According to Kenneth Cilch's
book, Wyatt Earp The Missing Years, Wyatt came to San Diego
between 1885 and 1887 and could have remained here as late as
1896. He was accompanied by his third wife Josie who he met in
Tombstone, Arizona. She was an actress and possibly a dance hall
girl and she accompanied him in his many travels until his death
in 1929.
He was an active businessman in addition to a gambler and was
engaged in a variety of real estate ventures, capitalizing on
the land boom in the mid 1880's. Earp leased four saloons and
gambling halls in San Diego, the most famous was his Oyster
Bar located in the Louis Bank of Commerce on Fifth Avenue. He
was listed as a capitalist (gambler) in the San Diego City
Directory in 1887 and among his other winnings won a race
horse.
During these times the Stingaree District was the heart of
entertainment for the city and offered all kinds of diversion
and vice. There was gambling, saloons, gunmen, prostitutes,
speculators, and honest and dishonest gamblers.
Mixed in among settlers who came in droves were tourists who
crowded the train lines so much that some weekend vacationers
didn't make it home to Los Angeles until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Another big draw for the city was its close proximity to
Tijuana where one was sure to find prize fights, bear and bull
fights, and all varieties of gambling.
