New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-28
Distillery Burning.

AuO icCcut dDOciHptS W nio bnO utSeiiiOA1Co
of S. w. Hammond and Dennis O'Brine, in
this city, have naturally catsed much COM
ment among tie distillers here, and rewards
have been offered for such information as
may lead to the Identification and convic-
ton of the incendiary miscreants.
The last attempts to burn distillel .es dis
covers a carefully arranged plan by the
same parties to do their work etfectually.
The entrance to Mr.. Hammond's premises,
on Ferdinand slleet, known as the Excel
sior Disti'lery, was effected by forcing a
back gate to the yard while the watchman
was in front Of the buildings. This was on
Sunday evening last. The fire was discov-
cred at ten o'clock, and from its condition,
found, the match must have been applied
nearly two hours earlier. The slow match
found was one carefully prepared Of kin
dlings, compressed sawdust saturated with
turpentine and resinous substance. This
was arranged in large tin can, having
holes in the sides for air draft, and placed
under a stairway and near the gas metre.
The fame was under good headway when
discovered, and the saving of the building
was by the mere luck of chance.
On Monday morning, at about Two
O'clock. fire was discovered on the premises
Of the Dennis O'Brine distillery, owned by
Mr.. Henderson. This distillery is located
on Water street, near Napoleon avenue,
and is some seven miles distant from Mr.
Hammond's place. The difference in time
Of the two fires was sufficient for the same
torch-bcarer to walk the space between the
two Gistilleries, and as the material tor set
ting the fires was found to be the same IN
both cases, it is probable the attempts to
burn were made by one AMI the same per-
son.
At tee O'Brine place the watchman gave
an alarm upon smelling fire. and also dis
covered man lurking about the place, as
Il not satisfied with his work. The stranger
coolly fred upon the watchman and made
his escape, leaving behind hat and also
sack in which the combustible mat ,rials
must have been brought. Here the fire was
checked without damage. At these two
dlstilleries preparations had been made
to commence work on the first Of September.
In this correction it may be mentioned
that on the sixteenth of November, 1873
was burned at Carroliton the Thomas DIS
tillery. This was the work of incendary
hands, aud it occurred but few days pre-
vious to the time when distilling operations
would have commenced. 1t is known that
attempts have before been made to burn
Mr.. Hammond's place, and that similar
attempts have been made to destroy the
Fehrenback distillery across the river, at
NcDonoghville.
The cause for these attempts to destroy
private property can scarcely be imagined
The business Of distilling, although not so
extensive as in the West, is still an impor-
tant one to New Orleans. 1t employs a
large amount of capital, and gives work
directly to very many labOrers. 1t has
demonstrated the fact that home produced
highwines and alcohol could be put on the
market here cheap enough to compete with
the Cincinnati and other Western distillers
From this cause has sprung rival jealousy
in the West. The liquor dealers Of the West
have considered the New Orleans market
their game. Durin. the past three years
the Cincinnati papers have frequently
asserted that the distiilng business
here has been carried or only un
der circumstances defrauding the gov
ernment. And many such statements.
from Western sources, have been made to
Under such charges distilling operations
have frequently been investigated by au
thorzed officers sent here for that purpose,
but without detrimental results, until the
raid made in April last by special agent
Brooks, who closed three disti'leries and
made investigations after wards. The
Brooks charges are to be tiled on their
merits, but in the meantime the government
authorities DO not object to the working of
our distilleries as usual.
The matter Of suppressing distilleries by
burning them is one much more serious.
The Knights of Temperance have usually
confined their efforts to appeals to the
drip ker, and the work Of the crusader has
been that of praying with the seller, neither
have applied the torch to the manufac-
turers' property. There are those who
assert these recent attempts at arson we're
instigated by business rivals and jealousies.
That crime should be resorted to for the
accomplishment OF what fair competition
in style and horrible to contemplate, and
can not be believed. The matter as it
stands at this time requires strict investiga-
ton, and whatever our insurance agents
can discover will be brought t6 light, aud
the guilty vii be made to suffer.
The Temperature.