While most dialects evolve by accident, the terms and phrases that baffled Page Murdock and Edward Anderson Beecher upon their arrival in San Francisco were coined deliberately, in order to avoid arrest. Employing this code, a pair of “tobbies” (street toughs) could plan to “stifle a stagger” (murder an informer) within a police officer’s hearing without alerting that authority to the fact that a homicide was being discussed; assuming, that is, that the policeman was not a “fly cop”(an officer who knows the score). This subterfuge would be borrowed by killers for hire during our own gangster era, when U.S. racket busters scratched their heads over conversations on wiretap recordings about “putting out a contract for a hit.”
Thieves’ cant has changed. Much of the terminology common to Spitalfields, Hell’s Kitchen, Murder Point, and Sydney Harbor is as incomprehensible to us today as it was intended to be to the swells and squares outside Barbary. But much of it remains, sprinkling spice on the American vernacular, crossing all class barriers, and piercing even the walls of the White House. If the reader has doubts, perhaps he’ll reconsider the next time he “fobs off a shady deal on some oaf.” It’s also more than likely that just moments ago he replied to a question in the affirmative, using the once-trendily misspelled phrase “oll kerrect” although he probably referred to it by its initials.
For details about the fascinating hell that was shanty San Francisco, as well as his introduction to the idiom, this writer is indebted to Herbert Asbury’s The Barbary Coast (New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1933), still the standard work on its subject after seventy years. However, a Rosetta Stone was required to unlock the secret of what in blazes half the characters were talking about, and this was found in two sources: A Dictionary of the Underworld (New York, Bonanza Books, 1961), first published by Eric Partridge in 1949 and updated in a new edition twelve years later; and The Secret Language of Crime: The Rogue’s Lexicon (Springfield, Ill., Templegate Publishers, 1997), compiled in 1859 by George W. Matsell, a former chief of police of New York City. From “Abraham”(to pose or sham) to “Zulu”(a vehicle employed to transport an immigrant’s personal effects), these invaluable references provide a history of the evolution of the crooks’ code from 1560 through the Great Depression.
Unfortunately, the entries are not cross-referenced, and the process of writing dialogue, normally a breezy affair for this writer, slowed to tortoise pace while he searched for the proper crude term for “throat” and stumbled, at weary length, upon “gutter-lane.” Perhaps in later editions the editors will take pity on their readers and bring out the equivalent of an English-to-sewer-rat dictionary.
Although efforts were made to use this special slang in a rhythm and context that would guide understanding (except during the conversation between the two Hoodlums in chapter thirteen, which was presented as nearly impenetrable for demonstration and comic effect), some readers may still be at sea. (This is in no way a condescending remark; it means they are square citizens, who wouldn’t be caught dead cracking a ken or munging a duce.) For them, the following terms and definitions may be of use.
