Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-15
pEA. GILES pIsTILLERY.

DEA. GILES DIsTILLERY.
The worldwide fame, caused by the publica.
tion of the fiction, supposed to be founded on
truth, under the above head, will enttle it to a
prominent place in the temperance cause No
publication in modern times has ever produced
such excitement; and perhaps no local interest
has ever been attended with such lasting, extern
sive and salutary effect. 1t was of such ma
ture, so blended in its connexions with the NOR
ais and welfare of the community. that it could
not die away like other local incidents. Who
has not heard or read something about Deacon
Giles Distillery and yet how few people COM
paratively, can impart, or recolect any full or
correct account of the transaction.
The facts and circumstances were these Rev
George B. Cheever, then young Orthodoxcler
gyman of Salem, published in the Landmark,
religious newspaper in the same town, COM
munication which he called "a Dream relat-
ing to " Deacon Amos Giles Distllery," which
embraced some circumstances strikingly applica
BILE to Capt. John Stone, Unitarian deacon, Of
Salem, who had been for many years, and his
father before him, distiler Of New England
rum. Dea Stone and his relatives were wealthy
He was also Treasurer of the County Bible So
ciety. and kept Bibles as we'll as barrels of rum
for sale in the same distillery. There were other
circumstances which awakened suspicious in the
minds of the friends of Mr.. Stone, that he was
the person indicated by deacon Giles" There
had been religious controversy carried on some
time before between Mr.. Cheever and one of the
Unitarian clergymen in Salem, which was sup
posed by some to have inAenced the dream, Or
which, at least, added fuel to the fire.
The dream itself, whatever truths and facts
may have been here and there interspersed, was
a high wrought fiction of several columns in
length. The distilery, the old building, was
pretty truly described, as being hideous with
blackness, saturated with the fumes of the in
fernal manufacture, so that the poisonous liquid
would ooze out in large standing drops from all
the timbers, the sight of which would strike the
beholder with horror. The use of the distilled
liquor was represented as having made sad in
8 roads upon the family of the Deacon, one Of
his sons having, in a state of intoxication, been
Q drowned in one of the vats. This was one Of
the strongest facts, dwelt upon at the trial, as
q being literally applicable to Deacon John Stone.
In the dream, it was represented that strolling
y company of Devils, in the shape of men, pre-
: sented themselves to the deacon, who gladly re.
ceived them as the very company he wanted, to
:. keep the fires going night and day, Sundays and
j. all, and proposed to pay them parity in money
g the remainder in the manufactured liquor, as
much as they could drink. They consented, but
t the deacon's proposals went 50 much beyond theil
4 views of deviltry, that they concluded among
- themselves not to take any money in pay bu
in lieu thereof they ingeniously contrived tc
play several tricks upon the deacon which woul'
be sure to do him more injury than all thei
" labor was worth. Accordingly they so prepared
nf the Internal spirit, that when it was sold ant
deposited in the store of the purchaser, eacl
barrel would break out upon its head with liy
Ia ing letters of urid light, in words substantially
e. I Ike these-"Death and Damnation for sale
ID inquire Deacon Giles Distillery;" thus fright
to ening everybody from the store, till the barrel
q. of rum were returned to the Distillery, wher
ut they were emptied-a dead loss to the deacon.
he This Dream was published about the middl
lis of the week-say Wednesday. Immediately th
lie numerous friends and relatives Of Dea. Ston
n, were in rage and the principles Of DR.. Chez
IT. yer, moral and religious, being unacceptable
"a q large majority Of the inhabitants OF Salem 9
ly the time, the newspapers all united in raising
ss, clamor, representing the Dream as being one {
les the vilest things ever published, and the autht
as hardly fit for civilized society. Although the
Of did not openly and prefessediy invite mob the
go did the same thing in manner not to be mi
.ys nderstood-somewhat in this style -" W
me should greatly regret to have the peace and goo
is order Of our quiet town disturbed by a mob, bs
cd if man will persist in such daring manner
no outrage truth and justice to the injury of OF
n most viEtaous citizens and the feelings of all