- Home
- J. T. Edson
Waco's Badge Page 20
Waco's Badge Read online
Page 20
1. A description of such a slaughterman in action can be found in: THE HIDE AND TALLOW MEN. J.T.E.
1. Information regarding the careers and special qualifications of Captain Dustine Edward Marsden “Dusty” Fog, C.S.A., Mark Counter and the Ysabel Kid, can be found in various volumes of the Civil War and Floating Outfit series. J.I.E.
2. How the wound came about is described in: RETURN TO BACKSIGHT. J.T.E.
3. Details of the background and special qualifications of Waco are recorded in: Appendix One. Why his judgment was at fault is told in the Waco series. J.T.E.
4. The reason for the range war in which the parents of Marvin Eldridge “Doc” Leroy were murdered and how he finally achieved his ambition to qualify as a doctor is told in: DOC LEROY, M.D. J.T.E.
5. The whole of the Wedge contract trail drive crew make “guest” appearances in: QUIET TOWN, TRIGGER FAST and GUN WIZARD. However, Marvin Eldridge “Doc” Leroy alone takes an active part in the events recorded in: SET A-FOOT. How he and Waco teamed up and he decided to join the floating outfit of the OD Connected ranch is told in: Part Five, “The Hired Butcher,” THE HARD RIDERS. J.T.E.
6. Information regarding the career and special qualifications of General Jackson Baines “Ole Devil” Hardin, C.S.A., are to be found in the Ole Devil Hardin series, Part Four, “Mr. Colt’s Revolving Cylinder Pistol,” J.T.’S HUNDREDTH—which cover his early life—various volumes of the Civil War and Floating Outfit series and his death is reported in: DOC LEROY, M.D. J.T.E.
7. Told in: Chapter Two, “The Juggler And The Lady,” WACO RIDES IN. J.T.E.
1. Although we referred to Bertram Mosehan as “Captain” in the previous volumes of the Waco series and Part Six, “Keep Good Temper Alive,” J.T.’S HUNDREDTH, we are informed by Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog that the source from which we produced them was in error and the rank we now use is correct. J.T.E.
2. “Snow-bird” derogatory name given by soldiers to a man who enlists to obtain food, pay and shelter when winter approaches and intends to desert when the weather improves. J.T.E.
1. “K.p.”: abbreviation for “kitchen police,” the name given in the Army of the United States for enlisted men assigned to assist the cooks, or carry out other menial duties, as a form of minor punishment. J.T.E.
2. Although, as is told in A TOWN CALLED YELLOWDOG an investigation might occasionally be launched without an official invitation, the Texas Rangers were expected to wait until called in by the local law enforcement agency concerned before participating in an investigation, or pursuit of criminals. However, during the Prohibition Era, Company “Z” was formed and authorized to take whatever action might prove necessary to prevent law breakers escaping the consequences of their actions by loopholes in the legal system. See the Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog series for details. J.T.E.
3. Due to a further error in the source of information from which we produced the earlier volumes of the Waco series, we gave the name, “Billy Speed” to William “Fast Billy” Cromaty. We apologize to the descendants of the former for any inconvenience this mistake may have caused. J.T.E.
1. Why the visit was paid is told in: WACO’S DEBT. J.T.E.
2. Not until 1955, as a result of actor Hugh O’Brien carrying such a weapon while starring in the television series, WYATT EARP, which aroused the interest and a demand from the viewing public, did the Colt Manufacturing Company produce a Single Action Army revolver—albeit with a barrel only twelve inches in length—which they distributed as the “Buntline Special.” J.T.E.
3. The fight and what led up to it is described in: Part One, “The Bounty On Belle Starr’s Scalp,” TROUBLED RANGE and, with added facts subscribed by Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog and Andrew Mark “Big Andy” Counter, q.v., the “expansion” of the episode entitled: CALAMITY, MARK AND BELLE. J.T.E.
