The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-07-23
TRYING TO TRACE
LOST WHISKY.
Army Officials Expect
to Be Able to Soon
Unravel the Mystery
TO START INQUIRY

COlOnel y. r. WlSS6I. PERSONS ami pa
pers have been sent for. witnesses are
to be put under oatn, and one of two
things is to happen, namely, the whis-
ky will be located. or the last respon-
sible person to have it in his possession
will be squarely out in the umelight
with tremendous amount o. explana-
ton to make. And as the search for
the whisky goes on 1t develops that the
whisky was but part of large amount
of medical supplies sent from the. Pre-
sidio to the Moulder warehouse when
Colonel L. R. Brichemin, in whose
charge the supplies were, was prepar-
ing to go East The whisky is not in
the Moulder warehouse
Captain Kilian, in charge of that sta
ton, stated last night that all the wins
ky in the warehouse was recaived by
him from the Santa Fe depot June Is,
more than a week after the missing
whisky went on it's wanderings Of
medical supplies other than whisky
Captain Kilian says, he has none at ali
The question is not only where is the
whisky, but where is the medical sup
plies of which the whisky formed a
part?
The story of the whisky is that of
the medical supplies received here after
the fire. There were enormous amounts
of such supplies received, full train
load being received as single con-
signment and there was no whisky
aboard. These supplies as they were
received were sent to the Preside
depot. So many were there that a
circus tent had to be set up for their
General Greely's chief of staff. states
that probably 500 different kinds OF
drugs, etc. were in that circus tent.
And then the distribution began.
When the twenty-six dispensaries were
set up in various parts of the city
requisition came in that made the army
officers stare 1t was for drugs for all
the dispensaries. So large was 1t that
the officers hesitated about filing 1t,
but it was finally filed, as it was per-
fectly regular, and the dispensaries
were stocked, some 500 varieties of
medical supplies being used in the
stocking. But still the circus tent depot
was we'll filled, and further requisi-
lions failed to empty 1t. In the mean
time 1t became necessary for Colonel
Brichemin to go East. In order to
hasten his work OF clearing up General
Greedy issued an order that all the Gin
tributed medical supplies, including the
missing whisky, that were stored In
the Preside depot be sent to the Moul-
der warehouse. This order was carried
out, and medical supplies, whisky In
cluded, were sent there.
Major Kilian had not been notified
of the shifting of the supplies. When
the loads drove up to the warehouse
he at first refused to receive them.
From that time confusion as to their
whereabouts reigns.
This confusion, Colonel Wiser states,
he is going to clear away. Before he
Is done the indications are that whisky
will not be the only article of medical
supplies that he will be after.
During. the days after the fire the
army officers found that supplies sent
from the Preside were being diverted
from their destinations.
We found that supplies were being
taken from the wagons" said Colonel
Wiser last night, people saw this be-
ing done and reported it. We accord
ingly sent guards along to protect the
goods.
Just what would happen to line of
wagons loaded with supplies that could
not find destination is left to the mag
nation.
In discussing the situation last even
ing Captain w. G. Ham, General Gree
ly's chief of staff, stated that he has
no doubt that the mystery will be
cleared up as soon as the receipts
which Colonel Brichemin has of the dis
tribution of the supplies are received.
He expressed himself as confident that
the whisky will be located, along with
such other supplies as Colonel Briche-
min might have forwarded to the Moul-
der warehouse at the time of his gen
eral housekeeping.
AT the time of the fire." said Captain
Ham, Colonel r. H. Patterson was
stationed at Goldberg, Bowen & Co.'S
store. Much of the stock was given
out After the fire 1t was found that
400 barrels of liquor in the army med
ical depot on Mission street had been
burned. Goldberg, Bowen & Co.'S stock
of liquor was accordingly sent to the
depot at the, Presidio From here much
of 1t was given out acquisitions.
About June Colonel Brichemin re-
ported that he had plenty of liquor on
hand and recommended that what re-
manned of Goldberg, Bowen & Co.'S
liquors be returned to them. This was
done. Colonel Brichemin has an accu-
rate inventory of the liquors received
and those returned.
tOf the forty-two barrels of whisky
sent to California as contributions.
some was destroyed in the cars. But
another lot was received that had been
purchased by the surgeon general.
Both consignments were sent to the
Preside depot General Greedy, in or
der to let Brichemin close his report,
closed the depot and directed that all
contributed medical supplies be sent
to the Moulder warehouse, including
the nine loads of whisky. Kilian had
not been notified of this action; the first
intimation that he had Of 1t was when
the wagons drew up at the door,
Captain Kilian refused to receive the
whisky; he states there are no medical
supplies in the warehouse Will Colonel
Wiser find that medical supplies went
astray as well as the whisky?
1T will be difficult to close the case"
said Colonel Wiser last night. until
we hear from Colonel Brichemin who
is in New York. He not only has the
receipts, but sent guards with the
wagons that made the delivery. These
will show precisely what disposition
was made of the missing articles
Captain Kilian last night denied all
connection with the whisky and other
liquors which have disappeared and
which involve the members of the
Board of Health. Il want it definitely
understood" said the guardian of the
Moulder warehouse, that the whisky
that l have, stored here in boxes and
barrels has no connection whatever
with the nine wagonloads of liquor
which appeared here one night and
was refused acceptance. All the
whisky in my charge was received
from the Santa Fe warehouse on June
Is. l keep record of everything