Blue-grass blade., 1892-02-20
JOE HESS LIFE STORY.
a Long Career in Which the Curse
Drink Figured Prominently.

JOE HESS LIFE STORY.
a Long Career in which the Curse Of
Drink Figured Prominently.
l was born, of German parents, in
Buffalo, in July, 1851. l was brought
up on farm near that city. At the age
of fifteen got in with hard crowd, the
sporting element, and began to drink
freely. In fact. was not quite fifteen
years Of age when, after bnly four
months of apprenticeship to a Buffalo
cooper, l was discharged because of my
Incorporate habits. l went to Toledo,
where l took my first lessons in the so
called manly art. In 1867 l found my
way to New York city and obtained
work on the wharves. l frequented
many of the Bowery dives, spending all
my spare time in fighting, drinking and
carousing. drank so hard and dissi-
pated SO much that within one year OF
the time of my arrival in New York l
got an attack of delirium tremens and
was sent to Buffalo hospital.
In 1870 / was married, and for three
months led sober life. l soon fell
again into my old ways, and in conse-
quence lost my situation and my wife
left me. drifted to the Pennsylvania
oil regions, where soon earned a repu-
tation as an all around tough. While in
that country was arrested on charge
of attempting to shoot man. Although
| was innocent | was convicted and COM
PEELED to serve term of sixty days.
After that l returned to Buffalo, re-
joined my family, and for awhile was
sober and industrious.
But the saloons were still wide open
all about me, and soon they had me
again. l left my wife and baby and
went to St. Louis, and from there down
the Mississippi river and all over the
southern states, spending all my time in
drinking, gambling and fighting. Where
ever l went there were saloons to tempt
me and hold me to my evil course.
Once more l rejoined my family and
was sober for awhile. That did not last
long. | took my family to Canada, but
did no better there. Leaving my family
in Canada l resumed my adventurous
Woybs SOlhS LII ob W W.. w lcx q
fought my first prize fight, and then to
Chicago There l tried to clean out a sa-
loon while drunk, and for my perform
snca on that occasion served ninety days
in prison. When got out l went to work
in the lumber region of Michigan. All the
earnings of q winter of toll were prompt
ly "blown in" for whisky the next
ov,r;Dp rafprpad 70 Capa1, on1 mn
family, which now consisted of wife,
two girls and one boy. To my grief,
saw that my boy and Oldest girl remem-
bered me too well and were afraid of
me. The old experiences were repeated.
The saloons again took my good inten-
tions, position and family from me.
While i'll a stupidity drunken condition
I boarded the train one day for Chicago.
now changed my name to John Brooks,
and began in earnest a sporting life.
One afternoon former associate towed
me q was drunk) to hall on South
Clark street, in which temperance meet
ings were being held. The speaker was
Miss Frances E. Willard, who was just
beginning her noble career. She came
to me and asked me to sign the pledge.
l refused. She urged me to enter the
Washingtonian Home for Inebriates, and
l did so. While was in the home Miss
Willard wrote to my wife, but she never
received the letter.
Graduating from the home travelled
to Utah territory, and for three years
was q cowboy. took trip to Ger
many. Upon my return to America !
wandered to Wyoming territory and af-
terward to Denver. In that city
started a saloon without a cent of capi-
tai, the brewer furnishing the fixtures
on condition that would sell only hi;
beer, the distiller the license money on
condition that l would sell only his
whisky and the cigar dealer providing
my back room fixtures on condition that
I would sell only his cigars.
My next saloon was in Burlington,
Ia and again was set up in trade with
out cent of capital. l sold out there
and went to New York city and then tn
Chicago, where / opened a saloon ami
sparring hall on the same terms as had
opened my former saloons. The neigh
bors complained against my place. and /
quit. l decided to try my luck at Mil
saloon in that town, the brewing COM
pany furnishing the capital. Inmy new
dive l employed girl walters or "beeI
slingers," and SO decoyed many young
men. went successfully to Kansas
City, Cleveland, Terre Haute, Ind, and
finally to my native city of Buffalo,
where after an absence of seven years !
rejoined my family. Buffalo's saloons
had not been closed in my absence; l
found them all open and they soon led
me the old way again. l crossed to
Canada. Now got work in Rochester
brewery. l left there and opened a gam
bling room, into which | had pals in
veigle country greenhOrns.
While on one of my sprees and SO
drunk that l was ON the verge of de-
irium tremens, l staggered into the
Rochester Rink and heard P. A. Burdick,
the temperance evangelist. His burning
words sobered me and brought the tears
to my eyes, to the great amusement of
my depraved companions. Soon after
that l was converted to the Christian
faith, and for nearly six years have en-
deavored to lie consistent Christian cit.
izen and have done what l could to save
Others More than 26O, 900 persons have
signed my total abstinence pledge during
my nearly six years of platform work.
Joseph F. Hess in Voice.
How Beer Is Made.
The following startling statement as
to how ordinary beer is made is con.
tanned in a circular issued by the so called
"Pure Beer association" of England.
Here are the ingredients: "Sugar, black
snpar hurned sugar. Epyntian hastaids