N&W in 1904 -- Saloon

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SALOON ON  WHEELS WAS PROSPEROUS FOR A TIME
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Mountaineers Did Good Business on No. 12
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STOCK OF WHISKEY SOON EXHAUSTED
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Not a Few Passengers Handed Over Two-Bi's [sic] for a Drink
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PEDDLED BEVERAGE FROM COACH TO COACH
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    A gentleman from this city who chanced to be a passenger on train No. 12, from Kenova, Monday, had the pleasure -- or displeasure, as the case is one that can be variously judged -- of witnessing a saloon on wheels in first class operation.
    Hardly had the train rounded the curve at Ceredo for its journey up the Twelve Pole and along the Tug, until two men wearing the garbs of Kentucky mountaineers entered the smoking car, and each with a gallon jug and a cup in hand started through the aisle, announcing as they progressed that they had a very palatable beverage, namely, pure old corn whiskey, for sale.  Many a passenger aboard had no doubt slept rather late that morning, and before going to the station for the journey had not the time to take a nip at home or in a saloon, so the new innovation was a rather pleasant as well as an odd one.  Not a few of the passengers aboard handed over two bits [25¢ to you youngsters.] to the Kentuckians for a jigger of the firewater, and when all those in the smoker had been served the festive mountaineers proceeded to the next coach, where not a few ladies chanced to be passengers.  The ladies of course did not imbibe, but many of the men did, and had not the stock of liquor been exhausted, the vendors there of would have had more money in their pockets when a revenue officer placed them under arrest as they stepped from the train at Williamson, and lodged them in jail there.
    The men gave their names as David May and Walter Harris, and said their home was at Pikeville, Kentucky [c. 28 miles west of Williamson].  They had gone down the Tug and Big Sandy on Sunday on a fleet of timber and had taken the liquor from their homes with them with the intention of making expenses on their return.  They made expenses, but not enough to pay them out of their present predicament.  They were given a preliminary hearing before U. S. Commissioner Sampson, at Williamson, and were sent to jail to await the convening of the next federal grand jury in Huntington.  Their arrest came about through a telegram sent by Conductor Elliott prior to the train's arrival at Williamson, and the revenue man was on the spot when the train pulled in.

Bluefield Daily Telegraph
March 17, 1904

[It has restored my faith in womanhood to learn "that the ladies of course did not imbibe."]

Gordon Hamilton
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