The sun., 1909-02-21

double bottoms and crescent shaped
receptacles OF tin that could be strapped
closely about the bodies OF pedlers who
lowered about, ready tcsupply customer
whom it was imprudent to risk liouor in
any OF the usual hiding places. jugs
and bottles we're hung in unused Chin
neys. and in the cheaper places women
carried tasks in their stockings.
Even the cradles Of infants wefe used
as hides. and one man had an immense
Bible in which was concealed n tin tank
holding a quart OF whiskey Hangers on
carried large walking sticks that were
followed out TO hold a pint or moro with
a stopper in the end. One pedlor carried
a fat, circular receptacle in the crown OF
his hat and lame man reddled whiskey
from hollow crutches.
All this ingenuity had Jerrard 70 contend
with--and more. There were spies and
the smugglers and their tricks to outwit
the officers. There were no telephones
in those days. and SO the liquor dealers
maintained an army OF watchers whose
skirmish line extended from the saloon
districts 10 the very doors OF the county
Jail. Let the raiders leave the Jail and
instantly a shrill whistle from the nearest
picket warned the next in or der, and that
whistle was quickly repeated all down the
line. supplemented by runners crying:
"Sheriffs, sherfis!"
Al once all liquors in sight or easy
reach vanished as by magic. Then the
raiders would come, sometimes on foot,
often in closed carriage. Crash would
20 doors, windows and everything else
Il n an a
hooted il they had been successful, Jeered
II empty handed.
In the course Of Sherir Jerrard's year
in office enough liquor was seized 10 load
u ship, and all OF il was spilled into the
kenduskea eag, u stream that runs through
Bangor's centre. 1t used To be said that
this killed most Of the fishes in the stream,
j. certainly was heart breaking sight
for the thirsty
When Sheriff Jerrard had been al work
for few months the stock Of liquors in
Bangor began to run low, and a new phase
of the war developed, smuggling. IL was
possible to hide liquor no that some of
il would eSca pc the raiders, but when the
supplies We're exhausted how could stocks
be repleniShedH
Every train and steamer from the West
was watched by the sharp eyed raiders
who with their iimmies and halcbets
pried open all solIS OF innocent looking
packages in the quest for liquor. Some
thing had to he done, and so the saloon
keepers organized smuggling corps,
which included stevedores. river drivers,
blimOoat men, truckmen, sailors and
steamboat hands
When liquor was coming in one Of the
Boston boats petty officer or deckhand
well paid for his services. would roll
the barrels overheard u mile or so down
the harbor. whero men would be- waiting
with batteaux To PICK the stun up and
take IL ashore TO hiding place, there 10
to he kept till night. Then when il was
desired To move the stuff uptown various
eXpedieuts We're employed to divert the
attention of the raiders.
\ favorlte means of throwing tho raid
ora oil the track was TO set fire To an old
barn or other worthless building in the
suburbs and then sound an alarm. That
was in, the old hand tub days, when
everybody ran TO a fire. no matter how
far away or how trivial IL might be; and
the raiders, joining in the rush. wer,
often fooled ia this way while the saloon
men moved their goods.
v hen Jcrrard found out about this
he issued an order that no raider should
pay any attention TO fire alarms, but the
minute the bells sounded they should
put for the river at top speed. So closely
was this order followed that one night
a deputy's house burned down. and he
instead of being there To save the oon-
tents was down on High Head wharf
looking for whiskey smugglers.
BY such means a complete drought W as
prevented. but the process was cxpen-
sive and il was up 10 inventive genius
gency was born tho greatest curse that
has ever afflicted the State Of Maine ART :
fetal whiskey.
When man who had been robbed
in a kitchen barroon told policeman
the other day that he had complained
OF the quality of the whiskey he had got
there and that the woman who presided
had told him 10 sit down and wait minute
and she would make him another pint
the Police Judge thought the fellow las
romancing. This was because the Judge
was not up inGhe intricacies of the liquor
trade. IL was gospel truth, and if he had
waited the victim would have received
another pint.
Making this artificial whiskey is simply
matter Of SO much cheap alcohol. some
burnt sugar. some prune juice ana plenty
Of water. Upon that foundation have
been built several fortunes. and with
that kind Of whiskey have been ruined
beyond repair thousands of Down East
stomachs, not to mention moral and
mental havoc.
All Maine to-day has this kind of whis-
key-a dozen kinds. Now, II is said
they put in little extract of tobacco,
which gives the stun an extra bite and
kick. II is drunk by woodsmen aud
sailors and all the other unfortunates
who have but the price Of one drink or
pint at a time; they are arrested for
being drunk. when, as the police say,
they are simply crazy. The insane hos
pitfalls are full Of wrecks SO created.
At present there is plenty of liquor
bp had in BANGOR and " N IA rea
else in Maine. whatever may be said
OF the quality OF most od it, The Sturgis
deputies have not accomplished one
tenth as much in their years Of work as
did Sheriff Jerrard in one month thirty
two years ago; but then Jerrard wae
actually in earnest, Even he accom-
plished no more than a temporary up
heaval and the Introduction OF home
made whiskey,