Texas Killers (18 page)

1.
Although this is the date supplied by Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog, the author must state that it may be incorrect. The falsification would have been carried out to avoid possible embarrassment to the descendants of certain people, whose names have also been changed, who are believed to have died more honorably than is recorded.—
J.T.E.

2.
“Spear point:” one where the sharpened edges of the blade come together in symmetrical convex arcs. Designed for fighting, it is far less utilitarian than the “clip point” of the general purpose “bowie” type of knife, a description of which is given in Footnote 7, Appendix Three, for the benefit of new readers.—
J.T.E.

3.
For the benefit of new readers, full details of Dusty Fog's background and qualifications are given in Appendix One.—
J.T.E.

4.
Hessian leg: extending to just below knee level, with a V-shaped notch at the front, as on the footwear worn by Hussars and some other types of light cavalry.—
J.T.E.

5.
New readers can find an explanation of the various types of Colt Model P “Peacemaker” in Footnote 17, Appendix One.—
J.T.E.

6.
Pistolero valiente
: an exceptionally competent gun-fighter, especially one who is a hired killer.—
J.T.E
.

7.
“Sharpshooter”: an expert marksman carrying out the duties of a sniper.—
J.T.E.

8.
The reasons are explained fully in:
BEGUINAGE
.—
J.T.E.

9.
A description of a floating outfit's function is given in Footnote 4, Appendix Two.—
J.T.E.

10.
Told in:
HELL IN THE PALO DURO, GO BACK TO HELL and THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN
.—
J.T.E.

11.
An example of this is given in:
OLE DEVIL AND THE CAPLOCKS
. The five volumes of the “Ole Devil Hardin” series cover Texas' struggle for independence from Mexico.—
J.T.E.

12.
When Dusty Fog's grandson, Alvin Dustine, required an alias for his undercover duties during the Prohibition era (1919–33) he too adopted the name
Rapido
Clint, as is told in: “
CAP” FOG, TEXAS RANGER, MEET MR. J.G. REEDER
.—
J.T.E.

13.
Told in:
SET TEXAS BACK ON HER FEET
.—
J.T.E.

14.
The records examined by the author claim that the substance on the knife's blade was
curare,
also known as
woorali
or
urare,
but do not say how Beguinage obtained a supply. A brittle, blackish resinous extract of certain South American trees of the genus
Strychnos,
especially
S. Toxifera,
it is used by the native Indians as an exceptionally potent and swift acting arrow poison. In medical practice, it is employed as an adjunct to general anesthesia on occasion.—
J.T.E.

1.
The class of vessel to which the U.S.S.
Nantucket
belonged also carried five thirty-pounder rifled cannon as bow and stern chasers and swivel guns, but only those pieces which formed the “broadside” counted in giving a warship its “rate.”—
J.T.E.

2.
Used in this context, the word “sloop” has nothing to do with size or rigging—i.e. a single-masted, fore-and-aft rigged craft having a fixed bowsprit and carrying at least one jib, now employed principally for racing—but means a vessel carrying its broadside battery on the upper, or “spar” deck.—
J.T.E.

3.
New readers can read the details of Mark Counter's family background and special qualifications in Appendix Two.—
J.T.E.

4.
Even before learning of Oscar Schindler's presence in Corpus Christie, Dusty Fog had envisaged the possibility that a “sharpshooter” might be employed to carry out an assassination attempt at long range. So he had suggested precautions should be taken. Such was the importance attached by Congress to ensuring the Crown Prince's safety that the measures recorded in this chapter were authorized without hesitation.—
J.T.E.

1.
The author had not learned of this precaution when he was producing the manuscript for
BEGUINAGE
. It only came to light while we were examining the rest of the documents received from Alive Dustine “Cap” Fog.—
J.T.E.

2.
“Scuttlebutt”; a rumor. From the “scuttled,” lidded, cask containing drinking water for the crew. This served as a gathering point at which the hands from the various divisions and “parts of ship” could meet and exchange gossip.—
J.T.E.

1.
This point came to light when Alvin Dustine “Cap” Fog found a copy of Crown Prince Rudolph's book
JAGDERLEBNISSE IN TEXAS
(Hunting Experiences in Texas)
and gave the author permission to make use of the information it contained.—
J.T.E.

