The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-04
OFFICERS HUNT
1WHISKEY ROCK
Pennsylvania Detectives Seek to
Solve Mystery Of Colonel
Bryan's Liquor Supply.
BY LEE j. SHIFTS

Ruffsdale, Pa, May 3.-Not for vio-
| lets and buttercups do they hunt on
the brushy hillsides Of the old Bryan
place these spring days. Expeditions
headed by Grant C. Hockey. and Rod
ger, his noted rum hound, intend to
make a survey of every square yard
OF ground in the former domain OF
| Colonel Solomon Bryan.
It is Whiskey Rock they seek.
A fragment of this stone, the size of
the hole in country doughnut, will
produce, when dissolved in a pint OF
spring water, fluid possessed Of all
| the appearances and properties Of 100
! proof rye liquor.
Some insist that Whiskey Rock has
already been located. Jeb Musser was
arrested last week at Mt. Pleasant, in
a mood of friendliness toward all the
world. The marshal found him doing
a barefoot dance in front of the Bap
tist church, at the same time chanting
I'm Standing in the Need of Prayer" !"
police, Jeg told him:
.Whiskey y
4 know said the police force, but
where did you get it p
"Ol' Colonel Bryan got his out Of a
/
And that is as much as the third
degree could elicit from him.
The old colonel, scorning the COM
forts to which his station and his
property entitled him, dwelt in small
cabin on the steep hillside overlooking
the pretty village of Ruffsdale and
commanding majestic sweep of land
scape as well.
No one ever presumed to invade the
colonels wooded acres unless accom-
panied by the old man himself. He
could shoot, and would shoot
AS the years mellowed him, Colonel
Bryan promised the people of Ruffs-
dale a surprise His closest friend was
Calvin HightOwer, who had battled for
the Confederacy while the colonel
fought for the Union Toward the last
Cal and Colonel Bryan We're much to-
gether. They prowled the hills behind
the coloners cabin.
One fall evening, Ruffsdale was
shaken by mighty explosion from
Soils ravine.
A keg. charged with secret con-
coction and tightly plugged had let go
demolishing the colonels cellar. Not
long after that the old man died.
Then Cal Hightower came into his
own as the village mystery. He roam
ed the hills and marched the village
streets of Ruffsdale, always in state
Of exuberant happiness. Little by lit
tie he permitted his secret TO escape
him.
He was making use of Colonel
Brvan's Whiskey Rock.
Then Cal died and, until recently. the
tale of Whiskey Rock was told in
Rnffsdale as local curiosity. Prohi-
bition and the doings of Jeb Musser
revived interest in the famous rock.
Mr.. Hockey, proprietor OF the Ruffs-
dale garage, denies that he purchased
Rodger, a registered English blood
hound, for the express purpose OF
using him to locate Whiskey Rock.
He does admit that Rndger is being
trained to trail moonshiners and other
felons, sought by the authorities. And
the sensitive nose of Rodger is being
educated with precious samples OF rye
and bourbon, so that he mas already
learned to give voice. in deep, blood
curdling bay, when he snlffs ethyl
alcohol. It is the theory OF Mr.. Hockey
and those who join him IN MS quest
for the Rock, that Rodger, the Hum
Hound will at least come TO 9 point
if there reaches his experienced nos
trils the scent of a stone containing the
chemical constituents OF Whiskey.
Chemists say Whiskey Rock IS
myth that there is no such thing as
a solid, natural formation OF rye Whis-
key.
But the posses from Ruf1sdaie ana
the surrounding country say tnat Iney
have nothing to lose but fneIr time,
and vast amount to gain II Nhlskey
Rock can be found.