The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-31
A Defisive Sign FIaunted
by a Blind Tiger.
A VISIT MADE TO THIS DEN
Blasts on Horns in Some Seci,os Of The West
Bring bug Juics" TO Thirsty in Any
Quantity Desired---Trouble
Looming.
Especial TO News and Observer.)

Especial TO News and Obseryer.)
Greensboro, N. c., July 30.If reports
received here of the means provided fer
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 outside Of in
corporated towns is being treated with
defiance as well as contempt.
This law went into effect July 1st. Yes
terday, an eminent lawyer of Greensboro,
returned from a ten days trip to Blowing
Rock. While there he took several trips
in the country.
Typical 'blind tigers have been ard
are being constructed in many localities.
Here is his description of one he found
on a public highway between Blowing
Rock and Linville:
81 had heard of these blind tigers, and
one day, in company with a gentleman
and two ladies, took a drive to Linyile
Falls. AS we were going we passed
fortification on the side of the road. the
driver announcing that it was a tiger
We regretted as we drove on, that we
had not stopped to examine it, and resolv-
ed to give it trial or our return. Com
ing back we found that it was square.
log-hewn building, abutting on the road
with 20 front door at all and the logs
fitted so closely there We're no means of
seeing anything whatever inside.
THE rear of the structure was envelopcd
in large brush arbor reaching on both
sides to a mountain ravine Tackled on
to the front of the tiger was the follow
ing sign: Watts Saloon, July 1st.
Brandy $275 per gallon; whiskey 25 cents
pint, $259 a gallon. AnytiliEg~G1sA l9-
that line. Drop your nloney in the draw
err
There was hcIe in the logs in which
was fitted box. I dropped 20 cents in
it and voice from the inside. said:
Five cents more for a bottle
Il added five cents to the quarter and a
pint bottle of blockade corn liquor was
pushed out. 1t was a white bottle and
there were so many dregs in the whiskey.
made complaint and the bottle was pull.
ed back. 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 So
we opened negotiations with the invisible
occupants and were told to put quarter
in the box. wait five minutes and come to
the back entrance.
Looking carefully we could see tie
shadowy outlines of three men and one
woman, gliding down the arbor ambus-
cade to the ravine. When the five min
utes had expired we went to the rear,
| found a door oDen and entered. In the
room we found two barrels of whlskey,
one barrel OF brandy, a modern rubber
syphon, 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 also bed, cook stove, cook
ing utensils, etc, in the room. Things
were in all right shape and every thing
was in its proper place, like any other
well regulated business That's all We
saw and we left as we had came. Hope
you got your quarters WORTH greeted US
from the tiger as we drove away
| ut was an uncanny experience in that
/ den, especially to the ladies, who de-
clared that it was like things one read
about, but never dreamed Of seeing and
| feeling ones self
| Another lawyer told of trip from
LlnVlile towards AsneVlile, Whefe the
driver asked the party If any whiskey was
wanted. The crowd indicated incredulity
at being able to get any. They called for
three pints. The driver gave a long re-
sounding blast on his horn that woke up
the mountain echoes. Then he gave
three short blasts. ~
A few hundred yards distant he went to
a hollow stump by the road, brought
forth three bottles of whiskey and loft
three quarters. There is evidently trou-
bic ahead for the law o. its violators