City Peace Commission
Mayor Deger's order came during the busy cattle drive season. This would hurt the businesses of saloons and other related companies. Governor Glick and the Santa Fe Railroad, which did a lot of business in Dodge, urged the mayor to solve the problem quickly. However, Short, Earp, and their friends refused to give in.
To avoid a fight with the deputized men, and under pressure from the governor and the railroad, the mayor and city council changed their minds. On June 9, they allowed the gambling halls, dance halls, and saloons to reopen. This included the Long Branch Saloon. Both sides met in a dance hall that night and settled their differences.
Famous Photo
The next day, June 10, 1883, eight men gathered for a photograph. This picture has become one of the most famous photos from the Wild West. The group was quickly named the "Dodge City Peace Commission."
The eight men in the historic photo were: William H. Harris, Luke Short, Bat Masterson, William F. Petillon, Charles E. Bassett, Wyatt Earp, Michael Francis "Frank" McLean, and Cornelius "Neil" Brown. Right after the photo was taken, Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp left on a train heading west to Colorado. The conflict, known as the "Dodge City War," was solved by business agreements, not by violence.
Luke Leaves Dodge City
On November 19, 1883, Short and Harris sold the Long Branch Saloon to Roy Drake and Frank Warren. Short then moved to San Antonio for a short time. After that, he decided to move to Fort Worth.
it:Luke Short
