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Our Top 10 Johnny Winter Songs list looks at a blues guitarist who merged the worlds of rock and roll and the blues almost better than any other musician in classic rock history. As we have written so many times‚ as well as many other writers and critics‚ there would be no rock and roll without the blues. Johnny Winter defined the connections on every single record he recorded. Johnny Winter’s debut album‚ The Progressive Blues Experiment‚ was released in 1968. The record was released on an independent label. Johnny Winter didn’t stay on an independent label for long as Columbia The post Top 10 Johnny Winter Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

Another Super Bowl‚ another round of specially crafted commercials. Here’s a roundup in case you’re wondering what you missed; full of celebrities and sillyness. 1) Talkin’ Like Walken – BMW Watch the collective California service sector seize opportunities to imitate Christopher Walken. 2) Renner’s Morning Routine – SILK After a terrible road accident required years […] The post The Top 10 Best and Funniest Super Bowl Ads of 2024 appeared first on Good News Network.

The post Cat Pedicures: What’s Involved? Vet-Approved Facts &; Explanation by Ashley Bates appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Overview What Is a Pedicure for Cats? Benefits &; Downfalls Can You Give Your Cat a Pedicure at Home? Is Nail Trimming Really Necessary? How to Protect Homes from Cat Claws Should You Declaw Your Cat? Our kitties might need a little extra love in the nail department. These lethal murder mittens can do quite a lot of damage. If you’ve shared your home with a feline‚ you know just how much it can impact your belongings—and yourself!  Too long claws can also cause pain and other issues for your cat. So‚ in terms of pet pampering‚ what’s a pedicure like for cats? Does a cat pedicure involve the same things it does for humans? Or is it just a process where the claws become duller and less equipped for damage? Let’s find out what a cat pedicure entails! Overview of a Cat’s Nails If you closely examine your cat’s claws‚ you will notice that the tip is translucent‚ and the “quick” portion is visible as you look down the nail toward the toe. The nail is a translucent portion that is the upper 1/3 of the claws‚ roughly. The quick is the darker or pink portion of the nail—which contains blood vessels and nerves. That is why it will bleed vigorously at the quick if you clip too far down. It is crucial that you have solid knowledge of where the quick ends—especially if there is trimming involved. What Do Cat Claws Do? Cat claws are an incredibly important feature anatomically. They serve many purposes that benefit your cat’s everyday living. Cat claws can help with: Climbing Scratching Balance Walking Digging Covering waste So‚ you can see how they play a major role. Image Credit: Naturell‚ Pixabay What Is a Pedicure for Cats? You might be imagining your cat sitting upright with their feet in a soak tub and head wrapped up in a towel‚ wearing their best bathrobe. But of course‚ this isn’t the case. A pedicure (or manicure) for cats is simply a fancy nail trim. Some people choose or need to trim their cat’s claws regularly‚ while others let this go untended. If you take your cat to the groomer‚ the nails are likely an area on the body that will get attention. How Are Pedicures on Cats Performed? A pedicure for cats is carried out carefully by trained professionals. It’s all part of the grooming process! The groomer (or groomers) will make your cat comfortable before trimming so it alarms them as little as possible. With luck‚ the groomer can snip‚ snip‚ snip—and be done. For more rambunctious cats‚ the process might take a little longer. Who Gives Cats Pedicures? Professional groomers are usually the ones responsible for giving cats pedicures. However‚ you can perform a basic nail trim at home if you learn what to do and how to do it correctly. If you plan to do it yourself‚ have a helper‚ and be sure to ask your vet or a professional groomer to show you how. Benefits of Pedicures for Cats If you have a young‚ active kitty‚ and they have plenty of scratching posts‚ they may not need regular pedicures. However‚ senior and less active cats‚ especially those with issues like arthritis‚ will need regular nail trims to help keep their claws in tip top health. If your cat’s nails get too long they may get caught on carpets and