October 6 , 2005
Evidently many in Tombstone feel we “trashed” their town with our October issue. A cover story in the Tombstone Tumbleweed rakes us across the coals for what they deem biased coverage. This is also the article that includes the Ben Traywick quote where he says I’m so perfect. If you’d like to check it out it’s at:

www.tombstonetumbleweed.com

You’ll need to click on PDF Files (in the left-hand corner) and then on September 29.

I wasn’t going to respond but Bob Brink insisted, saying, “You can’t let this go by and not remind people down there how much coverage you have given that town.” So, here is my letter to the editor of the Tumbleweed:

Having read your coverage regarding True West magazine’s cover story on the recent Charrette please allow me to correct several misconceptions:

• Our October issue with Wyatt on the cover went to press prior to the Charrette. We interviewed the two principals, Dr. John McIntosh and Bob Frankeberger, so we could present their plans to our readers. Since we knew the issue would be out around the time of the charrette presentation, we asked guest editors and others to comment on what Tombstone could do to present itself better. We then sent our features editor, Mark Boardman, to the meeting, for an upcoming piece on the town’s progress. We are also looking for feedback from locals for this article.

• No other national magazine has given Tombstone as much coverage as True West has in the past six years. In fact, I get criticized constantly by our readers for giving too much coverage to Wyatt Earp and Tombstone. We have just finished a two-year series on the gunfights behind the O.K. Corral with many never before published images and rare source material from Tucson historian Neil Carmony who oversaw the entire project. To dismiss this painstaking coverage as “[BBB’s] history of Tombstone is what he wishes it was, not what it really was” is petty and unwarranted. Mr. Carmony, who is known for his no-nonsense research, deserves better than this.

• Our newest book, “Blaze Away! The 25 Gunfights Behind the O.K. Corral” showcases all of this hard work, and is in effect a valentine to the town. Released on September 30th and featuring 236 original illustrations and paintings, plus many original photos from the collection of Robert McCubbin, this book is going to bring more positive attention and tourists to Tombstone.

Sincerely,
Bob Boze Bell
Executive Editor, True West magazine

I finished two articles today and a scratchboard of Lynx Lake. Samantha ordered out for Subway and we all pitched in $5 bucks and had a noontime feed. Lots of fun talking about the old days at Clantonville. Carole laughed until she cried telling us about the pack rats and stinky conditions (or was she just crying?). That was fun. We may do this once a month.

“Where the old tracks are lost, new country is revealed with its wonders.”
—Rabindrannath Tagore