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1856 Temperance Whiskey Riot – Princeton Indiana (PART #3/3)

September 21, 2019

1856 Temperance Whiskey Riot – Princeton Indiana (PART #3/3)

Letter and poem written by lady supporter of the Temperance Whiskey Riot that took place April 1856 in Princeton Indiana.

New Harmony Ind July 6 1856

Dear Miss Martha Ann. We arrived home at four o’clock exactly after a pleasant drive with our blind horse and found the folks right end up inside you will find the verses that I was telling you about when you read them I want you to write and let me know what you think of them.

If I had been there when the fight come off likely I would done better.

Please write to us soon,

Yours in friendship. N.M. Chapes

 

Princeton Whiskey Fight !!
 
Oh! have you heard the news of late
About king Alcohol the great
That, was slain in battle in our State,
On Princeton battle field
The ladies that did meet the foe,
And face to face in battle go.
And armed with truths unerring bow,
Quick made the monster yield.
 
Armed with hatchets, hand in hand,
They marched up to the dogery stand
And there did make a firm demand,
To have it closed forever
Soon the doggery lord they spied,
And told him, he must quick decide,
Most tauntingly he then replied,
No Madam I will never.
 
Quick up went axes high in air,
And glittering hatchets by the fair,
For we’ve not moments time to spare
In conquering monster gin!
One grand salute one crashing roar,
One heavy charge against the door,
Will bring its  --- to the floor,
And we’ll go bravely in
 
Like Jackson down at New Orleans,
They took responsibility, it seems
To make the ardent, flow in streams
In streams of liquid gore;
Out rushed the mighty foaming ale,
And rot-gut whiskey sad and pale,
Brandy, wine and gin-cock-tail,
Went rushing on the floor
 
The army still the foe attacks!
And wielding the fierce battle axe,
More deadly than the pills of quacks!
To lay the tyrant lower,
With decanters jingling, jars a mashing
Barrels, kegs, and jugs, a crashing
Such another brandy smashing
Was never seen before.
 
Quick the monster took his flight,
And scampers off with his might,
To hide beneath the shades of night,
To never be seen again:
Crowned with success and hearts elate,
We hope soon to exterminate,
This mighty rum old potentate
And end his frightful reign.
 
Who would think such tender hearts?
The fountain, that pure love imparts,
Could thunder forth, such deadly starts,
Instead of loving ---;
But when assembling in their might,
These tender hearts can love or fight,
And weave a wreath of victories bright,
Around their matron brows
 
New Harmony April 27 1856

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