Re: Muldoon on the RGS

Actually there are several versions of the origin of the name of Day's paper (I've done extensive research on Dave Day, a very interesting guy). The "fossilized man" hoax is one story, but not likely. A second version that Day used in his paper is that Muldoon in Zulu meant virgin. Also not likely. The real story is a combination of two: One is that Day was a big fan of greco-roman wrestler William Muldoon, who had the nickname "solid Muldoon" because he was honest and tough. At the time, he was the closest thing to an athletic superstar. Day is said to have said to a partner "we need a name that stands for honesty - as solid as Bill Muldoon." The other factor was a popular music hall song written by Edward Harrigan called "Muldoon the Solid Man" (this is the Harrigan immotalized in the music hall tune H-A-Double R-I, G-A-N spells Harrigan) which describes a fellow named Muldoon as being trustworthy, or "solid" in the slang of the day. You can google the lyrics.

So it's likely a combination of the song that was familiar to many, and William Muldoon, an honest sports hero.

Day is also the man who coined the term "Rainbow Route" for the Silverton RR, and probably the guy who dubbed Mears the "Pathfinder of the San Juan". He won the Medal of Honor for valor at Vicksburg.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/23/2010 10:30PM by jgp1843.