River City History: The dawn of the twentieth century

As the twentieth century dawned in River City, the city’s main income turned from industrial endeavors to gambling. The city became a hub of riverboat gambling on the Mississippi. While many former factory workers went to work on the boats, many others went to work as enforcers for the growing criminal enterprises in the city.

Meanwhile, thousands of Irish workers that came to the city for factory work were without jobs. Many turned to criminal pursuits to get by. Several gangs formed by in a matter of months, they were mostly united under the guise of the Murphy Mob, headed by the notorious “Happy” Harry Murphy.

Due to a near death experience in his mid-teens, “Happy” Harry’s face was locked in to an eternal grin, despite his reputation as a cold-blooded killer. “Happy” Harry became de facto leader of the city from the late 1890s well into the 1910s, lording over a series of hand-selected (and often illegally elected) mayors.

Harry would soon rule over gambling, prostitution, opium and marijuana dealing as well as a major protection racket across the Irish blocks of the city. His enforcers, the Rippers, would become known for their use of blades over all else. They would often use “Happy” Harry’s favorite means of dispatching his foes: a slit throat.