The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-09
e. poIlars a -.

-Four Dollars a Drop.
John Il. Rafte-y, the Chicago news
paper nan, recently in Wichita told this
story. He was assigned 70 work ct
Frankfort during the troubles following
the assassination OF Goebel- He was the
first newspaper maa from the cities or
the scene He got a large room IN a
hotel When the New York. Boston
Washington, Galveston. New Orleans and
Cincinnati special correspondents arrived
The town was chucled and Raftery had
cots placed IN his room and all the news
paper fellows were punched There came
from Washington q famous correspondent
70 be called in this story, Major Rugg.
Major Bugs was a former Kentuczyau,
q very brilliant gentleman. one evening
Major Bugg tod the crowd Of journalists
that a friend u his. Major Chamber
lain. who had years before been Z big
distiler and had saved some Of his oldest
product. had promised him, Major Bugg.
2 bottle Of whisky. which was worth four
dollars q drop, II 1t were purchasabIe
which CT course Il was not
The day OF Goebel's funeral was dis
nal enc Z was misti1g The town was
under martial law. All the saloons v-e-e
closed. The newspaper men walked 10
the cemetery in the wet and cold. al ex-
cept Major Bugg who went with friends
in a closed carriage Raftery was the
drst TO return 70 the hotel. thoroa gbly
chilled and uncomfortable. Setting on the
center table Of the room was pacls &c
wrapped Up in a newspaper, II proved
70 be a bottle OF whisky re took q
drink Another newspaper man came in
BY the time the twentieth man hal ar
rived the bottle was empty NIr. Raftery
took the bottle ard put il IN the water
pitcher.
Presently Major Bugg came in. col
0nel Raftery." he said did you see a
package that was left here for me-
Then for the first time Rafterv re- lied
that they had done away with whisky
worth four dollars a drop. He nearly
tainted
NO he faItered.
Queer said the Major Major Cham
berlain said that he had sent that whisky
here"
The crowd OF newspaper men present
cringed-
PERHAPS" said Raftery. desperately.
''Perhaps It is at the Office"
As the Major STROBE out. the spaper
men ssthei d in rims Why didn't YOU
tell uS7" thel demanded.
IT didn't know said Rafterv
What are you going TO do?" they de-
manded.
Wait" said Raftery.
Wait nothing" said a newspaper man
from New York. The Major VII be
back here n a jiffy"
But Raftery grabbed the empty bottle
and tore down & back stairway and into
q drug store
FIJI this up with whisky" he said
y have a friend who is very sick"
What Idnd2" asked the clerk
Any kind. SO its whisky"
The clerk filed Il up and charged him
fifty cents.
he rushed back 10 the room and slipped
the bottle into the water pitcher The
crowd present assumed look OF child
like innocence.
Presently Major burst into the room
They say IN the Office" remarked 10.
that the whisky was sent to this roem.''
Then everybody began 70 search the
DOM.
Some one exclaimed; why. here Major .
the bell bay has put IL in the pitcher"
Major Bugg took the bottle ard held II
10 the light and exclaimed '.A-s-a-ah.' /
He took a glass ana poured about n .
ginger into the glass. tossed il or smack .
"a his lips ard looking heavenwar1 ez-
with fervor. Nectar ~ Tor the
goes
Then he poured out some for each man +
IN the room and they All went into par 2
azysns of delight over It. each decIar- .
ms that such wonderful liquor they had .
never dreamed existed
The Major pockeued what remained and .
went out 70 ind and thank Major Cham- /
5eriain
And he doesn't know till this day that