Ethan Rhodes
Doc Holliday, the gambler, gunman, and occasional dentist, died of tuberculosis on November 8, 1887, at the age of 36. Holliday was convinced he would be killed in a shootout with his boots on. Instead, he died in a hospital bed in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where he had gone for treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause of death | Tuberculosis |
| Date of death | 8 November 1887 |
| Age at death | 36 |
| Place of death | Glenwood Springs, Colorado |
| Last words | "This is funny" |
| Final request | A shot of whiskey |
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What You'll Learn
Doc Holliday died of tuberculosis
Doc Holliday, the gambler, gunman, and occasional dentist, died of tuberculosis on November 8, 1887, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Holliday had been suffering from tuberculosis, then known as consumption, for many years. The disease had made it difficult for him to continue his dental practice, and he turned to gambling as his health declined. Holliday's mother had also died of tuberculosis in 1866, and the disease had killed his adopted brother as well.
Holliday was convinced that he would be killed in a shootout with his boots on. However, he died of tuberculosis in a hospital or hotel room in Glenwood Springs, where he had gone for treatment. In his final moments, he asked a nurse or attendant for a shot of whiskey, which was denied. Looking down at his bare feet, he said, "This is funny," and died.
Holliday's health had been deteriorating for some time. In the late winter of 1886, Holliday met his old friend Wyatt Earp in the lobby of the Windsor Hotel. Sadie Marcus described Holliday as having a continuous cough and standing on "unsteady legs." Holliday's health continued to worsen, and in May 1887, he headed to Glenwood Springs, which was famous for its supposedly restorative hot springs and sulfur vapors. However, he did not improve and spent his last 57 days in bed at the Hotel Glenwood, delirious for 14 of them.
Holliday's movement and actions indicate that he wanted to live, despite his fatalistic reputation. He travelled extensively, seeking more comfortable places to live and getting treatment for his tuberculosis. Before a shootout in Leadville, Holliday implored law officers and friends to intervene, demonstrating his desire to avoid death. Additionally, Holliday's longtime friend, a Colorado newspaperman, and saloon keepers all over the West helped pay his bills when he was dying in a Colorado hotel room, practically penniless.
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He died in a Colorado hotel room
Doc Holliday, the Wild West gambler and gunman, was convinced he would be killed in a shootout with his boots on. However, he died of tuberculosis in a Colorado hotel room in 1887, at the age of 36.
Holliday's health had been deteriorating for some time. He suffered from tuberculosis, also known as consumption, which had made it difficult for him to continue his dental practice. He had moved his practice to Dallas, Texas, in search of a drier climate as advised by doctors. However, his health continued to decline due to heavy drinking and late nights.
In May 1887, Holliday travelled to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, famous for its restorative hot springs and sulphur vapours. He checked into the fashionable Hotel Glenwood, hoping that the springs and vapours would improve his health. Instead, his condition worsened, and he spent his last 57 days in bed at the hotel, delirious for 14 of them.
On November 8, 1887, he awoke clear-eyed and asked for a glass of whiskey, which he drank with enjoyment. He then looked down at his bare feet and said, "This is funny," before passing away. Holliday died practically penniless, and his fellow gamblers and saloon keepers helped pay his bills.
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He was buried in Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Doc Holliday, the gambler, gunman, and sometime dentist of the American West, died in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on November 8, 1887. He was just 36 years old. Holliday had travelled to Glenwood Springs to seek treatment for his tuberculosis at a sanitarium. The town was famous for its restorative hot springs and sulphur vapours, which Holliday hoped would improve his health. He checked into the fashionable Hotel Glenwood, where he spent his last 57 days, bedridden, and delirious for 14 of them. Holliday's health continued to deteriorate, and he died in his hotel room, practically penniless. Fellow gamblers and saloon keepers helped pay his bills.
Holliday was buried in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where he took his final breath. He was known for his participation in the shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, but he earned his bad reputation well before that famous feud. Holliday had a reputation as a moody loner, a drinker, a fighter, and a killer. He was also a loyal friend to Wyatt Earp, standing by him during the 1881 shootout and the bloody feud that followed. Holliday's movement and travels show that he was looking for a place to live more comfortably, despite his reputation and health issues.