blankets. They can also start to curve and grow round into their paw pads causing a lot of pain for your cat. Of course pedicures mean your cat’s nails are less sharp as well so they do less damage around the home and if they accidentally catch you during an intense play session! Downfalls of Pedicures for Cats Just like any upside‚ there will be some cons to consider. First‚ pedicures can be very stressful for your cat. You might be counting down the minutes until you can relax by getting your toes and nails done. However‚ cats will not feel the same way. After a few trips‚ your cat can acclimate (like going to the vet) and it’s always best to get them used to having their paws handled from a young age. However‚ cat pedicures can be very tough to handle‚ as an unfamiliar person is touching a sensitive part of the cat’s body. Plus‚ what cat actually likes being restrained and staying still? Image Credit: Lapina‚ Shutterstock Can You Give Your Cat a Pedicure at Home? If you feel confident enough to accomplish the task‚ you can freely give your cat a pedi from the comfort of your own home. In fact‚ some anxious or uncomfortable felines might prefer your skills over a trained professional based on comfort alone. First‚ you should get your cat a suitable sized‚ pet-specific type of nail clippers. Pet nail clippers are designed to put pressure on all parts of the nail‚ creating a clean cut. Before you even start the trim‚ have a person help to gently restrain your kitty so they don’t hurt themselves or you—especially if it’s your first time. Is Nail Trimming Really Necessary? Your cats can file their nails naturally. In the wild a cat would wear down their nails by running‚ hunting‚ climbing and scratching. Scratching might be an easily overlooked part of cat behavior‚ but it’s one that is so instinctual for them. They require scratching for nail sharpening‚ shedding‚ and muscle-building. Cats also scent mark when they scratch. Indoor and older cats are more likely to have longer claws and require nail trimming. On average‚ it’s recommended to check your cat’s nails once every 2 to 3 weeks and trim them if necessary. But there are also other ways to help keep your cat’s nails as healthy as possible‚ as well as protecting your home from cat claws! How to Protect Homes from Cat Claws Protecting your home means giving your cat appropriate outlets for their natural scratching behavior‚ as well as keeping their nails in good shape. 1. Proper Scratching Materials Purchasing scratching materials is an essential part of being a cat owner. It is part of your cat’s natural instinct to scratch and claw at materials. Some cats want to claw more than others‚ so if you have a multi-cat household‚ make sure to offer a variety of materials to keep them happy. The most common materials on the market include sisal rope‚ sisal fabric‚ cardboard‚ and carpet. Each one has its benefits‚ and you might find that your cat prefers one to the other. Some cats like vertical scratching posts and others prefer horizontal. Image Credit: New Africa‚ Shutterstock 2. Pheromone sprays Using pheromone sprays can encourage your cat to use a scratching post rather than furniture and carpets. 3. Keep Them Active The more your cat plays and runs‚ the more likely they are to stay in shape and naturally wear down the tips of their claws without the need for such regular nail trims. If your cat is older and struggling with mobility‚ consult with your vet for advice. 4. Claw Covers Claw covers are available‚ these are lightweight caps which are glued over your cat’s claws and are used as a way to stop your cat scratching furniture. Although a much more humane option than declawing‚ they are not without issues. They can be difficult to apply properly‚ often don’t stay in place and require regular monitoring and reapplication every 4-6 weeks. Many cats do not like them‚ meaning they cause stress and anxiety. Some can prevent a cat from retracting their nails properly and they can cause damage to the nail if left on for too long. They should never be used in cats that go outside and we recommend speaking to your vet if you are considering them to make sure they are a good choice for your cat. Should You Declaw Your Cat? Declawing is still a huge debate. Even throughout the 1990s‚ this practice was pretty commonplace in the US. In many other countries declawing is either banned or considered unethical. It’s a surgical process by which the claw is removed by amputating the last bone of each