Tombstone, Arizona Territory – A bizarre and potentially destabilizing incident unfolded in Tombstone’s main street earlier this afternoon, as renowned inventor and eccentric time traveler, Artemus Gordon, triggered a spectacularly chaotic sequence of mechanical disguises during a desperate attempt to evade capture by Pinkerton agents. The event, which has left several buildings damaged and numerous citizens shaken, raises serious questions about the stability of time itself, according to witnesses.

The sequence began shortly after Gordon, a key figure in the ongoing conflict between the outlaw “Black Bart” and the territorial government, attempted to flee the town square after a failed ambush. Witnesses report that Gordon, utilizing a complex apparatus of gears, springs, and what appeared to be miniature steam engines strapped to his person, rapidly cycled through a series of increasingly outlandish appearances – a towering Napoleonic general, a diminutive Japanese samurai, a flamboyant Venetian nobleman, and finally, a remarkably accurate replica of Judge Halsted.

“It was… unsettling,” recounted saloon owner, Silas Blackwood, visibly rattled. “One minute he was a giant, the next he was a tiny man waving a miniature sword. The whole place went silent, then… boom! The building across the street nearly collapsed.”

The resulting explosions, triggered by the rapid shifts in Gordon’s mechanical disguise, caused significant damage to the mercantile and the town’s bank. Several windows shattered, and debris rained down on the street. Pinkerton agent, Mr. Peabody, suffered a minor head wound, though he assured reporters he was “perfectly composed” despite the spectacle. “A most…unconventional method of evasion,” he stated, adjusting his spectacles.

Local Sheriff McCoy expressed concern over the implications. “This isn’t just about a runaway inventor,” he stated grimly. “This…this feels like a disruption. A ripple in the fabric of things. I’ve heard whispers about temporal anomalies, and frankly, this confirms my worst fears.”

Gordon, currently in custody, offered a brief, cryptic explanation. “The device was designed for rapid adaptation, not for wanton destruction,” he declared, adjusting his spectacles. “It appears I’ve…overcompensated.” The incident has prompted a temporary suspension of all travel to and from Tombstone, pending investigation by federal authorities. The long-term effects on the timeline remain unknown.