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Wanted: Weekend Outlaws

Hole in the Sock Gang seeks new members

Jim Boeke loves history. This is not news to anyone who has visited River Junction, Boeke's store in McGregor. Stepping into the shop is like stepping back into a dry goods store of 100 years ago. Boeke makes his living from selling authentic 19th century reproduction clothing, both men's and ladies, in two shops that sit side by side on the west end of McGregor's Main Street. And Boeke is the de-facto leader of McGregor's Hole-in-the-Sock outlaw gang. This gang of rootin' tootin' blank-shootin' re-enactors plans several heists this summer, one per month, June through October on the streets of McGregor near Triangle Park.

History with a twist

Boeke says that in his research, he has not been able to document that a shoot-out ever occurred in McGregor in the 1800's. But he has noted that in a list of businesses from the era of 1857 to 1870, there were about 60 establishments serving liquor in town. That fact alone would, Boeke thinks, increase the likelihood of past outlaw activity. Boeke doesn't think that McGregor was a quiet, peaceful rivertown at that time. "There's Old West history right here," Boeke says. "We need to capitalize on that," he added. That's where the Hole-in-the-Sock gang comes in. Instead of stealing money from the town bank, they hope to bring money to town by attracting tourism on weekends when no major event is planned in the area. He notes that other historic towns such as Deadwood, South Dakota, and Tombstone, Arizona, trade on their Old West image pretty profitably, and that McGregor could too.

The original Hole-in-the-Sock gang drew on "Outlaws" Boeke knew from all over the country. The first performances were staged about 15 years ago with a cast made up of reenactment buffs he had befriended through his business. Some came from as far as Texas to participate. The name came from a Saturday morning cartoon, but is also a tongue-in-cheek reference to the Hole in the Wall gang made famous by Jesse James. The gang members worked together to write the script. Local business people chipped in to offer the cast a modest payment. But the gang members were too spread out too meet very often in McGregor.

Last year saw a revival for the gang with a performance Boeke put together on short notice for the Grand Excursion. The town had hired a company to do a bank-robbery reenactment, but they canceled the performance when it looked like some of the big riverboats in the Excursion might not make it due to high water. So the Hole-in-the-Sock gang rode in to the robbery reenactment rescue.

To keep the Hole-in-the-Sock gang going, however, Boeke needs new members. Anyone with an interest in old west history, performance or writing is welcome. Reenactors would need to supply their own costume and firearm, if desired. Boeke says he will train all new members in firearms safety for shooting blanks. Volunteers will also need to spend time rehearsing.

Reenactment allows people to enjoy a historical fantasy, Boeke contends. Slipping on a straw hat that was sitting on his desk, he said: "Now I just stepped off the Delta Queen, and I'm a riverboat gambler." That's the fun of reenactment. He adds that reenactment can become something of a hobby or even a lifestyle. Enthusiasts often research the history of real people living at that time and portray them, or create their own characters. They may get involved in the details of their character, such as what type of clothing a person would have have worn.

McGregor's Landing, the eventual home for the Hole-in-the-Sock gang, will likely be Boeke's new project. McGregor's Landing will occupy the building that formerly housed the McGregor Antique Mall, and before that, a boat dealership. It is located across from Triangle Park. As McGregor's Landing, the building will take a a new "old" look. The structure will be built to simulate an 1800's downtown block, with storefronts representing a saloon, a bank, a newspaper, a hotel and a ladies' millinery shop, among others. Inside, the facility will house a banquet and convention center and a six-room bed and bath, which may be completed next year.

The next Hole-in-the-Sock gang performance will be on July 30, with additional performances scheduled for August 27, Sept. 24 and October 22. Jim Boeke can be contacted by calling River Junction at (563) 873-2387.

King and His Court a hit in Prairie du Chien

The King and His Court have been enjoyed by millions during 60 years of barnstorming around the globe, and on a hot Wednesday night at the St. Feriole Island Baseball Complex, about 200 spectators were entertained by the bantering of Eddie "The King" Feigner and the antics of his Court as they took on the local heroes of the 229th Army National Guard unit in a fastpitch softball show.

