The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-08
A STORY OF THE WAR.
How Whisky First Got the Name of En-
balmfng Fluid.

How Whisky First Got the Name OF Em-
balming Fluid.
New York Press.
The question is often asked how whisky
became known among the soldiers Of the
Army Of the Potomac as "embalming
fluid" 1t was brought about In this way
When the army was encamped around Fall
mouth and Brooks Station commissary
whisky was very scarce article. The
officers had 2 better opportunity Of getting
it in quantities of a gallon or so, but at
times even this opportunity was wanting.
On one occasion when the article was
scarce report spread among the boys OF
the Ninth New York Volunteers. or. as they
were better known. the Hawkins ZOuaves.'
that barrel Of fine whisky had just been
landed on the dock.
Various attempts were made to get at it.
but the watchful eyes of the commiSsary of
subsistence were upon IL, and guard was
placed over il until il could be re-
moved TO the doctor to whom IL was
directed. The doctor Glanced to be
the one who attended to the EN-
balming of soldiers who were killed
or died In the service and who were
to be sent home for burial. This fact
escaped the notice OF the boys, whose only
thoughts were upon whisky. They recon-
noitered the pier npon which the precious
fluid was lying and found that one man of
INC Eudtu w do hCludll1 oCditu HpOu Odl-
rel, which stood upon end. The bows of
the Ninth were adopts in the art OF stealing,
and had no thought of losing an Oppor-
tunity Of getting some of that whisky be-
fore 1t reached the doctors quarters.
A council OF war was held ard plan
formulated. A boat was procured and
several kegs placed IN It; also long 1-inch
auger. just at dusk, and while the guards
were around the baFFel.-the boat, containing
several of the most daring boys of the Ninth
pushed under the pier, and locating the bar
rel proceeded 70 bore q hole through the
planking OF the pier and through the end of
the barrel, upon which the guard still sat
Soon the WHISKY began to flow 10 the kegs
and receptacles beneath, and it was not long
before the barrel was as dry as a cOntsibu-
ton box on week day. The boys in the
boat made their escape with their booty and
it was not long before the whisky was pour
ing down the th-Oats of the dry comrades.
Nearly every boy in the Ninth had his can
teen full and a share In reserve. The result
was that there were more men IN the guard
house than ever known before, and every
boy in the regiment was more or Tess under
spiritual influence" and when rollcail
was had next morning it was remarked that
hardly man could keep his legs stiff enough
TO answer Here" to his name, and many
even forgot their names.
When the barrel was about to be removed
to the doctors quarters the theft was dis
covered and the mystery was soon ex-
planned The doctor was furious over the
loss OF his embalming fluid, which was
composed Of three-fourths pure spirits and
the rest Of some harmless fiery compound.
There we're several bodies to embalm and
the doctor was knocked out.
1t finally got ont among the boys that they
had dlssipated over embalming fluid instead
of commissary whisky and many had sick
stomachs, but they had enjoyed good, big
drunk" Many now remember that they
had expressed their opinion at the time that
the whisky was not straight and had a
queer taste. but il 1t had been nitric acid 1t
would have gone down just the same. 1t
soon got out and "embalmlng fluid" became
the slang for whisky, but the joke was upon
tho BOYS of the Ninth