100 / 148
in
all.
its Paine's Fireworks splendor was first produced-perhaps
detonated would be a better word-by Professor Jerry Thomas, a
celebrated barkeep of the last century, while working at the El
Dorado, a San Francisco oasis of wide repute, in 1849.
Professor Thomas, who stemmed from New Haven, where he had
practiced since early manhood on the nearly impregnable persons
of .Yale undergraduates, was famous a.s a practitioner who could
gentle the most voracious drinker fresh from the placer diggings of
Hangtown, and one evening his talents were put to the ultimate
test. A whiskered giant, booted to the hips and clattering with Colt's
patent firearms, demqnded satisfaction. "Fix me," he roared, "some
hell-fire th; i
will
shake me right down to my gizzard."
Professor Thomas consulted his files, his assistants, and
/
then,
while the word spread throughout Geary Street that great doings
were afoot and crowds gathered, he prepared to do his stuff. First
he set upon the bar (according to Herbert Asbury, the learned his–
torian of Americana) the two silver mugs, imported from NewYork
around the Horn, that were the show utensils of the El Dorado.
"Gentlemen," he announced. "You are about to witness the birth
of a new beverage
!"
"A sigh of anticipation arose from the assemblage,"writes
Mr.
Asbury in recording the occasion, "and with one accord the mass of
men moved forward until they stood, respectfully, five deep before
the bar, the whiskered giant, still booted, in the front rank. Professor
Thomas smiled and quietly poured a tumbler of Scotch whisky
into one of the mugs, followed by a slightly smaller quantity of
boiling water. Then with an evil smelling sulphur match, he ignited
the liquid and, as the blue flame shot toward the ceiling and the
crowd fell back
in
awe, he hurled the blazing mixture back and
forth between the two mugs, with a rapidity and dexterity that was
well nigh unbelievable. This amazing spectacle continued in full
100: Stork Club Bar Book