by Robin Furth
VAN RONK, DAVE: Dave Van Ronk was a white blues-shouter. ODETTA saw him perform in GREENWICH VILLAGE in the early 1960s. He must have been pretty good, since Susannah remembered some of his songs. V:168
ODETTA HOLMES AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT:
FREEDOM RIDERS: In 1961, seven black and six white members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) left Washington, D.C., on two public buses bound for the Deep South. They wanted to test the Supreme Court ruling which stated that segregation on interstate buses and rail stations was unconstitutional. Although they suffered terrible treatment at the hands of racists (one of their buses was burned and many of the Freedom Riders were brutalized), the protests continued. In fact, by the end of the summer, protests had spread to airports and train stations throughout the South. In November, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued rules prohibiting segregated transportation facilities. The Freedom Riders’ aim—to desegregate public transportation in the South—had succeeded. II:227, VI:256
ODETTA’S “MOVEMENT” ASSOCIATES: In 1964, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) led a massive voter registration and desegregation campaign in MISSISSIPPI. They called it the Freedom Summer. Odetta Holmes took part in the voter registration movement. VI:351, VI:353, VI:355
ANDERSON, DELBERT: Delbert Anderson was a guitar player involved in the voter registration movement. VI:352, VI:353
BAIL BONDSMAN: VI:220, VI:221
BAMBRY, JOHN: He was the pastor of the FIRST AFRO-AMERICAN METHODIST CHURCH in OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI. VI:352
BAMBRY, LESTER: Lester Bambry was the brother of JOHN BAMBRY. He owned the BLUE MOON HOTEL, where Odetta and her friends stayed while registering black voters in MISSISSIPPI. VI:352
DARRYL: Darryl was a white boy who became Odetta’s lover during her time in the voter registration movement. VI:354–55
OXFORD TOWN COPS: VI:220
VOTER REGISTRATION BOYS: These three young men (historical figures, every one) were killed while registering black voters in MISSISSIPPI in 1964. Their deaths mark one of the true low points of American history.
CHANEY, JAMES: James Chaney was born in May of 1943 and was a native of Meridian, MISSISSIPPI. In 1963 he joined CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and was an active participant in the voter registration movement. On June 21, 1964, Chaney and two white activists—ANDREW GOODMAN and MICHAEL SCHWERNER—were attacked and killed by the Ku Klux Klan. VI:351, VI:352, VI:354, VI:355, VI:356, VI:357
GOODMAN, ANDREW: Andrew Goodman, from MANHATTAN, was twenty when he died on the Rock Cut Road. He had been in MISSISSIPPI for only one full day. VI:351, VI:352, VI:354, VI:355, VI:356, VI:357
SCHWERNER, MICHAEL: The rednecks of OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI, called Schwerner the “Jewboy.” To the Klan members of NESHOBA COUNTY, he was known as “goatee.” Schwerner was the most hated Civil Rights worker in Mississippi. His “elimination” was ordered by the Klan’s imperial wizard. ANDREW GOODMAN and JAMES CHANEY died with him. VI:351, VI:352, VI:354, VI:355, VI:356, VI:357, VI:361
DEAN, WENDELL (EDDIE DEAN’S FATHER)
EDDIE DEAN’s mom claimed that Eddie’s father’s name was Wendell. Since Eddie couldn’t remember the guy, he had to take his mother’s word for it.
III:68, III:174, V:215, VI:188 (saying)
DEARBORN, WILL
This was young Roland’s alias in HAMBRY. It is used throughout much of Wizard and Glass. Since Roland is the main character in the Dark Tower series, his presence is implied in all other entries. For specific information about Roland’s adventures, look up the other characters or places involved. For example, page references for his love affair with Susan Delgado are listed under DELGADO, SUSAN. See also DESCHAIN, ROLAND, later in this section
DEATHFLY
This is the fly that the young JAKE CHAMBERS is certain will buzz around his corpse.