toe on a cat’s paw. While this might seem like a sensible solution to the problem‚ it’s actually very damaging for several reasons. Declawing is an incredibly invasive procedure. It is comparable to you getting your fingers cut off at the last knuckles. This surgery is unnecessary‚ costly‚ and‚ many would argue‚ inhumane. First‚ your cat’s natural instinct is to claw. When you remove the claws‚ they will still want to need or scratch‚ but they will be unable to do so. This couldn’t cause some confusion and might even make your cat unhappy. Declawing can be painful years after the surgery is complete. Unfortunately‚ studies have revealed that a large percentage of declawed cats experience some level of pain intermittently or constantly and this can affect their behavior with increased incidence of aggression and inappropriate elimination. Many vets will no longer perform this surgery as an elective procedure and the American Veterinary Medical Association discourages the elective declawing of cats and encourages the use of alternatives. Image Credit: Jupri‚ Pixabay Conclusion So‚ now you know exactly how to give your cat a pedicure—or what it means if a groomer does it. What do you think? Does it sound like a good plan to totally pamper your kitty on the next trip to the groomer‚ or will you leave the murder mittens alone? Sources https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-care/pawdicures-the-latest-thing-in-kitty-pampering https://kritterkommunity.com/the-anatomy-of-a-cat-claw/ https://heartforanimals.org/cat-manicure/ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X17705044 https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2020-03-01/avma-revises-declawing-policy https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/vet-qa-how-do-i-trim-my-cat-s-claws   Featured Image Credit: 135pixels‚ Shutterstock The post Cat Pedicures: What’s Involved? Vet-Approved Facts &; Explanation by Ashley Bates appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it‚ but all of these articles were assigned‚ contracted and paid for‚ so they aren't considered public domain. However‚ we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article‚ then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.

Back in the day‚ there weren’t many things better than having a toy catalog or toy store sale paper to browse through to get you excited about all of the toy possibilities out there. Recently CONTINUE READING... The post Highlights From an Old Toys ‘R’ Us Sale paper appeared first on The Retro Network.

Author of How to Prep When You’re Broke and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course Is the supply chain China’s secret weapon? Over the last few years‚ the phrase “supply chain” has become one of increasing importance to everyone – from corporate leaders to government officials and to customers. Now‚ it’s a phrase that is becoming important to even military leaders.  According to Barron’s‚  The United States worries that China will use its power in global supply chains as an additional weapon to advance its political and military might‚ a report released Wednesday showed. The “Annual Threat Assessment” issued by the Director of National Intelligence said China is already using its supply chain dominance to force foreign companies and countries to transfer technologies and intellectual property to it. Of course‚ this is something we warned about years ago on The OP‚ back when China specifically threatened to withhold all medical  exports from us because we talked badly about them during Covid. The pandemic showed just how vulnerable our supply chains are. The truth is that the United States has left itself incredibly vulnerable to supply chain manipulation by China.  More from Barron’s‚  The disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic showed the world the importance of supply chains — the way components of products make their ways from myriad sources around the world through various countries for preliminary and final assembly before products reach the market. The pandemic demonstrated how the disruption of a single factory in China or elsewhere could halt the work of major industrial operations around the globe. The “Annual Threat” report singled out China’s dominance in technology sectors including semiconductors‚ critical minerals‚ batteries‚ solar panels‚ and pharmaceuticals. We also covered the looming semi-conductor crisis. In fact‚ The OP has been ahead of the mainstream with all these warnings. Chinese domination of the pharmaceutical supply chain  American consumers‚ like most global consumers‚ are reliant on a pharmaceutical supply chain that has been almost entirely taken over by the Chinese.  As Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) pointed out in a report back in 2019‚ pre-COVID‚   Chinese policymakers aim to make China’s domestic biotechnology industry the medicine cabinet of the world. To a large extent‚ they have already succeeded in achieving dominance in the lower end of the pharmaceutical and medical technology value chain. 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) of drugs in the American market come from overseas‚ primarily from China and India. In older drugs with low profit margins‚ Chinese drugmakers have often taken over production entirely from Western companies. Chinese manufacturers are already the sole suppliers of many API and lower-end drugs.   Since COVID‚ this reliance on China for prescription drugs has only gotten worse – and as tensions escalate between the US and China‚ the possibility that the Chinese use this leverage to their advantage becomes more and more concerning:  Experts suggest that the growth of the US and China pharmaceutical trade poses a serious risk as the adversarial relationship could result in supply chain closures. It’s not unrealistic that pharmaceuticals could be used as a weapon in a trade war‚ as was suggested in past Chinese strategic talks. Additionally‚ the FDA has less oversight over Chinese facilities‚ which generates questions about the safety of foreign manufacturers. Indeed‚ the number of medications and the amount of medical supplies that come straight from China pose an all-out national security crisis. How in the world did we let the very health of our nation lie in the hands of our enemies? How do you protect against prescription drug shortages?  If our leaders won’t step up and break China’s stranglehold on prescription drugs‚ what can individuals do to stay safe and healthy? The solution is to be prepared. That’s where The Wellness Company comes in.  The Wellness Company and its great doctors – like Dr. Peter McCullough‚ Dr. Drew‚ Dr. Harvey Risch‚ and Dr. Jim Thorp – are regularly in the media fighting against the broken medical establishment.  Dr. Thorp‚ one of the nation’s leading critics of corrupt Big Pharma‚ believes that now – more than ever – people should be prepared for the next pandemic:   “I’ve strongly recommended “stockpiling” critical medications including antibiotics since the turn of the century. This has been an incredible investment as many friends‚ family‚ and patients have benefited. Now‚ in the winter of 2024‚ this recommendation is even more crucial.”  The Wellness Company and their doctors are medical professionals that you can trust and their new medical emergency kits are the gold standard when it comes to keeping you safe and healthy.  The ultimate safeguard for your health.  Be ready for the next crisis. This medical emergency kit contains an assortment of life-saving medications – including ivermectin‚ amoxicillin‚ and Z-pak. The Medical Emergency Kit includes a guidebook to aid in the safe use of these life-saving medications. I reviewed it previously and shared my experience getting it. This kit is prescription-only – you can’t find it in any store or pharmacy. Simply fill out a short questionnaire after purchase‚ and a trusted Wellness Company doctor will consult with you and issue your prescription Medical Emergency Kit.  The Wellness Company Medical Emergency Kit includes:    Amoxicillin-Clavulanate (generic Augmentin) 875/125 mg – 28 tablets Azithromycin (generic Z-Pak) 250 mg – 12 tablets Doxycycline Hyclate 100 mg – 60 capsules Metronidazole (generic Flagyl) 500 mg – 30 tablets Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (generic Bactrim) 800/160 mg – 28 tablets     Ivermectin 18mg – 7 compounded capsules Fluconazole (generic Diflucan) 150 mg – 2 tablets  Ondansetron (generic Zofran) 4mg – 6 tablets 1 Emergency Medication Guidebook written by the Chief Medical Board for safe use.   Will it get you through an entire ten-year apocalypse? No‚ of course not. But it’s enough of each medication to get you through one to three illnesses that require that med. It’s an advantage in a world that has been sorely short on advantages lately. I recommend a purchase for each member of your family if you can swing it. I got my first one then spaced out the purchases for my daughters by a month each.  