The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-06
, MEN ABOUT TOWN.
Short Stories Gathered From the
Hotel Corridors.
Net After Twenty-six Years-Novel Whisky
Tapping Methods Sutro's Coal Mine.
Mexican Politics.

81 met with most interesting experience
few days ago." said Judge Fitzgerald yes
terday, (which illustrates the great change
in sentiment which has taken place among
the people of the North and South respect
ing their old differences. On the first day
of the month Twas surprised by visit from
General Nathaniel G. Harris of Mississippi,
who is here now for his health. He is a
magnificent specimen of the old Confederate
officer, and commanded one Of the most
famous brigades in the Army Of Northern
Virginia under Lee.
"When he walked into my Office he said.
after exchanging the usual greetings
Judge, it was just twenty-six years ago to-
day that fought the battle of my life. 1t
was the last stand that Lee made before his
surrender at Appomatox, and my brigade
was cut to pieces We fought like tigers,
but 1t went against US and we saw that the
end was come The brigade that opposed
us was badly cut up, and after it was all
over l wrote the General who commanded it
letter congratulating him ON his bloody
victory. He replied at once. thanking me
and complimenting me on my magnificent
success. had never seen him and for that
matter have never laid eyes upon him. i
understand, however that he is in this city
The old General rushed off, but an hour
later returned breathleSSly to my office, and,
rs he threw himself into chair, he ex-
claimed, I've seen him.
Seen V no ? | asked.
"' Why. John Gibbon, the COMPOUNDED
rascal that thrasheG me so at AppOmatox.
He's commanding the Department of the
Pacific now, and d royal good fellow he is.
too
again the old General started off, and
l.. L.. l..,v e
two old gray-haired soldiers walking down
Montgomery street arm in arm. They were
both talking at once, and with all the
Ylvacity of scGool-EOyS cut for lark. L
stepped aside to avoid interrupting them,
ard as they passed around an adjacent
corner l could hear them both laughing
heartily, presumably over some remlnls-
cence OF the days when they faced each
other in battle. Hardly day has passed
since but | have seen them together, and
always with arms locked and tongues wag-
ginE away at furious rate"
Tapping Whisky Barrels.
Liquor men lose a great deal OF money
by having whisky barrels tapped en- route"
remarked AN Eastern drummer at the Pal
ace last night. "Huw? Well, there are
several ways In which il is done, and rail-
road brakemen as a rule are the greatest
adopts in the world in breaking into the
contents of barrel. The method most
generally adopted is simple but very effect
i've one and very hard to detect An ordi-
nary nail and hammer are all the utensils
required. With tile hammer a hoop Is
driven up an inch or two and small hole
made with the nail. Through the small
Aperture thus produced the whisky PUSHES
cut in small stream, but in sufficient guam
tity 10 fill gallon measure III Few min
utes. A wooden peg Is then driven into til e
hOlp and flp hnOn forced hack info nQSiilUU,
The leak is in this way effectually stopped
and the hoop hides all traces of the vandal-
ISM
Another method is equally ingenious but
more complicated and consequently seido m
resOrted to. A strong rope Is placed
security around the middle of the barrel
| and thIough it is run pickhandle or other
stout stii k. BY twisting the rope the slaves
are forced in at the middle and this natur-
ally spreads them at the end. When this is
| done the head oil the barrel can be removed
and the contents dipped out at VIII. The
head is then replaced and when the pressure
| of the rope is removed the barrel Will show
no trace of having been tempered with.
"A gallon taken from barrel Is seldom
| noticed, but with small kegs of valuable
| liquor the case is different Even this.
| however. las been done without detection
| and in 4 very peculiar way. Of course, you
! understand, gallon of liquor removed from
| a tive-gallon key would arouse suspicion in
q moment, but the tappers have solved the
problem in a unique way. The bung IS
carefully removed. and bottle filled with
water is taken. The neck is carefully in
serted in the bung-hole, and the water runs
| into the keg. The latter being full, the
| whisky is forced up into the bottle, and the
water takes its place. a gallon is removed
| in this way, and the contents of the key
shaken together. The keg thus remains full,
and when the buDg is replaced no suspicion
is excited"