Ringo got his start at a reputation right here in my neck of the woods during the mason County (Texas) war.....he rode with Scott Cooley and others who were avenging the death of one of Cooley's friends.
Though there was some bloodshed and deaths, they were mostly death by committe type affairs and Ringo, to my knowledge, was not singled out as a killer, but most certainly did participate.
Cooley was poisoned here in Fredericksburg, and died soon after. (One reason I refrain as much as possible from eating at the resturants!
) Ringo left and the rest of the "gang" also left, as the Rangers were after them, though as long as Cooley was alive, they were not after them too hard......Cooley was a former Ranger.
I have not read any account of Earp or Holiday backing down or hiding from Ringo......I have read of Ringo and holiday facing off and about to do battle when Ringo was grabbed by Breckenridge and prevented from drawing, I've seen where Doc was simmarly handled by nother party, perhaps Earp, either way they were both disarmed.
Ringo seems to be an enigma. He has a fearsome reputation as a gun slinger, but no true evidence to back it up.......he was alledgidly an educated man, but again, I find information to lead one to believe this is also not true.
I think Ringo, because the name just sounds so cool, has gone through a metomorphisis with time....coupled with his "mysterious death".
He was quiet, except when drinking. Morose, worse when drinking, and mean, especially when drinking. I think he was a man fighting many personal demons, and would be a dangerous individual to cross, especially when drinking as he was prone to start shooting....he shot a man for refusing to drink ewith him.
Like I said, I think a lot of his reputation has been fabricated over the years and perpetuated by the old Lorne Green song about "Johnny Ringo",
sounded better than "Doctor john Henry Holiday" I guess.
But, that he was a dangerous individual prone to sudden violence is fact.
Then again, Earp and Holiday were very much the same, so I'd doubt they would hide from Ringo.
