April 16, 1918
In Blaze of Reckless Conviviality Last Schooner Crosses the Bar in El Paso While big Force of Police Look on
In a blaze of reckless conviviality the 250 saloons in El Paso within the 10-mile military zone closed their doors at 10:30 o’clock and the last schooner passed over the bars of clubs at 4 o’clock this morning forever – except in the unlikely event of a miracle that will give John Barleycorn’s new lease of life in this city. The coupe de grace was administered by the Texas lawmakers when they saw fit to pass the law prohibiting the sale of liquor within 10 miles of a military reservation.
Early in the morning saloon patrons began to gather for the farewell crook of the elbow at the drink emporiums. As the hours went by the crowds increased but up until late in the afternoon business was comparatively light when one took into consideration the fact that the proverbial “last chance” was drawing near. But at the same time bartenders were kept fairly busy in the afternoon.
Little Trouble in Afternoon – There was some hilarity in the afternoon, and some minor disturbances developed, but were promptly squelched. Persons who had expected an unusual disturbance were disappointed.
John Barleycorn, famed as the most genial companion the human race has ever known; made a classic of by Omar Khayyam, the Old Persian poet; the dying friend of Nero, emperor of Rome, passed out of El Paso last night to comparative peace.
Though they were crowded to the doors, the 265 saloons in the city and within the 10-mile limit, closed at 10:30 without accident or without tragedy. With the last call was made throughout the city the patronizers of the bars walked out in good order, raising their hats on the occasion of the last drink.
Very little liquor was taken out in packages, the material load being carried away inwardly. Up to the closing time last night only nine arrests had been made for drunkenness. It seemed that most of these were cases where the drinking had been done at home. Between 10:30 and 11 o’clock not one arrest was made for drunkenness or fighting.
City Crowded – True it was that the city was crowded yesterday as it has never been in many a moon. Men that have not taken a drink in many a day took the occasion to invite their friends to Ilbate. But it was all done in an orderly manner and it seemed to be more of a celebration over the fact that John Barleycorn was dying than a personal celebration.
More soldiers were seen on the streets last night than have been seen on any pervious occasion. If they had had anything to drink they showed no evidence of it, although the report was prevalent that they had been slipped liquor by citizens who wanted them to remember the suspicious occasion. Practically every saloon stock in the city was sold last night over the bar. Order after order came in over the phone for casks of beer and gallons of whiskey which could not be filled.
In almost every case the response was, “We are very sorry we cannot fill your order, but we have sold out everything we have. A few bottles more will be sold over the bar and that’s all.”
Many Women Customers – A new phase of the game made its appearance yesterday afternoon and last night when scores of women visited the wholesale houses and made large purchases. They came with motor cars and baskets and crowded the liquor marts. The liquor houses did more business with them than with all the men in the city.
Chief of Police Charles E. Pollock, after the hour of liquor had passed, sighed and said, “This is the end of a perfect day.” Inspector of Police J.W. Reese, Capt. Harry Phoenix and Capt. Will Simpson, who were all keeping a weather eye open for eventualities, stated that they were delighted the night passed as it did.
Despite the fact that it was the last night, the police department showed no leniency. The order went forth early that each and every violation of the law was to be handled in the usual manner. Drunkenness was no excuse last night.
Statements came from hundreds of persons last night that they had not laid in any stock of liquor; that they meant to forget John Barleycorns altogether. Others stated that they had laid in a small supply, but that their intention was to husband it so long as they could. They stated they did not expect to “put on any show.”
Gives Money to Men – On the occasion of the last night the Van Dyke bar, on San Francisco Street, catered to the local trade for the benefit of its bartenders, Mr. Van Dyke served drinks until closing time, stating with each drink, “I am doing this for my bartenders. Every cent taken over the bar tonight will be given to the men. I think they deserve it and my last effort is to do something for them.”
Sell Out Early – Two of the down town saloons has sold every drop of liquor in stock at 6 o’clock yesterday evening and the doors were closed. In other places the doors were closed on very small stocks, which the owners will be able to dispose of to wholesalers at other points at a good profit.
As one large wholesale house yesterday a noticeable feature was the large number of women customers, who appeared to be in the majority. All were well dressed and modest in-appearance, evidently coming from the best homes of the city. Throughout the entire day motor trucks buried hither and you with deliveries of liquor for private individuals.
