OHIO WHISKEY WAR.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1176, 15 May 1874, Page 3

OHIO WHISKEY WAR.

[from prank Leslie's illustrated newspaper.]

The women's crusade against liquor-sellers in Ohio, which excited so much ridicule a few weeks ago, is becoming an important movement. The meeting, according to reports, were first held at Washington, O. Its population is about 3000. Dio Lewis delivered a temperance lecture there last Fall, and the women of the audience were so deeply affected by his vivid portrayals of the misery, wretchedness, and ruin caused by the liquor traffic that on the following; afternoon they met and resolved to have the doctor speak again. The next morning the streets were flooded with posters calling for a temperance mass-meeting in one of the churches. Nearly the entire population turned out, and, after an enthusiastic meeting, nearly one hundred of the leading ladies in town formed thsmselves into a long procession, and, while singing a kind of pathetic chant, they marched to the nearest grogshop, leaving the gentlemen at church to pray for success.

In less than a week all the saloons in town except one were closed, and their liquors emptied into the gutters. Prayer-meetings were held in adjoining towns and counties, and it was not long before the movement spread through the southern part of the State, into Indiana. Of course there was much opposition at many of the places. At Vienna, while tho ladies were praying in a saloon belonging to Van Pelt, a German, he rushed forward and drenched them with hops and lager beer. This was telegraphed over the country as a good joke on the advocates, and Van Pelt suddenly found himself a hero. He cursed the ladies and threatened them frightfully. They only retired as far as the sidewalk, and continued singing and praying as before. Sometimes he was present and overwhelmed them with mock friendship. At other times he appeared frenzied, and once ho brandished an axe at the women. They finally built a booth in front of his saloon and took down the names of all who visited it, while they increased the fervency of their prayers. To the utter surprise of everyone, except the ladies, Van Pelt suddenly began to see things in a new light, and he asked forgiveness for his past life. Word was sent to the churches ; citizens were called to the saloon and while the bells were ringing and the multitude singing songs of rejoicing, Van Pelt rolled his liquor casks into the streets and demolished them with the axe he had intended for his besiegers. The news was flashed to other towns, to the amazement of his former friends.

In another town a photographer's "~ar was used as a tabernacle, and as . oon as one saloon was closed it was drawn before the door of another, where the exhorters prayed day and night. A calcium light illuminated the neighbourhood, and the scene was strangely solemn. At Blanchcster the ladies were refused admission to a saloon fronting the railroad track. Then the superintendent of the road ran a car alongside the building and invited the ladies to take possession of it. On the 10th of February the first visits to saloons were made, but the doors were locked and the keepers refused to listen. Then followed the praying scenes that have excited so much comment throughout the country For days and nights the devoted women prayed on the cold sidewalks, entreating drunkards not to enter the saloons. And the result has been that many of the drinking-places have closed, and the liquor traffic has been greatly reduced.