The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-26
VOL XLlII.-N0. Is.
A WHISKEY RINGS HISTORY
TUIT THE TRTIL or THE ST. LOUIS
COPIRTNERS My PROVE.

Tho Intimate Relations Of Grant, Casey.
Bsbcock & Co. with the Fellows who |
Coprpirsd With the Distiilers Direct.
+ er. LouIs, Nov. IA knowledge OF GER |
tain men and facts Ia necessary IN order to |
understand the "true inwardness'' OF the great |
whskcy Ring, which during It's four years OF |
undisputed sway In this city robbed the Gov |
eminent OF moro than four millions OF dollars.
The revenue Officers on whose honesty and |
upright conduct the Government largely do
pended for the faithful administration Of the
exolse laws wero. with the exception OF the Col.
lectors, men who had no social standing In this
community. and who were universally regarded
as unscrupulous adventurers. The Supervisor.
John McDonald was in early life a butchers
apprentice in the city Of New York. He
came to this city in 1919 or so and
became n steamboat runner. This was
before railroads had reached the Missis-
blppi valley and travellers and cinigrants came
almost exclusively by steamboats, The COM
petition for the passenger trade at this point
was OF course very active, and rival steamboat
companies employed class Of men who were
known runners. They we're men Of muscle,
courage, and cheek, and those o. them
who wore most abundantly supplied with
these requisites and who possessed in addition
native shrewdness and tact became
champion runners. Their business was to board
incoming steamers from tho Ohio and Lower
Mississippi, and solicit passengers upward or
westward bound for the lines in whose
employ they were. The runners had 10
keep themselves informed to tho
pectcd arrivals Of boats, and tho great
object was to board them in advance Of their
rivals; but II they not successful In this,
then the pluckiest fellow, who united there
with a good address and "a GIFT OF CAB" So
cured the greatest number OF passengers for his
employers boat. Johnny Mcdonald, with his
early training among tho butchers apprentices
of New York. soon distinguished himself
in his new calling. lie associated with
himself several OF the shrewdest and most ac-
tive runners, and for time monopolized the
business OF soliciting passengers. Formerly the
tariff OF charges for runners was IS per steam
boat canvassed but after the combination above
referred to was effected, the runners assessed
the steamboat owners 50 heavily that the New
Orleans packets entered into a ombinatlon, and
determined to employ no runners, and not to
allow them to ply their trade on their boats.
This seriously interfered with McDonald's bust
pess but nnally he and Morgan l. Smith, who
afterward became famous as one OF the Post
once Ring at Washington, succeeded in break
tng up the combination OF the owners OF the
beginning of the rebellion Mcdonald and Smith
Aourshed as the champion steamboat runners.
MDoNALD's MILITARY CAREER.
Tho early training OF Mcdonald had not fitted
bin for the society Of gentlemen, and ten years
on the St Louis wharf a. the associate Of ate I'M
prove either his manners or his morals He had,
however, an extensive acqu iintance with steam
boat men, a class who admire pluck and shrewd-
ness. but at the same time insist upon perfectly
square dealing Among these men Mcdonald
more than one occasion been caught accepting
The pay OF rival bostmen. and Of course selling
he promptly Or % took Sides with the Union men,
and was usefu' to Frank blair in the dark
days NJ the Union cause To- - Louis re wac
the warm personal friend of Morgan l.. Smith
and aided him materially IN recruiting the IA.
earned FOR itself the reputstion Of being the
most disordcrly an incorrgiole. but one Of the
Mcdonald wes Commissioned Captain OF Com
pany when the regiment was mustered into
service. but lie was soon atterward elected
baior. and on the assignment OF smith 10 a
brigade command and the resignation Of tne
Lieutenant Colonel, he assumed command oi
the "bloody Eignth,' and led 1t IN the assault
on Fort Donel-on; soon after THIS the former
leutouiut-CulOuel was recomnissioned and hs-
eigned to the Eehth, but Mcdonald was not
disposed g. sgomlt graceiuIiy; 1nd "a ths re-
tiou for insuhordination and conduct unhecom-
ing an oihcer and gentleman. but the nndin1
Vls not approved by the mMauding General,
and ne psrticpnied with the regiment In the
bloody ana disastrous battle Of shiloh. lie
was. however. soon atterward compelled To re-
sign bis commission, but through the taVOr ana
Influence OF Gen. Grant he was placed 10 ch RE
OF the Rental Bureau Wnich was esthblsheo az
Memphis To- take possession OF abandoned and
e9nnscatSu etURgt,H ans IL is said dpove
very lucrative trade IN connection with the no
n.
Donald had the necessary influence with Gen
Grant to obtain permits TO trade beyond the
within the Confedcrate ilnes knew where lac
cotton WAS TO be found. Ia addition TO I'M
cOntraband business Mcdonald became inter
ssted ia theatre.
AN APPLICANT FOR oFYIcE.
By these and other speculatons he amassed
. fortune, but he soon squandered II In rock
Grant was inaugurated In the spring OF 1859
Mcdonald went to Washington In very reduced
circumstances an applicant for some lucraty!
ofice-one as ne expressed 1t, that offered good
chances Tor an enterprisin9 fellow. His heart Il
Of Internal Reyenne foS the district Of Missouri
Kansas, Arkansas, and tho lndian Territory
az aiiiavit, which was hied with Presiden
Grant PRIOR to mis- appointment OF Mcdonald
ior - the 99n sHporysorsnia in iss MeDonad 'ap ap
preached him several times IN Washington ant
sitlons in regard 10 the production OF ilici
whskey. Almost every prqmineut kepublicai
party ~ this state protested against the appoint
ment Of Mcdonald. Both Of the United state
senators from Missouri, Drake and schurz, nj
thOugh uAu Nv opposed to each other. wer
united IN their opposition to Mcdonald. schui
mination to cut loose from Grant really date
from TINS contest In regard TO tho - peryisoi
was OF course supremacy disgustcd when he ~
certained that he was particular friend o. tn
cause Grant liked him ana wanted to do some
thing for friend VINO needed a lft nnanci iliy
prove that McDOnald's reputation was ba
-tnat he wa. noion9usly corrgpt. Gran
orders 10 tho ercct that schurz sncu
card o his rdnisd i snness. Ills was inteasei
grauIin- t. Gen. Bahcock, who had even be
fore this enjoyed intimate relations with Nc
Donald, and entertained a decided dislike H.
the "upstArt Dutchman,' as he termed senate
scnaior Went 70 The Wnie iouss one s"s NOR I'
/ lfIt han 4n nan ra1 tI hn fla