ARTICLES…Clothing
BARKING-IRONS…Handguns
BEAK…A judge or magistrate
BENISON…Blessing
BLACK OINTMENT…Raw meat
BLACK-SPY…Satan
BLOW…To inform upon someone
BLUNT…Money
BOBMYPAL…Ladyfriend (Gal)
BOOLY-DOGS…Police officers
BREAK A LEG…To bear a child out of wedlock
BUFE…A dog
BULLY…A lump of lead, handy for bludgeoning
CALFSKIN…The Bible. (“Smack the calfskin”—Kiss the Bible and swear)
CALLAHAN…A billyclub
CAP…To join in
CHANT…One’s name
CLY…A pocket; also, to pocket
COLE…Money
CONIAKERS…Counterfeiters
CONK…One’s nose
COVE…A man
CRABS…Feet
CRANKY…Insane
CRIMP…A recruiter for a sailors’ boardinghouse
CRUSHER…A policeman
CUES…Points in a game of chance
CULL…A man
CUT ONE’S EYES…Become suspicious
DADDLES…Hands
DANCE AT MY DEATH…May I hang
DARBIES…Manacles
DAWB…A bribe; also, to bribe
DEAD GAME…Certain
DONEGAN…A privy; also, it can’t be helped
DOSS…A bed
DUFFER…A man posing as a sailor
DUSTY…Dangerous
EARTH-BATH…Burial
EASE…To rob or kill
EMPEROR…A drunk
ETERNITY-BOX…A coffin
FACER…A glass filled so full that one must bring one’s face to the glass instead of the other way around
FAMS…Hands
FINIFF…Five dollars
FISH…A sailor
FLAPPERS…Hands
FLASH…Knowing; to speak knowingly (“Patter the flash”)
FLIMP…To wrestle
FLUSH…Rich
FLY…Wise
FRIDAY FACE…A glum visage, Friday being the traditional day of hanging
FUNK…To frighten
GABS…Talk
GAGE…Money; a pot
GRIM…Death
HANDLE…One’s nose
HEDGE…To bet on both sides; to side with God and Satan at once
HICKSAM…A fool
HOIST A HUFF…To rob violently
JACK…A small coin
JACK SPRAT…A small man
JADE…Hard time in prison
JOLLY…One’s head; also, a sham
JOSKIN…A country bumpkin
KICK…A pocket
KNOCK-ME-DOWN…Strong drink
KNOLLY…One’s head (“Knowledge-box”)
LAMPS…Eyes
LAY…One’s particular scheme; M.O.
LOPE…Run away
LURCH…Get rid of
MADAM RHAN…A faithless or immoral woman
MAWLEYS…Hands
MOLLISHER…A woman, usually a harlot (“Molly” “Moll”)
MONAGER…One’s name or alias
MUMMER…One’s mouth
NEB…One’s face
NIP…To rob
NODDLE…A fool
NUB…One’s neck
NUG…Dear one
OAK…Strong; dependable
OFFICE…A signal (“Tip the office”)
OLD SHOE…Good luck
ON THE SHARP…Smart and not easily cheated
PACKET…A lie
PADDING KEN…A rooming house
PAD THE HOOF…Walk or run away
PANNAM…Bread
PANTER…One’s heart
PEACH…To inform
PECK…Food
PEERY…Suspicious
PEGO…A sailor
PERSUADER…A weapon; a spur
PHARSE…The eighth part
PLUMMY (or PLUMBY)…All right
POLISH IRON…Go to prison (“Polish iron bars with one’s eyebrows”)
PONCE…A kept man
PONY…Money; to post one’s money
PRAD…A horse
PRIM…A handsome woman
PUPPY…Blind
PUT…A clownish fool
PUT UP TO ONE’S ARMPITS…Cheat one of his possessions
QUEEN DICK…Never (“The reign of Queen Dick” a nonperson)
QUEER…Counterfeit money
RABBIT…A rough, rowdy fellow
RAMMER…One’s arm
RED RAG…One’s tongue
RHINO FAT…Rich as Midas
RUB…Run
RUSTY…Bad-tempered
SCOLD’S-CURE…Death
SCRAG…Hang
SCRUB…A cruel man
SEA-CRAB…A sailor
SCOT…A young bull
SCOUR…Run a
way
SCREAVES…Bank notes
SERVE OUT…To thrash someone
SHAPER…A hat
SHINERAGS…Nothing
SHOP…Prison
SINK…To cheat
SKEP…A money cache
SKIPPER…A barn
SKYCER…A worthless parasite
SLAG…A chain (also. “Slang”)
SLANG…To chain something (also, a chain)
SLINGTAIL…A chicken
SLUICE ONE’S GOB…To drink (“Wet your whistle”)
SMICKET…A woman’s skirt
SMOKY…Suspicious
SNAGGLE…To wring the neck of a chicken or other fowl
SPEEL…Run away
SPLIT OUT…To end one’s association
SPOONEY…Gullible
SPUD…Worthless coin
SQUAIL…A drink
STAG…To inform upon
STIFF…A letter
STRETCH…One year
STOW ONE’S WID…Be silent
STUBBLE…Hold (“Stubble your red rag”=“Hold your tongue”)
STUN ONE OUT OF HIS REGULARS…To cheat one of his rights
SWABLER…A filthy fellow
SWIG…A drink
TAPPER…A police officer
THIMBLE…A watch
TICKRUM…A license
TOBBING…Waylaying by striking one on the head
TOMMY…Bread
TOP…To cheat
TOP-CHEAT…A hat
TOPPER…A blow on the head
TOP-ROPES…High living
TRINKETS…Burglar tools; weapons
U.S.COVE…A man in the employ of the United States
VAMPERS…Stockings
WARE HAWK…Beware
WHIFFLE…To cry out in pain
WHISKER…An elaborate lie
YACK…A watch
The following is a rough translation of the conversation Page Murdock overheard between two Hoodlums in Daniel Webster Wheelock’s reception room:
“I’ll be hanged if it isn’t old Pox. I heard you were in prison.”
