The sun., 1906-01-14
MAKE THEIR OWN DEER.
How Indian Territory Miners Evade Pro-
hibittOn Laws.

Coioafe corres DO n drnce Konsos Citu Star.
Indian Territory has larger constabulary
than any section Of the United States. Every
city or town of any pretensions has Unlted
States deputy marshal. and many are ap-
pointed in the rural districts. In addition
to the force OF Federal msrshals. there is
constable appointed for each United States
Commissioner and several hundred Indian
policemen. serving under authority OF the
various Indian nations and clothed with the
same powers as the Federal officials. Each
city and incor porated town has one or more
marshals, which swells the list to the magni-
tude Of a small army.
Two-thlrds OF the arrests made by this
force OF officers are Of persons charged with
the violation OF the United States liquor
laws. Three offences are named In the law
introducing. selling and manufacturing
liquor Notwithstanding tho vigilance OF
the officers there are but few towns whore
the thirsty wayfarer cannot end liquor OF some
kind.
All the various brands Of proprietary medi-
clnes. tnotures. favoring extracts, perfumes
and toilet preparations. and other prepara.
tions having alcohol for a base. find ready
sale and arc drunk with avdity. The boot
logger" who procures his supplies In Okla
homa. Arkansas and Texas and brings them
into the Territory by obscure and little fire.
quented roads in a covered wagon is found
in most towns and in many rural commune
ties. Liquor is also brought in concealed
in boxes Of merchandise. barrels OF fruit.
vegetables and other products. The dis
poser. if old at the business. may flourish
for many months before being caught. The
profits being 80 large. a quart OF very poor
whiskey selling for 50 or 81. he Is willing to
run the risk Of a jail sentence
Cider is another intoxicant which causes
the officers much trouble A barrel OF fresh
Arkansas sweet apple juice which has not
undergone fermentation may be introduced
without the importer violating the law. A
few weeks exposure TO the genial ravs OF an
Indian Territory sun results in inducing fer
inentation, and the harmless liquid ls trans
formed into an ardent drink. which makes
n Choctaw Indian desire to "gobble" as soon
as he has imbihed a few quarts OF II.
In the ChoCtaw nation and especially In the
towns and cities in the coal land segregation,
the favorito and almost universal beverage
is Choctnw beer. better known "a chock.
The manufacture OF this beverage was intro
duced by the Scotch and English miners
IT s identical with the home brewci beer OF
the English yeomanry. The materials from
which the beer is hrrwed are barley, malt
and hops, with tho d.tions OF grape sugar
and sometimes rice. Malt and hops and
tho other materials are kept in stock at all
grocery and general stores throughout the
mining districts and are as staple as sugar
and coffee.
The apparatus necessary for brewing
Choctaw beer Is very simple, consisting OF
n brass kettle or zinc washtub and stout
kcg. The malt and hops are boiled together
and strained into the keg and the sugar added
The mixture ia allowed to stand for three to
six days. according to the state OF the weather,
when il Is Al to drink and produce the ex-
hilaration so much sought after by the bibu.
lously inclined. By varying the quantity OF
malt used the beer can be made mild or as
stout as porter.
The prevention Of the manufacture OF
Choctaw beer Is one Of the most puzzltng
problems that confront the Officers charged
with the enforcement OF the law. II ie made
in more than half Of the houses in the mining
camps for family use. and a great deal OF It
Ia brewed to sell. Those who manufacture
it for sale are In most cases widows whose
husbands have lost their lives in the mines,
and when deputy marshal arrests one of
these women and carries her to jail, leaving
a family Of children to the merces and charity
of the neighbors. he is the recipient OF the
Indignation Of the community. and the sympa.
thy of Judges and jures usually results in the
offender being let of with an admonitlon
In view Of this fact the officers content them.
selves with spiling the beer when their atten-
ton is called to II and destroying the vessels
fnt ntnf N