The History of The Gopher Gang

July, 1903. Michael's group of roughnecks become the Gophers, running from the law and hiding in cellars. They rob a carriage full of whiskey, and supply it to the dance hall where Michael has obtained a job as a bartender.  He brings the booze to sell and meets the undercover society girl Ida, who is forced to work nights to pay off her brother's debt. The police  storm the hall, arresting a number of Gophers, but Michael escapes.

The Gophers move up to robbing freight cars.. They paint over the original number, making them look like other unloaded freights. Killer is initiated into the gang by Knox, on the sly, and The Lady Gophers temporarily wipe out the Potash Gang. Ida attends her first party in the city, making an impression on Mrs. Alva Belmont. She sneaks to the Dance Hall the next night where Michael saves her from a creep. 

Ida's family plans for her debutante ball, she and her mother spend the whole day shopping for dresses, settling on a Parisian style. Michael and crew celebrate the success of their freight train robberies, but that night Biff is imprisoned for a fight with a police officer.  Michael must hatch a plan to get him and his other Gophers from the original booze raid out of jail.  Mama's boy, Killer, the fledgling Gopher, supports his struggling family by getting a job in a local coal mine.  His pious mother cannot abide his life as a street thug. 

The Day of Ida's debutante ball, she is introduced to society and gets a shock when Michael shows up, Invited by her father to broker a deal.  He recognizes her from the dance hall, but promises to keep her secret. 

Mr. Murphy and Michael come to an agreement, and Biff and the other Gophers are released from jail. 

The bigger, Italian 5 Points and German Eastman gangs are fighting each other daily as their territory feud boils over. The Gophers even join in on a massive shootout in broad daylight.  Ida is on the other side of town, on a date with a suitor named Collin, but she and Michael both make it to the Dance Hall that evening. Ida becomes drunk, dancing the night away, and Michael walks her home, Ida's ladies maid helps to sneak her inside.  

No one is the wiser the next day in the Murphy home, and Ida entertains suitors In her library, later giggling about the ridiculousness of this custom with her sister. 

Michael deals with Knox, who is his right-hand-man for keeping little problems quiet. Knox is trying to convince him to back the Eastman gang.  Tammany Hall drops the Hudson Dusters who begin to start fights and burglarize the Gopher's businesses. Groups of Duster squads are prowling the streets of Hell's Kitchen spoiling for a fight, and one night on the town, Michael and Happy Jack oblige and prevail.

January, 1904. Victory against the Hudson Dusters leaves the Gophers in a good position, but the gang is in turmoil over Knox's betrayal. Killer lashes out against a rival Italian gang member,  shooting the man on the street in broad daylight.. Michael hushes the witnesses and takes his boys to the Dance Hall to blow off steam, but Ida isn't there to perform. She is being entertained by the rich, Alva Belmont. She sends a letter that Michael doesn't receive.  Concerned, he visits her window that night looking for answers, but she makes him leave for his own safety.

Michael is faced with the emerging and very aggressive Potash gang, once again. Biff opens a fun and sexy Pool Hall in his basement, and neither the police nor the Potashes are happy about it, they try to jump Michael, who is with Ida outside Hell's Kitchen Dance Hall.  They run and hide in the river water, under a bridge. 

Both soaking wet, Michael takes Ida to his apartment, where he dresses her in Annie's clothes.  Ida arrives home safely, but suspicious of her stepfather.  She confronts Mr. Murphy, but he brushes her off, stating that it isn't "women's business".

Her sister's new engagement absorbs the Murphy household. They are inundated by  wedding planners, caterers, and the like.  Ida, as bridesmaid, helps her sister pick a wedding dress. Michael is invited by Murphy to the wedding, as well as the Hudson Duster leader. Michael tries to broker a truce but they refuse.  

Michael's right hand man, Killer leaves town with his coal mining buddies, who turn out to be a surprisingly rough crowd.

The Potashes are being held at bay by the fierce, Lady Gophers, but it can't last. 

The wedding goes off without a hitch and Ida makes sure Michael feels welcome.  They dance many times before her suitor, Collin, makes a scene.  The jealous Michael lays him out, and Ida orders him to leave. Michael visits Biff's pool hall and gets sloppy drunk, asking for advice.  Ida apologizes profusely to her mother and promises he'll never return.  She writes to Rosie (A friend at the dance hall), telling her she can't appear there for a while, but Michael still comes to the saloon every night looking for her.  The Five Points and Eastman Gangs feud comes to a head.

Michael visits the opening of the new movie theater and witnesses the mayor, McClellan, railing against the evils of cinema. 

There is a match organized between two leaders of the 5 Points and Eastman gangs that is supposed to settle their feud once and for all, The Gophers support the 5 Points but it ends up a draw.

The police storm Biff's pool hall and he is arrested.  Michael meets Murphy at his home, making a deal to get Biff out.  Ida ignores him while he's there, having an awkward visit with Collin shortly after.  She tears up a letter to Michael. The Potash's meet with the Boodle gang and find a common enemy in the Gophers, forming an alliance.

