Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-11-08
Capturing Contraband Whiskey During the
Civil War Fifty Years Ago

DdlUlluOTe, DuU UlelI UdSR age Wdo
| never inspected.
at first men and women were al
lowed to land at Norfolk without in
spection, but some of them brought
along boxes and barrels which were
consigned as merchandise, and in
this miscellaneous outfit we found
our first prize One man had ten bar
rels of flour, and being questioned as
to his location said he had rented a
store on Church street, famous for its
bawdy houses Permission to do busi-
ness under military rule had to be
secured through the provost marshal's
office, and as no permission had been
given this man or any other man to
open business among the demi-mon-
de, Sergeant Allen was directed to
keep an eye on the flour
He did so and that afternoon re-
ported that the ten barrels OF flour
had been delivered at lOl Church
street, notorious resort. He was
directed to return at once and open
one or more barrels of flour aud see
what was inside. He opened each
barrel and found nothing but flour
and was about to retire when one OF
his men ran his bayonet into the flour
in careless manner and he found
something inside harder than flour.
He called to the sergeant and stuck
his bayonet into another barrel, the
madam protesting against such van
dalism Again the bayonet found
something besides flour, and search
was promptly ordered.
Enough flour was scooped out OF
one barrel to expose large tin can,
This was pulled out and ten gallons
of whisky was found. Then the mad
am began to cry and protest her inno-
cence. The man who was going to
open the store was found at a resort
across the street and arrested. The
women said she had bought the flour
for family" use. The flour was stor-
| ed in an old tobacco warehouse near
the steamboat landing and from that
time on our supply of -four decreased
rapidly and stopped only when the
"hour" dealers in Baltimore lost their
!. customers.
For some time there was visible
evidence of sobriety among the sold
iers in town and those who came in
on passes. Then we ran up against
Brakes Plantation bitter, which was
sold everywhere because it was sup
posed to be harmless tonic for the
benefit of soldiers stomachs. Those
who were fortunate enough to tnd
it's elegant qualities as drunk pro-
ducer never gave up the secret. and it
was discovered by Sergeant Allen af-
ter one of his men had purchased a
bottle for medicinal purposes. This
man drank whole bottle for his
stomach's sake and he was measly
drunk for three days. Gen. Viele,
military governor, being informed OF
the discovery, ordered all bitters con-
fiscated and an order was issued that
denied soldiers stomachs any relief
from that direction. for the stuff-a
poor, adulterated quality of "rotgut'
was forbidden sale by army suffers
stores or other places within the
lines.
After cleaning out brakes Planta
tion bitter conditions began TO Inn
prove among the ''booze" drinking
boys in blue.
CLEVER USE OF KEROSENE OIL CANS
Sergeant Allen came into my office
one morning after the arrival of tht
steamer Adelaide from Baltimore anc
reported that many soldiers and citi
zens were receiving cans OF kerosene
ranging from one to ten gallons, ant
the owners were prompt in removing
them as soon as received by Ton
Webb, the agent. The steamer Geor
giana was due next day and L sug
gested to Allen that he had bette
;, sample the kerosene after detainin
the entire shipment. This was done
: and the second ten-gallon can revea
: ed the unusual demand for kerosene
After pulling the first cork, whic
was wired on, he found genuine o
underneath and the cork was replaced
Another can was opened and oil wa
also found, bat by accident the ca
!. was overturned and the small quantit
:, of oil that escaped revealed the 81
= cret. Underneath the oil in the nee
:, another carefully sealed cork was di
covered, which one of the guard sho
ed in with his bayonet and the SINE
of whisky told the tale. No one CLAIM
IL ed a can that morning, and the er
A. tire shipment was stored away In tn
J. old tobacco warehouse.
10 1t was several days before the Bait
Id more end of the game was sufficient
1T notified, but in the meantime lare
St amount OF poor whisky and kerose'
a had been secured and stored ava
ID only to be destroyed by fire later o
or There was little doing in contrabaI
~ whisky for a few weeks and thoug
ne we had the traffic buttoned up, b
It. soon found that whisky was comiI
rs in on the Baltimore boats In spite
e. special vigilence by Allen and
is guard. The first evidence obtain