The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-07
BIBULOUS HOG LED
Way TO MOONSH|NE
When Fermented Apple Mash
Gave Out "Pete" Found
Illicit Still.

McKEEVER N Y Feb. 6.-"Bib' lous
Bits bibulous hog, Pete. which disap-
peared two weeks ago, has been found
under circumstances that may result in an
investigation The authorities at the
Corners are talking about 1t, but they
don't know where to begin.
Dubious Bill' has another name. but
he doesn't remember how to spell it and
it has been so many years since he used
it that it doesn't matter anyway. He and
Pete live in log cabin back in the woods
and have been more or less eompaniOnable
since his hogship was piglet. Pete was
designed originally for salt pork, but he
developed remarkable traits and was
spared Eventually he will die of old
age or alcoholism: it's toss-up which Will
get him. Bill says that If he does die he
won't have to be picked and there is some
reason for this
Bill got his nickname "Bibulous" some
years ago, when he and the cup that
cheers were inseparable companions. He
rather glories in it now that he has sworn
Off For more than twelven2outh he
has touched nothing stronger than water
In the good old days, when he was in
"tippling trim" Bill declares. that he
could outbibble anything in the country"
1t was two years ago last fall that Bill
annexed Pete. The porker was a mite of
a pig then, and became very companiona-
BILE He learned to follow Bill about like a
dog, and even went squirrel hunting with
him and rooted for acorns while his mas
ter was laying for grays."
A year ago last fall Bill got job in a
cider mill down at the Corners and re-
ported for work along with Pete. The
former figured that the latter would wax
fat on apple hastings. He did. In time
some of the hastings fermented and Pete
got drunk. Bill lectured him, but it did
no good, and at the end Of the week Pete
was a confirmed sot. One night while
the pair were stumbling home much the
worse for wear Bill saw a ghost, and the
next morning swore off. Pete hadn't
seen anything uncanny, so he kept up his
spree until the mill closed down for the
season. BY this time he was a fit sub
ject for a whisky cure. His nerves gave
out and he searched the woods, farm
buildings and even cellars for more slim
ulants. Bill thought of his own expert
ences and chuckled. He knew Pete would
come out all right in the end and was de-
lighted to have his pal sober once more
Things went along nicely until a fort
night ago when Bill awoke one morning
to find that Pete had taken his depart
ure In the night. He thought it odd that
his pet should desert warmth and a
figured that he would soon return. But
at supper time he had not showed up, and
Bill looked for tracks. The snow was
crusted and he couldn't find any, so he
waited. as
He would probably be stEl waiting-had
not Joe Walsh, who lives three miles back
in the woods, come across strange tracks
in a fresh fall of snow early in the week.
The footprints looked like those of pig,
but they progressed in most erratic lines.
Out of curiosity he followed them and
eventually came to an old abandoned barn
about a mile and half from Bill S
shack. The roof of the barn had tumbled
in. but a beaten path made by the ami
NAL he was following led underneath the
ruins to an old cellar. Walsh had fire.
quently been by the barn, but had never no
ticed the cellar. He stuck his head down
the hole and looked. As soon as his eyes
accustomed themselves to the Semi-dark-
ness he made out the well known form oil
Pete lying in some straw in one corner
He had lost considerable flesh since the
farmer saw him two months ago at Bill S
and looked decidedly rakish.
Close beside him We're three watts. Pete
looked up, recognized the friend of his
master and gave a welcoming but hic-
coughing grunt. Walsh descended and
kicked the hog by way of greeting This
brought more hiccoughs and an unsuc-
cessful effort on the part of Pete to stand
up.
Drunk again." snorted Walsh, looking
about for the spirits.
He found them in the watts, which con-
tanned whisky diluted with rainwater that
had leaked from overhead. 1t certainly
was whisky, and Walsh instantly came
to the conclusion that he had stumbled on
an illicit still operated in that section
several years ago by two men who are
now serving time at Dannemora Pete
was in no condition to drive home, so
Walsh notified Bill, and he went after the
hog with his mare and wood sled. Then
the proper authorities were notified. They
are talking investigation, but as the men
supposed to own the still are in jail they
don't know what to do. Pete is chained
up.