Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-03-15
%, 1899: Killed in action, 1929; died
of wounds, 1885, died of disease, s.
277. Total, 5,731.
ASHLEY AND VANCE.

They Correspond About the Alleged Rat
Juice In the Dispensary Bug Juice.
From The State, Sunday.
There has been going the rounds q
story related by "Citizen Josh" Ashley
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 Colonel s. W. Vance,
commissioner, had ordered this done.
Some were inclined to think it one OF
Josh's jokes; but others thought that
there might have been some foundation
for the story.
Colonel Vance was asked if the re.
port was true. He said that immedi-
ately upon reading the statement be
addressed the following letter to Mr..
Ashley:
Hon. Joshua W. Ashley, Honea Path,
s. c.: Dear Sir-Enclosed you will find
a clipping from the Sumter Freeman
purporting to be an interview with you.
The statement made in 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 slander.
Very respectfully,
s. w. VANCE, Commissioner.
Mr.. Ashley's reply was not received
for several days. 1t reads:
Colonel s. w. Vance, Columbia, s. c.:
now received. Will say in reply that all
hof
what I saw myself in 1894 at the old state
dispensary when it was located in the
Agricultural hall. saw them clean out
the filter and take out about half 8
bushel of rats, mice and bugs, and If you
don't think this is so, you can write tc
John Hooper, an employe that worked In
the dispensary at the time. But, of course
you were not commissioner at that time
but I have not seen anything since the
dispensary has been moved to the new
place, for haven't been there; but
have asked some of the employees about
it and one of them told me that he didn'
but they did get in the water bucket.
Now if there is any other information
that I can give you, / will do so witt
pleasure. 1 don't want to get into any
newspaper controversy; but if have to
/ am able to prove everything that have
eyer said. Yours as ever,
JOSHUA w. ASHLEY.
"Now, continued Colonel Vance, 81
have been told that in 1894 Mr.. Trax
ler had water filter for the purpose O
filtering the water used. After beine
in use a short time it was discarded, al
it proved unsatisfactory. I have nevel
seen it, but have been told that it was
very small filter that would hole
possibly 10 gallons. -
at is utterly impossible for rat OF
mouse to get into the tanks, constructed
as they are with close fitting taps thai
are never taken oil. There is small
opening in the top Of the corner which
is always closed except when the whis
ky is being dumped into the tank from
barrels. Then the opening is entirely
covered with bag made of all WOO
blankets, four ply. All of the liquor
is strained through this into the tank
Immediately after the tank is filled
with whisky the blanket strainer is re
moved and the opening closed up tight
ly and securely fastened. The tanks
are cleaned out frequently and there is
no possible way for even one rat to gel
into the tank, much less for two bush
els of the vermin to accumulate
there"