Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-11
MEN OF ALL WALKS
in LIFE ENTERTAINED
BY M'ClNTY CLUB

FL Paso. Tex. April 11.-Presidents
and prize fighters, minister's and
monte dealers were entertained by the
NJ old McGinty club of Ell Paso,
which has been non-existent for many
years but which held a reunion of the
surviving members recently.
In the frontiey days when Ell Paso
was wide open and saloons never
closed. there was a club which was
organized for gambling, card playing
and drinking. 1t raj so expensive
tina few but gamblers and saloon
owners could belong. This was called
the Cactus club. To provide amuse-
ment for the men of the little border
town who could not belong to the ex-
elusive organization, the McGinty
club, was organized among the less
prosperous residents of the settle
ment. =
The open meetings>of this club be-
came famous throughout the west and
McGinties were known in the
east. When President Harrison; Wis
tied FL Paso the McGinty club acted
as an escort for the presidential party,
firing six-shooter salutes as they gal
loped down the one main street. When
Bob Fitzsimmons came here to train
in Juarez for one of his fights. he was
the guest Of honor at a McGinty club
entertainment.
The government, wishing to test the
theory that the discharge of high ex-
plosives attached to balloons would
cause rainfall. sent scientists here to
conduct a series of experiments. They
fired tons Of explosives from the peak
of Mount Franklin and from tho tails
of kites and captive balloons. Not a
cloud appeared in the sky. Just as
the scientists were preparing TO re-
turn east the McGinty club staged a
special entertainment for the ''rain-
makers" as the scientists were called
locally. They occupied the seats of
honor under the aves- of the club
house and watched a member dressed
as an Indian medicine man do a rain
dance. AT the conclusion. Of this
dance the. rain came-from. garden
hose in the hands OF. the perpetual
president of the club who sat astride
the roof and sprinkled the rain
makers"
The McGinty club boasted of its
army. which was composed Of the
entire membership OF the club. This
army would drill each time the club
met and all members belonged.
p AT h command Generals to the
front" half the command would adj
vance: "Colonels to the front" would
bring a half of the remaining mem
bers. Captains and l~ieutenants would
advance upon command until only. one
ma remained in the ranks. He would
advance at the command Of '"priyates
to the froAt"" and would hobble up
and salute, having but one leg and a
dented helmet. This drill always de:
lighted the. visitors Hrom the east and
Pes" Greidover, the enlisted person.
mel Of, the McGinty club army, was al.
ways the most popular member. of the
club.
The McGinty claims the honor 81
firing the first barrage v known
admitting that they would moi have
recognised it by that name when /,
Happened: When they paraded-th
club always dressed In linen busters
high silk hats and carried canes. The,
were supplied with Roman candles
from q supply wagon Is they marched
and would IRE these along the street
Ono night q spark fell amonk TIN
reserve candles. touched them Oh, and
the entire supply "a 1red ut the same
time. This the surviving NcGint,
club members claim was the flru,
barrase In history.
.---Ea iD xisas ths rersh-