New-York tribune., 1919-07-01
City Accepts Beginning
of Dry Spell Without
Expected Celebration;
Few Saloons Crowded
Hotel Bars Eniov
Rush of Business
Revelry on Street Fails
to Eclipse Outbursts of
Big Election Nights

AS thc handS or the illuminated
clock at the upper end of Longacre
Square indicated midnight this morn
ing youth, hatless and coatlcss, was
carried across Broadway at Forty-sec-
ond Street. Dangling over the shoulder
of husky companion, he was distin-
guishcd as the only spicuous!y Y
drunken man on that corner at the
moment alcohol became an outlaw in
the United States.
The street throngs in Broadway were
larger than on normal nights. but not
nearly as large as on New Years Eve
or election nights There were other
drunken men on Broadway, but the
crowd that sauntered up and down the
thoroughfare was sober Cafes and
barrooms were crowded. but SO, too,
were the soda fountains and the white
porcelain stands of the orange juice
vendors.
The unusual proportions of the side
walk throngs were due 20 Che desire of
many persons to see the celebration
that would mark the passing Of liquor
But the celebration did not materializc
Few Fellow 'Catafalque
Six straw hated individuals stag
eered up and down the White Light
section a few times before midnight
On their shoulders. as pallbearers, they
bore catafalquc, lighted with candles
stuck in the nccks Of whiskey bottles.
and these outlined an effigy represent
ing John Barleycorn.
"To hell with prohibition; we want
whiskcy," read a crudely printed sign
alta ched to one end Of Their burden.
any election night would be sufficient
excuse Cor the formation of long
prcce on Such was the ambition Of
these pail bearers but they were dis
appointed. The crowds looked at them
as they passed. Some laughed, but
none followed in their wake.
In Murray's bar in Forty second
Street, west of Broadway, the men
swarmed in so fast that bartenders
refused to serve mixed drinks An
attendant was stationed at the en-
was little chance of bcing served
promptly On the bar soiled glasses
accumulated because the bartenders
had no opportunity to cleanse them.
Curtain Holds forBibuiants
Theatre the manager held the curtain
of his show for five extra minutes be-
tween acts to accommodate a goodly
portion of the men in the audience who
had failed to return from nearby bars
At the Astor Hotel bar the doors
were closed at 10 O'Clock and kept
closed thereafter, except when men in
side left and on those occasions an
equal number Of anxious liquor seekers
was admitted Similar measures we're
adopted by the Astor bar on armstice
night.
At the Knckerbocker Hotel bar the
crowd was not much larger than nor
NAL. That was also true of the
| Claridge tap room.
Falf dozen sailors stood in front
IF the Hotel Astor for time during
the shank of the evening and passed a
quart bottle of whiskey from one TO
another until they became bosterons
and were persuaded by policeman to
go elsewhere.
Bottled Goods Active
Stores selling bottled goods for home
consumption, however attracted large
crowds. Park G. Tilfords, in Broad
way. at Forty Street, became so
densely packed with humanity several
times during the evening that the doors
were closed.
In ITitzgerald's bar in Broadway, just
north of Forty second Street, an cmcr-
gency counter had been made out of a
plank and a couple Of beer kegs. At
rhis improviscd counter case goods were
being sold for immediate delivery, many
Of the customers leaving with burden
of bottles on their shoulders Others
placed orders. paid their money and
we're given warehouse receipts to show
that they were The owners Oh certain
amount of liquor, which they had agreed
to remove from the warehouse within
sixty days.
Baci Of Reiscnwcher's, III Fifty
seventh Street just south Of Colum-
bus Circle. there is a liquor store. SO
great was the crowd around this place
at midnight that Eighth Avenue street
cars were held up. The police took
charge of the situation there and
formed The crowd in line.
The Hotel Bltmore stopped selling
liquor to 'he general public at $3.50
o'clock. While crowds were still going
into the oar, John O'Brien. the wine
steward, suddenly announced:
"No more drinks will be sold until
tomorrow"
No explanation was given other than
that the hotel did not wish TO have a
demonstration. The patrons of the
hotel in their rooms were served as
usual.
Merry making crowds in the lobby
on finding the bar closed, formed in
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