The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1901-11-01

Despite the intending activity OF the
police. "potcen." Illicit whisky. 70
brewed In large quantities In ireland.
Numerous arrests and convictions have
had no permanent effect Ia stamping
out the "poteen runners" and In all
likelihood the people viii always be
within reach OF Sup OF th craihur."
A running" sad 20 relate, In most
Casos usually follows one or more OF
the poorer families being plunged into
debt. A COW. pig or other animal may
have died. perhaps the potato crop Is
not up 10 expectation. or the oats have
given a small Beturn. aud there are a
few pounds necessary 10 settle with the
landlord As Il takes very small
capital TO start "still." soon the news
Is flying across the hills and boys that
there's goin 90 be- a chance to Kill a
dhrop OF the rale thing"
From the oozy depths Of turf banks
the several parts of the still are I'M
covered. where they are hidden from
the quick eyes OF the blue coated gen
tlemen." on dark night the still IL
sot up IN some dosolate anu forsakou
corner. and always In place where
the entire countrywide can be searched
with the naked eye.
Preparing for roteen.
In the western parts OF Connaught
and the Islands lying a few miles on
tho coast In the Atlantic ocean the
'potcon workln'" ia carried on to a
great extent Here the people have
changed little during the last one hun
dred years and few Of the common con
voniences OF modern civilization are
known. An Instance OF this backward
ness Is illustrated herewith. where n
woman sits grinding oats for poteen In
a quern, the Same crude mill that was
used IN the Holy Land In biblical
times. and Is atlll used IN that country.
The quern Is simply two stones fitted
together A hole In the top stone re-
oeives the grain. which Ia prepared for
grinding by being dried over the turf
IRE In an iron pot. ny turning the
top stone the grain ~ passed through
the stones. and finally falls from the
rough side into white cloth spread
on the ground Tor Ia reception. Nearly
all the meal consumed by the natives
OF the districts mentioned Ia ground In
querna the crushing Of oats for poteon
being only one OF Ia many duties.
A "rale irish still' Is shown at work
In the second picture. Tho liquor Is
Just beginning to irlckle through the
worm Into the cup, and until there IL
a tidy sup OF spirits" In tho small
kog the children will suporintend mat
tors. Lone experience. In spite OF
their tender years, has made these
''gosaoona' expert brewers. and more
than once the sargent an his min"
have been fooled by these tricky
youngsters.
simple Ia Construction.
Tho simplicity OF the atill will be
seen at glance The turf IRE sends
the steam through the connecting pipe
into the copper worm In tho barrel.
The barrel IN filled with cold water.
which condenfes 10 steam ard sends
II forth 9TH ginulne stun"
Little attention Is paid 10 the age OF
poteen IN ireland. The worm works
very slowly when compared with tho
demand for the output, therefore age
becomes secondary matter In fact.
Il drops out OF the reckoning alto
gether. There T. only one case on rec
ord OF potcen "ripenln'." and that was
when II was buried In garden and
itn place OF concealmont forgotten
However that Is another story.
When wee dhrop" has been sue
oeasfully run public interest In II
reaches an acute stage. II the still Is
located on an island In a lake. ~ ia
often the case. AZ a given time the
cots" long, iiat-bottomed boats, will
be seen shooting out from the shores
OF the mainland and making for their
destination by oircuitous routes. The
cots are boaohed at different places.
and left In positions admitting OF ready
escape, Soon the fringe OF natives
around the sull grows into a well de-
iined circle.
The runner" OF thestill stands over
the keg OF liquor with "A tin cup In one
hand and with the other keeping a
firm grasp on the wooden tap" that
draws on the poteeu. In bottles OF all
shapes and makes the lluuor Is car