The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-09-29
MANUFACTURE OF SN|PES
HOW AND WHAT IT Is MADE
FROM.
Ingrediants of the Extra Brew which
Knocked Out the Soldiers-Chance
for Uncle Sans Revenue Men.

The manufacture of swipes is an
industry that is on the increase in
spite OF the efforts of the police to
stop it. Until few months ago the
stuff was comparatively harmless
drink, containing very low percent
age of alcohol. Now it is different,
very different in some Instances.
Swipes is the name given TO ma
tive beer which is made in various
ways. \ quantity of potatoes are
prepared just as a housewife would
make yeast and put into barrel of
fresh water. TO this is added hops,
either put directly into the potato
mixture or first boiled, and little
sugar added. In one or two days the
mixture commences to ferment, and
when that process is fully on the stuff
is ready to drink. 1t is then strained
into another barrel and sometimes il
is bottled, but owing to the danger of
bursting the bottles this is not often
done, but the swipes is sold by the
gallon instead. This was the stuff
sold as swipes up to a few months ago
before the soldiers commenced COM
ing. 1t contained from 3 to per cent
of alcohol and beyond the alcohol
nothing deleterous.
Now it is different. The quantity of
alcohol in the samples of swipes capt
ured lately and analyzed by the police
has suddenly run up 70 10 and Is per
cent and in one or two instances still
higher. 1t has also been found that
articles deleterious to human health
are being used to make the swipes
STR b., g., I.
it will take a stronger hold on its vic
tim common practice now is to
add plug of navy tobacco to each
barrel. The plug is thrown in whole
but gradually dissolves in the swipes.
Another dodge is to add a quart bot
tie of washing ammonia to each barrel.
The ammonia is powerful stimulent
when taken internally, and it causes
a burning sensation to the mouth and
throat similar to that produced by
raw spirits.
But this is not all The police have
known for some weeks past that an
other and more powerful agent is be-
ing used, and within the last few
days have obtained positive proof of
it. This is methylated spirits. which
can be obtained at any drugstore. In
recent raid at Manoa Valley the
police captured the entire outfit of "A
swipes joint, including a gallon dem
ijohn nearly fully of methylated
spirit, and subsequent observations
have led to the discovery that this
spirit is now being used to mix with
the swipes, even if it is not retailed
out by the drink.
Methylated spirits is nine parts of
grain alcohol and one part of wood al
cohol. 1t first came into use in Eng
land, where the government in an en-
deavor to stop the sale of pure alco-
hol as drink, allowed it to be sold
with the addition of 10 per cent of
wood alcohol for mechanical purposes,
varnishes, etc. 1t was supposed that
the poisonous effects of wood alcohol
would prevent its being drunk 1t has
to certain extent, but men will
drink it when they can get nothing
else. Wood alcohol or pyroxylic spir-
it, formedly known as naphtha, is a
violent narcotic sedative poison. Its
effects are peculiar in that they are
lasting, several days being required to
recover from its effects. 1t is this
stuff that soldiers are now drinking
when they think they are getting "A
harmless swig of homemade beer
brewed on the sly. 1t is no wonder
that after a few drinks at Hawaiian
swipes they wander around in semi
idiotic and dazed state out of which
they emerge with no recollection
whatever of where they have been OF
what they have been doing.
There is one consolation the police
have in this matter. In a few months
they will have the assistance of Uncle
Sans revenue sleuths in putting a
stop to Illicit liquor making in the Is,
lands, and it will not be long before
the. manufacture of swipes will be.
come one of the lost arts.