Johnny Ringo

[thomascanty]

I'm slowly working my way through a huge backlog of graveside pictures, and have spent the past week or two going through some shots I took at the Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona on September 29, 2003. (Yes, I really have so many that I'm over a year behind!)

Anyway, these pictures reminded me of a couple shots from my Travel section (which I get to much faster than the graveside pictures) of Johnny Ringo's grave. Ringo was, of course, a notorious outlaw who had many infamous encounters with Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp.

Ringo's body was found leaning against an oak tree near Turkey Creek on July 13, 1882. His death was officially ruled a suicide, though many people believed he was murdered. Wyatt and/or Doc are usually given as the most likely killers, but Doc Holliday couldn't have done it. He was in Colorado at the time. The ending to the movie Tombstone is completely fictitious.

Ringo's grave is located on private property, about 50 miles east of Tombstone. After asking around for a while we finally found out where to go. A long drive later, including several miles on unpaved roads, we found the ranch, asked for and were given permission to visit the grave by the very elderly owner, and I got my pictures.





I'm still looking for Big Nosed Kate (Doc's girlfriend) and Mattie Blaylock (Wyatt's second wife). I haven't been to Doc's grave yet either, but I know where it is. I've found everyone else from that era.

[dewmuw]

I love these sort of stories that accompany pictures. You could turn them into a book!

[sparker1]

Very interesting story. This is my favorite grave in Tombstone's Boot Hill.

[thomascanty]

Originally Posted by sparker1

Very interesting story. This is my favorite grave in Tombstone's Boot Hill.

Yep, I got a picture of that one the same day as Ringo's.

And, since I'm telling stories here:

Lester Moore was the Wells Fargo station agent in Naco, Arizona, near the Mexico border. One day a man named Hank Dunstan showed up to claim a package he was expecting. The package was all banged up and he started arguing about it. The argument got heated, and both men reached for their guns. Lester took four .44 slugs to the chest, and as he fell dying he got off one shot, hitting Dunstan in the chest. Both men died.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Johnny Ringo!

That's amazing.. I had no idea these sites were in tact.

I loved "Tombstone".. even if it was little fictitious.. I thought Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday was perfect!

[CyberDyneSystems]

A teamster from Trukey Creek?

Wouldn't be Wyatts pal "Turkey Creek Jack Johnson" would it?

[marie]

love the shots
I mean photographs


I can't imagine someone like Johnny Ringo committing suicide, but can imagine him being murdered

I wonder do people collect or take some of the stones on the grave

I imagine they are replaced often


must have been exciting seeing the 'set up' and taking the pictures

[marie]

Originally Posted by thomascanty

Yep, I got a picture of that one the same day as Ringo's.

And, since I'm telling stories here:

Lester Moore was the Wells Fargo station agent in Naco, Arizona, near the Mexico border. One day a man named Hank Dunstan showed up to claim a package he was expecting. The package was all banged up and he started arguing about it. The argument got heated, and both men reached for their guns. Lester took four .44 clugs to the chest, and as he fell dying he got off one shot, hitting Dunstan in the chest. Both men died.

lucky we don't be within shooting distance on the forum at times

[thomascanty]

Originally Posted by CyberDyneSystems

A teamster from Trukey Creek?

Wouldn't be Wyatts pal "Turkey Creek Jack Johnson" would it?

I have no idea. No account I've ever read about it gives the teamster's name.

Also, I mispoke in my original message. I also still need to find Virgil Earp. I know where he's buried, I just haven't made it up to Oregon yet.

Curly Bill Brocious would be a great find, too, but unfortunately nobody knows where he's buried...

[thomascanty]

Originally Posted by marie

I can't imagine someone like Johnny Ringo committing suicide, but can imagine him being murdered

I wonder do people collect or take some of the stones on the grave

I read a book about Ringo a while ago, and it said he suffered from severe bouts of depression, so suicide is definitely a likely possibility.

I don't know if people take those stones or not, but I'd imagine you're right. It wouldn't surprise me if people do. But, since the grave is very remote and on private property, I don't think it gets many visitors, so that probably helps keep them from disappearing too quick.

[sparker1]

I think every grave at Boot Hill has an interesting story. Some of them may even be true, or partially true. We can't even imagine the toughness required in those times. The locations of stage stops never fail to impress me with their remoteness. What characters it took to survive back then.

[thomascanty]

Originally Posted by sparker1

I think every grave at Boot Hill has an interesting story.

Yes, almost all of the people buried in Boot Hill have an interesting story. I'm almost finished working my way through all of the grave pictures from there, and I've been reading the stories behind the deaths as I go. The best one is definitely Glenn Will, one of the more recent people buried there. This story is hilarious.

In August 1952, the Tombstone post office received this strange letter:

Postmaster, Tumbstone, Ars. August 14-52
Dear Sir: Just a line to ask a favor, and I hope you have time to grant. 
I am wondering if this is the Tumbstone town where the rich silver 
mines were and the water drowned them and before it did water was 
sold for a dollar a glass. I have heard some tails that roor a Tumbstone 
town that it hapened that way.

