Johnny Ringo's Grave and other weekend 'entertainment'

 Johnny Ringo was a notorious Wild West outlaw 

whose death is shrouded in mystery.

He was born in Indiana, lived in Wyoming, Missouri, California, 

and ended up in the mining boom town of  Tombstone, Arizona.

He joined a gang of cattle rustlers and had many rivalries with

 the lawmen and gunfighters Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.

Upon learning of his death, the Tombstone Epitaph published that, “Many friends will mourn him. And many others will take secret delight in learning of his death.”

His body was found  sitting against a tree with a 

single bullet found in his temple, 

and a revolver with one bullet missing was found dangling in his hand.

The pile of rocks is his shallow grave

(so they say😉)

Even though his death was listed as suicide, 

there are conflicting stories of his murder.

 Wyatt Earp claimed to have done it, as well as Doc Holliday.  

Others, no doubt, wished they could have.

We were fortunate to get to the grave as a club or tour group was discussing the possibilities of the truth of the matter.  The discussions were indeed lively and somewhat heated- all to say that no one really knows who murdered him, but it is an interesting story.

The grave is on private property but the owners give access to it 

from 8-5.

Then, on to a 

German Winery

(really, in the middle of all this dry, arid land?)

Lou's sister thinks Lou should grow his hair like his.

Karen and Chuck live in Tucson, but stay here at the winery most days of the week.  They have imported many vines from Germany and have 20 

varieties in their tasting room.

We had a great time discussing the common German heritage,

and Karen especially reminded us of our dear friend Carolyn and 

reminded Lou of his grandmother.

All wines are made on site in stainless steel and glass 

and aged with finish oak.

We enjoyed  listening to all of Chuck's knowledge of the regions and the language.

Another great day - exploring what we thought was

the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere!

Douglas Arizona-The Historic Gadsden Hotel

 Douglas Arizona - a small border crossing town has a history of mining - primarily to treat the copper mined at Bisbee.  

In 1916 Pancho Villa threatened to attack Douglas because he thought the Americans were responsible for his defeat the the Second Battle of Agua Prieta.

In 1926 the missing evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson was found collapsed near a road at the Mexican border town of Agua Prieta.  She was driven to Douglas and told the story of her kidnap, torture and escape.  Large crowds gathered to hear her story and for a brief time Douglas enjoyed a brisk tourist trade.

Douglas has the first international airport in the US

-Bisbee-Douglas International Airport.   

It was also home to Ethnos360 Aviation until they purchased their own land.

Today, the best tourist activities are the historic Gadsden Hotel and good authentic Mexican restaurants.

Gadsden Hotel

The original building was built by a noted architectural firm in 1907

and featured an ornate lobby with marble staircase and pillars 

and Tiffany stained glass windows.

The building burned down in 1928 but was reconstructed 

to be as fireproof as possible.  

He also shot holes in the ceiling as his horse chipped the marble steps.

(according to an eye witness report from a local resident.)

The 7th step 

and the two chips.

The Cafe in the hotel is lovely,  the food is great and there is a fireplace 

that looks beautiful but not really warm.

It has been cold!!

The plaster ceiling is covered with thousands of dollars worth of gold.

The owner hired an artist to create a mural that looked like the Italian countryside.

(I guess she didn't like all the cactus and mesquite landscape)

Tis a beautiful lobby!

And the Tiffany Stained Glass is a real treat!😍

 

Gleeson Ghost Town - Turquoise and Copper Mining

 GLEESON GHOST TOWN

The area was initially settled as a mining camp called Turquoise after the mineral which had been mined by Native Americans in the area.

When local miner John Gleeson registered a copper claim and opened the Copper Belle Mine, the town of Gleeson was created just downhill from the old site of Turquoise.

About 1000 people engaged primarily in copper mining, including veins of lead, silver and zinc.

Copper production boomed to supply demand during World War I. 

The mines played out by the 1930s 

The town burnt down in 1910 and the town was rebuilt.

The new jail  has an open house on the 1st weekend of each month.

The Saloon and Bar

The Jail

Adobe remains of the school

As we are enjoying the 'decorations' of the area,

we meet one of the residents.

He enjoyed telling us of all the families reunions here-

many stories of past 'doings'

and he pointed out that he had worked on the copper mining hoist

on the hill across.

This is the copper mine that was so prolific earlier.

Ethnos360 Aviation - History

ETHNOS360 AVIATION

McNeal, Arizona

( a long post - I hope my armchair travelers enjoy!😉)

Ethnos360 is a church planting organization for all the unreached tribes worldwide.

This campus serves pioneer church planting teams in the remotest regions of Brazil, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines by using aircraft to bring food, supplies, transportation and medical services to the villages.

I love the art work that the missionaries bring from the very remote villages.

This material is pretty to look at but very rough.  It is made from something like a pineapple leaf that has been scrubbed and scraped 

to make into a cloth that is serviceable.

It is a nice decoration.

I know a pilot who just about drools at the sight of this hangar.

They still use some airplanes, but most areas are transitioning to helicopters.

Not having to build a runway in the jungle is a big benefit.

This one will be painted in the  Red & White colors that identify Ethnos aircraft.

It helps the armies identify the 'good guys'

(instead of the drug dealers)

THE KIDNAPPED AIRPLANE

Paul Dye flew  from a remote Columbian village 

to help a sick missionary from New Tribes Mission in 1985 

They were captured by guerrillas who seized the single-engine Cessna 185.

After 5 days of being captured,  Paul slipped out of the hut where he was being held, moved the hijacked Cessna to a narrow jungle clearing and flew to safety.  

“It was pitch black, there was no moon, and he did not even know how much fuel he had left”

“Paul went until his fuel ran out, an he managed to just clear some tree tops and set down in a field.  The next morning he radioed some friends who flew in some more gas and he was able to take off and get back.”

THIS IS THE VERY AIRPLANE!

This one is close to Lou's heart - they are putting together a J-3 Cub --

the one he learned to fly in.

The rebuilding of this airplane is part of their mechanics training.

It was fun to watch one of the students in the simulator.

He was attempting to land on an aircraft carrier.

First try - not so good.

Second one - nailed it! 😅

HISTORY

Tribal Air Communication became New Tribes Mission Aviation, then that became Ethnos360 Aviation.  It is the aviation arm of the Ethnos360-a church planting mission and supports all aspects of the mission to have a church for all people groups, especially in the remotest parts of the world.

Transporting goods by air is so much easier and faster 

than going by boat or over trails in the jungles.

The Goal:

A Thriving Church for Every People Group.

Emergency medical care is so vital.

THE JOBS:

In addition to all the aircraft issues, Ethnos 360A teaches and trains the missionaries for the field.  That includes training in the cultural issues and language.  The families are housed here, children are either home-schooled or enrolled in the local schools.  

It is indeed a pleasure to serve here and observe all that God is doing to take His Gospel to the "Ends of the World"