The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-31
-
VIOLATING
WATTS LAW
Receives Scant Respect in
North Carolina.
LOTS OF BLIND TIGERS TIC, :, r
Interesting Accounts Given by Cen
tleman Of the Haunts of Those Who
Dispose Of Liquor Against
the Law.
Especial to The Times.Dlspatch.)

Especial to The Times-Dispatch) l}
GREENSBORO, N. c., July 2o.--If re-
ports received here Of the means pro-
vided for getting liquor In some sections
OF the mountain country are correct, and
from the character OF the witnesses there
can be no doubt of such, the Watts law,
which prohibits the sale Of liquor out
side OF Incorporated towns. is being
treated with defiance as well as with con-
tempt
This law went into effect July list Yex-
terday an eminent lawyer OF Greensboro
returned from ten days trip to Blow
ing Rock. While there he took several
trips in the country. Typical blind tigers
have been and are being constructed IN
many localities Here Is his description
OF one he found on public highway
between Blowing Rock and Linvllle:
II had heard OF those blind tigers. and
one day, in company with gentleman
and two ladies, I took drive to Linville
Falls. As we were going we passed
fertilization on The side of the road. the
driver announcing that 1t was a tiger.
We regretted as we drove on that we mad
not stopped to examine 1t, and resolved
to give 1t trial on our return. Coming
back VIC found that 1t was a square log
house building. abutunz on the road.
with no front door at all and the logs
fitted so closely there were no means OF
seeing anything whatever inside.
CONCEALED BY BRUSH.
THE rear OF the structure was en-
veloped In a long brush arbor. reaching
on both sides to q mountain ravine.
Tackled on to the front OF the tiger was
the following sign: Watts saloon. July
LIST. Brandy s275 per gallon; whiskey.
Is cents pint. $3.50 gallon. Anything
else In that line? Drop your money in
the drawer
There was hole in the logs. in which
was fitted box. l dropped twenty-five
cents in it and voice from the inside
Eaid, Five cents more for a bottle.
added five cents to the quarter and
pint bottle OF blockade corn liquor was
pushed out. II was white bottle and
there were so many dregs in the whis-
key I made complaint, and the bottle was
pulled hack. Another came out. but IT
was black bottle this time. and could
not tell whether It had dregs or not
haven't tasted the whiskey, but brought
1t home as a curiosity. We were anxious
to see inside this mysterious fortress.
20 opened negotiations with the invisible
occupants. and were told to put a quar-
ter In the box. walt five minutes. and
come to the back entrance.
MEN AND WOMEN.
Looking carefully, we could see the
shadow or lines OF three men and one
woman gliding down the arbor ambus-
cade TO the ravlne. When the five min
utes had expired we went to the rear.
found door opened. and entered. In
the room we found two barrels Of whis-
key. one barrel OF brandy, a modern
rubber syphon, a patented bung-starter.
bottles OF all sizes, jugs, etc
There were also two rifles, three shot
guns and two pistols In plain view. There
was bed. cook stove. cooking utensils,
etc, in the room. Things were In all
right shape and everything was In Its
proper place, like any other well regu-
lated business. That's all we saw. and
We left as we had come. Hope you got
your quarters WORTH greeted us from
the tiger as we drove away.
TT was an uncanny experience In that
den. especially to the ladies, who declared
that 1t was like things one reads about
but never dreamed OF seeing and feeling
ones SELF
Another lawyer told OF trip from Lin
VILE towards AshevllIe, where the driver
asked the party II any whskey was
wanted The crowd indicated an incredu-
lily OF being able to get any. They called
for three pints. The driver gave a long,
resounding blast on his horn that woke
up the dead mountain echoes. Then he
gave three short blasts, A few hundred
yards distant he Went to hollow stump
by the road, brought forth three bottles
of whiskey and left three quarters.
There Is evidently trouble ahead for
the law or It's violators.