The National tribune., 1901-05-30
A CIDER MERCHANT.

A CIDER MERCHANT.
Cider being on the free list, was admit
ted, and therefore required no secrecy in
its handling.
A long, lank slabsided, cadaverous look,
ing fellow with shaggy hair and whiskers
the color of soft brick, and a complexion
of the same delicate hue. drove into camp
one morning with an old mule hitched be
side a COW, the latter with but one horn
and a very short tail, both old enough to
escape the war draft The cart was made
and on it was a barrel containing cider.
from the hind-wheels of an old wagon.
1t was good cider, too, made from NICE
rambo apples, cause 4 was thar and
sampled it. \ suitable place was found
hy the cider merchant, and he was soon
ready to dispense sweet cider to the
bows at five cents a glass. A crowd of
noisy soldiers soon gathered around the
cart, each trying to get close enough to
exchange a five cent shinplasteT-or
"shinny'' as they were called for short
for a glass of cider SO eager was old
bricktop to gather in the ''shinnies" that
he did not notice the jam and cOmmotlon
among the boys, going on at the other end
of the cart. Matters went on SwlmlnSly
for a time and the old man smiled as he
slowed away the tive-cent currency. Sud
denly a change came over the spirit of
his dreams" of wealth-the sparkling
Beverage ceased to flow from the spigot.
He turned and twisted at the faucet, and
finally got straw and pushed 1t up the
spigot, thinking it had become stopped IN
some manner; but it was no 60, the
cider would not materialize to any alarm
ing extent He then took hold of the end
of the barrel, and gave it Il shake, but no
gurgling sound greeted his ears.
That ar is strange, said he. Il am
monty sartin | filled that ar barrel be
fore left home this mornin.''
Some one suggested that he try the
'''totherr end. This seemed to strike him
favorably, and pushing his way through
the crowd to the other end of the cart, he
was not long in learning the cause of the
sudden giving out of the contents of~the
barrel, as the cider was still trickling
down on the ground from an inch auger
hole. which had been bored by the boys.
While old "Bricktop" was smilingly re-
failing cider at five cents glass, 1t was
being wholesaIed at the other and carried
of in camp-kettles by the boys.
well III be chawed up and spewed
ont, if that ar don't beat all the thieving
tricks l ever hern on. alas knowed
youn's was a lot of Yankee thieves, but
this yer knocks anything | ever hern on
before" The old fellow during the next
few minutes used some very strong Ian
guage l must say that the division of
the cider was not an equal one, but very
unfair to him, as the boys got without
payment about 80 out of the 40 gallons the
barrel contained when the old man came
into camp.
BORING FOR KENTUCKY BOURBON. ,
No commander was able to prevent his
men from obtaining whisky. The sol
diers at least some of them, could smell
whisky miles away, and go to it, too, with
unerEing certainty, as a dog follows the
scent of game l do not wish to be un-
inf that oil Spldiars
were drunkards, or even got drunk some
times, as that would be far from the
truth, but | do say it was remarkable how
many of the boys wanted whisky, and
wanted it bad, too, when they knew its
use was prohibited. 1t was theory with
me that had whisky in proper quantities
been issued to soldiers with as much regu-
larity as hardtack and salt horse, the in
satiable thirst which possessed some Of
the men would not have existed. l put it
upon the principal that when you prohibit
a man from doing certain thing, that
is just what he wants TO do, and will do
it to if within the possibility of man to
accomplish.
This is best illustrated by the old Ger
man who had some money in a bank
which. rumor said, was little shaky- The
old fellow went to the bank, and address
ing the cashier said: Il was been dold dot
de pank yose proke; If dot peen so, und
you GDH SDL DliHS HiOHSs- want
right away" The amount being small, it
was at once handed him, which so aston
ished the old German, that he at once
said: - Veil if you gOts mine moneys, /
don't want him. l have known soldiers
to have whisky when it was supposed
there was none within 20 miles of camp.
/ have heard officers cursing the country
because they were unable to obtain their
fayOrite brand" while at the same time
enlisted men of their own command would
be well supplied. Where they got it they
alone could tell, and when asked the ques-
tion would shrug their shoulders, look
wise and say: "Oh, / dropped on to it
this morning while out skirmishing for
grub"
To show the expediencieS reSortcd to
and the difficulties overcome in obtaining
whisky by the soldiers, | have only to
relate an instance which came under my
personal notice. | was there, and ''par-
ticeps criminis" in the affair.
My regiment lay encamped for a short
time on the outskirts of little Kentucky
town, the name of which / have forgot
ten. At all events, it was a very small
place, situated at the end of a very small
railroad, starting from Lexington and end
ing nowhere. 1t was nice road, though
accommodating, too, always looking out
for the welfare and comfort Of the very
few of the public that were unable to
walk and could be induced to ride over
the road. Like the road Mark Twain rode
over in California, they had a cowcatcher
placed on the rear end of the train, and
guards on the sides, to prevent the cattle
from running over them and injuTing the
passengers. / distinctly remember on q
side hill near the track was a warehouse.
the lower part set on posts. which placed
this part Of the building some three feet
above the ground, the upper side being
even with the surface, and containing the
only door and windows of the building
We had been there but a day or so
when II was rumoTed about camp that
there were several barrels of old Ken
tucky Bourbon stored in the warehouse
for safe keeping Some of the boys de-
te1Inined TO investigate and satisfy them
selves as to the truthfulnesS of the rumor
II was aScertained that the door had a
paddock attachment and that there waa
guard placed over the building day and
night To the investigators this was not
only prima-fac evidence. but positive
proof, and no time was lost in arranging
for raid upon the building.
a council of war WAS called by few
OF the most thirsty-none others were let
into the secret-to be held on knoll not
far from. and overlooking the warehouse.
Il tell you, boys" said Grouchy 1--WE
can slip under that building after dark
pry off some Of the flooring and crawl
through into the room, and if she is there
sure enough. tap the barrels"
That will never do" said Wells "the
guard will be sure TO hear the noise, and