Michael goes on a manhunt, finding the absent Killer in Brooklyn, in a drug hazed stupor.  He sobers him up and drags him back to Battle Row. Michael takes a meeting with Belmont and arranges a trade, the Mayor will be at the subway opening providing lots of publicity.  Rosie is instructed to inform Ida to return or the debts will go unpaid and her brother will be in danger. 

Tammany backs the Five Points Gang in their unresolved feud against Eastman Gang, The Five Points celebrate with a night on the town.  

Eastman is infuriated by Tammany's betrayal.  He prowls 42nd street eventually deciding to mug a wealthy gentleman.  He is foiled due to this fellow's two Pinkerton agents to protect him on the streets of New York.With no aid from Tammany, an indictment is issued, and Eastman, rightly, blames the Gophers.

The press announce they will prosecute Eastman, both Murphy and Michael watch the trial, pleased with the guilty verdict. 

There's trouble at home, for Murphy.  Ida's suitor has lost interest, and she couldn't care less. The Murphy's attend the subway opening and Tammany's mayoral candidate, McClellan conducts the maiden route, making headlines. 

Paul Kelly, the leader of the Five Points Gang,  is convinced to take a Gopher into their fold by his Lieutenant, Pat "Razor" Riley.  Razor offers up his lover, Biff Ellison.

Michael goes to the Dance hall, Ida is there. He steps outside and is jumped by some angry Eastman gang members.  They leave Michael badly injured.  Ida comes out and makes a tourniquet for his injured arm.  They kiss before she flees, bewildered and confused. 

June, 1904. Big Boss Croker, the new leader of Tammany Hall, is questioned about the Ice Scandal.  Now Murphy, who has already taken over Tammany hall, is finally the Big Boss.

Claire, Ida's sister, is pregnant. Ida's mother informs her that the household is leaving to their "Country Cottage" within the week.  Michael visits her room that night, and sneaks her out to paint the town in Hell's Kitchen.  

Michael has target practice on the docks with Killer, who announces he is ready to move up the Gopher ranks.  He hosts a cabinet meeting at Battle Row, discussing what to do about the Potash and Boodle gangs. 

The Murphy's pack and travel to their summer cottage, along with all of the other wealthy families.  Ida is both pushed toward , and pursued by many a suitor.  

Michael attends Eastman's sentencing, who earns 10 years in prison.  Eastman's gang holds a meeting choosing a new leader and  Michael crashes it, saying he'll make no more trouble for them, to avoid an all-out gang war.   

Mallet Murphy, of the Gophers, opens a new fighting ring out of the Basement of Battle Row, and Michael spars.  Nearly defeated, he has an "aha moment" about how to get Biff out of jail, using Tammany's power.  "Fight smarter, not harder".

The Belmont Racetrack in Rhode Island opens, Michael attends, surprised  not to see Tammany's Boss Murphy, who is vacationing in the country with all of the wealthy power brokers, including the Belmont's.  Mrs Belmont craftily introduces Ida to her son, Harold, a perfect match.

The Eastman gang, who hold one more meeting attempting to elect a leader,  cannot agree, and are now split into two different and very hostile factions.  On a night out with a girl he fancies, Killer is confronted by a drunk Hudson duster. He doesn't hesitate and, again, shoots the man dead in the heart of the Duster's territory.  30th Street..

The Hudson Duster that Killer murdered is the headline. Michael reprimands him and gives him a place to hide in his apartment. 

Ida goes to lawn parties and tennis matches in the country, but is miserable.  At least she seems to make a friend in the Belmont boy.  

The Hudson Dusters roam the streets looking for Killer, but encounter a cop and end up beating him to death, leaving him in the gutter. 

Michael takes many of his trusted men and begins forming a system to create  and put in place a betting racket at the racetrack. 

Micheal and his men patrol the racetrack, collecting and making profits on illegal betting, but the not so friendly faces of the Hudson Dusters, the Boodle, and the Zwerbach faction of the fractured, Jewish, Eastman Gang soon show up as competition.

Ida writes to Michael, but her sister intercepts the letter, and Ida is forced to lie to her. Her sister still does not allow her to send it. 

Michael convinces Happy Jack to join them once again, and he helps them with the new racetrack scheme. 

The Murphy's return to New York, and Murphy is summoned to Tammany Hall. People concerned with his leadership of Tammany Hall.  He wins the day, advising the mayor to stop his attack on cinema to improve his popularity. Murphy hosts a party at his home that Michael crashes, stealing a moment with Ida before meeting with her father. Michael convinces him to back the other faction of the Eastman gang, led by Fitzpatrick.  

Michael and Happy visit the racetrack again, pleased at the lack of competition and all goes well.  They celebrate out that night at the dance halls, drinking and carousing.