The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-08
1he Movement Generally Attrib-
uted to Ohio Really Origi.
mating In Kentucky.
The Story OF the First Organized Move
ment Against Saloons by
Ladies',
and the Causes That Led Thereto, AS Wit
messed by Sentinel Man "in the
Happy Long Ago."

Oug1, OutO, III 1910. OsneI5 atulDuteu IL W
a small town in Illinois, while Sentinel re-
porter who was present claimed that the
movement originated several years prior to
1873 in the town of Perryyille, Kentucky.
The latter place is rot mentioned in any OF
the numerous works upon "rhs Great Tenn
psrance Referm," these works generally fix
ng upon Hillsborough, Ohio, as the place
of origin.
Whatever distinction may be claimed for
the town in question as the place OF origin Of
a movement on the part OF woman against
saloons, and which created in the respective
communities where such movements were
ineugurated measure OF excitement that
extended far beyond the local borders and
casual discussion in the press and the pull.
pits over the length and breadth of the coun-
try, there can be no question but the move
ment originated four years earlier in the
town e1ryviIle, Kentucky, which
in 1852 was the scene OF a battle between the
Union aud Confederate armies. The causes
which led the women OF the town TO visit
the saloon and demand that its doors be
closed were possibly the same which in later
years caused more general uprising OF their
sex bat il may be remarked IS a strange CO.
incidence that the placing of heavy tax
upon stilled spirits by the General Govern
meat indirectly led to the women's move.
ment in Perryville, and ultimately to the
conversion of the town into a strong, I'M
compromising temperance community.
In the early days of the war q man by the
name of Clark. the owner OF small farm
lying in the hills of Chaplain river, soma ten
miles from Perryville, sold his place to
neighbor, sgTeeiDg to take the purchase price
in whisky, which vas then worth about
twenty-five cents gallon. Clark's farm was
quite small, snd the purchase price did not
exceed 81, 600 or $1,000, aud he ex
pected to go into the saloon bust.
ness with the whisky as his
farm and the tins for paying the purchase
price, Congress placed q heavy tax on whis.
ky, and the purcha refused specific full
hllment OF the contract A suit followed,
andthe courts held that the contract should be
fuldllsd according to the price of whisky at
the tine specified to be delivered, aud not at
the time the purchase Of the farm was made;
holding that the seller was entitled to any
rise in the price, "a he would have been COM
PEELED to stand reduction had the article
decreased ID value between the time OF the
contract and the period of fulfllment The
decision OF the court made Clark a compars-
lively rich man, and during the latter days
OF the war be moved to Perryville, pur-
chased a hotel. and opened saloon. From
this day till his sons had succeeded in squan-
dering his fortune, two years later, the "Ho-
tel de Clark" was the scene of debauchery,
soon becoming so low that it
was Stunned by everybody who
possessed any self respect or desired the re-
spsct OF others. In q shooting affair with
parties made drunk in the hotel, Cark's son
killed tEo men with the same pistol and
soma two CT three weeks later unoffend-
Ing freshman wss killed by load of buck
shot fred at Clark himself by harness maker
with whom he had had a disagreement. Pub
lie sentiment and want OF money to longer
continue in business so1n drove the Clarks'
from the community, but their infamous re-
.gime developed a nperance sentiment
which became more and more pronounced
as time wore on, and the effects OF the sale
o. spirits became manifested in the commu-
nifty.
Soon after the CIerks left, in the winter Of
1863, the town was incorporated by the
Legislature and tbs act ofincorporation also
provided that no spirits should be sold
within one mile of the corporate limits
For short time there was no whisky sold
openly in the community, but it could be
bought in any quantity by the negroes, to
whom Il was sold without fear OF prosecu-
ton, for st this time the colored people were
not permitted TO testify in the courts. The
negroes did not hesitate to tell where
whisky could he purchased, and
through them as purchasing agents
the whites who were disposed to drink were
practically supplied with saloon privileges.
This slate of affairs drifted along for few
months, when one Saturday night in the
spring of 1869. three men who were sus-
pected OF selling whisky were taken from
their houses escorted to the old graveyard,
one OF them stretched scross a tombstone
and soundly thrashed with a stirrup leather
and all ordered away from the town and
given ten DAYS in which 70 leave This com.
mand was obsyed with all necessary haste,
and again the community rested from the
effects of intfmperance.
The parties thus driven from the commu-
nifty carried the story OF their treatment to
. the neighboriDg town of Harrodsburg. a
strong Hhisky community, and among q
certain olass of citizens of that place excited
large measure Of sympathy. Actuated by
dare devil spirit s3loon-keeper OF Hsrrods-
burg by the name OF Johnson, determined
to open a saloon in PerryYille, and publicly
announced that he would sell in spite OF the
opposition and test the constitutionality OF
4 the law which prohibited the sale Of
spirits within one mile of the
corporate limits of the town. He also gave
out that any attempt at force would be met
by force. and when these threats taken in
conn ection with the well known character
of the man, reached Perryville, the entire
community was aroused. In q few days
Johnfon appeared with bar fixtures and q
barrel of whisky which he had brought from
HaIrcdsburg, and proceeded to open a So.
loon in the heart of the town. As he con-
Quoted his business without any effort at
orcfalmeDt it was not difficult matter TO
swear out warrant sgainst him aud sum-
mon the irsquenters Of his place to testify
agar st him before the police judge The
warrant was placsd in the hands of the mar
shall, but Johnson publicly announced that
an attempt 10 arrest him would be met with
foTcible resistance. and for some days he was
allowed TO bulldoze the citizens into an ao-
parent scquiescence in his course. This
however, was only apparent. for hardly
man, woman or child in The community was
in Sympathy With his defiance of the au-
thorities not even those who Dur-
chased intoxicants st bis saloon. Fer sever
al days the excitement was at fever heat,
and nothing else was discussed upon the
streets or in the family circle. The nerves OF
the people were strained to their utmost ten
sion, and every body at every moment ex-
pected to hear OF q tragedy in connection
with the affair.
Wiser couDsels, however, prevailed. and
instead of foIcibly entering Johnson's sa-
loon, and dem olishing his bar fixtures, as
was Literally discussed, town meeting was
called TO consider the situation. Men, wo-
men and childrp ministers OF the gospel and
old mothers in Isrsel. lett their homes snd
assembled ct one Of the churches to canvass