Doc Holiday example essay topic

Doc Holiday Doc Holiday could be known as the most skillful gambler, the nerviest, fastest, and deadliest man with a six-shooter. John Henry Holiday was born on August 14, 1851 in Griffin, Georgia. His father was Henry Brought, and mother Alice Jane Holiday. Their first child Martha E lenore, had died at six months of age on January 8, 1889. Holidays father was a druggist by trade and later became a wealthy planter, lawyer, and during the civil was he was a confederate Major. Holiday suffered a terrible loss when his mother Alice Jane died on September 16, 1886.

This was a tragedy for Doc, due to being so close to his mother. Holidays father remarried Three months later to Rachel Martin on December 18, 1886. Then the family moved to Valdosta, Georgia. Due to his father's high status, Holiday chose the profession of dentistry. In 1872 Holiday enrolled in Pennsylvania College of Dental and Surgery on March 1. He graduated with a class of twenty-six other men, and then soon opened an office with Dr. Arthur C. Ford in Atlanta.

After Holidays practice he soon found out the he had contracted tuberculosis. Doctors of whom he consulted with said he only had months to live, and suggested moving to a dryer climate. Doc packed up and headed west to Dallas, Texas. Holiday found a position with a Dr. John A. Sugar, and prepared for business. Soon his illness over came him, and as a result his dental business gradually declined. This meant that Holiday has to find a other way of earning a livelihood.

For Holiday gambling became a natural ability, and quickly was an easy way of support. Doc knew he had to have a way of protecting himself, and faithfully practiced with a six-shooter and a wicked knife. Doc was involved with three gunfights in a very short time, and had to leave Dallas. In Jackson, Holiday became a participant in a gunfight, and was careless enough to kill a solider from Fort Richardson. This soon brought the United States government into the investigation. Holiday was on the run again with the Army, U.S. Marshals, Texas Rangers, and local lawmen that were ready to collect the reward offered for him.

Holiday knowing this he headed eight hundred miles to Colorado. On the way, three more men went down before the guns of Doc before he reached Denver. There, Doc went by the name Tom Mackey. In a scuffle with Bud Ryan, Doc almost cut his head clear off with his knife. Although he did not die, it forced Holiday to flee to Wyoming, then New Mexico, and finally to Fort Griffin, Texas. It was in Texas where Doc meets the only women to come into his life.

She went by the name of "Big Nose' Kate. Kate had a prominent nose and other features were generous, and all in the right places. Being tough, stubborn, fearless, and high tempered, she worked at the business of being a madam and a prostitute because she liked it. They meet while Doc was dealing cards in John Shanssey's saloon. It was also there in the saloon where Doc meets his soon to be good friend Wyatt Earp. He was another person who was to have a great influence on Holidays life.

Doc helped Wyatt gained information he needed, due that he was a lawmen. Wyatt just rode in from Dodge City on the trail on a train robbery done by Dave Rudabaugh. They both became fast friends. A guy named Ed Bailey was in a game of poker with Doc. After Holiday had warned Bailey twice for cheating by looking at the discards, Doc raked the pot without showing his hand. Bailey brought out a six-shooter, while Doc's hand was on his knife under the table.

Before Bailey could pull the trigger, Doc had slashed him, completely disemboweled bailey and spilling his blood everywhere leaving him sprawled on the table. Doc stuck around and allowed the Marshal to arrest him. This was the first time Holiday had been disarmed and locked away. "Big Nose" Kate knew that Doc would be finished unless someone did something quick.

Kate went into action by setting a fire to old shed in town. It burned very rapidly, almost engulfing the whole town. Everyone was fighting the fire except Kate, Doc, and the officer who guarded him. Kate soon busted into the jailhouse with two pistols in her hands. She handed one to Doc, and he was then set free. They quickly vanished into the night and had to hide in the brush due to the search parties for Holiday.

Four hundred miles away they headed to Dodge city. The couple registered as Dr. and Mrs. J.H. Holiday. Doc knew he was saved, and was determined to do anything to make her happy. Kate stopped the prostitution, and Doc gave up the gambling and hung out his shingle for more business. Kate got bored of her life, and wanted back the excitement in the dance halls, so the couple split up. Doc went on to many more adventures and gunfights.

Soon he was to meet up with the Earp's in Tombstone where he felt his safety was at. It has been said that Doc Holiday was afraid of nothing on Earth. Although Doc had almost lost his life several times, he always thought he would die a fast and easy gunfight. While awaking in bed on November 8, 1887 Doc asked for a glass of whiskey and drank it down with enjoyment.

Then he said", This is funny", and died. I think it was best said when western gamblers lost their biggest bet when Doc died of tuberculosis. I truly admire Doc holiday because of all his pride and willing to believe in himself at any moment. I think we need more people like Holiday due to all the corruption in world, it would seem like he would be able to straighten everything out..