This is a real vulnerability. Can you imagine the US if we had no antibiotics? The rampant infections? People dying from easily treatable conditions? Yes‚ yes. I know some of you refuse to ever allow an antibiotic capsule to pass your lips. Good for you. I hope you never face an infection or illness that would take you out. So my advice is not for you‚ who refuse to use modern medicine. It’s for the folks who want to be realistically prepared for as many different emergencies as possible. We don’t take medications often in my family‚ but there have been times we were so grateful for having them. Sometimes‚ it truly is a matter of life and death. I wouldn’t want to face a world without the ability to treat infections or serious bacterial illnesses if I had the option of being prepped for it. I firmly believe that China is an existential threat to our country. They’ve been quietly‚ patiently‚ and insidiously playing a long game. And it won’t be too far in the future before their hand is revealed. But what do you think? Is it likely‚ in your mind‚ that China might cut off supplies of essentials like antibiotics and other important medications? Are you prepped for that possibility? How do you think such a nightmare might unfold? Let’s discuss it in the comments section. About Daisy Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging‚ adventure-seeking‚ globe-trotting blogger. She is the founder and publisher of three websites.  1) The Organic Prepper‚ which is about current events‚ preparedness‚ self-reliance‚ and the pursuit of liberty; 2)  The Frugalite‚ a website with thrifty tips and solutions to help people get a handle on their personal finances without feeling deprived; and 3) PreppersDailyNews.com‚ an aggregate site where you can find links to all the most important news for those who wish to be prepared. Her work is widely republished across alternative media and she has appeared in many interviews. Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books‚ 12 self-published books‚ and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides‚ printables‚ and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook‚ Pinterest‚ Gab‚ MeWe‚ Parler‚ Instagram‚ and Twitter. The post Will China Use the Supply Chain as a Weapon Against the US? appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

Much has been written about the July 13‚ 1882‚ death of Arizona Territory gunfighter Johnny Ringo‚ most of it wrong. Writers have inserted their assumptions as facts. Thus‚ the story often goes that Johnny found himself alone in a trackless waste on a hot day in mid-July without water. Despondent‚ his horse having run off‚ left without water‚ Ringo committed suicide.   In fact‚ Ringo died within 20 yards of a well-traveled road‚ having just reached Turkey Creek‚ the first available water source within many miles. He was within a quarter mile of the ranch of B.F. Smith‚ in the western foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains‚ and those on the ranch heard the shot that killed Johnny. Furthermore‚ July is a month of monsoon rains. In Arizona that means the wind comes from the southwest‚ from the Pacific and Gulf of California‚ bringing almost daily thundershowers that fill ponds and cause washes and streams to run. The rain cools the land‚ which at Turkey Creek is at 5‚400 feet elevation—a far cry from the blazing desert around Phoenix‚ at 1‚100 feet.    As the Epitaph account reveals‚ Yost estimated that within a quarter hour 11 men were on the scene. They comprised a “coroner’s jury.” That term may mislead present-day readers. These were 11 everyday men who reported their findings to the coroner in Tombstone by letter. They had no forensic training. They were in a hurry to be done with the affair and get back to work‚ to bury a body already starting to stink. They did not wish to be called to Tombstone‚ miles distant‚ for lengthy court proceedings.   