Holliday's last days were peaceful, and he was able to enjoy a glass of whiskey before he passed away. His burial site in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, stands as a reminder of his colourful life and his impact on the Wild West.
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Holliday was a gambler and gunman
In the late 1800s, John Henry "Doc" Holliday, a dentist-turned-gambler and gunman, became a legendary figure in the Wild West. Holliday's skill with a gun and his reputation as a fierce gambler often preceded him, and he was both admired and feared. Holliday was known to be a proficient gambler, often making a living by playing cards and other games of chance. He was also a confident gunman, having honed his shooting skills during his dental practice and putting them to use in a number of notorious gunfights.
Holliday's gambling habits often landed him in trouble. He was involved in several altercations and shootouts due to gambling disputes. One of the most famous incidents took place in a saloon in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, where Holliday was involved in a heated argument over a card game. The argument escalated, and Holliday ended up killing a man. This incident solidified his reputation as a dangerous and unpredictable character.
Beyond gambling, Holliday was also a skilled gunman. He was known to carry a pistol and a knife at all times and was quick to draw his weapon when faced with a threat. Holliday's most famous gunfight was the Shootout at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, where he sided with the Earp brothers against a group of outlaws. During the 30-second confrontation, three men lost their lives. Holliday's role in the gunfight further enhanced his reputation as a fearless and deadly gunman.
Holliday's life was a constant balance between his gambling and his gunfighting skills. He often used his gambling winnings to fund his travels and support his expensive taste for liquor and cigars. However, his gambling also led to financial troubles, forcing him to rely on his gun to get himself out of difficult situations. Holliday's life was a volatile mix of high-stakes gambling and deadly gunplay, and his reputation as a fearless gambler and skilled gunman remains intact to this day.
Holliday's gambling and gunfighting skills were often intertwined, and he was known to be a fierce competitor in both arenas. He moved throughout the Southwest, always seeking new gambling opportunities and often finding himself in dangerous situations that required his gunfighting abilities. Despite his ill health, Holliday's reputation as a fearless and skilled gambler and gunman followed him everywhere he went.
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He was also an occasional dentist
John Henry "Doc" Holliday, the legendary Wild West gambler and gunman, was also an occasional dentist. Holliday earned his nickname “Doc” when he graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in 1872. He began his career as a dentist in the office of Dr. Arthur C. Ford in Atlanta, Georgia. Holliday was a competent dentist with a successful practice. However, his interest in cards and gambling soon took over, and he drifted towards a life of gunslinging and gambling. Holliday suffered from tuberculosis, then known as consumption, which made it difficult for him to continue his dental practice.
Holliday's health continued to deteriorate due to his hard living, heavy drinking, and late nights. He sought treatment for his tuberculosis at a sanitarium in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, famous for its restorative hot springs. Holliday's movement and travels indicate that he wanted to live and was looking for a place to live more comfortably. Despite his efforts, he died from tuberculosis on November 8, 1887, at the age of 36. He spent his final days in a Colorado hotel room, where fellow gamblers and saloon keepers helped pay his bills.
Holliday's reputation as a moody loner, drinker, fighter, and killer often overshadowed his early career as a dentist. His story has been portrayed in movies and popular culture, often focusing on his gunslinging and gambling exploits. Holliday's brief career as a dentist is often overlooked in favour of his more glamorous and deadly adventures in the Wild West.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Holliday died in a Colorado hotel room at the Hotel Glenwood in Glenwood Springs.
Holliday was in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, famous for its restorative hot springs. He had hoped that the Yampah hot springs and sulfur vapors might improve his health.
Holliday awoke clear-eyed and asked for a glass of whiskey, which he drank down with enjoyment. Then, looking down at his bare feet, he said, "This is funny."
Holliday died of tuberculosis, which was known as consumption at the time.
Holliday died at the age of 36.