VII:95, VII:96
DEBARIA CHARACTERS
The first of the interlocking tales which Roland tells in Wind Through the Keyhole is an autobiographical story about his adventures with JAMIE DeCURRY in the town of DEBARIA, where STEVEN DESCHAIN had sent the two young gunslingers to hunt down a shapeshifting SKIN-MAN. Located on the edge of the ALKALI FLATS, ten or twelve wheels from the women’s retreat of SERENITY, the dusty, hide-smelling railhead town of Debaria shipped their two main products—cattle and block salt—south, east, and north, in other words in every direction other than the one where JOHN FARSON’s rebellion raged. In Roland’s grandfather’s days, Debaria had been a fine little city, but by the time our story takes place, the town’s two lifelines—the mines and the railroad—are both failing. STEVEN DESCHAIN thought that Debaria would soon dry up and blow away like so many others in Mid-World, but when Roland and Jamie traveled there it was still a lively (if decaying) town.
According to Roland’s father, many of Debaria’s residents were drinkers, whores, gamblers, and confidence men, but there were still a few honorable citizens left among the rabble. First and foremost among these good men was HIGH SHERIFF HUGH PEAVY, whom Roland and Jamie were told to seek out as soon as they arrived in the town via the small train known as SMA’ TOOT. It turns out that many years previously, when Peavy was still a deputy, he helped Steven Deschain hunt down the nasty CROW GANG. From Peavy, Roland learned that the dimple-like scar on his father’s forearm was from one of PA CROW’s bullets.
During his days in Debaria, Roland discovered just how widespread the influence of the glorified harrier, JOHN FARSON, had become. According to Peavy’s not-so-good deputy, STROTHER, many people in Debaria were so sick of the riffraff in town that they were ready to throw in their lot with Gileads’ greatest enemy.
GENERAL: W:39, W:42, W:45, W:54, W:61 (sheriff discusses whoremasters, gamblers, ranchers, drifters), W:62 (sheriff discusses drunk cowpunchers and farmhands), W:270–77 (watching), W:278 (three dozen dead), W:294 (women)
ALORA FARM CHARACTERS: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS
BLACKSMITH: Debaria’s blacksmith plays a small but important role in Roland’s plan to defeat the flesh-eating SKIN-MAN. Despite the hot wind blowing across town (and the fact that Debaria no longer has a fire department), this blacksmith agrees to fire up his forge so that he can construct the only weapon that will kill a shapeshifter—a silver bullet. The blacksmith’s diligence is probably encouraged by the three gold knuckles that Roland shakes into his palm. However, his admiration for Roland’s weaponry could also be a factor. (When Roland tells the blacksmith that a shell from his gun holds fifty-seven grains of gunpowder, the smith is shocked. “Gods!” he says. “It’s a wonder the barrel of your revolver don’t bust when’ee pull the trigger!”) W:98–99, W:100, W:101, W:283, W:285
DA’: When the blacksmith’s da’ was a boy, Debaria still had a fire department. W:99
CROW GANG: When HIGH SHERIFF HUGH PEAVY was still a deputy, the people of Debaria and the surrounding area lived in fear of the predations of the murderous CROW GANG. Led by PA CROW, the gang robbed ranches, citizens, and trains, but their main business was the coward’s crime of kidnapping for ransom.
According to Peavy, at the apogee of the gang’s nefarious activities, STEVEN DESCHAIN happened to be doing his gunslinger rounds in the area. Hence he was in town the day after the Crows had stolen a rancher’s wife named BELINDA DOOLIN. Leading a posse of seven, plus Peavy and the old High Sheriff, Deschain followed the Crows’ trail north through the hardpan toward the abandoned salt-houses where the Crows had their hideout. Rather than approaching the hideout directly, Steven Deschain wanted to circle to the east so that the posse could come at the gang from the HIGH PURE, but the old High Sheriff, PEA ANDERSON, would have none of it. Saying that sai Doolin would be dead by the time they arrived, he set off along the straightest path, his posse in tow. Within half an hour, Deschain and Peavy heard gunshots. PA CROW had seen the sheriff’s men coming, and from the high rocks of AMBUSH ARROYO, he and his gang had poured lead on Anderson and his possemen.