4. Told in: Part Two, “A Second Case Of Mistaken Identity,” THE TEXAN. J.T.E.
1. The outlaws, Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill Brocius make “guest” appearances respectively in: Case Four, “Jase Holmes ’Killer,” and Case Five, “Statute Of Limitations,” SAGEBRUSH SLEUTH. The latter also “guests” in: Chapter Two, “The Juggler And The Lady” and Chapter Three, “The Petition,” WACO RIDES IN and in Part Six, “Keep Good Temper Alive,” J.T.’S HUNDREDTH. J.T.E.
1. “Ten-in-one”: American carnival, fairground, term for a number of one or two person acts—such as sword swallowers, fire eaters, fortune tellers, Indian “fakirs,” etc.—not necessarily just ten, who all appear in the same large marquee. J.T.E.
2. How the means for economic recovery came into being is told in: GOODNIGHT’S DREAM, FROM HIDE AND HORN and SET TEXAS BACK ON HER FEET. J.T.E.
3. Colonel Charles Goodnight makes “guest” appearances in the three volumes referred to in Footnote 2 above and in: SIDEWINDER. The military title was honorary, being granted as a tribute to his ability as a fighting man and leader. J.T.E.
1. See: Footnote 7, APPENDIX ONE, for details. J.T.E.
2. Details of how the successful “diamond switch” confidence trick was carried out are given in: CALAMITY, MARK AND BELLE . Information regarding how another failed, in which Waco was the intended victim and Belle was indirectly involved, can be found in: THE GENTLE GIANT. J.T.E.
3. Although, as produced by its already defunct manufacturers, the Manhattan Navy revolver had an overall length of eleven and a half inches and weighed two pounds, the one employed for concealment purposes by Belle Starr, generally in her reticule, had had its octagonal six and a half inches long barrel reduced to two inches. When circumstances allowed her to wear a gunbelt and holster, she carried another which had not been modified in such a fashion. J.T.E.
1. “Summer Complaints”: derogatory name for people, particularly those who make nuisances of themselves, taking vacations in country districts during summer. J.T.E.
2. A subsequent investigation at the instigation of Major Bertram Mosehan established that, employing a variety of aliases, “Maurice Blenheim” had carried out a number of confidence tricks throughout Arizona Territory. He always kept his head shaved and wore a wig so that, by allowing his graying hair to grow, he could alter his appearance by natural means to escape recognition. J.T.E.
1. Used in this connotation, the word “apples” meant breasts. J.T.E.
1. We have no record, at this time, of when or where the “last occasion” a meeting between Belle Starr and Waco took place. However, details of their first encounter are given in: THE GENTLE GIANT. J.T.E.
2. See Footnote 1, APPENDIX TWO, for details. J.T.E.
3. Told in: Chapter Three, “The Petition,” WACO RIDES IN. J.T.E.
4. Information regarding Elizabeth “Betty” and her relationship with General Jackson Baines “Ole Devil” Hardin can be found in various volumes of the Civil War and Floating Outfit series. She also “stars” in Part Three, “It’s Our Turn To Improvise, Miss Blaze,” J.T.’S LADIES. J.T.E.
5. “Pink-Eye”: a derogatory name for an operative of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. J.T.E.
1. “Grange:” the order of Patrons of Husbandry, a nationwide association of farmers in the United States founded in 1867 for the furtherance of agricultural interests. J.T.E.
2. Details pertaining to the career and special qualifications of Belle “the Rebel Spy” Boyd can be found in: THE COLT AND THE SABRE, THE REBEL SPY, THE BLOODY BORDER, BACK TO THE BLOODY BORDER, THE HOODED RIDERS, THE BAD BUNCH, SET A-FOOT, TO ARMS! TO ARMS! IN DIXIE!, THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN, THE QUEST FOR BOWIE’S BLADE; Part Eight, “Affair Of Honour,” J.T.’S HUNDREDTH, THE REMITTANCE KID—in which she “stars,” although this volume is listed in the Calamity Janes series for convenience—THE WHIP AND THE WAR LANCE and Part Five, “The Butcher’s Fiery End,” J.T.’S LADIES. J.T.E.
