The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-27
ETHER IN THE WHISKY.
Why Sullivan's Drinks Made His Pat
rons Drowsy.


There are tricks in all trades, and the
whisky trade especially is full of them, but
John J. Sullivan, the Bryan street saloon
keeper, struck a new one, to him, the other
day, which surprised him no little and
which he is yet pondering over.
Some time ago Mr. Sullivan ceased trad
ing with whisky firm with which no had
dealt for number Of years, his bills
amounting to several thousand dollars an
nually. and gave all his trade to another
firm. A short while back being in need of a
barkeeper, he told travelling man, who
was connected with the house with which
he formerly traded, to send him down a
good barkeeper il he could find ono. The
new man arrived on time and gave perfect
satisfaction. Several days ago MIR. Sulli-
vans customers, who are somewhat exact
ing in their demands, hogan to complain of
the whisky, alleging there was something
wrong with it. They complained that it
had bad taste and that it made them dull
and drowsy. Thinking this was merely
chronic kick usual to saloon patrons, Mr.
Sullivan paid little attention to 1t
protesting that the whisky was all right
The kicks continued, however and to satisfy
himself that the whisky was all right Mr.
Sullivan took drink OF 1t himself. He
went up to the court house to listen to the
Landsberg case then in progress, and had
hardly taken his seat when he dropped
asleep in his chair and slept comfortably
for some time.
To be foored by one drink was new ex-
perience to Mr.. Sullivan, and he agreed
with his customers that something was
wrong. He determined to investigate. A
day or two afterward the agent
of the company that sold him his
whisky came in. and no at once
tackled him about the quality of his goods.
The agent of course commended that his
whisky was as good as it had always been.
TRY it then and see,' said MIR. Sullivan,
| and he handed him the bottle. The agent
took the bottle poured out drink and
looked at it. This is not my whisky" he
said.
Here's the demijo it was taken FROM"
said Mr.. Sullivan, as he exhibited the bsg
receptacle.
THAT is not my whisky either" said the
agent after he examined the demijohn.
ut came out of the barrel bought from
| you anyway" said the saloon man as he led
| the way to the closet where he keeps his
whisky barrels. The agent asked which
barrel the whisky was taken from and pro
ceeded to make an examination. "This
whisky has ether in it." he exclaimed in
stantly. Mr.. Sullivan did not understand
what ne meant until he explained that
somebody had been tampering with
| bu0 DdTTtl anu uuu IulBCL6u
a lot OF ether into it.
An investigation was begun and an empty
pint can Of ether was found hidden behind
the barrel and a small hole In the top Of the
barrel by means of which it had been forced
into it. Evidently somebody had been fix
ing the whisky. AS 20 one else had access
to the room except his barkeeper, he at
once laid 1t to his charge. He remem-
bered then that the barkeeper was sent him
| bxrf ba firm vvb4C oh ha haI xnt;kh
drawn his trade and he at once came
to the conclusion that he had been ems
ployed to Fix" the whisky SO as to cause
him to become dissatisfied with the COM
pany he was patronizing and return TO his
old agents. This appeared to be the solution
Of the ether in the whisky business. The bar
keeper was discharged instanter. The bar
rel Of whisky that had been tempered with
was returned to the wholesale firm by re.
/ quest of the agent, and Mr.. Sullivan's pat
rons have ceased TO make complaints
about their whisky.