Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-11
COMPLAIN OF BLIND
TIGERS IN BATH COUNTY
State Officials Informed of Alleged
Lax Enforcement of
Liquor Laws.
COME IN FROM WEST VIRGINIA
According to- Writers, Many People
Make Business OF Importing Whis.
ky by Motor Cars Over Mountains
to Summer Resorts.

Within a radius OF seven miles Of
its county seat. which is Warm
Springs. Bath County is as wet as It's
aanae, and local option exists in name
only. according to complaints that have
legged fragrant violation Of the LIQUOR
laws in that section OF the State
BootlegEing- deluxe is nourishing,
me compliments declare. large guam
titles OF liquor being constantly car
ried In automobiles into Bath County
from West Virginia. One of the formal
complaints received through the mails
relates that the Hot Springs neighbor-
mood. five miles south of Warm
Springs. is teem!ng with blind tigers
and itinerant bootleggers.' The liquor
sellers, the report says arc practi-
cally all West Virginians, living near
the State line.
So profitable have they found IL
legal liquor selling in Bath County
most OF the men engaged in the bust
ness arc the owners of motor cars.
The citizens who have written to Rich
mond directing attention to the al
legged illicit liquor traiIic aver that the
bootleGgers with automobiles bring
their cars laden with TASKS and jugs
OF all sizes over the West Virginia
line daily. While delivering the wet
goods they take orders for the NOR
the load in his car before delivering
IL, The bulk OF the patronage given
the bootleggers, the complainants say.
comes from the summer resorts in
the Alleghanies. the liquor sellers be-
ing moro numerous In the neiShbor-
hood Of the Hot Springs than in any
other part Of the mountain range.
ARRESTS OF ILLICIT SELLERS
SAID TO DE INFRINGEMENTS
l., q,
liquor sellers are so free from molesta-
ton that arrests for violation OF the
liquor laws are very infreGuent Many
Shacks have been set up in the wood
lands where liquor is dispensed over
tho bar One complainant living at
Hot Springs, In communication re-
ce!rcd at the Capitol. gives his csti-
mate of tine Fourth OF July business
done by the blind tigers in that neigh
norhood. He says that guests OF the
several summer hotels and residents OF
the neighborhood Of Hot Springs spent
over the bar on that one day at least
$4,000.
The men who arc plying the illegal
liquor tranc. IL is stated, have so 1T
tie fear Of interference that they do
not even take the precaution to pro-
tect their cars from inspection by OBJ
tanning license tags for them. They
carry West Virginia automobile license
ing thejr portable liquor stores in Vtr-
yinia.
Bath County is represented as the
boouessers paradise. His business
Nourisnes In all parts OF the county
as the green bay tree. according TO the
reports received here.
Bath is a border county, 100 miles
northwest OF Richmond with a resi-
dent population OF 6.53s. according to
the last census. II liz 5is miles in
area, and "A large portion OF its terri
tory is mountainous. Summer resorts
are numerous. Besides Warm Springs,
Inc county seat. and Hot Springs. there
are other large health resorts. Heal
ing Springs is but eight miles south
OF Warm Springs; Miilboro Springs is
twelve miles TO the east: Two miles
farther on is Miilboro Depot. The
Wsliawatoola Springs is one mile
south OF Millboro. and Blair Springs
Is seventeen miles north of Warm
Springs.
Great numbers OF health and pleas
ure seekers patron!ze these places In
the summer months. The Virginia Hot
Springs, being also winter resort, has
a large floating population all the year
round.