Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10
WHISKY IN PLACE OF WATER.
How the Bloody Plans Of Wild In
dams Were Frustrated.

How the Bloody Plans Of wild In
dians Were Frustrated.
A Star man happened to meet a man
who had served term or two or three In
various penitentiaries. hadn't served sew
eral he should have served, and is likely to
serve more before he Is through with HIM
self. OF course. that kind Of a man was
interesting. and, after a time, when he got
to talking under the mellowing influence
OF things made for the purpose. he was
more interesting.
'When I was fifteen years younger
than I am now" he said. II was out in
the mountains OF the west on a govern
ment reservation, where I could make
money by selling whisky under post prices.
I was always on the make. and SO I SNUG
gied in a dozen or more gallons and had
them hid in a cave ten miles or SO out OF
reach. The cave was a kind Of a two-story
affair, the upper story being my secret.
ard there 1 had my jugs of liquor hid
smaller quantities for distribution. The
lower part Of the cave was twenty feet
below the upper chamber. and IN this part
was a basin Of water which had dripped
more than a gallon of water. i know 1t
was easily exhausted. for 1 spent many a
night there. and found there wasn't water
enough to boil a kettle with.
installment of fire-juice the Indians got PAD
and began creeping in toward the settle
ments. 1 thought my cave was unknown
to the Indians. as well as the whites, Dut
1t appears that it wasn't. and one morning
bar ely had time to slip out OF my down.
stairs room and get up in the loft before
ten or twelve Of about the bloodiest-look-
ing braves you ever saw squatted IN iron'
of my residence and began holding coun-
ell of war. In half an hour or more all
of them except one went away. ana ne re-
manned to keeVWatch.
AT noon three returned with five white
prisoners, and at o'clock the rest OF
them came in. with a girl about four years
old. Just what they were going &c do was
not apparent, and 1t wasn't easy for me to
find out. because when l came down TO
point where l could see 1 was in danger Of
| getting caught myself. / did see enough.
though, to show me that the hve prisoners,
who were all old men. hadn't much chance
for their lives. but that the child would be
| carried away. To save myself had been
my first thought, and now to save these
poor wretches was first.
while was debating what to do or give
1t up bad job. one OF the Indians went
| to the spring and got some water. That
was my cue. In minute more / was
| back up in my chamber just over the head
waters OF the spring. and, having turned
the drip into another channel. 1 started a
stream OF that kill-at-forty-rod whisky
| down the shoot and then slipped back to
watch the proceedings. They were discuss
ing when to kill the prisoners-I knew
enough Indian to know that-and when II
| was about determined to hold them over a
| day and see il they couldn't pick up few
| mere and have real big time. another OF
| them went over to the spring for water.
| This time ii wasn't so much water as 1t
| had been. Whatever 1t was made the ugly
redskin give a big ugh of delight. and the
| others went over to him. Well 1t isn't
| necessary for me to go into particulars
| Anybody. even reporter, knows what
| becomes Of an Indian or dozen Of them
| when there are unlimited quantities Of fire
| water at their disposal. and as soon as ]
| saw how the thing going / hurried
back and set another jug to work. 1 was
| little afraid they might get ugly drunk
| and kill their prisoners, but evidently they
| hadn't had much to eat that day, and the
| liquor was getting in its work on empty
| stomachs Whatever was the cause, be-
| fore l had any idea that IL was time for
| 1t. the whole lot Of them was full, and in
| few minutes more they were lying around
| the little basin Of the spring, so drunk
| they couldn't move hand nor foot.
| Then it was my time to play, and
| ccrked up the liquor upstairs for another
| day and went down stairs. There WASH,
| much time for thanks, because We didn't
| know when the enemy might make 1t UNI
pleasant for So l told the prisoners to
| take care Of the Indians while took care
| of the little girl which did by taking her
| outside OF the cave. where she could
| breathe the free air Of heaven once more
| You see. I kind of thought they might
Ike to attend to things themselves H.
! added, apoloSetically. and stopped.
| And did they?' inquired the reporter
| as the narrator seemed to think he had
| reached the end of his story.
Il suppose they did, he replied: "a-
| least. when l went back to the cave about
| a month later. when the war had simmered
| down some. 1 found the bodies of then
| Indians almost as well preserved as If they
| had been put up in alcohol, that dern whisky
| of mine was so powerful, you know. / was
/ I n he
| prisoners to take care of the little cir
| while / took care of them Indians. B,
| cripes, 1 never got cent for the liquor
| they drank