The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-07
THE CRUSADERS.
Thlrty.lwO Ladies on the, street.
They Visit the 'OfIlce, ''Tidal Wave,
and 'LaTamie's.'
Mr.. Laramie Rises to Explain.

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Alter the special prayer meeting;at the
Fourth Street NJ. E. Church yesterday al.
ternoon, thlry.two ladies marched 10 the
"oHce" saloon and asked the bar. keepers
permission to pray upon the pavement in
'front.' This he declined 10 grant IN the
absence Of heproprietor. They told him
70 tell Mr.. Was, the proprietor, that they
had called, and would be back the next
day. l:S;
They then proceeded to the "Tidal
Wave" saloon, and entering, asked Mr..
Kuhn, who was behind the bar, II they
could see the proprietor. He replied that
Nj. Kalbaeisch was not In, but they
might call again. Permission was asked
and granted to pray in front Of the
saloon, which they accordingly did.
Several hymns were sung, and Mrs
Elder Ball, Mrs. Hagans and Others led
In prayer. An immense crowd surround.
ed the ladies, and men were constantly
entering the saloon and drinking. One
inebriated individual stood In tho hall
open door and spit OF q kneelipg lady
nearby. The crowdgenerally, however,
was orderly and respectful.
When the ladies. started down 18th
street hundreds Of citizens followed them,
and as they approached Laramie's saloon
there was q tremendous rush TO gain ad-
mittance. Mr. Laramie met them at the
door, and told them that his performance
was not concluded, but they could come
In as soon as the "walk around" was
finished. This occupied about ten minutes.
Theladies decided to wait, and kneellng
upon the pavement engaged In silent
prayer. It was q strange and impressive
sight From the concert room could be
heard the singing and dancing Of
the entire company in all the
freedom Of negro minstrel "walk
around" while loud yells and coarse
laughter gave evidence Of an approving
audience. The bar.room was completely
filled with motley crowd of men and
boys, who were engaged in drinking, and
oaths, Jeers, the shuffling OF feet and
blinking otglasses, wete mingled together
in indsecribable confusion. Still, thirty.
two Christian ladies, with bowed heads,
were kneeling upon the pavement out
side, imploring the blessing Of God upon
the inmates OF the saloon. They re-
NAMED upon their knees until the stage
performance had concluded, when they
marched in, singing, "Nearer, my God, 10
thee" The audience remained seated as
when the curtain went down, but the
visitors quietly took possession Of the few
vacant seats, and alter singing a hymn
Miss Lizzie Boyd led in prayer. During
the exercises great confusion pre-
vailed in the bsr-room, and the
door Of the concert room was locked so
that the ladies would not be interrupted.
Mr.. Laramie made every effort 10 pre-
serve order, but only partially succeeded,
as the outer room was filled with noisy,
drunken crowd.
Alter several prayers and hymns, Mrs.
Hsgaus briefly addressed those present.
She asked what brought them there
Was 1t TO become better and happier
menu She wondered II their homes were
made happy by them Witnessing these
singing and dancing performances. How
would their mothers and sisters feel II
they knew them 10 be enjoying such
scenesH 1t would break their hearts With
anguish and sorrow. She thought that
every mother felt as she did, and she
would be willing to sacrifice herself for
her son. She hoped that God would
make the proprietor Of the saloon see the
evil that he is doing, SO that he will
change his business.
Brief remarks were also made by other
ladies, but owing to the noise and con-
fusion prevailing at the time, their words
were scarcely audible 10 those seated
some distance away. Mrs. Hsgans then
stated that Mr.. Laramie desired to say a
few words, whereupon that gentleman
spoke as follows;
ADDRESS OF Mr.. LARAMIE.
LADIES AND GENrLEMEN-ThoSs En-
gagged in tho Crusade against the Liquor
Se!terS-I have given you all the privilege
you have asked In my place of business
and in return will ask you TO grant me
the privilege Of giving you my views upon
the subject, and hope you will listen TO
me, as have listened 10 you. The idea
that you may convert me, or any that
come TO my place, seems ridiculous TO all
good thinking people. Your motives are
good, but your course Is, In my opinion
and the opinion Of the majority oil this
town, altogether wrong. There is no
harm in selling drinks any more than
there is in selling anything else. The
harm does not come from the sales. Il
comes from the too frequent use Of It, It
comes from the abuse OF intoxicating beY.
erages instead Of the sales. To believe
that you can stop drinking by closing sa.
looms Is preposterous. Aslong as liquor
exist in this country, as in al others, II
will be drank and abused, and Il you close
the saloons (which l do not believe you
can do) you are degrading your fellow
creatures TO an extent which you,
under your circumstances, cannot posi-
bly, concelve-not knowing the tricks and
devices which men are capable oil devils.
ing to obtain drink II they wish 10 get
one. | have known young men In North.
ern New York, where saloon licenses
were not granted, to go and buy half
pint or pint and take 1t to the door and
drink out Of the measure until the con-
tents were drained, / have known others
to say, eBoys, l viii have q gallon Of
whisky at my house tomorrow; IWart
you to come. and see me, and we will
have Jolly time" And the boys did 70
and see him, and the Jolly time would
take place, and each and every one would
get as drunk as drunk can be. Now
everybody knows that spirituous liquors
are as necessary to human beings in many
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