Ringo had ridden across this scrubland to the creek‚ taken off his boots and hung them from his saddle when something spooked his horse. When found‚ he was wearing torn strips of his undershirt wrapped around his bootless feet‚ presumably to protect them while he went looking for his horse. Ringo was known to several of the men. The Epitaph published their findings. Johnny was found in a seated posture leaning against a tree. His boots were missing. “He was dressed in [a] light hat‚ blue shirt‚ vest‚ pants and drawers. On his feet were a pair of hose and an undershirt torn up so as to protect his feet.” He wore two cartridge belts‚ one for pistol and one for rifle. The revolver belt was upside down. There was no holster for a pistol‚ nor was it a Buscadero rig. His rifle propped against a nearby tree‚ his pistol clasped in his right hand. There was a bullet hole atop the left side of his skull. “A part of the scalp [was] gone‚” the paper noted‚ “and part of the hair. This looks as if cut out by a knife.” There was no mention of powder burns or stippling on his head. Black powder burns slowly and keeps burning as the bullet emerges from the barrel. In his 1966 song “Mr. Shorty‚” Marty Robbins sang‚ “The .44 spoke‚ and it sent lead and smoke‚ and 17 inches of flame.” This isn’t far off the mark. A close-range pistol shot with muzzle held to temple likely would have ignited Ringo’s hair and left an awful mess. The coroner’s jury might have left such details out of their report to spare family members and the public‚ or perhaps because they simply didn’t think it important. After all‚ the effects of close-range pistol shots was common knowledge in that era.   The Epitaph report surmised the circumstances:   “The general impression prevailing among people in the Chiricahuas is that his horse wandered off somewhere‚ and he started off on foot to search for him; that his boots began to hurt him‚ and he pulled them off and made moccasins of his undershirt. He could not have been suffering for water‚ as he was within 200 feet of it‚ and not more than 700 feet from Smith’s house. Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Young passed by where he was lying Thursday afternoon‚ but supposed it was some man asleep and took no further notice of him. The inmates of Smith’s house heard a shot about 3 o’clock Thursday evening‚ and it is more than likely that that is the time the rash deed was done. He was on an extended jamboree the last time he was in this city.”   The following Tuesday Ringo’s horse was found with one of his boots still hanging from the saddle. The Chiricahua folks were mistaken. Johnny hadn’t‚ while searching for his horse‚ taken off his boots because they hurt. He still had the horse when he took them off. The strips of undershirt wrapped around his feet were clean‚ not dirtied by any walking about. He was close to water and aid‚ not helpless and alone in a desert. The newspaper also noted Ringo was subject to frequent melancholy and had abnormal fear of being killed. He was paranoid‚ but that doesn’t mean people weren’t pursuing him with the intent to do him harm.   What Really Happened on Turkey Creek? The spot where Ringo was found‚ sitting beneath an oak tree on the banks of upper Turkey Creek‚ is idyllic‚ shaded and alive with the sound of trickling water. Though peaceful‚ it was not at all secluded. It was on the road to Galeyville‚ which passed a nearby pinery and sawmill. Several passersby spotted Johnny’s body‚ each believing he was only resting. In his 1927 book Tombstone: An Iliad of the Southwest author Walter Noble Burns added several details. “[Ringo’s] six-shooter‚ held in his right hand‚ had fallen into his lap and caught in his watch chain‚” Burns wrote. “Five chambers of the cylinder were loaded; the hammer rested on the single empty shell.” Of course‚ Burns was writing an adventure tale and not a history. Nonetheless‚ some four decades after Johnny’s death he did conduct research in Tombstone and Cochise County‚ speaking to people who had direct knowledge of the events. The spent cartridge may mean Ringo had fired the fatal shot. However‚ it could easily be symptomatic of resting the hammer on a spent cartridge for safety. As a young Wyatt Earp once learned to his chagrin‚ resting the hammer on a live cartridge could lead to accidental discharge of the weapon; in his case‚ as he leaned back in a chair‚ his revolver tumbled from the holster and landed on the floor. That Johnny’s pistol was resting in his lap‚ tangled in his watch chain‚ is more intriguing. It’s hard to imagine the pistol‚ had he shot himself‚ falling in that position instead of at his side. Forensic studies show that suicides often continue to grip the weapon‚ so that by itself is not evidence of postmortem tampering by a third party. As Ringo lacked a holster for his pistol‚ he must have worn it tucked beneath his cartridge belt. Thus‚ in a seated position‚ it might well have become tangled as he tried to draw. The blackjack oak beneath which his body was discovered still