Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-07
A DRY" SUNDAY.
Greater New York Rum Shops
Nearby All Closed.
Scene of Recent Police Reform Dryest
Part Of City.
Still Thirsty Men Had No Trouble in
Buying Drink.

New York, April 6-The police and
the liquor dealers gave Greater New
York dry Sunday, today. There
were, however, degrees of dryness, so
to speak. in different sections of the
metropolis. If not dry as dust" the
day has had no equal in respect of the
suspension of the liquor traffic since
five years ago when Supt. ByrneS
closed the saloons tight one memorable
Sunday. On that day those seeking
SpirituouS, malt or vineous refreshment
We're compelled to resort to places out
side of Chief Byrnes' sphere of infiu-
ence to obtain what they sought. His
task, however, is said to have been
easier than that which confronted the
police of today. for he had no Raines
law hotels with their sandwiches to
contend with.
These hotels must be taken into con-
sderation. therefore, when the word
dry Is used in connection with the
events of today. For the man fortu-
nate enough to possess the cash to buy
a sandwich and a drink there is small
difficulty in his thirst. Few were the
liquor dealers who had the temerity to
keep open and serve drink alone, and
OF those who did the majority were re
quested to pay visit to the nearest
police station, there to remain until
bondsman appeared.
Un1uestionably the driest part OF
New York, today, was that section
where, last Sunday, the second pla-
toon' of police made SO many arrests.
This is known as the West 37th street
police precinct.
In the '"Tenderloin," now known as
the white Light district. with it's
multitudes of dram shops, liquor was
sold. but only under conditions which
proved drawbacks to many of the
thirsty.
In one or two places the proprietors
established what is known as a Kan
sas speakeasy" or "blind pig" This
consisted of a circular opening in a
wooden partition, into which was fitted
round board, fitted so as to swing
about. On each side Of the round door
was shelf on which the bar tender
could serve drinks to the waiter with
on: being see. and even if the police
had succeeded in getting i'm they could
not have arrested the bar tender as no
one could see him. The customer sim
ply placed his change on the little shelf
and then raped. at the same time
calling out his order. A moment later
the little door would swing around and
on the shelf on the reverse side of the
circular door the customer would find
the desired drink.
Drinks were served all day at all of
the big Broadway and Fifth avenue
hotels in the dining rooms. and al
though they were sold within the pre-.
scribed hours, no attempt was made to
interfere with them.
For the first time in many years the
saloons in the residence section in up
per Harlem were all closed. Despite
all the excise excitement in the city
from time to time the liquor dealers in
that section have kept open.
On the Bowery it was exceedingly
hard to get drink. The saloon keep
ers were not ready to take chances of
arrest and for the most part kept their
doors locked. The police also COM
PEELED the small shopkeepers through
out the city to close. except that the
groceries and delicatessen shops were
permitted to keep open until 10 o'clock
as provided by law. For the first time
in years the small dry goods shops in
the upper part of the city had their
doors locked and the stationery stores
and news stands were all compelled to
close up in many sections Of the city.
and in some instances the police even
ordered the confectionery stores closed.