The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-30
Buckingham. y. C., Cor. New York

.tfter a period of comparative quiet.
Illicit whisky distilleries. or blockade
stills" as they are known in this state.
have again broken out as tl,ickly as
lullls upon the porcupinc. and report
has it that they are as mero as
they ever were in the history of the
business. The revenue officers who
nave their headquarters here are out
d&I and night. and as often as three
times a week they ONE back from a
raid with a ago DAD Of boilers,
pipes. worms and other utensils Of
the trade, all perforated with the ci-
gar-shaped holes that betoken the use
OF an ak. which forceful Weapon is al
ways the tool used for putting a still
out of business.
Several reasons might be ascribed
for this renewal of activity in the dis
tilling line. Without doubt the spread
OF The prohibition wave is in large part
responsible. The antiliquorites have
got the bit fairly in their teeth in all
parts of the south now. and are re-
lentiessly carrying the fight to the
furthest n In many states the
process of getting a drink imposes
fort and almost devilish ingenuity.
II rich man can get his goods by ex-
press from cities in other states, but
the poor man-and he is still in the
majority in the south-is finding even
the most guarded gradually
cut off. He cannot order his stuff by
express. because the whisky houses
seldom are to bother with less than
80 orders. The drugstore, which
formerly was SO helpful and convent
ent. nowadays requires so much red
tape in the way of prescriptions and
searches through the applicants pedi-
gree that 1t is almost useless in a time
of need. Hence there is no recourse
save the blind tiger" and the feeder
for these unlicensed and secretive
dealers is the "blockader."
In Kentucky and Tennessee the illi-
CIT distiller is always referred to as a
'moonshiner.' because he is supposed
to operate only by the light OF the
moon. and its product is known as
mountain dew" But those terms sell
dom are heard in these parts. The i'll
legal trafficker is called a "blockad-
er.' and his goods are known as
blockade booze or simply block
ade."
The origin Of this name is a matter
of some dispute. but leading authors
ties agree hat the term is a relic Of
the Civil war. Toward the latter part
of that conflict North Carolina re-
ceiyed almost all its imported goods.
such as drugs. silks. laces. etc.
''s Wv HoAN Va IOu. ~
heavy guard of Federal vessels sur
rounded this port and for a vessel to
slip through much daring and cunning
were required. This was called run
ming the blockade" Therefore all
c~ontrabrand goods came to be known
as ~"blockade.'. and SO to apply it to il
legally manufactured whisky was
quite natural.
Much has been written about the
hlockader, the moonshiner and the
blind tiger-a good deal of it romantic
piitle-and sometimes wonder has
been expressed that men should per-
sist in such a business where the risks
are so great. the penalties so severe
and capture almost certain in the end,
goes right along. dcspite. the immense
sums spent to suppress it and the
hundreds Of agents employed to de-
stroy ii. one must first understand the
psychology of the %blockader and the
conditions under which he lives and
was reared.
Undoubtedly many men cling to
their illegal distillins for the same
reasons that a thief sticks to his PRO
frssion." 1t is an old saying that If
the average thief devoted as much
plans and brains to earn an honest
living as he does to his thievcry he
would be a far richer man than he
could ever hope to be by stealing. The
truth is that there is a fascination
about an illegal occupation that gets
a hold on some natures like the opium
habit does on others. There is neces-
sity for matching ones wits against
others that gives it zest. 1t is full
of an excitement and adventure that
some natures crave. The blockader il
Just as human as anybody else and
loves excitement Just as much. He is
generally an inhabitant Of a com.
munity whose life is humdrum and
commonplac e.' and once he becomes
connected with h unlawful making
of whisky he seldom reforms.
Again. it must be remembered that
In response to a demand there always
arises a supply, inc it the demand he
comes 80 great that a premium is put
upon the supply there is almost no
risk mon will not incur for the sake Of
the supplying Of whisky in the south,
but the demand remains as great as
ever. and 1t has received an extra
stimulus through the bitterness Of the
prohibition fight. SO. since the
whisky demand cannot be satisfied
lawfully. 1t 10 satisfied unlawfuily.
Some day It probably will be con.
t.rfic IL economic. The average
blockader has become Q lawbreaker
because he is poor. As a rule, It will
be found he has been a small farmer,
trying to wrest a living from a stub
born soil by antiquated and unpro.
ductive methods and having numer-
II children for the purpose Of con.
verttng them into helpers. Perhaps
he has been merely a farm laborer,
who works possibly seven months In
49,"
: -. -[. ." : -- 20" - M r+ y '