Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1901-12-14

has a sixpence or two to spare, so that
before the gathering has been long on
the island there are signs of over-indul-
gence. By and by this one and that dis
pose thems elves on the grass to get
much needed nap. There is a big de-
crease in the call for mugs and cups, and
a decided increase in the amount of
noise. This even grows sometimes,
despite many recruits to the ranks of the
sleepers. Then, in most cases, the cry
"Police Po-licel" will come echoing over
the waters. In an instant all is excite
ment. The wooden tap is pulled out of
the key and bung inserted. Such of
the sleepers as can not be aroused are
flung bodily into the boats, and when the
still has been shipped mad race begins.
The policemen are in a large boat pat
termed after a lifeboat Everything
seems to favor them in the pursuit, and
yet they gain but little on their prey. 1t
is at once noticed how expert the country
men handle their oars compared with the
"peelers' who lack practice.
Gradually the unfailing regularity of
the "cot men" begins to hold their pur-
suers even, and when the excitement of
the chase has to an extent counteracted
the effect of the poteen their increased
strength of arms sends them ahead.
When the gap is seen to be widening
loud cheers come from the pursued.
Such as are not rowing wave their arms
and hats wildly and shout derisively at
the policemen. The latter now know
that they are on wild goose chase, but
at least they must bend to the work for a
little while longer so as to live up to the
duties imposed on them. One by one,
however, they rest their oars, and soon
they are talking it over and laughing the
while they blame the luck which gave
them such exertion without results.
Outlines the pursuit takes place on land,
and here the police generally succeed in
making haul. The poteen drinkers are
not half so lively in escaping ashore as
afioat, and besides the "bobbies" are all
active men. Over boys and hills such as
are able to scatter and run for dear life.
coat is thrown away here, waistcoat
there, suspenders are unbuttoned, the
hard leather belts frightened hole, and
If the pace is killer" the old cloth
hat held in hand will follow the rest of
the wardrobe. At the start the police
also scatter in order to capture the most
prisoners. In this way the pursuers
frequently find themselves great dis
tances apart at the end of long chase.
The great object is to arrest the owners
of the STILL When this is accomplished
the victim seldom escapes heavy fine or
else Imprisonment. Many amusing incl
dents are recorded of police being led
into traps by the pursued. On one occa-
sion a policeman found hiTself in bog
hole nine feet deep and from which
escape was we'll nigh impossible. His
comrades had gone in an opposite direc-
ton, and no one heard his cries save a
couple of his intended victims. They
hauled him out of the mire. and when he
stood on the bank, a perfect picture of
detection, one of his rescuers suggested
9TH Dist rimidy in the world for a
duckin'."
1t was never known how much poteen
the three consumed before they parted,
but Mickey's Pat was always willing to
swear that they "wor that bad they
couldn't till their own fathers"
The bog hole covered the sins of the
policeman. and it was rumored afterward
when the sergeant heard of the occur
renee he declared: "Och, wasn't J tn
fool I didn't think of such a thrick
meself."