stands‚ and Ringo was buried at its base. The site on private land is open to visitors via a gate along Turkey Creek Road. For decades it was believed Ringo had committed suicide‚ but he had many enemies and may have been slain. There is much peculiar in how Johnny was clad. He’d taken off his boots and hung them from the saddle of his horse‚ which wandered off. He’d also taken the time to strip off cartridge belts‚ vest and shirt‚ then removed and torn up his undershirt to bind his feet. Walking barefoot in Arizona is a painful experience at best. Stones‚ cacti and stiff grass‚ not to mention various critters and the hot ground‚ make such barefoot forays ill-advised. Cowboys do not‚ as some have written‚ hang their boots from the saddle to keep out scorpions. On reaching a destination‚ they remove the saddle from the horse‚ placing it on the ground‚ and then wipe down the horse with dry grass. Moreover‚ Johnny had re-dressed himself‚ buckling on his cartridge belts (one upside down) and binding his feet as if preparing to pursue his horse. That leaves the question of why he took off his boots in the first place. Let’s consider his situation. He’d been on an extended spree in Tombstone. When friend Billy Breakenridge met Ringo at South Pass in the Dragoons‚ Johnny had two bottles of whiskey and offered Billy a drink. By the time he was approaching Turkey Creek‚ Ringo had crossed many dry miles and was either severely hungover or still drunk. He and his horse both needed a drink of cool water. It seems likely Ringo took off his boots and hung them from the saddle to keep them dry while he waded into the creek to cool his feet and splash water on his face. Likewise‚ the horse would have waded in for a drink. What came next is an educated guess. The horse panicked and broke away at some sound in the dense brush. It might have been a bear or someone stalking Ringo. In any event‚ Johnny had to chase down his horse and didn’t care to do that barefoot. He climbed the steep bank to the tree where he was found‚ undressed himself to remove his undershirt and then re-dressed‚ wrapping his feet in preparation for a long walk. At that moment one of two things occurred. Suddenly despairing of catching his horse‚ Ringo resolved to kill himself. He must have been certain succor would not have been available at Smith’s ranch or from the many passersby. Alternatively‚ the noise from the brush that had startled his horse might have been someone stalking him. That someone climbed the bank while Ringo was distracted with his clothing. Hearing the approach of a stranger‚ Johnny reached for his pistol. The stranger‚ still only partway up the slope‚ fired upward from a distance of 10 feet or more‚ striking Ringo in the temple‚ the bullet emerging from the top of his skull. The stranger then took out his knife and carved off part of Johnny’s scalp as a trophy. Who Could Have Done It? The above proposed scenario for Ringo’s final hour accounts for all the evidence‚ providing a logical explanation for much that was odd in how he was found. As to whether Johnny suddenly decided to kill himself after losing his horse or was killed by a third party‚ who can say? Murder seems plausible‚ maybe likely. There are many candidates for Ringo’s murderer. Some think Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday might have been responsible. They could have been there. If Constable Fred Dodge‚ acting as their spy in Tombstone‚ had telegraphed that Johnny was on a binge and would soon return to Galeyville and his San Simon ranch‚ there would have been time for Earp and Holliday to travel over by train‚ especially given Johnny’s circuitous ride home. Even taking an indirect route‚ the pair could have made the trip by train. The mouth of Turkey Creek was a choke point‚ by which Ringo would have passed within a few hundred feet. However‚ a secret only remains a secret if only one person knows it. Wyatt and Doc surely would have been recognized as they left the train. Many co-conspirators would have to have been brought in on such a plan. Tombstone gambler Doc Holliday and his marshal friend Wyatt Earp rank high on the list of people who bore a grudge against Ringo. In the months leading up to Johnny’s death his Cowboy cohorts had winged Doc‚ murdered Wyatt’s brother Morgan and crippled brother Virgil. But could they have known when and where to waylay Ringo? Most other candidates seem even less likely‚ due to implausible motives. Except for Buckskin Frank Leslie. Leslie