The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-03-28
THE FAIRS AFTERMATH,
SWINDLES PERPETRATED BY
MIDWAY FAX IRIS.


Blarney Stone 1T Was a Lime
stone Paving Block Dug Up From
a Chicago Street - 1000, ,OOC
Spent by the Public On the Midway
Collector OF Customs Clark, OF the Port of
Chicago, has made an interesting report to
the United States Treasury Department, one
chapter OF which concerns the Midway Plais
ance Of the Worlds Fair. This part of the
great exposition was under the direct charge
OF Deputy Collector J. E. Ralph, who makes
public some curious facts as to how the peo-
ple were fooled by the so-called "Blarney
stone," throwing out a warning about the
growth of the hasheesh habit, and incident
ally refers to various tricks Of the foreign
fakirs to draw out the money Of the gullible
Americans. Mr.. Ralph says:
sat the opening OF the Irish village, there
was one essential thing lacking to make the
sBlarney Castle counterpart OF the original
structure In Ireland, and that was the 'Blar-
ney stone The manager, desirous OF endow.
ing the visitors with an opportunity for be-
coming famous spouters, took into his conf
dence James Riley, contractor, and request.
ed that he produce 'Blarney stone MIR.
Riley secured the services of Charles Thomp-
~, hANSS
two men, on dark night In June repaired
to the corner OF Fifty-seventh street and
Portland avenue In the city Of Chicago,
and there dug from the street limestone
paving block about eighteen inches by eight
inches BY ten inches in dimensions. They car
ried Il to the village and placed 1t in case
which had been received that day In bond
Case No. 81, serial 4099-addressed to
Thomas Baker, Irish Industrial Village.
This case contained model OF THE Bells OF
Shandon.' Invitations were issued to the
Mayor Harrison, the latter accepting the in
vitstion to ofaciate at the opening Of the case
containing the famous tBlarney stone
"On the day set aside for the ceremonies
Mayor Harrison could not be present, and
Customs Inspector E. W. Matlock was sent
for to open the case. The inspector arrived
with the inYoice for Case No. 81, serial 1926.
which stated that the case contained model
Of the BELLS OF Shandon,' valued at S25. He
opened the case and found It checked 'one
stone over After properly labelling
return on the invoice: 'One stone
over, estimated value $780, This stone was
then placed In the walls Of the castle, where
II remained during the balance OF the Fair,
and was kissed by at least 25, 900 people, a
fee Of ten cents apiece being charged. At the
close Of the Fair the manager of the village
desired to take the stons and exhibit It In
store in the city Of Chicago, but was In
formed that he could not do 80 un-
less he made consumption entry on
same and paid the duty. This
was done, and on November "a, 1893, l
delivered, the store on duty-paid permit.
and myself remained In ignorance of the his
tory OF the 'Blarney stone until January %,
1894, believing up to that time that 1t was i'm
ported In Case No. 81, serial 4099" The In.
voice on which consumption entry was paid
read as follows: 'One piece Of stone from
Blarney, County Cork, Ireland, value $500
sI wish to call the attention OF the depart.
ment to the fact that large quantities or
'hasheesh' were brought into this country by
the Egyptians, at least 800 pounds being con-
sumed and distributed on the Midway. made
a report OF this to the special agents, but
never heard the result their investigations.
'Hasheesh,' which means herbs In Arabic,
promises to supplant opium, and Is q narcotic
drug having the same effects az opium. It is
made from an Indian hemp which is cultt-
waited In Asia Minor. It Is used very exten.
sively In Asia and Turkey for the purpose OF
producing q particular kind OF inebriety.
Its value being high, only the aristocratic
class enjoy it. In order to get an exact Idea
OF the great consumption OF 'hasheesh' IN
Egypt, 1t Is only necessary to know that the
average quantity used per month BY small
cafes is ten to twelve pounds, one grain be-
ing sufficient for q dose or smoke. The
Egyptian Government has absolutely pro-
hibited the introduction Of 'hasheesh' In
E9ypt, but smugglers are so clever and e1-
pert that they succeed In introducing I'M
mense quantities OF It..
In another part OF the report Mr.. Ralph
saws "There were consumed In the German
village and Old Vienna 5000 cases OF i'm
ported wine and 5000 kegs Of beer and 1o9
cases of merchandise, for all OF which con-
sumption entry was made IN the CITY.
Hence, you will see that the Midway Plais-
ance was large source of reve-
cue for the Treasury Department.
Goods received and accepted as ex-
hibits in the Midway comprised every
known variety OF merchandise, comprising
wild and domestic animals, antiquities, rugs,
iewelry. fancy embroideries, br1c-a-Drac,
works OF art in statuary and paintings. In
addition to concessionaries there were lboO
foreigners who took part In :he concessions,
as natives, statesmen, or musicians. 1t mas
been estimated by several OF the most 1mpor-
tant concessionaries that over 81 ,OOO, ,OOO was
spent by the public in the attractions OF the
Midway. The largest consumer OF foreign
goods was Robert Levy, concessionary OF tne
Turkish village, who at the close Of the Fair
received over $4,000 refund for goods re-
exported. The second largest was the Irish
Industrial Association, Of which the Coun-
tess of Aberdeen was concessionary. This
village has opened large store IN the city
of Chicago, and promises to be large Iac-
tor in the importation OF Irish woolens, lace5
and ;ewelry. To some one connected with
this village should be credited one OF tho
greatest Jokes ever perpetrated on the Gus