By Dave Ruthenberg, Columnist

What irony … four decades in Detroit without being shot at or having spilled any blood, but that all changed this past week and on the mean streets of Enid, no less.

It all started innocently enough. I was asked by the good folks at the Chisholm Trail Coalition to portray newspaper publisher J.L. Isenberg in a re-creation of a famous 1895 altercation that resulted in a gun fight between Marshall E.C. Williams and land office registrar R.W. Patterson (apparently people only went by their initials in those days), tragically resulting in the death of both Williams and Patterson. The re-creation was a first-time addition to the coalition’s monthly walking tour of historic downtown Enid sites that includes character re-enactments. And, well, they found a character.

The set-up: Isenberg (how in the world did they ever think of me for this part … hmmm) has been publishing scandalous news about Patterson, infuriating the registrar who is itching for a fight. On the fateful day, Patterson spots Isenberg coming out of his office, a scuffle ensues, Patterson reaches for a gun as Marshall Williams comes up from behind, which allows Isenberg to break free and run. Patterson fires a shot, is grabbed from behind by Marshall Williams, wheels and fires at Williams. Williams is hit but gets off a shot. Both die from their wounds. Isenberg escapes.

Simple enough, right? This should be easy to re-create. So, thanks to the wardrobe provided by brothers Rick and Larry Simpson from Simpson’s Old Time Museum, I am ready for the part. Rick will be portraying Marshall Williams while Larry handles the role of the ill-tempered Patterson.

Oh, they will be shooting blanks. “But you still need to be careful,” Rick warns me. Apparently “blanks” is a bit of a misnomer. But I am putting my faith in the hands of the two experienced western movie makers.

On the morning of the appointed time, the three of us assemble at the corner of Broadway and Grand for the run-through. I decide to not show up in costume which is a big mistake as wet pavement, shorts and rubber-soled shoes are not a good mix.

OK, so here we go. Isenberg and Patterson argue and scuffle and Williams comes up from behind. I break free and run (well, that may be overstating things) and, what’s that coming up fast? Look out! Pavement! I take about three steps and go flying face-first on the sidewalk. I do my best tuck and roll and try to make it look intentional.

“Now, Dave you don’t have to fall.” Thanks Rick, I will remember that.

Take two. Scuffle, break free, turn, run … look out! Cement at 12 o’clock and approaching fast … wham! Now, this is really starting to hurt. By the way, anybody remember weebles, the child toy with the slogan “weebles wobble but they don’t fall down?” It was all a lie. We do fall down.

OK, one more try. “Brace yourself, pace yourself and stay on your feet for crying out loud,” I think to myself. Result? Yep, score another round for the sidewalk. Did I mention my wife has been observing this whole thing and is now laughing hysterically? By my third trip down to the pavement, my change is all over the sidewalk, my elbows and knees are a bloody mess and Rick is a bit perplexed.

“You keep falling down, and I am going to have to shoot you and give you a reason to be on the ground,” he tells me. At this point that doesn’t sound like a bad option.

My wife loads my bloodied and battered carcass into her brand new car and I promptly manage to get bloodstains on the leather upholstery, but this could be a good thing. We have watched enough episodes of “Forensic Files” to know what blood evidence means. If she ever tries to get rid of me and authorities inspect the car, things could get interesting.

We make it home, I don my Western garb and head back to the scene of the crime. With a group of 40 people or so watching, we actually pull it off. I stay on my feet, run away and Rick and Larry gun each other down. Grown men playing cowboy … does it really get any better?

But years from now I can imagine they will be talking about the bloody incident of the re-enactment of the famous gunfight of 1895, where one of the “actors” left more blood on the streets than the original antagonist himself. Let them try to re-create that!



Ruthenberg is copy editor at the News & Eagle. He can be reached at daver@enidnews.com.