The Captain's Corner: Follow the Hole
If you've ever spent much time in Captain Larry's, you've probably heard about the bullet holes in the ceiling.
They're tough to spot, but if you look hard enough, you'll see them.
In this week's column, the now-retired namesake, Capt. Larry Gross, reveals just how those bullet holes got there in the first place. The helm is yours, Captain!
I would close the bar at 2 a.m. My heart being with the cops, they needed a little release, so we would sit in there late at night and play games like Follow the Hole.
I would put a hole in the ceiling with a 40-caliber Glock, and then they would take their service revolvers -- if they wanted to bet -- and bet they could put a hole on top of the hole. This went on for quite a few years. ...
The only thing I can figure is the place had about four or five sub floors. When we fired, nothing would go completely through. Then I started seeing a few indentations in the bathtub (upstairs), and I said, 'Well, I guess we're through and we'd better stop this, because it's going to start going through.'
The apartment upstairs I had just rented to a former city police officer, Ron. He looked just like Doc Holiday in the movies. Ron's a strange sort of guy.
This one particular night -- it was a February night -- and it was about 4 a.m. I had some cops in there after hours. We were half juiced, and decided to play follow the hole. Poor Ron is sitting on the toilet (upstairs).
It's snowing outside. And I get this knock on the door. I'm going 'Jesus Christ, it's got to be the police.' The guys all said, 'Well, we are the police.'
I said, 'Yeah, they'll shut me down for three days, but you guys will all get fired.' I peek out the window, and it's Ron in a bathrobe, with nothing on under it.
I said, 'Jesus,' and opened the door. Ron's barefoot. It's snowing. He walks inside. I said, 'Ron, what are you doing? Are you all right? Christ, close that bathrobe. What's the matter?'
He said, 'Captain, who in the (bleep) is shootin'?'
I said, 'Well, we're playing Folllow the Hole, Ron. What's the matter?'
He pulls his robe back, and he's got a bullet graze up the back of his (buttocks).
He said, 'You sons of (bleeps) almost killed me.'
That was the last time we played Follow the Hole.
(Baltimore Sun archive photo)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Thanks to Cialis, OLD MAN GNAR and OLD WOMAN GNAR are playing follow the hole almost every night nowadays!
You're welcome to join, Captain!
Posted by: OLD MAN GNAR | January 21, 2010 1:46 PM
just.... wow.
Posted by: tomvons | January 21, 2010 1:50 PM
awwwesome. the more old-school stories of baltimore here, the better. this is amazing.
Posted by: ryan97ou | January 21, 2010 2:34 PM
Just wow. Great story.. Keep them coming.
Posted by: Owl Meat GSW | January 21, 2010 2:57 PM
Someone tell Ivars to frame this post and put it somewhere, anywhere where people can read it!
Posted by: Evan | January 21, 2010 4:04 PM
That was awesome. I like hearing stories about Baltimore's past like this.
Posted by: Pat O | January 21, 2010 4:59 PM
Evan, I think Ivars has plans for that already. Was talking to him Tuesday about it.
Posted by: gc | January 21, 2010 5:42 PM
Where was this picture taken? Doesn't look like the current Larry's storefront.
Posted by: Gary | January 22, 2010 9:49 AM
It appear Ron, strange as he may have been, had remarkable patience and enough tolerance not to call the police actually on duty.
...unless of course, we got the abridged story.
Posted by: GDA | January 22, 2010 11:28 AM
Sam,
Aren't you being a little prudish not to use the word that buttocks replaced, after all, you don't seem to have any problems using what many people would regard as the more offensive, the blasphemous use of Jesus & Jesus Christ. They pass The Sun's Standards and Practices and a** doesn't?
Rather inconsistent application of policy, Mein Herr.
Posted by: GDA | January 22, 2010 11:39 AM
Comments to the readers from The Captain: The picture was taken in front of Captain Larry's before the place was remodeled by the new owner. Ron was shot a couple of times in "Nam" so it really didn't faze him. I use the name of Jesus with reverence and not in a blasphemous nature. I don't find it blasphemous to call on Him in times of difficulty. Do you?
Posted by: Captain Larry | March 21, 2010 8:58 AM