The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-15
CONTRABAND WET
GOODS" BURNED IN
IDABEL'S STREETS
HUNDREDS Or GALLONS OF JOY
WATER POUR IN FLAMING TOR
RENTS ADOWN THE THIRST
ING THOROUGHFARES.
Especial to the Ardmoreite)

Idabel, Okla. April 15.-For some
time the officers of this county have
entertained suspicious that regular
and well-conducted traffic in 'hand
made" whisky was being carried on
between some point in the northern
part of the county and Idabel, and in
termediate communities. Thus it was
that the attention of Constable Hubert
Allbritian was attracted to the driver
Of a two-horse farm wagon, late We'd
nesday evening, as the constable was
going home from his office. This
driver, as the constable thought. was
acting in very suspicious manner.
The officer trailed the wagon, which
he had ascertained came from the
northern end of the county, to point
about two and half miles from Idabel,
following the wagon to an old barn
where the driver parked it.
The barn, an old and time-worn relic
of the pioneer days of the old Indian
Territory, was in a secluded and Sc
questered spot, well off the accustomed
routes of travel TO and from Idabel.
Having located his man and spot
ted the place where the wagon and its
supposed load of contraband goods had
been left. presumably awaiting the ar
rival of the ones who We're to cater. at
retail, TO those who thirsted, the con-
stable returned TO Idabel and report
ed the find to the sheriff.
The sheriff sent detail of deputies
to the spot where the wagon and its
load had been seen, but found, upon
arrival, that little bird had possibly
whispered q warning in the ear of the
driver. for both the driver. the wagon
and the "wet groceries" were gone.
The posse followed the wagon. guild
ed by the deeply indentcd trackings oil
the wheels for some hours, but the
search was abandoned ut midnight.
However, bright and early Thursday
morning Deputy Richard Jones, of the
Sheriffs force. took up the tran AT
the point where it had been abandoned
and ultimately found the wagon in the
barn of a farmer, about three miles
southeast of the city. The wagon was
brought into Idabel, taken in front oil
the courthouse and wrecked.
Gathered around the courthouse
awaiting the arrival of the wagon and
and its contraband load. large crowd
had assembled, having learned that the
officers had made the catch In anti
cipatlon of what the barrels with which
the vehicle was loaded. might contain
there were some in the crowd who were
prepared, with tin cups. with tin dip
pers, with glasses and with the old time
gourds, for the breaking OF the 'giad
tidings."
After the wagon had been destroyed
the sheriff ordered the white JOY water
poured from the barrels upon the
thirsty, dry streets. The county at
torney. c. ID. Wilkinson. carrying out
the instructions OF the sheriff, seized
heavy sledge hammer and burst the
heads of two 55-gallon barrels. and the
sparkling white corn whisky cascadeu
forth, spreading the aroma Of its bo-
uuet upon the surrounding ether, and
tantnlizing the nostrils and causing the
mouths of those assembled to water
with longings for sereptitious draughts
OF misunderstanding potions.
An aged farmer who stood near the
barrels with tin cup ready held forth In
nervously trembling hands. was the
first To make the attempt to gather TO
himself part of the rushing waters OF
lethia. A hard-heartcd officer, however,
who was standing nearby, Knocked the
cup from the shaking hands OF the
thirsty one with agcd-frosted head.
This act Of the officer failed to put
n damper upon the thirst of others IN
the crowd which lined the sidewalks.
breezy edge. and as the fiery liauld
poured In crystal-clcar stream down
the cutters. many were seen TO throw
themselves on their faces and drink,
as drinks the farmcr-boy nom the
dcp,hs of purling brooks.
These lbations were stopped when
somc one who had no sympathy Tor
"dcpravcd thirst" applied lighted
match to the flowing gallons oi
trouble-makcr. The match got in It's
work without delay. and seething. hot.
yellow flames ran along the surface oil
the pouring river OF whisky and flick'
cred in amber splendor as II impreg-
mated the atmosphere with the fumes
OF the blazing lntoxicant. So strong,
indeed. were these fumes that one oi
the county officers was forced to close
the windows OF her office to shut out
the swcetly sickcnlng odors.
sheriff rclker states that he is posi-
tive tha, he has line upon the lead
ers of the Illicit whisky traffic which
has been conducted in McCurtnin
county for the past several months
and believes that within a short time
he will have many OF the law violators
behind the bars. thereby breaking up
their nefarlous business.
c. T.. stone. the man In whose barn
the wagon-load of whisky was located
CONTINUED on Page Three)