Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-02-18
MRS. NATION IN INnAIOR.
THE EVANS PLACED EsTRoYED
Away Back in the Seventies, by Good
Women Who Objected to the Sale
of Liquors by a Druggist-A Very
Interesting Description From the
q Fen of Mildred Campbell.

y
interesting article from the pen OF
Florence Mildred Campbell, who
makes the claim that Mrs. Nation
was not the original saloong wrecker.
The article is here given in full:l
Mrs. Nation is not the originator of
saloon wrecking. What she Is striv-
ing for with her Ratchet and public
deeds women long before her have ac-
complished in a manner so quiet and
unobtrusive that they are not openly
named even in the community that
was the scene of their earnest little
campaign. But it is local tradition,
and when newcomer to New Cum'ber-
land, W. Va, asks why it is temper
ance town he hears the story proudly
told.
Since it's beginning New Cumberland
had never had saloon, either licen-
sen or unlicensed, until the year 1873.
Then a man set up an establishment,
ostensibly drug store. However, the
stock of drugs he carried would have
scarcely tempted the female drug de-
stroyers of Chicago to action, but his
stock of liquors did tempt the men
and boys to leave their money and
senses in his keeping. 1t soon be-
came an open secret that Evans
place. was nothing but well-stocked
saloon.
Now, the advent of saloon into
this place was an awful thing. Such
an institution had never before exist
ed anywhere in the county, yet it is
but fair to say that intoxication was
not unknown in the village. Women
had at times been shocked by seeing
their husbands and sons under the in
fuence of liquor when they returned
from q holiday visit to some adjacent
city. Such trips, however, were not
very frequent. Few men had time to
cross river, board a train and travel
several miles to indulge their tastes.
With the material SO convenient there
were homes that became sadly accus-
toned to the experiences incident to
liquors influences.
There was much talk of what the
next grand jury would do. But grand
jurles came and went, the drug
store" fourished and became power,
and the evil grew great in the town.
One Sunday morning as the people
were going to church they found it
necessary, when passing in front of
the drug store" to ford small rivers
and lakes composed of a liquid so
strong and of such varied compost
ton that it might have been a Roman
punch lbrewed in some giants caldron
ana gone to waste.
1t would be hard for city folks to
understand through what anxiety OF
mind, what sleepless nights, what
prayers for guidance and what debat-
ing the good. women who performed
this deed went before they could make
up their minds that it was the right
thing to do. But they had reached the
limits of endurance, and, with true
moral couarge to carry them through,
they had quietly arranged to take mat
tiers into their own hands.
They wore no white ribbons" They
held no great temperance meetings
with loud speeches. No threatening
letters were sent, nor yet note of
warning. Their object was never an
noyed by bands of singing women
holding meetings within his saloon Or
declaring vengeance without. Instead,
several of them held a few secret ses-
sions, to which none Of their male rel
atives were invited.
One member of this select council
was related to the owner of the prop
erty Evans rented for the purpose of
dispensing-his drugs" She had in her
possession a key to the rear door. Some
time between the dark of Saturday
night and the dawn of Sunday morn
ing the members of this little band,
trembling and timid but strong in
their purpose, held an active meeting
In the drug store. They did not blow
trumpets, make speeches, nor pass res
olutions. They smashed bottles, open
ed kegs, ard drained out barrels. When
they had finished, no more "apothecar-
les supplies" remained to corrupt the
morals of New Cumberland.
There was gladness in the town that
Sunday. But the saloon man spent sew
eral days making very loud threats of
prosecution and revenge. He received
no encouragement; public sentiment
was unanimously in favor Of the deed
and all approved the method by which
lit had been accomplished.
With his occupation gone and the
certain prospect of the next grand jury
being able to find a true bill against
him, Evans disappeared over the hills
one morning and was never seen in
Hancock county again. His face was
turned toward California, where in
those DAYS III wass helieyed fhat tho