Figuring that the Crows would be celebrating their appa
rent victory, Peavy and the elder Deschain circled in from the east, and the two lawmen ambushed the gang and rescued sai Doolin. Being honorable, sai Deschain woke up the gang before shooting them. “Wake up, Allan Crow,” he said, “unless you’d go into the clearing at the end of the path with your eyes shut.” The only member of the gang to survive Deschain’s first fusillade was Allan Crow himself. Pa Crow only got off one shot before he died and the bullet went wild, but it richocheted against the wall and hit Steven Deschain just above the crook of his elbow. Hugh Peavy dug the slug out with his skinning knife. W:56–61, W:290
CROW, ALLAN (PA CROW): Despite the fact that Allan Crow was a thief, a murderer, and rapist, he was very trig. A stroke had left one side of his face snarled up and frozen, but he could still move as fast as the devil. When STEVEN DESCHAIN arrived at the Crows’ hideout to slaughter the gang, Pa Crow (still wearing his long johns) reached for the gun stuck in the top of his boot. Although he only got off a single round before Steven Deschain shot him dead, Pa Crow’s bullet ricocheted against the wall and hit the gunslinger’s dinh in the arm, just above the elbow. W:58, W:59–61 (shot Steven Deschain)
FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD GUARD: This guard was asleep when STEVEN DESCHAIN and HUGH PEAVY ambushed the Crow gang in their hideout. Later Peavy saw him with a rope around his neck, a trapdoor under his feet, tears running out of his eyes, and a mess in his pants. Peavy didn’t mourn the boy since he had raped sai DOOLIN along with the rest of the men, even though she was old enough to be his grandmother. W:58–59
DOOLIN, BELINDA: Belinda Doolin was kidnapped by the CROW GANG and then saved by STEVEN DESCHAIN and HUGH PEAVY. Unfortunately, she was raped by the gang before she was rescued. W:56, W:57, W:59, W:60
DOOLIN (RANCHER): After the CROW GANG kidnapped his wife, BELINDA DOOLIN, this rancher managed to untie himself and call the sheriff on the jing-jang. This was the Crows’ undoing, since they didn’t know how swiftly this telephone could send and receive messages.
HOSTLER: As the winds of the simoom picked up, Roland left his horse, and YOUNG BILL STREETER’s mule, in this hostler’s livery. Roland gave the man half a gold knuckle for his trouble. The hostler told Roland where to find the town BLACKSMITH. W:98
JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS: Soon after ROLAND DESCHAIN and JAMIE DeCURRY reached Debaria, the SKIN-MAN struck again. This time he massacred the people of the Jefferson Ranch. All told, the monstrous shapeshifter killed sixteen proddies, the COOK (BILL STREETER), sai JEFFERSON, Jefferson’s WIFE, and his two DAUGHTERS. The few members of the Jefferson Ranch who survived the skin-man’s rampage are listed below. YOUNG BILL STREETER is listed separately. The rest of the characters are listed under SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH CHARACTERS.
ARN: See CANFIELD, BILL: FRIENDS/TRAILMATES, below
CANFIELD, BILL (BILL CANFIELD OF THE JEFFERSON RANCH): When we first met Bill Canfield we thought he was a pokie—which is to say a wandering cowboy not signed to any particular ranch. However, we soon discovered that he had put his mark on Jefferson’s wall the month before, and so he was a proddie, or steady ranch-hand.
At the time of the SKIN-MAN massacre, Canfield and his two mates, ARN and SNIP, were camping out on the PURE so that they could round up strays. In the middle of the night they were woken up by screams, snarls, and gunshots. The three men mounted up and galloped to the ranch.
