Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Ten Things You Might Not Know About Chicago Taverns-- Part 1: Lincoln's Body and Mickey Finns

From the August 16, 2015, Chicago Tribune by Mark Jacob and Stephan Benzkofer.

Alright, we have some more interesting factoids from these two.

This article appeared because Illinois once again has Happy Hour.  That's nice, but a bunch of the places that now have it, dropped their daily drink specials.

1.  A depraved plot took place in 1876 in a Near West Side saloon called The Hub when a crime ring decided to steal ABRAHAM LINCOLN's corpse from a Springfield cemetery and demand a $200,000 ransom and the release of an imprisoned comrade.

Their big problem was that one of their members was a mole for the U.S. secret Service.  When they opened Lincoln's sarcophagus, the feds moved in, but they escaped but were later arrested in Chicago.

2.  The expression "TO SLIP SOMEONE A MICKEY" comes from a South Loop bar called the Lone Star Saloon and Palm Garden, circa 1900.

The proprietor was known for doctoring drinks and stealing customer valuables when they passed out. His name was Michael Finn, aka Mickey Finn.

One, Two, Three, Floor.  --Cooter

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