[Ads-l] hi-jacker, antedated to 1915 (and 1916)

[Stephen Goranson]

Various etymologies have been proposed for hijack (or highjack). For French and Slavic sources, I say nevermind. An abbreviation of highway-jacker may be excluded as anachronistic. Hi as hello (Jack) has been mooted, perhaps with little explanatory weight (it was guessed by S. Holbrook in "Woobly Talk," American Mercury 7 [1926] 63). For "pilferer of zinc ore" see Gerald Cohen, "The Missouri and Hobo Origin of Hijack," Studies in Slang 2 (1985) 85-90. Based on secondary sources, possibly, Solidarity, the Industrial Workers of the Word publication 1915 page 195 describes this crime, though with what words I have not read (anyone have access to Solidarity?). A sentimental favorite proposal of mine (made on ads-l Dec. 6, 2006) is the kidnapper character High Jack in "He Also Serves," by O. Henry, published in the book Options in 1909 (and perhaps earlier--maybe written in Texas?). It may be that hijacker as a person preceded hijacking as an action.

The Miami, Oklahoma Record-Herald of Friday, Dec. 31, 1915 4/2 [newspapers.com] reported that "A new occupation seems to have sprung up in this section and in many parts of the state for that matter." Miami OK is in the northeast of the state. The newness of the term shows in the use of an apparent typo or misunderstanding "hi-packer." The article continues: "A new word has been coined, describing those engaged in this occupation, namely, the 'hi-packers.' This term applies to those engaged in holding up those engaged in the transportation and illicit sale of 'booze,' which seems to have become a very popular kind of bandit occupation, especially so from the fact that there is no law against it. Those transporting liquid refreshment into the state for the purpose of selling same either 'wholesale' or 'from the hip' have not yet been able to secure any legislation protecting them from the depradations [sic] of the said 'hijackers' and the 'hi-jackers' accordingly depredate to their own sweet will in their depredations. The hi-jackers or free-lance bandits generally spot the cars coming into Oklahoma...possibly...from the oasis in the 'show me state.'...."

In 1916 [America's Historical Newspapers] other newspapers have "hi-jackers." For example, in Shamrock, OK--about 100 miles southwest of Miami OK-- also had hi-jackers, according to the Kansas City Star [Missouri], Sunday Jan. 30, 1916, 17C/1-6, "Shamrock Isn't So Green as Its Name Sounds: A bit of the old Wild West has been given an Irish Title," here col. 2:
"The bootleggers break the law by bringing in liquors. Then the 'hi-jackers' intercept the bootleggers and rob them of their whisky. It isn't a crime to steal whisky in Oklahoma because whiskey isn't property. The 'hi-jacker' pulls his 6-shooters and forces the bootlegger to unload...."

Stephen Goranson
http://people.duke.edu/~goranson/
Stephen Goranson's Home Page<http://people.duke.edu/~goranson/>
Stephen Goranson. goranson "at" duke "dot" edu. Jannaeus.pdf. My paper on the history of Alexander Jannaeus as the Qumran- and Essene-view "Wicked Priest" and Judah the Essene as the "Teacher of Righteousness" (3 August 2005 [revised 12 January 2006]; 34 pages), "Jannaeus, His Brother Absalom, and Judah the Essene ". Dura-Europos.pdf "7 vs. 8: The Battle Over the Holy Day at Dura-Europos"
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