At 80 years of age, the King doesn't pitch anymore but his protégé´ Rich Hoppe put on an eye-popping display as he whiffed many a batter while pitching behind his back, between his legs and from second base, all the while clowning with the audience and members of the 229th team.

The members of the 229th that did get hits met their demise on the basepaths through a number of diabolical schemes employed by the four-person Court, much to the amusement of the crowd and the good-natured base runners themselves.

On offense, the Court had an effective, if somewhat confused style, with mysterious "injuries" cropping up, taking shortcuts to second base, running the wrong way on the basepaths, a double steal in which runners exchanged first and second bases and a too-soon belly slide that was much more belly than slide.

For many in the crowd, it was their first time witnessing the antics of the King and His Court, while many others in the audience have also enjoyed the show on past occasions. The King and His Court have played in Prairie du Chien in the 1960s, the 1980s and now in 2005.

During an interview Tuesday, the King said that he doesn't know when his barnstorming days will end. His wife Anne Marie "the Queen of the Court" said that games have been booked in 2006.

Anne Marie, the manager of the four-person team, and also the first baseman, said that Eddie has numerous projects on the horizon, including four different documentaries, a television pilot and a feature film.

"Anne Marie is the reason we're here," said Eddie, whom many consider the greatest pitcher ever (baseball or softball).

"This lovely lady over three months watched them bring me back to life four times," said Eddie, who is still touring despite sustaining strokes and other life-threatening setbacks in the early 2000s. Anne Marie has been "hittin' the road with the King" for the past eight years.

Eddie and Anne Marie were in Prairie du Chien on Tuesday promoting Eddie's autobiography "From an Orphan to a King," during book signings at Great Country Motors and at AmericInn.

The book chronicles the many facets of Eddie's life, including the numerous interesting and amusing anecdotes over the last 60 years of barnstorming as the King and His Court. Eddie has appeared on many television shows over the years and while touring North America and other parts of the world, he has met and become friends with numerous entertainers, athletes and other celebrities.

"Eddie has played at more military installations than the great Bob Hope," said Anne Marie, who noted that she and her husband have always strived to uplift the morale of America's servicemen and servicewomen.

In fact, along with Eddie, who was in the Marine Air Corps with Ted Williams during World War II and also served during the beginning of the Korean War, many of the members of the King and His Court over the years have had military experience.

The King and His Court have played at military installations in far flung places around the globe, and, at least in one instance, with bombs going off and bullets flying nearby, said Anne Marie.

While playing at an Army Med-Vac in Hawaii a few years ago, Anne Marie discovered that there is no money in the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department of the United States military and she noted that morale needs to be boosted for military personnel, especially during wartime.

"It's very important that congressmen and senators get this money for our mens' and womens' morale," she said.

Along with all of the great times shared with audiences, celebrities and friends over the years of touring, there have been ugly moments as well, said Eddie, who noted that he was threatened with having his arms and legs broken by the Ku Klux Klan if he and his team played against a team of African Americans in Orlando, Florida in 1950.

During his prime, Eddie's fastball was clocked at more than 100 miles per hour. He explained that while touring Canada in 1950, Canada was developing the M-14 rifle and some of the ballistics experts offered to time his pitches.

"They told me that if they can time bullets, they can time a softball," said Eddie, who noted that the Canadians set up a very expensive, special camera that could film objects in super slow motion. Eddie said that he threw 40 pitches. The slowest pitch was timed at 78 miles per hour and the fastest was an astounding 114 miles per hour. Eddie's average pitch during that session was approximately 103 miles per hour. The historic 1950 film of the event still exists. Later on, when the radar gun was developed, Eddie still averaged more than 100 miles per hour.

Along with his book and proposed movie and television projects, Eddie said that he is developing "King Ball," which will begin next year. King Ball will involve wooden bat, fastpitch softball leagues in which the games will be played in the spirit of fastpitch softball as it was played in the 1940s, an era when fastpitch softball outdrew baseball.