1946 The Stock Club Bar Book by Lucius Beebe

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