The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-05-10

SUPERIOR, May S.-(Special to
the Rip-saw. )-Although Superior
has been dry for nearly a year, at
least in theory, the aristocratic ho-
tel Superior has been wet all the
time in fact, but not in theory, un-
less a sudden reform has struck the
comfortable caravansary within the
past few days.
Until "Old Man" Schuman quit this
wilderness of woe and crossed the
River Jordan, he was the main
squeeze in the distribution of drinks
with a kick in them, in Superior's
leading hotel.
Schuman was a man whom hard
life had buffeted and then broken.
He served the hotel as porter and
slept in the dirty "dog house." with
other porters and bell boys, as the
chamber over the boiler room Is
called.
Every afternoon, near O'Clock,
schuman would say:
"rm going down to the brewery
now" -
Away the old chap would 60, pull
ing his hand cart. Later on, ne
would return with an assortment OF
grips and suitcases which, presum-
ably, belonged to guests of the hotel
whom he had met at the station. In
reality, that supposed luggage was
nothing but an assortment of cam
outflage receptacles for blockade
beer and booze.
No Man Need Go Thirsty.
From that hour until rosy dawn.
no man was required to 60 with
thirst. unassuaged in hotel Superior.
Schuman dispensed most of his
beer through the bell boys. He sold
it to them at forty cents a bottle
and they got what they could for 1t.
= Last January "Old Man" schuman
died and was gathered unto his faith
ers. He laid sick in that dirty,
cherries and comfortless "dog
house" for three weeks. The hotel
management did not seem to fear
that the other employees would catch
something of the desperately sick
man. He was taken out Of the dog
house" one day and died the very
next. When he passed in his checks,
the thirsty lost Good Samaritan
and old Gambrinus lost willing
agent.
After the passing of Schuman. the
hotel and it's bell boys picked up
their stock in different places. Some
of the boys were supplied at nearby
drug store, whose clerk got caught
and was fined. Other supplies came
from blind pigs, boot1eggers and
other sources. ...I'
Booze Over Hotel Desk.
One Rip-saw inspector alleges
that he once saw the "big boss" OF
the hotel sell whisky over the hotel
counter to a young sport who often
played poker in Room 203. He
now works for a living and is sup
posed to have cut out the sporty life.
On another occasion, it is alleged
one of the bell boy booze peddlers
obtained his stock from night clerk
Williams. Sometimes the diamond
bedecked ''greeter''' charged the
boys $3.50 pint and, at other times,
So a pint, according to how he felt.
Some time ago. Sergeant Blank
came back from helping make the
world safe for democracy. He had
a burning thirst and tried to Stake
It under the roof of hotel Superior.
He got so befuddled that bell boy
by the name of Klavitter sold the
soldier three pints of bum whisky
for $35. .,. -.
Frenzied with the rotgut, Sergeant
Blank howled up and down the halls
of the hotel.
Heard His Mothers Voice.
81 hear my mothers voice call
ing" shouted the frenzied hero as
he pounded hard on the door Of a
frightened waitress.
Manager Melanson became fright
ened over Sergeant Blanks condi-
ton. He made the thrifty bell boy
give the delirious warrior pint for
nothing as a bracer for his shattered
nerves.
The soldier was very sick for two
nights. Superior doctors refused
calls to treat the sufferer.
call up the police ambulance u
the physicians would say.
When, the sick mans friends
called up the station for the police
ambulance, the answer would be:
"Call in doctor" a-
Information as to name and ad-
dress of the city physician was re-
fused at least one inquirer.
Before Sergeant Blank left the
kindly old hotel, he claims that he
lost over 500 and his discharge
!! papers. He finally recovered enough
| to get to Duluth, where he fully
| sobered up and secured a good po-
sition, which he yet holds.
! Many have wondered whether or
not manager Melanson has been as