New-York tribune., 1919-12-26
First Trainload of Consign.
ment Worth ss7,O0O,OOO
Leaves Louisville for
Shipment at Philadelphia
Some of 1t for Germany
Liquor, Tax Free, to Bring
$l.5O Gallon; New York
Firm Finances the Deal

Special Correspondence
LEXINGTON, Ky, Dec. 25.-Details
of transaction momentous in size and
circumstance, became known here to-
day when the first shipment of ap-
proximately 10000 barrels of whisky,
closely guarded and valued at about
$7,000,000, to be exported to France
and other European countries, was be-
gun. Shipments were started by pool
of distilleries and wholesalers, said to
be led by Owslty Brown, Of the Brown
Forman Company. and including Wright
e. Taylor, the Kentucky Distillerles
and Warehouse Company, Of Kentucky,
and Overholt g. Co., of Pittsburgh
Members of the pool, it was learned,
have been guaranteed an upset price
of S1.50 a gallon. A New York bank,
which has supplied 100000 with which
to finance part of the deal, and Thomas
D. Fielder, attorney, of Atlanta, are
said to be other principals in the
transaction. Mr.. Fielder is credited
with having arranged shipping facili-
ties, for which the New York institu-
tion afforded financial backing
Some for Germany
A group Of Frenchmen also are
factors, a report indicating that they
will receive 17Aa per cent of the pro-
ceeds. The Kentucky and Pennsyl-
vania liquor men, it is said, stand to
profit on proceeds over and above
commissions and other expenses. The
whisky will be tax free
Though the bulk of the whisky will
go to France in all probability, it is
known that some of it may be con-
signed to Hamburg, Germany. Ken
.ucky dstilling interests issued q
statement which is in part as follows:
Since the decision of the Supreme
|ourt number Of well-known dis
oilers and owners have decided to
make a shipment of 10000 barrels of
whisky held in Kentucky and Penn
aylvania for export. The whisky will
De shipped in solid trainloads to Phia-
delphia, whence it will be delivered to
various European ports.
Solid Trainload OFF
"The first shipment Of this whisky
started when a solid trainoad moved
out of Louisville. Other shipments will
be made daily until the entire 10000
barrels are moved
"While the time is short, special ar
rangements have been made with the
view of having all whisky clear the
port OF embarkat.on before January 1G,
as required under the latest Treasury
rulings.
"All interests involved are exercising
every possible effort to accomplish
shipment of the full 10000 barrels
This in all probability will be the last
movement of whisky from Kentucky
and the United States before closing
down of all whisky shipments under
the constitutional amendment"
LOUISVILLE, Dec. 25.-Arrange-
ments for shipping approximately 80
GOO gallons of whisky out Of the United
States before January 16, when ex-
portaton of liquor will be prohibited,
have been concluded by John T. BarDee
& Co., distillers of Versailles, KY, ac-
cording to reports reaching here
The whisky will be hauled to seaports
in motor trucks, it was said. The COM
pany refused to name the country to
which the liquor would be sent. Of
ticials, however, said it would be ont
of the United States by January IL,
when national prohibition becomes eff
fective.