The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-08

aware that the whole four a the broth /
ers were IN the bar room engaged in
conversation.
Now there was apparently nothing as
tonishing in the presence of George and
Gus, for they often came across the street
to have chat with Charley and Frank,
or to carry over some liquors from their
establishment. notwithstanding, | was
more than astunshed, | was bewildered,
for not i've minutes previous 70 my hear
ing them, | plainly saw them, III the mir
rOr, at work IN the wholesale store oppo-
site, and no one had entered the saloon
| by either of the doors since. Ii they
had CONF in by the side door, ! would
have had to move my chair in order to
let them pass me, and if they had come
in BY the front door, should have GER
tainly seen them III the mirror.
| now kept a closer watch than ever
upon the saloon, at the same time keep
in an eye on the Wholesale store, for 1t
vas very evident that both places had a
hand ia whatever illicit distillins was
being carried on.
Having previously noticed that the
door leading IT, the cellar was always
kept locked, | took an impression III
waN, from which had Key constructed.
The Key answered my purpose admir-
ably, aud one day (the Roys teing busy
IN the bar ROOM ! unlocked the cellar
door, and descending the stairs, safely
ensconsed myself behind some uld lum-
Der. where | could see without being.
| seer
The cellar, which was very low. only
ran about half tn. length Of the house,
and, in addition 70 the stairs which ]
hal descended another flight ran up to
the bar room, a trap door behind the
counter giving a ready access to these
steps.
remained IN the cellar all day, at
intervals examining the walls aud floor,
but having NJ hight with me saw
nothing If suspicious character until
late "a the evening. when | vas rewarded
for my Watchtulness by suddenly behold
my a light, and looking IN the direct ,on
from which It proceeded, imagine my sur
prise ana qualification At T.rrceiying the
Roys, George aud Gus, the former carry
ing lantern, just emerging from trap
door which hey had raised IN the cellar
floor
The brothers, after dropping thu trap,
assembled the stairs leading to the bar,
and when they had disappeared
emerged from nay hiding place and pro-
ceeded To investigate the mystery Of the
trap door. pom raising 1t, which | could
easily do, | saw that II was Ind from
vicN by four empty barrels, which we're
nailed upon It IA such a way as to com
pletely conceal it, and being nailed any
one attempting To- move them would
naturally suppose them 10 be full II
whisky. As indeed were ali the other bar
rels IN the cellar.
Satisfying myself that the coast was
clear, | let myself out Of the cellar, and
stepping cautiously into aud across the
back room, | suddenly opened the side
door, closing II again with a slam, as if
had but Just come in by that entrance
AS this was my usual mode % entering the
place, nothing Was thought Of II. and
going into the front room | found. As |
expected, all of the brothers assembled
After drinking and conversIng with
them for short time, left the house.
proceeded immediately To headquarters.
ana put tine chief IL possession II the
facts which have here related
He agreed with me IN surprising Tia; 4
subterranean passage ran between the two
houses, and that At was IN tins passa.r
that the Illicit dIstIliIng was being con
Quoted, and As ! had been employed quite
a long time IN the case, he determined t.
make capture Of the tao places aud
their inmates the very next day.
Our plan was soon arranged, and send
ing tor i've Of our own men, he gave them
strict inJunctloIis T. obey me implicitly
and 10 be on hand IN the office AZ . a m
sharp the next day.
The men we're prompt, and after | had
gwen them their instructions, We pro
cseded IN separate squads 10 the field al
action.
Taking one man with me, We entered
the saloon, and after drinking retired to
the back room to await the arrival uf two
more of my men, which occurred in the
course Of half an hour These twn were
to arrest the brothers. Charley and Frank
after the other officer and | had entered
the cellar, then to give a signal to the re-
| naming two officers, whom | could see
we're at their post on the corner oppo-
site. These last two we're to enter the
wholesale store when they received the
signal, and Immediately proceed to make
an arrest Of any persons who might be
| there; then hold themselves in readiness
to ''gobble mp any other parties who
might make their appearance from the
cellar, for | rightly coujectured that an
attempt to escape would be made from
that direction.
Whilst the two officers who came in last
kept Charley and Frank engaged in CON
versatlon IN the front room. nv com
panlon and ! stole nOiselessly down the !
rear stairs and into the cellar, here, draw |
ing our dark lanterns, We proceeded |
leIsurely e. survey our surroundings.
We soon discovered Why the cellar was 1
80 low and small The earth was loose
and crumbled t. the touch, and it vas |
very evident that the surplus dirt thrown |
"ui 70 make the underground passage was
here packed away, and the cellar under
the wholesale store vas undoubtedly used
Tor the same purpose.
Lifting the ngeniously constructed
trap door, We descended a flight Of steps
mto dark passage some SIX feet HIGH and
five broad, but had only proceeded few
yards when it suddenly opened cut into a
large room or, more properly speaking.
underground cavern, where We found ali
the appliances and machinery requisite to
run dlstillery on a small scale, in full
operation, and attended by four men. two
Of whom had never seen before.
Revnlvars in hand uua nal. . IL