New-York tribune., 1919-12-07
Whisky Floods
St. Louis Bars
AS Lid Is Lifted
Saloons Ignore Fuel-saving
Order and Sell Drinks
Openly Under Court Or
der at Is to IS Cents
Special Correspondent

Special Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 6.-Thousands of
erstwhile mourners last night and to-
day celebrated the return of John
Barleycorn. Yesterdays Federal in
junction knocked off the chains that
had imprisoned John and he came back
to st. Louis-now one of the few wet
spots of the nation-bringing an
abundance of wine, gin, whisky, brandy
and rum.
Fuel regulations were forgotten, Gus
toners ignored the sleet and rain
storm. Cafes and saloons enjoyed a
business rivaled only by that of the
memorable night of June 80, when, at
midnight, John was officially Jailed
as war nuisance. Long before mid
night scores of celebrants became
tongue-tied or -tongued, happy or
fearful, according to the physiological
effect of alcohol upon the anatomy Of
the individual.
5l4 Fuel Violations
During the night eleven patients
were received at the City Incbriate
Ward. Seven Of these, wondering how
it all happened, were released this
morning. Four charged with disturb
ing. the peace must go to court and ex-
plain. Two alcoholics" were taken to
the City Hospital for treatment: The
police reported approximately 210 vio-
lations Of the fuel committees closing
order by saloons and cafes.
total Of 514 violations by all
classes of business were reported.
Some saloons turned off heat and
lights at p: M, in accordance with
ha instructions, but did not close their
Cafes enjoyed both heat and light.
In the downtown saloons, for the most
part, lanterns, coal oil lamps and can
dies replaced electricity and oil stoves
substituted for steam heat.
The cabarets were packed and the
"shimmy" seemed more popular than
Pour Your Own Drinks
For the first time in months bar
tenders placed the whisky bottle in
front of customers and permitted them
to pour their own drinks. The price
was from 25 to rs cents.
The rush of buyers to stores having
authority to sell spirits continued to-
day. The price of whisky continues
high the price depending upon the
alcoholic proof and ranging from $35
to $75 case.
1t was said to-day that saloonkeep-
ers have averaged 81 900 an hour in
whisky sales alone since the ban was
lifted.
There was rush on the part of
whisky dealers to-day to have them
selves included as benefciaries of the
order issued yesterday by Judge Faris,
of the United States District Court.
Scores of saloonkeepers were so
eager to take advantage of the lifting
of the ban that they violated the or
der of the regional coal committee that
their places must be>closed at p. m.
The order was again violated this
morning, when many saloons opened
before the prescribed hour of a. m.
The business places Of the five liquor
dealers in whose behalf the injunction
was originally granted and Of about
ten others which were included in the
order by Judge Faris late in the after
noon were besieged by buyers who
came with wagons, trucks and passen-
ger automobiles to buy whisky. Many
of the purchasers were saloonkeepcrs.
Others were persons who desired to
take this opportunity to "stock up"
Rushed Across State Line
Seemingly no effort was made to
seize automobiles loaded with whisky
which drove across state lines, espe-
cially into Illinois. Passenger trains
carried hundreds of travellers with
heavily loaded suitcases.
To purchasers of small quantities
the whisky was sold at $40 to SIS a
quart, though the court petitions filed
by the whisky wholesalers in the in
junction suit showed that its actual
cost to them, after the tax of $6.40 a
gallon had been paid was SO to 50 a
gallon. One dealer to-day said he was
offering "a rare bargain" when he sold
whisky at $75 a case Of one dozen
quart bottles. In normal times the
same whisky could be bought for $15
to $18 case.
Judge Faris late yesterday afternoon
authorized the release for sale of 25,00(
cases of wine by the American Wine
Company. In its petition the company
gave the nominal valuation Of this wine
as being "in excess of 100000" Be-
| fore the war it sold at retail at 81 6
quart. Prices to-day showed an ad
vance of approximately $40 case TO,
whisky over yesterdays quotations
The supply seems never ending, com
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