by J. T. Edson
46 Information regarding the different types of Colt Model ‘P’ of 1873 revolver, commonly known as the ‘Peacemaker’, can be found in those volumes of the Floating Outfit series which follow THE PEACEMAKERS in the chronological sequence.
47 The researches of fictionist-genealogist Philip Jose Farmer—author of, among numerous others works, TARZAN ALIVE, A Definitive Biography Of Lord Graystoke and DOC SAVAGE, His Apocalyptic Life—have established that Wilfred Plant was descended from an illegitimate daughter of a scullery maid and Uriah Heep, self professed ‘humble’ clerk, peculator and blackmailer, details of some of whose career are recorded by Charles Dickens in: DAVID COPPERFIELD.
48 An example of how Wilfred Plant behaved when communicating with a person he considered to be of a lower social status is given in: Case Three, ‘The Deadly Ghost’, YOU’RE A TEXAS RANGER, ALVIN FOG.
49 ‘Lit a shuck’: Old West cowhands’ term for leaving hurriedly. It was derived from the habit in the night camps of trail drives and roundups on the open range of supplying ‘shucks’—dried corn cobs—for use as extemporized lanterns by anybody who had to leave the firelight and walk in the darkness. As the ‘shuck’ burned away quickly, the user had to move fast if he wished to benefit from the illumination it offered.
50 The author has a strong suspicion that the trend in most Western movies made since the mid-1960s to portray all cowhands as long haired and filthy has not arisen from the producers’ desire to create ‘realism’. This kind of appearance was considered to be the ‘in’ thing among the ‘liberal’ element who were becoming increasingly influential in the film industry. Consequently, few clean shaven and short haired actors were available; particularly to fill supporting roles. Our extensive reference library does not contain a dozen photographs of cowhands—as opposed to mountain men, Army scouts, or gold prospectors—who had long hair and bushy beards. Furthermore, our reading on the subject and conversations with some of the older members of Western Writers of America—to which organization we have the honor of belonging—have led us to the conclusion that the term ‘long hair’ was one of derision and opprobrium throughout the cattle country during the ‘Old West’ and ‘Prohibition’ eras, just as it still is today.
51 Mooley: a theatrical term, probably derived from the supposed lack of intelligence of a mule, for an actor portraying an uneducated and stupid person. The characterization is frequently enhanced by deliberately slurring or mispronouncing words and frequently inserting the sound, ‘duhhh’ during a speech. The cartoon character Goofy produced by Walt Disney is probably the best known example of a ‘mooley’ throughout the world.
52 According to the summation of entertainers in burlesque and vaudeville, a good ‘straight man’ was worth three comics. So—as in the case of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, or Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, for example—the ‘straight man’ was generally given billing ahead of the comic.
53 ‘Pass shooting’: a variety of wild fowling in which, instead of being lured to close quarters by decoys or calls simulating their cries, the ducks or geese are taken as they fly overhead. As ranges of up to seventy and eighty yards are common, the shotgun needs a lengthy barrel. This is to ensure the load reaches its target with the pattern still sufficiently restricted to offer the chance of enough shot hitting to bring down the quarry.
54 We suspect that, as to ‘Goodnight’ a bull produced a less detrimental–in fact even a beneficial–effect, the man meant ‘castrate’. The term came into being as the result of a discovery made by a famous cattleman of that name. He established that the chance of injury to the testicles of a well endowed bull could be reduced by pushing the ‘seeds’ up against the belly, cutting of the empty ‘sack’ and stitching the skin together over them. It was estimated that doing so almost doubled the period of the bull’s useful life. Colonel Charles Goodnight makes ‘guest’ appearances in: GOODNIGHT’S DREAM, FROM HIDE AND HORN, SET TEXAS BACK ON HER FEET and SIDEWINDER. There is a more detailed description of a ‘Goodnight’ operation in: WACO’S DEBT.
55 As is demonstrated in the Rockabye County series, which covers the equipment, duties performed by and operations of a present day sheriff’s office, the Tragg family are still concerned with the enforcement of law and order in Texas. Some details of the careers of two earlier members who served as peace officers in the Lone Star State are given in: BEGUINAGE IS DEAD! and SET A-FOOT.
56 More detailed information regarding the Webley-Fosbery ‘automatic’ revolver is given in: Part One, ‘Persona Non Grata’; MORE JUSTICE FROM COMPANY “Z”.
57 ‘Black Jack’: sobriquet of John Joseph Pershing (1860-1948) commanding general of the American Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War I.
58 ‘Chicano’: a Mexican born or residing in the United States of America.
59 ‘Montana peak’ crown: one which rises to a point in a similar fashion to the hats which used to be worn by boy scouts.
60 ‘Uncle Long Arm’; an abbreviation of, ‘Uncle Sam’s Long Arm of the Law’. A derogatory name given by criminals to any peace officer serving with a Federal and not a State, county, or municipal, law enforcement agency, so having jurisdiction throughout the whole of the United States whereas the local officers are restricted to the regions from which their appointments are granted.
61 An occasion when Captain Dustine Edward Marsden Fog, C.S.A., q.v., assumed the alias ‘Rapido Clint’ is recorded in: BEGUINAGE and BEGUINAGE IS DEAD!
62 The maternal grandfather of Mark Scrapton was Loncey Dalton Ysabel, better known as ‘the Ysabel Kid’, for whom we have the honor to be biographer. Two periods when the Ysabel Kid called himself ‘Comanche Blood’ are recorded in: HELL IN THE PALO DURO, GO BACK TO HELL, THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN and Part Three, the Ysabel Kid in ‘Comanche Blood’, THE HARD RIDERS. Further details of his career and special qualifications can be found in the Civil War and other volumes of the Floating Outfit series.
63 Unless already holding it on enrolment, every member of Company “Z” was given the rank of sergeant to enhance his authority when handling cases.
64 At a later date, Butch Cope admitted to Alvin Dustine ‘Cap’ Fog—who was working, under his alias, Rapido Clint, on another case—that, fearing Simon Oakes’ skill as a sniper might be used to take revenge against him at some time in the future, Foote’s orders were as Sergeant Jubal Branch suspected. Cope was to kill the bereaved father and give the room the appearance of a robbery having been the motive.
65 Even at this late date, beyond saying the man in question had served with distinction with the American Expeditionary Force and had three times been decorated for valor, Alvin Dustine ‘Cap’ Fog declines to disclose his identity.
66 Alvin Dustine ‘Cap’ Fog has instructed us to state that neither the Governor of Texas nor the State Attorney General were informed of the line of action being contemplated by Major Benson Tragg. One of the conditions he had stipulated when asked to form and command Company “Z” was that he alone must be conversant with and control its clandestine operations. As a result of the stricture being accepted, this is the first time a full account of the Philip “Handsome Phil” Foote case has been made public.
67 Although the treatment of Eric “Side-Wheeler” Heifer was not originally intended as a part of the Philip “Handsome Phil” Foote assignment, it was mentioned to help convince the gang leader of the threat to his life. While we have the notes of the case which resulted in the punishment of Heifer, we have not yet found time to examine them in full and know only the facts recorded in this volume.
68 For obvious reasons, the location and name of the State Prison Farm at ‘Jonestown’ has been changed.
69 The assignment is recorded in: RAPIDO CLINT.
70 In the chapter entitled, ‘String ‘Em Up’, of WYOMING, RUGGED BUT RIGHT, my good friend William F. Bragg, Jr., recounts how murderer ‘Big Nose’ George Parrott was twice ‘strung up’ by inexperienced lynch mobs and each time they failed to achieve their purpose. He was how
ever, subsequently hanged by men who knew what they were doing.