The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-29
Grccnrillc .Ncn.s. -li0,rh q. 2?

There has been going the rounds
story related by "Citizen Josh Ash
ley to the effect that he had seen two
bushels Of rats and mice removed from
one Of the big tanks at the State dis
pensary and that Col. S. W. Vance,
commissioner, had ordered this done.
Some were inclined to think it one of
Josh 5 jokes but others thought that
there might have been some founda-
tion for the story.
Colonel Vance was asked if the re-
port was true. He said that imme-
diately upon reading the statement he
addressed the following letter to dr.
Ashley:
Hon. Joshua W. Ashley, Honea Path,
S. c.:
Dear Sir-Enclosed you will ind
clipping from the Sumter Freeman
purporting to be an interview with
you. The statement madein reference
to dead rats and mice being taken out
Of one Of the tanks by me is absolutely
false. You will oblige by writing me
by return mail what you have to say
about the SANDER.
Very respectfully,
S. w. VANCE.
Commissioner.
Mr.. Ashley reply was not received
for several days. It reads.
Col. s. w. Vance, Columbia: S. c.:
Dear Sir-Your favor of the 4th inst,
just received. Will say in reply that
what I said about the rats and mice
was that I saw myself in 1894 at the
old State dispensary when it was located
in the agricultural hall. I saw them
clean out the filter and take out about
a half bushelof rats. mice and bugs,
and if you don think that is SO, you
can write to John Hooper, an employee
that worked in that departments at tnat.
time. But, of course, you were not
commissioner at that time, but have
not seen anything since the dispen-
sary has been moved to the new place,
for I haven't been there, but | have
asked some Of the employees about it,
and one of them told me that he didn t
know whether they got in the tank or
not, but they did get i'll the water
bucket.
Now if there is any other informa-
tion that can give you | will do SO
with pleasure. [ don't want to get
into any newspaper controversy, but
if have to, I am able to prove every
thing that ! have ever said.
Yours as ever
JOSHUA W. ASHLEY.
"Now, continued Colonel Vance,
RI have been told that in 1891 Mr..
Tra1ler had a water filter for the pur-
pose Of 6ltering the water used. After
being in use short time it was dis
carded, as it proved unsatisfactory. l
have never seen it, but have been told
that it was very small filter that
would hold possibly ten gallons.
st is utterly impossible for a rat or
mouse to get into the tanks, con-
structed as they were, with close fit
ting taps that are never taken of.
There is small opening in the top OF
the corner which is always closed cx-
cept when the whiskey is being dump
ed into the tank from barrels. Then
the opening is entirely covered with a
bag made Of all-wool blankets, four
ply. All Of the liquor is strained
through this into the tank. lmmcdi-
ately after the tank is filled with whis-
key the blanket straincr is removed
and the opening closed up tightly and
securely fastened. The tanks are
cleaned out frequently and there is no
possible way for even one rat to get
/ into the tank, much less for two bush
els of the vermin to collect there