The bad blood between Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday was more than just the result of simmering tensions—it was personal. By January 1882, both men had developed a fierce hatred for each other that seemed destined to end in bloodshed. Tombstone, Arizona, was still recovering from the shock of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, and though months had passed, the city was on edge. The lawlessness of the frontier was colliding with the determination of men like Wyatt Earp and his circle to bring order to the chaos, and it was only a matter of time before something—or someone—snapped.

On January 17, 1882, Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday crossed paths outside the Occidental Saloon on Allen Street. It was a day that would go down in Tombstone’s history, not for the bullets that flew, but for the ones that didn’t.

Johnny Ringo, known for his unpredictable temper and quick draw, had long been at odds with Doc Holliday. The two had exchanged words before, and with the volatile atmosphere in Tombstone, it was only a matter of time before things boiled over. Ringo was still seething over the death of his Cowboy allies—Billy Clanton and the McLaury brothers—at the O.K. Corral, and he blamed Holliday as much as he blamed Wyatt and the other Earps. Doc, on the other hand, was not one to back down from a challenge, especially when it came from someone like Ringo, whom he considered beneath him.

That fateful afternoon, Ringo, fueled by anger and perhaps a bit of whiskey, saw his chance to settle the score with Holliday. It’s said that the two men locked eyes in front of the Occidental Saloon, and the tension between them was palpable. The crowd that had gathered on Allen Street could feel the danger in the air. Onlookers knew they were witnessing the lead-up to what could become a deadly showdown between two of the most notorious gunmen in the territory.

The men stepped back from each other, their hands hovering near their guns, ready for a draw.

The moment felt like a crack in time—one twitch, one false move, and bullets would fly. Both men took a shooting stance, their eyes locked, the crowd holding its collective breath.

But before either could draw, Tombstone’s Chief of Police, James Flynn, intervened. Seeing the danger of letting these two men settle their differences with guns, Flynn rushed in, demanding they lower their hands and step down. It was a rare moment of restraint in a town where lawlessness often ruled the day. Flynn, knowing the city couldn’t afford another bloodbath, stepped between them and stopped what would surely have been a deadly gunfight.

Both Ringo and Holliday, still bristling with anger, were arrested on the spot for violating Tombstone’s law against carrying deadly weapons within city limits. They were marched to the courthouse and brought before Judge Wallace, where they each received a fine of $32 for their offense. It was a small price to pay for avoiding death, but the fine did little to ease the animosity between the two men. For Ringo, the arrest was an insult, and for Doc Holliday, it was just another episode in the ongoing war between the Cowboys and the Earp faction.

While the near-shootout may not have ended in bloodshed that day, the incident outside the Occidental Saloon left a mark on Tombstone. It was a clear sign that the bad blood between Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday was far from over. Both men left the courtroom that day with their pride bruised, but their hatred for each other undiminished. Tombstone’s residents knew it was only a matter of time before they would clash again—and the next time, Chief Flynn might not be there to stop it.

This encounter highlighted the constant threat of violence that hung over Tombstone. The fines issued by Judge Wallace were a slap on the wrist, but they did nothing to resolve the deeper issues between the two men. For Johnny Ringo, the humiliation of being stopped just before he could pull his gun was another reason to despise Holliday. For Doc, it was simply another day in a dangerous world where enemies were everywhere.

The events of January 17, 1882, might not have ended in gunfire, but they set the stage for what was to come. The feud between Johnny Ringo and Doc Holliday was far from over, and the next time they met, there might not be a lawman brave enough—or fast enough—to keep them from pulling the trigger.