The state herald., 1914-10-02
C0CKR0ACHES, "CHINK' juice, RATS!
MIXTURE CALLED WHISKY
PERSONAL LIBERTY ADVOCATES CAN DRINK IT II THEY
WANT TO. BUT EXCUSE ME.
This Is Story That will Linen and Make Your In.
ards Culver. Appeared in Everybodys Magazine for
July, and Was Written by overseer of Big Dh
tinery Plantation in the West Indies

there; for the mothertank was we'll
covered by strong wooden lid In sec.
tions, like n hatchway.
was soon enlightened. For when
about three feet from the bottom had
been reached and the pump could not
any longer draw. 1t was once more
stopped. and a couple Of big, bare
legged negroes climbed down and be.
gan shoveling out drowned rats.
1t can readily be imagined how such
buildings literally swarm with rats,
despite every effort to keep them out,
and how the sour-sweet stencil of this
sunken tank. with its smooth cement
ed walls, made most effective rat
trap. Pumping proceeded every few
days; but Che unspeakable mother.
liquor at the bottom was only dis.
turbed once a month or so when the
trapped rodents again became trouble
some.
These are few plain facts, any
thing but exaggerations. There are
plenty more details, some that would
not do to print. as to the manufac-
ture OF West Indian run-an article
with which all our devoted topers are,
much better acquainted than they have
any idea. 1t is jealousy guarded
lsecret.
1t was a peculiar stroke OF fate that,
several years later on coming to New
York, should, quite undesignedly,
walk right into factory which largely
handled West Indian or Demerara
rum, there to learn wonderful par
ticulars. through the authoritative
and by the evidence Of my own eyes.
! found that the "distillery" had a
mere toy OF a still, n hundred of which
would not make one of our West In.
dian stills. The truth was. this impos-
ing building. with its widely extending
business, was merely a mixing house.
into which stuff distilled elsewhere
was brought, and. by general doctoring
f-coloring. flavoring. ETC.. and elabo-
rate coopering and labeling-all kinds
q spurious liquors were sent out. But
all from one fundamental basis and
all from the same faucet. The COM
mon foundation OF all the mixtures
practically the only genuine spirit In
the place-was that same cheap and
nasty Demerara rum.
or particular interest was the ship
ping department OF this great busi-
ness. widely known as among the
leading American distilleries. where l
was shown immense quantities OF their
output, staked-up puncheons. barrels.
halfbarrels. kegs; brandy OF two or
three grades: tiers Of whisky OF va.
rious favorite brands; these with sew.
eral other kinds OF high-class liquors,
all beautifully coopered. branded.
stamped. inscribed. ticketed and other.
wise decorated into most expensive
and official.looking goods, ready for
tho next days shipment to wholesale
liqucr dealers. cafes and saloons.
Then, taking me into an adjoining
room my confidential guide drew from
= large faucet n colorless liquid into
n small glass beaker and asked me to
examine 1t. thought It smeiled and
tasted very much like our Demerara
rum. or high wines" and said so.
This my guide admitted to be perfect
ly correct. only II was considerably
diluted.
"Hlgh-6rade Produets."
And then he told me In whisper
Though we were entirely alone In the
big building. SO far MS either Of us
knew. to my great amazement. that
the whole OF those fine barrels ano
puneheons and kegs. marked Bran
dy." Whisky" Gin" Port winc."
sherry" etc. were. each and every
one OF them. filled from that identical
faucet and contained that liquid he
had Just drawn for me TO taste.
The only difference between nll
thoEe liquors ready for delivery he
told me. was that little more or
less eoloring was added md the
proper flayorS thrown In, TO make ono
KIN, another brandy. another rye
whisky. another darker and therefore
elder and 'riper" or "mollowed."
and so on.
Let the Young barroom braves pon.
der over these truths. old.timers
might even take such fooling OF pso
pie 10 heart To think that the tempt
ing glasses they hold mp critically bo.
fore their eye. admlring the fine "old
age" color and "mcllowncss" of their
contents. contain nothing better than
The reoking new rum. which have
partially but faithfully described
That and nothing more or less. col
ored and favored by mostly poisonous
chemicals OF dcvilinh desiruc,iyeneas.
and ohristcned one name or another
TO meet the demands Of maryeiousiy
deceived and deeply wrongcG public
We, States Consume Most Lauee.
Wisconsin, largely a fafsirn.born