Prohibition: Bartenders Serving Hair Tonic Booze

1919--

NEW YORK BARTENDERS SERVE HAIR TONIC BOOZE

NEW YORK, Nov. 10. -- Since the prohibition law went into effect New York's insistent and enthusiastic drinkers have been consuming the "nonbeverage" alcohol which usually goes into hair tonic, cologne and patent medicines at 30 or 40 cents a glass, according to Col. Daniel L. Porter, supervising internal revenue agent here.

Prune juice and caramel have aided bartenders to cater to customers, and whisky made "while you wait" from the hair tonic ingredient has been colored and served as "Scotch," "rye" and other favorite brands. This has come about because there has been no genuine "liquor" available since July 1, Col. Porter asserted. It has proved satisfactory to customers who have not been let in on the secret, because it has a powerful "kick."

The nonbeverage alcohol was manufactured under the war-time food control law and cost $240 a barrel. When the saloon keeper obtained it his next business operation was to buy a half dozen empty barrels and dilute it. Then, with his stock of prune juice and caramel at hand and his bartender ready he served his disguised stock by the small glass, making a profit of anything from $1,000 to $3,000, according to how much heart he had for his customers.

--The Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis, Indiana, November 11, 1919, page 14.


Bessemer, Indiana, 1919--

RUNAWAY HORSES HAVE RIGHT OF WAY

After tying his team to a post at the south end of the main street at Bessemer, William Hillman started to do his shopping. When the horses became frightened They started away, full gallop.

Several men ran to the center of the road intending to stop the runaway, but thought better of it when the two frightened horses came nearer to them.

A few minutes later the driver came out of the store, and finding his team gone, he good naturedly shouldered a piece of pipe he had purchased, and started after the team. He reached home about a half an hour later than the team.

--Ironwood Daily Globe, Ironwood, Michigan, November 22, 1919, page 8.