“No, Freddie, that was a lie. Some sharpers impersonating police officers tried to cheat me out of my goods, but I saw it was a swindle and ran home.”
“You always were a smart fellow.”
“Well, I’m not blind. How’s your girl?”
“I haven’t seen her in a year. We broke up.”
“The devil you say. I thought you were all right.”
“As did I. She informed on me to the police.
Cheated me out of my rights, she did, and I gave her a good thrashing.”
“I’d have bet my shirt she was honest.”
“You’d be a fool if you did. I tell you, she’s as bad as they come.”
“You must have felt yourself a clown.”
“Shut your mouth, Pox. You wouldn’t know a no-good woman if she picked your pocket right under your nose.”
“Don’t take offense, you young bull. If she betrayed you, why aren’t you in prison?”
“I had good luck. I was facing a long sentence sure as death, but Captain Dan bribed the judge and arranged for a not-guilty verdict.”
“Do you swear to that?”
“Look at my hands. Am I in manacles?”
“What does Captain Dan have in mind?”
“That’s why I’m here. If he wants me to hit people on the head and rob them, I’m his man.”
“He can get anyone for that. He’ll want more for his money.”
“The old fox keeps his plans to himself, that’s for sure.”
“I agree with you there, Freddie, my friend. Throw me over for five dollars if I don’t.”
Books by Loren D. Estleman
KILL ZONE
ROSES ARE DEAD
ANY MAN’S DEATH
MOTOR CITY BLUE
ANGEL EYES
THE MIDNIGHT MAN
THE GLASS HIGHWAY
SUGARTOWN
EVERY BRILLIANT EYE
LADY YESTERDAY
DOWNRIVER
SILENT THUNDER
SWEET WOMEN LIE
NEVER STREET
THE WITCHFINDER
THE HOURS OF THE VIRGIN
A SMILE ON THE FACE OF THE TIGER
CITY OF WIDOWS*
THE HIGH ROCKS*
BILLY GASHADE*
STAMPING GROUND*
ACES & EIGHTS*
JOURNEY OF THE DEAD*
JITTERBUG*
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN MOVING
PICTURE ASSOCIATION*
THE MASTER EXECUTIONER*
WHITE DESERT*
SINISTER HEIGHTS
SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLACK*
POISON BLONDE*
PORT HAZARD*
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel are either fictitious or are used fictitiously.
PORT HAZARD: A PAGE MURDOCK NOVEL
Copyright © 2004 by Loren D. Estleman
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
A Forge Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
Forge® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty
Associates, LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Estleman, Loren D.
Port hazard: a Page Murdock novel / Loren D. Estleman.—1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN: 978-1-4299-7539-1
1. Murdock, Page (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. San Francisco (Calif.)—Fiction. 3. United States marshals—Fiction. 4. Murder for hire—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3555.S84P67 2004
813’.54—dc22
2003049425
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