The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-23
III Continued.


the consequent black eyes. an explana-
tion. at this point seems due 10 the read
or. summarizing I'm few lines an evil
still existing today. which Was brought TO
the surface under the administration OF
Ulysses 3 Grant. when an association OF
gigantic combination known under the
name or "'rhe Whiskey Ring" was de-
frsuding the United states treasury OF
over three millions a year. of tho Inter
nal revenue on distilled spirits.
The formation and operation az the
Ring wideued and spread into national
proportion. having its headquarters in
New Orleans and St Louis.
The Ring was mainly composed Of
revenue officers and distilers. supervisors.
gaugsr's bonds. rectihers, wholesale liq~
uor dealers, collectors. deputy collectors.
officers OF the courts. and store-keepers.
II was said that the special treasury
agents were corrupted. and that even the
presidents private secretary. had finger
in e.
The Ring" was backed up by vast rail-
road influence supported by the party
then in the majority of both houses who
carried on the hght upon the very floor
OF congress
Cabinet intriGues were hindering and
thwartinG the president from taking
extreme measures against the Ring,
poisoning him with falsehoods 70 block
the way of prosecution. But the president,
who wss earnestly interested TO do right
and stop that corruption which TO the
public gave was p hlow 10 the party
heartily supported the secretary Of the
treasury in the campaign against the
Ring" And then the president was ap-
preached through countless avenues by
influential personases 20 distract him
from the pursuit
Two hundred and thirtv-sight persons
were indicted. but the entire army Of
those protecting the Ring" rallied one
and all
The assistance OF the sblest counsels
was secured, members OF congress defend
ed the Ring" with brazen effrontery
and detectives. politicians. plunderers of
the revenue. disappointed claim agents,
candidates for the presidency, disgraced
Officials and all the representatives of
the Ping" gathered about this magical
standard and held e up until the battle
was won.
The President, teased 70 death. and con
vinced that II was OF no use 20 push the
and let the Ring maintain fits ground
though aftsrwsrd on the auiet, so TO
speak.
What has here been said, in general
way, had a veritable reflection and an ex-
act echo in New Orleans where the
Ring organized a gang or rogues 70
drive away the detectives. and beat mem
bers of the secret service, and many were
the midnight battles between the burly
outlaws and the men engaged by the
government.
In New Orleans the "Whiskey Ring"
excitement from the start UP to the time
Of this story, had been the cause OF
very bitter feeling between detectives, po-
lice, politicians and others. and now the
old feud was revived. and duarrels were
renewed with more intensity and bitter
ness probably on account OF the spoils
which were now considered richer than
before The same calamitous. acrimonious
fight arose and spread violently. as dis
tressing and mournful as in former years.
when II had caused the killing OF the old
er Hennessey, by an Italian named Guer-
no. who was at first considered maniac.
and afterward. an assassin hired by the
opposite party; but no charge whatever
was on that occasion made against the
Msha
on the contrary, now. while some plot
ting was going on against Chief Of Police
has already surmised. the Malta was the
focus point for another atrocious faction.
more formidable and less conspicuous
than the Mana itself.
At that time. New Orleans though not
the only city OF the kind in the United
States, was certainly the principal seat
| of mystery and mysticism. which were
the fashion there. and what would else
where have been looked upon as strange,
was there only an everyday occurrence.
The gatherings Of certain factions for
| the purpose OF concoctng and carrying
! out schemes against others, were con-
| Quoted with the same frankness and in
genuty that characterized the meetings
| OF all the prominent clubs the Boston
! Pickwlck the knights OF Mumus, the
| Knights of Prote0us, the Krew OF Comus.
| the Rex King and Queen or the Carnival.
/ this latter being that unique feature Of
| New Orleans, the gorgeous parade or the
| Mardi- gras, IN which unknown thousands
! OF masked people on Shrove Tuesday,
| from sunrise 10 sundown. drew through
| the streets. floats representing scenes
/ taken from mythology and history.
How easy n would have been with
such a state OF affairs In this city. which
| not long ago had been declared city un-
| der carpet bag government" and In a
state about which n had once been pub
| lshed that 'if a general confazration
| EnOuld sweep over inf cAHlFs lINui 'u'
end 10 the other and destroy every
building and all personal property u
| would be a visitation OF mercy I'm com
| parison 70 the hoard of adventurers In
| Testing Louisiana become the controlling
element of the state and city. how easy,
amid all this political rottenness ~ would
have been for Dean and his party 10 ac-
couplish whatever evil they chose. Is not
hard for the reader 10 understand even
from this brief exposition. which the
writer nevertheless enlarges upon iu the
| following chapters.
The night in which Orsni caught Mon
| asterio I'm Machecss house was not =
trysting night. and hts presence there
/ was 10 he accounted 10 the fact that or
sini had casually met the Grand Master
/ and Monasterio making their way thither
and prompted by the ever suspicious and
alarmed nature Of all lovers. he kept
/ them IN sight and aftervard went into his
/ hired house In order 10 watch NOR.
J closely what was going OIL at Mscheca's 8
For long while he waited for Monss
teYio 10 come out. being greatly perturhec
l ~ his long stay. and the intrepid lovel
/ vent almost mad when he noticed from
the rindoH how often Gabriella and Mar