Canfield arrived first, since he was riding a ranch horse and the other two men were riding mules. He began his investigations at the big house where he found the body of JEFFERSON’S WIFE. Following the bloody tracks outside, he discovered the two Jefferson DAUGHTERS, whose backs had been carved open right down to their spines. Next, Canfield went to the bunkhouse which had been turned into an abattoir by the skin-man. Unfortunately, Canfield and his friends had to shoot the two ranch dogs, ROSIE and MOZIE, since they were lapping up the blood and the brains of the victims. W:69, W:70–73 (70–71 described), W:84, W:270–74 (at Busted Luck), W:277–80 (watching salties)
FRIENDS/TRAILMATES: W:70–73, W:85
ARN: Arn and Snip were camping out on the PURE with Canfield when the SKIN-MAN struck, so they survived the massacre. W:71 (named), W:72–73 (named), W:270–73
SNIP: Snip and Arn were camping out on the PURE with Canfield when the SKIN-MAN struck, so they survived the massacre. W:71 (named), W:72–74 (named), W:270–74, W:277–80
COOKIE (BILL STREETER, YOUNG BILL’S FATHER): See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
JEFFERSON FAMILY: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
JEFFERSON (RANCHER): See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
DAUGHTERS: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
SONS: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
WIFE: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
NUTTER, ELROD (FOREMAN): See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
ROSIE and MOZIE (dogs): Rosie and Mozie were the ranch dogs. CANFIELD, ARN, and SNIP shot them after they discovered the animals lapping up the blood and brains of the SKIN-MAN’s victims. W:69, W:72
PRODDIES:
FREDDY TWO-STEP: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
ROSCOE: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
TINY BRADDOCK: See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
UNNAMED COWBOY (face ripped off): See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
SNIP: See CANFIELD, BILL: FRIENDS/TRAILMATES
STREETER, BILL (COOKIE): See SKIN-MAN: SKIN-MAN’S VICTIMS: JEFFERSON RANCH
STREETER, YOUNG BILL: See STREETER, YOUNG BILL, listed separately
DEBARIA SALOON AND WHOREHOUSE CHARACTERS: According to KELLIN FRYE, DEBARIA’s saloons were whore-holes and he didn’t want his son to enter them. But compared to the saloons of LITTLE DEBARIA, Debaria’s drinking holes were high-class establishments. Little Debaria was the destiny of whores who had grown too old or too diseased to work in Debaria. When the SALTIES were drunk on White Blind, they didn’t care whether or not their women had noses as long as they had their sugar-purses. W:272
BIDDER-WEE: When the whores of DEBARIA’s Bidder-Wee grew too old or diseased, they ended up in the wrecked saloons of LITTLE DEBARIA.
WHORES: W:62
BUSTED LUCK SALOON AND WHOREHOUSE: The Busted Luck was one of Debaria’s saloons-cum-whorehouses. Although KELLIN FRYE disliked the place, it was a sight better than the saloons and whorehouses found in LITTLE DEBARIA. It was in the Busted Luck that Roland gave all the horse-riding SALTIES a final drink before making them take off their boots. (Roland wanted to discover how many had spent time in BEELIE STOCKADE.) W:272, 277–280
BARTENDER: When Roland asked the SALTIES to take off their boots so that he could see how many had BLUE RINGS around their ankles, the bartender couldn’t take the smell. He left, holding his nose. W:279
WHORES: When Roland asked the SALTIES to take off their boots so he could see how many had BLUE RINGS around their ankles, the whores were driven away by the stench. W:62, W:272 (whorehouse), W:277, W:279
CHEERY FELLOWS SALOON AND CAFE:
MAN IN FRONT OF THE CHEERY FELLOWS SALOON: When ROLAND and JAMIE DeCURRY arrived in DEBARIA, a WOMAN WITH A BASKET asked them if they’d come to kill the SKIN-MAN. Much to the merriment of the surrounding spectators, this fellow replied that the two boys weren’t old enough to kill a bottle of rye. W:54
WHORES: Like the other whores in Debaria, these women had a short working life. When they grew old or diseased to attract customers, they were sent to the saloons in LITTLE DEBARIA. When the salties drank enough White Blind, they didn’t care what their women looked like. W:62
LITTLE DEBARIA CHARACTERS: The poor and depressing town of LITTLE DEBARIA was situated in the foothills of the SALT ROCKS, northeast of DEBARIA. Although Debaria was a dusty, hide-smelling railhead town that had seen better days, compared to Little Debaria it was a rich and thriving settlement. Li
ttle Debaria’s saloons, whorehouses, and company store served the needs of the dirt-poor SALTIES, or salt miners, who worked for the DEBARIA SALT COMBYNE. The Combyne was owned by big bugs in GILEAD, but the store, saloons, whorehouses, and even the skiddums (or shacks) where the miners lived were owned by a greedy crook named SAM SHUNT. Although the shapeshifting SKIN-MAN was actually a transformed saltie, he did not spare his fellows any more than he spared the other people of Debaria. For page references, see individual entries listed below.
LITTLE DEBARIA WHORES: When DEBARIA whores grew too old or diseased to attract custom in the big town’s whorehouses, they ended up in the Little Debaria saloons, which served the poor SALTIES. When the salties were drunk on White Blind, they didn’t care whether a whore had her nose, as long as she still had her sugar-purse. W:62, W:275, W:276, W:277
