The Springfield herald., 1914-09-25

covered by strong wooden lid in sec
tions. like hatchway.
] was soon enlightened. For when
about three feet from the bottom had
been reached and the pump could not
any longer draw. it was once more
stopped. and couple of big, bare.
legged negroes climbed down and be.
gan shoveling crowned rats.
1t can read imagined how such
buildings lit swarm with rats,
despite ever rt to keep them out
and how the Jprsweet stencil of this
sunltcn tanl With it's smooth cement
cd walls. made most effective rat
trap. Pumping proceeded every few
days; but the unspeakable mother
liquor at the bottom was only dis
turbed once Il month or so. when the
trapped rodents again became trouble.
some
These are n 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 rum--an article
with which all our devoted topers are
much better acquainted than they have
any idea. 1t is jealousy guarded
secret
il was 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
statement of confidential employe.
and by the evidence of my own eyeH,
I found that the "distillery" had {,
mere toy OF still, d 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 mixing house,
into which stuff distilled elsewhere
was brought, and, by general doctorinG
-coloring, flavoring, etc, and elabo.
rate coopering and labeling-all kinds
OF 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
4 nasty Demerara rum.
| ping department of this great bust
ness, widely known as among the
leading American distilleries where
was shown immense quantities Of their
output, stased-up punchecns, barrels
half-barrels. kegs; brandy of two OF
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 fol
the next days shipment to wholesale
liquor dealers, cafes and saloons.
Then, taking me into an adjoinins
room my confidential guide drew iron
large faucet colorless liquid int
small glass beaker and asked me tc
examine 1t. thought it smellcd ant
tasted very much like our Demrrart
rum, or high Wines" and said so
This my guide admitted to be perfect
ly correct, only it. was considerabl.
diluted.
"Hgh-Grade Products"
And then he told me in a whispe'
| NlnOubu we were eHalTely hloile III WI
big building, so far as either OF II
knew to my great amazement, tha
the whole of those fine barrels an'
puncheons and kegs, marked bran
dy," Whisky" Gin" Port Wine
SHERRY" ETC., were, each and ever
one of them, filled from that identic;,
faucet and contained that liquid h
had just drawn for me to taste.
The only difference between al
those liquors ready for delivery h
told me, was that little more o
less coloring was added and th
proper flavors thrown in, to make on
gin, another brandy, another ry'
whisky, another darker and therefor,
Older and ripper" or "mellowed
and so on.
Let the young barroom braves pom
der over these truths. Old-timer
might even take such fooling of pee
pie to heart. To think that the tempt
ing glasses they hold up critically be
fore their eye, admiring the fine ''olt
age" color and "mellowness" of thei
contents, contain nothing better thai
the reeking new rum, which | hav
partially but faithfully described
That and nothing more or less, co
ored and Favored by mostly poisouou
chemicals of devilsh destructiveness
and christened one name or anothe
!, to meet the demands of a marvelousl
deceived and deeply wronged public