The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-12-19
AHIsToRic BARREL OF BEER.
How Some Of the OAlerrs of the War
steamer Benton Tapped Barrel.


just here must pause to chronicle an
event which doubtless affected some of our
comrades as sadly as would have done the
loss of two or three gunboats. From st.
Louis had brought with me Cfor domestic
use) a barrel of beer. Now the advent of
barrel of beer in the squadron was matter of
profound interest. It had hardly been rolled
ON the Rover's deck before our friends (and
we then had many had somehow smelt out
its joyful presence. The subject of beer
was sympathetically discussed on board the
flagship, and as our friendswas going where
it was uncertain whether they might ever
taste beer again, they would presently pull
over to the Rover in their gigs and partake
with us of q sort of 'stirrup cup"
Accordingly, Captain Wells and hasten
ed back home to prepare for this pleasant
reception. The barrel was hoisted up to
his cabin and laid upon couple of chairs
capsized for its support. Then we proceed
ed to tap. As there may possibly be two
Or three readers of The dahals who are un-
familiar with this operation, will state
for their benefit that beer barrel is plug
ged from within. When the spigot is to be
inserted all that is requisite is TO place this
upon the end of the plug and drive it in
with n few smart strokes of a hammer, care
full, however, that the final and critical
blow shall be emphatic enough to fasten
the spigot in the bunghole; if not, you
may have trouble This is what We set
about to do-and what we had.
The spigot was all right, but there was no
hammer at hand, and we could not brook
the delay by sending for one. Captain
Wells told me to hold the spigot in position
aud he would drive 1t in with the handle OF
broom held harpoon fashion, an implement
with which the Captain was familiar that
is, the harpoon. We squatted in front of
our object and / adjusted the spigot; but
rather dubious of the Captains aim at so
small an object, | held the spigot at 9 long
tawn between thumb and finger somewhat
gingerly. However, the Captain struck
centre every shot AT the last blow in went
the spigot, but ii didn't stick, and out came
the beer When l regained my breath and
eyesight the tableau before me was pictur
esque. On his knees, gasping and cough.
ing, but with the fxedness of an impla-
cable purpose in his eye, was the Captain,
with thumb rammed to the hilt in the bnng-
hole while around it the fizzling fluid was
escaping in beautifully ndiated circle
similar to the ccrruscation of pinwhecl.
Talk of the " ;rrepressible conflict" That
beer Lad the true instinct of liberty.
The quarternaster brought hammer and
the next problem WAS to get the captains
thumb ont Of the bunghoe and get the
spigot in. 1t was solved. A final binding
burst of foaming spatter and we had our
| prisoner in limbo or thought we had. Then
we had time to survey the ruin we had
wrought. Our visit to the flagship was
'.official,' and we had put ON our best "bib
and tucker" In our haste TO let loose the
our adornments and they we're drenched.
Opposite .point blank range of the barrel
was the captains bureau in which he gar
! nered his good clothes-white vests, clean
shirts, etc When the beer made its debut
the stream, after knocking us down, made
a clean spring across the cabin and Landed
| in those bureau drawers Then it sputtered
about promiscuously as If bent upon gen.
eral treat. The cabin floor was afloat with
! beer,
We summoned two or three sailors with
e1uilgees to =" swab us up" Seeing the
! luscious flood which inundated the carpet,
the men delicately limited that they would
like suck at it. We told them togo ahead
and they Frustrated themselves at the shrine
of divinity which brings down most of its
votaries. But they had to send for help.
| There WINS wealth of beer. When their
horizontal refreshment was finished they
had licked the platter clean" Meanwhile
our thirsty guests arrived and were aghast.
1t remained to be seen what was left, and
with two-quart pitcher-and amelancholy
Doubt turned the spigot. Alasi the
glory of its mightiness was gone! The con-
tents seemed ashamed to show themselves.
We tipped up the barrel and forth trickled
two miserable quarts of beer! We divided
ourselves among it, as the German has it,
pnd sadly drank to ga safe passage by
vicksburg. ~ 'hladelphia Times