1. As the cartridges of the Winchester Model of 1873 was center-and not rim fire, which were used in its predecessors, the Model of 1866 and the Henry, it was considered a precautionary measure to mold the bullets with a truncated h
ead. If jolted, one with a conventional point might strike the firing cap of the next ahead in the tubular magazine and cause a premature detonation. J.T.E.
2. Although all evidence indicates Captain Dustine Edward Marsden “Dusty” Fog, q.v . was unbeatable at drawing two guns simultaneously, Marvin Eldridge “Doc” Leroy was fractionally faster with one. J.T.E.
1. An example of how a life was ruined by the persecution of the State Police in Texas during the Reconstruction period following the War Between The States is given in: THE HOODED RIDERS. J.T.E.
2. By a remarkable coincidence, the first captain in a later and better known force of Arizona Rangers was called Burton C. “Cap” Mossman. J.T.E.
1. How Waco repaid the obligation to his adopted father, Samuel “Sunshine Sam” Catlan, is told in: WACO’S DEBT.
2. Although the military sometimes claimed—probably tongue in cheek—it was easier to kill a sailor than a soldier, the weight factor of the respective weapons had caused the United States Navy to adopt a revolver of .36 caliber while the Army purchased and employed the bulkier .44. The weapon would be carried on the belt of a seaman and not—handguns having originally and primarily been designed for use by cavalry—on the person or saddle of a man who would be doing the majority of his travelling and fighting from the back of a horse. Therefore, .44 became known as the “Army” caliber and .36 as the “Navy.”
3a. Introduced in 1873 as the Colt Model P “Single Action Army” revolver, but more popularly known as the “Peacemaker,” production continued until 1941 when it was taken out of the line to make way for the more modern weapons required in World War II. By that time, over three hundred and fifty thousand were manufactured in practically every handgun caliber—with the exception of the .41 and .44 Magnums, which had not been introduced during the first production period—from .22 Short Rimfire to .476 Eley. However, the majority were chambered to fire the .45 or .44-40. The latter variety, given the name, “Frontier Model,” handled the same ammunition as the Winchester Model of 1873 rifle and carbine.
3b. The barrel lengths of the Model P could be from three inches in the “Storekeeper” Model, which did not have an extractor rod, to sixteen inches for the so-called “Buntline Special.” The latter was also offered with an attachable metal “skeleton” butt stock so it could serve as an extemporized carbine. The main lengths of the barrels were: Cavalry, seven and a half inches; Artillery, five and a half inches; Civilian Model, four and three-quarters inches.
3c. Popular demand, said to have been caused by the upsurge of action-escapism-adventure Western series on television, brought the Peacemaker back into production in 1955 and it is still in the line.
4. Told in: TRIGGER FAST.
5. “Floating outfit”: a group of four to six cowhands employed by a large ranch to work the more distant sections of the property. Taking food in a chuck wagon, or “greasy sack” on the back of a pack mule, they would be away from the ranch house and unsupervized by their employer for long periods, so were the pick of the crew. Because of the prominence of General Jackson Baines “Ole Devil” Hardin in the affairs of Texas, the floating outfit of the OD Connected ranch were frequently sent as a whole or in part to assist such of his friends who found themselves in difficulties or endangered.
6. Frank Derringer makes a “guest” appearance in: COLD DECK, HOT LEAD of the Calamity Jane series.
7. How Waco gained his training and experience serving as deputy marshal under Captain Dustine Edward Marsden “Dusty” Fog, q.v., is told in: THE MAKING OF A LAWMAN, THE TROUBLE BUSTERS, THE GENTLE GIANT, THE SMALL TEXAN and THE TOWN TAMERS.
8. Waco’s career with the Arizona Rangers is covered in: SAGEBUSH SLEUTH, ARIZONA RANGER, Part Six, Waco series, “Keep Good Temper Alive,” J.T.’S HUNDREDTH and WACO RIDES IN.
9. Told in: THE DRIFTER and, by inference, DOC LEROY, M.D.
10. Told in: HOUND DOG MAN.