appears nowhere in the historical record before 1878. He arrived in Tombstone in 1880‚ a man in his late 30s who had adopted the persona of an Army scout‚ which he claimed to have been for more than a decade. Yet‚ there is no evidence he was a scout before moving to Tombstone. Buckskin Frank was a congenial sort of fellow around the campfire‚ which probably accounts for his acceptance as a scout on later expeditions. In 1885 he was hired to guide Captain Emmet Crawford’s command in pursuit of Geronimo but was‚ according to Los Angeles Times reporter Charles F. Lummis‚ “directly discharged because of his inability to tell a trail from a box of flea powder.” Leslie also served as a dispatch rider‚ bringing “wildcat dispatches” to Tombstone‚ his presumed skill scoffed at by Crawford’s superior‚ Brig. Gen. George Crook. Lummis‚ who met Frank in Tombstone‚ probably had the right of it in his 1886 Times article: “Leslie is a peculiar case—one of the types of a class not infrequently met on the frontier. A man apparently well educated‚ gentlemanly and liked by all who know him; with as much “sand” as the country he ranges—but a novelist who can make a little truth go as far as anyone in the territory.” Though outwardly friendly‚ Buckskin Frank Leslie had a murky past and was notoriously abusive to the women in his life‚ having battered first wife May and shot lover Mollie Williams to death in a jealous rage. He and Ringo had words on more than one occasion. In the spring of 1880‚ a few weeks after Cosmopolitan Hotel chambermaid Mary Jane “May” Evans married‚ she took up with Leslie—neither‚ apparently‚ being respecters of the sanctity of matrimony. That June 22 May’s husband‚ Mike Killeen‚ was mortally wounded—probably by Frank‚ though under confusing circumstances—and scarcely a week later May was Mrs. Frank Leslie. The marriage was not a happy one‚ as Frank‚ a womanizer‚ strayed. Perhaps May had seen through the false front and threatened his he-man persona. That might explain the abuse she suffered at his hands. In 1881‚ while Earp and friend Holliday temporarily cooled their heels in jail after the gunfight near the O.K. Corral‚ Doc’s longtime companion Big Nose Kate twice gave Ringo a tumble. Johnny‚ too‚ was no respecter of other men’s territory‚ and the following spring he and Frank were at loggerheads over a woman. In July 1882‚ as Ringo returned from his extended spree in Tombstone‚ witnesses spotted Leslie trailing him near Turkey Creek. That November 14 Johnny’s friend Billy Claiborne‚ who’d fled from the O.K. Corral fracas‚ picked a gunfight with Leslie after Frank ejected him from a saloon for obnoxious drunkenness. Claiborne ended up dead in that fight. At the time some said Billy had accused Frank of killing Ringo‚ while years later multiple sources claimed Leslie boasted of having killed Ringo. Taking a scalp trophy would have fit right in with his persona. Leslie’s life only took a downturn from there. By 1889 he and May had divorced‚ and Frank had absconded to his ranch in the Swisshelms with former prostitute “Blonde Mollie” Edwards‚ a younger woman. That July 10‚ on returning home after a spree‚ Frank entered the ranch house to find Mollie and a young ranch hand in discussion. Drawing his gun‚ Frank killed Mollie and wounded the ranch hand. No motive was given‚ but Mollie had mentioned wanting to return to “city life” in Tombstone‚ and perhaps 40-something Frank was feeling his age and believed she was sweet on the boy. Though no respecter of other men’s prerogatives‚ Frank was jealous of his own. Pleading guilty to first-degree murder‚ he was transported to Yuma Territorial Prison in January 1890. On Nov. 17‚ 1896‚ having serving nearly seven years behind bars‚ Leslie was pardoned by Arizona Territory Governor Benjamin J. Franklin. In 1916‚ after two decades of further adventures and failed marriages‚ Buckskin Frank Leslie was interviewed by a reporter from The Seattle Daily Times. He stated his age as 74 and said he was planning a trip to Mexico. When and where he died is anyone’s guess‚ as he vanished from the record as suddenly as he’d appeared on it.    this article first appeared in wild west magazine See more stories SubscriBE NOW!   For further reading‚ author Doug Hocking recommends “Buckskin Frank” Leslie‚ by Don Chaput; They Called Him Buckskin Frank‚ by Jack DeMattos and Chuck Parsons; and John Peters Ringo: Mythical Gunfighter‚ by Ben T. Traywick.

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