Bars Change Form – Today many of the thirst emporiums will bloom forth as soft drink parlors and restaurants. Yesterday while the last of the liquor stocks were being shoved over the bars to thirsty celebrants, managers were laying in stocks of “Bevo,” “Bravo” and similar non-intoxicating near beer liquid, sodas, water will also be a favorite beverage in some of the old emporiums hereafter.
Several bartenders who will remain to dispense soft drinks were not in a humorous mood last night, and when slightly intoxicated patrons attempted to joke about “soda jerkers”
warm words usually resulted. At one place it is said a bartender started across the bar after a person who had talked too much about “soda squirters.”
Stock “Cleaned Out” – One of the best “cleaned” saloons in El Paso yesterday evening was the Bristol, located near the Union depot. As 10 o’clock all the bartenders at this drinking place could offer was Angelica Wine and a few odd lots of whisky. The big business of the Bristol during the past few weeks was done with transients and not with El Paso dwellers. It was stated. The saloon, which carried Anheuser Bush beer, was entirely out of draught beer by early evening.
The bar at the Union station stopped sales of liquor early in the evening about 9 o’clock. The bar was run in connection with the Harvey house restaurant and all of the liquor left had been contracted for locally or else for shipment to points in New Mexico.
The Green Treo and other saloons on San Francisco street, which catered mainly to transients, did not do any unusually big business yesterday evening with the exception of the Van Dyke bar, which had a patronage from old faithful patrons up to closing time.
Zeiger Not Crowded – The famous old Zeiger bar was not crowded yesterday evening, but was well sold out of bottled goods. Draught beer was available for the patrons who gathered to say goodbye to one of the most famous bars of later times in El Paso.
Up to 10 o’clock the California Wine House on South El Paso was crowded with buyers anxious to stock up on bottled goods. The manager of the house stated that he had sold practically $10,000 worth of liquors during the day and $5,000 worth Saturday. The force of employee was kept busy wrapping up purchases during the evening.
Wholesalers Do Big Business – At Houck & Delters, the big wholesale house on San Francisco street, the stock was so depleted that buyers had to take what they could get during the evening hours. The last bottle of “Black and White” was sold by 10 o’clock and other Scotch and whiskies were equally hard to get.
American whiskies were also sold heavily, and sales in the evening were confined to odd lots and wines. Officials were loath to estimate the quantity of goods sold, but put it in the thousands of dollars.
At the Alhambra bar a good-natured crowd stayed until the 10:30 closing time. The manager was unable to state the aggregate amounts of his sales, but declared that he did not have more than $20,000 worth of liquor on hand, which would be sold in New Mexico.
Hotels Are Quiet – Patrons at the two big downtown hotels, the Sheldon and Paso del Norte, bought liquor with means yesterday evening up to the usual closing times, but there was no special attempt at a “celebration.” The liquor sold was stated not to be in excess of the usual sales. In fact, the closing edict did not appear to cause any special excitement at the hotels.
Big Crowd at Gem – Perhaps the biggest crowd of El Paso celebrants of the closing edict gathered at the Gem, on South El Paso street, noted as one of the most famous of all El Paso bars. For hours during the afternoon and evening, crowds of celebrators had been drifting in and out of the Gem, and as the time drew near in the 10:25 towards the fateful time when El Paso would be “dry,” the white=sproned attendants feverishly set out beers to the waiting patrons, for as the last requests for whisky suddenly stopped.
“Ruggil “Douses Lights” – John Ruggil, the veteran bartender of thirty-five years, went to the switch and shut off most of the lights, and called out, “9:30 o’clock” above the babble. As the crowd began to file out in the flickering flights, drinks already ordered were set on the bar by the bartenders and hastily swallowed.
“Goodbye, Joe,” was the farewell of many of the faithful s they shook hands with Joseph Kopp, one of the El Paso veteran saloonkeepers. Then the colored porters put up the wooden barrier, and the stern realization that El Paso was “bone dry” was forced on the retreating habitués of the famous bar.
Mr. Kopp was unable to state yesterday evening the exact amount of the goods that he had sold, but admitted that he had done a tremendous business during the past week.
Crowds Orderly – The crowds on the downtown streets were large but orderly and good natured. There was no disguising the fact that any of the celebrants were out for a “good time” and did not care if the last chance in buy exhilarating fluids found them a little exhilarated.
It was said that quite a number of the celebrators were persons who rarely took a drink, and one report was that some of the celebrants were “teetotalers.” The package customers were numerous and well known citizens carrying jugs of neatly wrapped packages that suggested a bottle or two wee not uncommon. The larger purchases were delivered yesterday, or will be sent to residence today, according to contract.
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