Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1901-12-14
POTEEN.
How Illicit whisky Is Made in
Large Quantities in
Ireland.
Long Experience Has Made
Even the GOssOOns Ex-
pert Brewers.
Some of the Many Tricks Played
Upon the Excise
Officers.
PRIMITIVE SURYIYALS IN CONEAUGHY

Despite the unending activity of the
police, "poteen," illicit WHISKY, is
brewed in large quantities in Ireland,
says the Kansas City Star. Numerous
arrests and convictions have had no
permanent effect in stamping out the
"poteen runners" and in all likelihood
the people will always be within reach
of a "sup of TIL crathur."
A running" sad to relate, in most
cases usually follows one or more of the
poorer families being plunged into debt.
COW, pig or other animal may have
died, perhaps the potato crop is not up to
expectations, or the oats have given
small return, and there are a few
pounds necessary to settle with the land
lord. AS it takes very small capital to
start "still, soon the news is flying
across the hills and Dogs that there's
goin' to be chance to kill dhrop of
the rale thing"
From the oozy depths of the turf
banks the several parts of the still are
uncovered, where they are hidden from
the quick eyes of the "blue-coated gentle
men," On dark night the still is set
up in some desolate and forsaken corner,
and always in place where the entire
countryside can be searched with the
naked eye.
In the western part of Connaught and
the islands lying few miles off the
coast in the Atlantic ocean the "poteen
workin' is carried on to great extent.
Here the people have changed little dur
ing the past 100 years, and few of the
common conveniences Of modern civil
ization are known. A quern, the same
crude mill that was used in the Holy
Lands in Biblical times, is still used in
that country. The quern is two stones
fitted together A hole in the top stone
receives the grain, which is prepared for
grinding by being dried over the turf
FIRE in an iron pot. By turning the top
stone the grain is passed through The
stones, and finally falls from the rough
sides into white cloth spread on the
ground for its reception. Nearly all the
meal consumed by the natives of the
districts mentioned is ground in querns,
the crushing of oats for poteens being
only one of its many duties.
In "rale Irish STILL" while the liquor
is just beginning TO trickle through the
worm into the cup, and until there is
''tidy sup of spirits in the small key,
the children will superintend matters.
Long experience in spite of their tender
years has made these "gossoons" expert
brewers, and more than once the "sar-
gent and his min have been fooled by
these tricky youngsters. The simplicity
of the still will be seen at a glance. The
turf fire sends the steam through the
connecting pipe in the copper worm into
the barrel. The barrel is filed with cold
water, which condenses the steam and
sends forth 9TH genuine stuff
Little attention is paid to the age of
the poteen in Ireland. The worm works
very slowly when compared with the
demand for the output, therefore age
becomes a secondary matter. In fact it
drops out of the reckoning altogether.
There is only one case,on record OF poteen
"ripenin'," and that when it was buried
in garden and its place of concealment
forgotten. However, that is another
story.
When the "wee dhrop" has been sue
cessfully run public interest in it reaches
an acute stage. If the still is located on
an island in the lake, as is often the case,
at a given time the Cots long, fiat
bottomed boats, will be seen shooting out
from the shores of the mainland and
making for their destination by circuit
GUS routes. The cots are beached at diff
ferent places and left in positions admit
ting of ready escape. Soon the fringe OF
natives around the still grows into we'll
defined circle The runner" of the still
stands over keg of liquor with tin cup
in one hand and with the other keeping
firm grasp on the wooden tap that
draws off the poteen. In bottles of all
shapes and makes the liquor is carried
away, and the demand for mugs and
cups far exceeds the supply. Shillings
and sixpences are taken out of the cor
ners of colored haudkershiefs where they
have long lain toward a settlement with
the landlord on rent day.
Not a penny piece available in the
townland but will 80 to swell the run
ner's'' pile unless the "missis" at home
interferes. which she seldom does.
Indeed. there would be more chance for
trouble were her husband to return to the
house without "Tee dhrop" o. brandy.
! If one man runs sllort OF money another