2.
The sharp toes of a cowhand's boots were an aid to slipping into and out of a stirrup iron hurriedly when necessary and the high heels could be spiked into the ground for greater security when roping on foot.—
J.T.E.

3.
Colt 1860 Army revolvers which were manufactured to fulfill military contracts had eight-inch-long barrels. An explanation of the term “Army” is given for the benefit of new readers in Footnote 16, Appendix One.—
J.T.E.

4.
For the benefit of new readers, details of the Ysabel Kid's background and special qualifications are recorded in Appendix Three.—
J.T.E.

5.
Waco's background and qualifications are given in Appendix Four—
J.T.E.

1.
New readers can find details of Belle Boyd's connection with Dusty Fog in Appendix One. What the mission was is told in:
THE REMITTANCE KID
and
WHIP AND THE WAR LANCE
.—
J.T.E.

1.
New readers can find references to Dusty Fog's career as a peace officer in Footnote 13, Appendix One.—
J.T.E.

2.
New readers, see Paragraph Four, also Footnotes 18, 19 and 20, Appendix One.—
J.T.E.

3.
How Marvin Eldridge “Doc” Leroy—who makes “guest” appearances in various volumes of the Floating Outfit and Waco series—achieved his ambition is told in:
DOC LEROY, M.D
.—
J.T.E.

1.
“Indian Nations”: colloquial name for Oklahoma Territory.—
J.T.E.

2.
Waco's meeting with the Keller family is described in:
TRIGGER FAST
.—
J.T.E.

3.
Told in:
THE MAKING OF A LAWMAN
and
THE TROUBLE BUSTERS
.—
J.T.E.

4.
Forming an extension to the thrower's arm and, as its front end moves faster than the hand holding it, the
woomera
helps to generate a centrifugal force that greatly increases the velocity when the spear leaves it at the highest point of its arc. Held above and behind the shoulder with the hook upward and the spear pointing forward, it is operated by a swing of the arm and snap of the wrist. While the
woomera
is now primarily associated with the Australian aborigines, a similar device was used by prehistoric
Cro-Magnon
men and various primitive people prior to the discovery of how to make and employ a bow and arrows.—
J.T.E.

1.
“Made wolf bait”: to kill. Derived from the practice of shooting an animal and, having poisoned the carcass, leaving it where it fell to be eaten by wolves.—
J.T.E.

2.
“Soft shell”: derogatory name for a radical liberal intellectual.—
J.T.E.

3.
And still are. See the author's Rockabye County series covering the duties of a modern Texas sheriff, Jack Tragg, and his deputies.—
J.T.E.

4.
New readers, see Appendix Three for explanation of the word,
“Pehnane.”
—
J.T.E.

5.
Told in:
THE BAD BUNCH
.—
J.T.E.

6.
Told in:
THE COW THIEVES
.—
J.T.E.

7.
Ka-Dih:
the “Great Spirit” of the Comanche nation.—
J.T.E.

8.
While there is no confirmation in the documents examined by the author, both “Cap” Fog and he believe that the murder was carried out in the manner Waco suggested.—
J.T.E.

9.
New readers can find references to the various volumes which cover Waco's career as a peace officer before and after the events recorded here in Appendix Four.—
J.T.E.

1.
The Benkinsop family has retained its close connections with the leading members of international criminal circles, as is told in:
BLONDE GENIUS.
—
J.T.E.

2.
The events which involved the Ysabel Kid with Octavius Xavier “the Ox” Guillemot are told in:
THE QUEST FOR BOWIE'S BLADE
.—
J.T.E.

3.
Details of another man's search for the “Crusaders' bird” are given in:
THE MALTESE FALCON BY
Dashiel Hammet.—
J.T.E.

1.
“Boxer” cartridge: an early form of self-contained metal center-fire bullet designed by an Englishman, Colonel Boxer, primarily for use by the British armed forces. Comprised of a thin coiled brass case with an iron base-head and separate cap chamber, it was relatively effective and cheap to manufacture, but was rendered obsolete when the sturdier drawn brass cases were produced commercially.—
J.T.E.