I wish you would rite and let know if this town of yourn is that town if 
it is I will pay you a visit in the spring of 1953 as I like to visit old 
mining Camps if this is the place I wihs you wood give me some data 
about it. Thanking you in return for any favors shone me I remain your 
friend. I am enclosing one of my Photoes ana wood thank you for one 
of yourn.

Glenn Efrom Will
1130 Curtis Street
Albany, Calif.

The Postmaster didn't know what to do with the letter and eventually sent it to the Chamber of Commerce. They replied, sending Mr. Will a brochure with some information about the town. Pretty soon they received another letter, this one even stranger:

Just a line to let you no your nice letter was gladly received 
and I was more than glad to here from you and the infermation it 
contained. I wood say the Chamber of Commerce are doind a good 
job, working for the good of soiety in lotting the worald no of the 
wonderful sun shine and altude they have. I Bronco Bill and the 
Rodeo Kid think that Dr. Sun lies a wonderful healing power it 
works it cures through the skin as an grate tonic and helth builder. 
It increses the activity of the mind. It strengthens the power of the 
Will. It quiets the nervis system. It studies the muscular action of 
the body and its warm glowing rays southes and relieves paine.

How far is it to a producing oil field. The only Cowboy that could 
shoot a horse fly on the wing and the inventor of western moves 
was Bronco Bill. Thanking you for an early reply.

'Bronco Bill', Curtis St. Albany, Calif. (Over)

May the Chamber of Commerce life be long and happy and may they 
build a bigger and better Tumbstone before they say their through. 
And I sincerely wish the best of everything to you Bronco Bill Bids 
them all a do.

That was the last letter they received from Mr. Will, aka Bronco Bill, and they forgot about him until March 19, 1953 when the Railway Express Agency called them to say they had a package waiting with $1.92 postage due. Edna Landin, the Chamber of Commerce President, went to pick up the mystery package. It was an urn from the Oakland California Crematorium, with a permit attached reading "Removal Permit For The Cremated Remains of Glenn Will, A La 'Bronco Bill', for interment of said remains in Boothill Cemetery, Tombstone, Arizona."

They eventually tracked down Will's son (the Rodeo Kid mentioned in the second letter) and asked him why he had sent them his father's ashes, to which he replied "Well, he planned on going there long about this time so I just sent 'im." They then asked why he had sent him C.O.D. His answer was "I didn't have no money." When they asked what he wanted them to do with the remains, he said "He was a Donker and my mother was a hard shell Baptist. Do what you will with 'im. He wanted to go to Tombstone so bury 'im or put 'im on a shelf. Won't make no difference to 'im now."

So, they had a funeral. On March 27, 1953 the Hubbard Mortuary in Bisbee handled the services. Tombstone's Mayor served as pallbearer and the famous Rose Tree Museum supplied the flowers. Even though Boot Hill had been closed since 1884 when it was declared full, they made room for Bronco Bill.

[marie]

Originally Posted by thomascanty

That was the last letter they received from Mr. Will, aka Bronco Bill, and they forgot about him until March 19, 1953 when the Railway Express Agency called them to say they had a package waiting with $1.92 postage due. Edna Landin, the Chamber of Commerce President, went to pick up the mystery package. It was an urn from the Oakland California Crematorium, with a permit attached reading "Removal Permit For The Cremated Remains of Glenn Will, A La 'Bronco Bill', for interment of said remains in Boothill Cemetery, Tombstone, Arizona."

They eventually tracked down Will's son (the Rodeo Kid mentioned in the second letter) and asked him why he had sent them his father's ashes, to which he replied "Well, he planned on going there long about this time so I just sent 'im." They then asked why he had sent him C.O.D. His answer was "I didn't have no money." When they asked what he wanted them to do with the remains, he said "He was a Donker and my mother was a hard shell Baptist. Do what you will with 'im. He wanted to go to Tombstone so bury 'im or put 'im on a shelf. Won't make no difference to 'im now."

So, they had a funeral. On March 27, 1953 the Hubbard Mortuary in Bisbee handled the services. Tombstone's Mayor served as pallbearer and the famous Rose Tree Museum supplied the flowers. Even though Boot Hill had been closed since 1884 when it was declared full, they made room for Bronco Bill.

that is a wonderful story Lonnie

I think my father would have loved to read it

how I loved reading what the the son said..
'well. he planned on going there about this time so I just sent 'im'
and then ..
' he wanted to go to Tombstone so bury 'im or put 'im on a shelf ,won't make no diffference to 'im now'

he was good to do that even

I wonder are there any more descendants after that who are interested in what happened the ashes
it's wonderful stuff
and all the rest (pun)

thanks for all that Lonnie

[stoneylonesome]

Great thread and some very intersting info on the "Wild West" love the photos, Get busy Lonnie I can't wait to see more, I may live in the East but I'm a Cowboy in heart and spirit.

[thomascanty]

Originally Posted by stoneylonesome

Get busy Lonnie I can't wait to see more

I'm going as hurrier as I can. I'm almost done working on the pictures, but then I have to put the web pages for them together. This can take a while, and I'm leaving for Laughlin, NV first thing Tuesday morning, so don't expect the Tombstone gallery to be on my web site for a couple weeks. Sorry.

In the meantime, here's a shot of Glenn Will's marker: