Dewey Club Sidelined by Judge after Violating Liquor Laws, or Not?
Descendants of Early Tippecanoe County Pioneers Remain in Tippecanoe County: Kirby Risk, Del Bartlett, Herman Lodde, James O'Connor, John Cuppy, Dan Storms & Others
century in a steamboat? There was a short-lived Dewey Club that was established in 1898 by a group of fun-loving friends from Montmorenci, Indiana, who did just that. On June 14, 1898, the Journal and Courier reported that around twenty people formed the Dewey Club to honor the hero of Manilla. [Dewey was best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War, with the loss of only a single crewman on the American side.] Articles of Incorporation were drafted and filed with the Tippecanoe County Recorder by Philip Booher, George Burkley and Martin V. Erwin, with its object listed as “social enjoyment.”
“The armored gunboat, Raymond Ball, carrying the noted Dewey Club,
left wet dock at 6 o’clock this morning and steamed due north toward the
islands. The staunch craft expects to pass the mines at the first island
successfully and to get by the Soldiers’ Home before dark, providing she does
not go around on some of the treacherous shoals. Commodore Ogle was on the
bridge with an umbrella and Admiral Fletemeyer was forward with his binocular
when last seen in the hazy, misty distance. The smoke from the funnels was last
seen as the Ball rounded the middle pier of the Brown Steet Bridge.
Twenty bold sailor boys were in the rigging, and the cheering
could be heard from one end of the boat to the other. It was raining and the
air was full of promise for an all-day gale, but the hardy men didn’t care a
rap. They will go to the mouth of the Tippecanoe or to the bottom of the deep
in the attempt. In case they accomplish their design, they will return tonight
by candlelight. Provisions for a whole week were taken along, but it is not
believed they will last through the day. People at home will eagerly scan the
dispatches from Davis Ferry. Americus and other northern ports today, fearful
lest the boat be lost in one of the dreadful typhoons. The river is over twenty
inches deep, too, in some places.”
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| Possibly the site of Joker Hill's dock boat house |
A
newspaper reporter from The Call was aboard the vessel during the same
trip and reported this inside account:
“The
steamer Raymond Ball went up the Wabash this morning on its annual 1st
of June excursion, having on board a happy party of gentlemen bent on a day’s
enjoyment, an abundant supply of appliances for which was safely stowed away in
the hold, the bunkers and on deck. The craft was in command of Rear-Admiral John
W. Fletemeyer, Ed Graves, chief engineer; Elmer Burton, second engineer; “Joker”
Hill, pilot, and Otis Stevens, chief stoker. Robert McDonald was quartermaster
and chief purveyor, with Steve Ogle as assistant. Among those on board a Call
reporter’s Kodak noted, addition to the above, the following: Chas. E. Ruger,
Frank Crary, Ed Stocker, Henry Riechmenmeyer, Jas. Watson, Arnold Herbert, Matt
Cornsdorf, Mike C. Rick, and several others whose faces the Kodak could not
take. The boat was delayed an hour in departing by a broken wheel but finally
got away in good shape.”
Judge
William Taylor ruled against the club and fined James Haggard $25. Judge Taylor
believed the club was organized for the purpose of evading the law in
dispensing liquors. Club members contended that the club was formed for the
purpose of advancing “intellectual interests and social relations.” In
rendering his decision, Taylor said he could not find anything in the law that “permitted
a corporation to do a thing that an individual was prohibited from doing,” but
noted the case would be appealed to the Indiana Supreme Court. The Indianapolis
Journal reported the appeal, noting the suit would determine how much
authority the federal liquor license gives.”
“A
large crowd assembled on the Main Street Bridge this morning at 7 o’clock to
see the Raymond Ball sail out of Joker Hills harbor with the bow headed
upstream and the rising sun crossing the deck at an angle of 75 degrees. On
board, all was full of life and merriment for it was the departure of the Dewey
Club for their third annual cruise on the Wabash. The party was composed of
about 25 members of the club, and the bunkers of the boat were heavily laden
with good things to eat, etc. The equipment was complete. The boat, when she
was flying the national colors and the banners of the B.P.O.E. The vessel was
handled by competent and experienced seamen, and no anxiety is felt as to her
safe return. As she plowed her way proudly through the water, an admiral’s
salute was fired for the gallant hero, John w. Fletemeyer, who was in command,
and as the Raymond Ball sped past the houseboats near the Brown Street Bridge,
those boats dipped colors. Within fifteen minutes after leaving the wharf, the
steamboat had rounded a curve up the river and was out of sight.
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| This photo is not associated with the story but is attributed to Tippecanoe County history. |
The party will drop anchor in Pittsburg Landing, a few miles beyond Americus, and will there spend the day. If no accidents occur, they are expected to reach port at 9 o’clock tonight.
At 3 o’clock a message was received by wireless telegraphy from The Call’s special correspondent on board the Raymond Ball stating that the party had reached their destination after a thrilling and tiresome journey. A swift current was encountered at the first island, and it was necessary to unload part of the refreshments in order to make the riffle. At the ferry, Shevan Elby gave a wonderful exhibition of tight wire walking, performing remarkable feats on the wire which is stretched across the river at that point. The only accident was that he lost his new white cap, which was blown into the water. It is thought possible that the cap was later picked up by some fishermen and returned to the sorrowing owner. For further details of the trip, the participants should be interviewed personally.”
A
year later the appellate court affirmed Judge Taylor’s decision, but not before
James H. Haggard, a
steward of the Dewey Club, was indicted several times for
violating the liquor law. The club’s charter was formally revoked after Taylor
declared it was a “subterfuge to permit the violation of the law.”
The
Call newspaper,
which seemed to be in cahoots with the club, wrote this interesting and
detailed account of the cruise:
SAME OLD TARS SAIL THE CREEK
Dewey Club on Fourth Annual Cruise Up to Pittsburg – Sidelights on the Trip
“The
members of the Dewey Club made their fourth annual cruise up the river this
morning, taking passage in the steamer Lafayette that left the Main Street wharf
at 9 o’clock this morning.
The
boat was in charge of Captain George Wellington, with Pilot James O’Connor at
the wheel. The dock hand-in-chief was Joker Hill, whose years on the Wabash
date from the ‘run aground’ of Noah’s Ark on Ararat.
The
commissary department was in charge of ‘My Dear Robert McDonald,’ of local
political fame. The flag floated gracefully from the stern of the big barge
containing the members of the club, while a massive headlight gracefully decked
the bow. It is presumed this will not only be used in lighting up the crested
wave on the return trip tonight, but in a like manner serve the purpose of wearing
out the old familiar tune of ‘There is a Light in the Window for Thee, Brother’
that may by inspiration lead the excursionists to see the lights that may be in
reality awaiting them. Such things have awaited the weary return of many a
traveler under similar circumstances. The one feature missing – greatly regretted,
of course, was the familiar face of Mayor Noah Justice, who was expected at
every historical point along the cruise to ‘waft’ from his pocket a manuscript
appropriate to the occasion.
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| From the Library of Congress |
As
the steamer pulled out with its precious load of freight, the bewitching roar
of artillery in the form of 22 smokeless guns announced the fact that the fourth
cruise was on its way.
As
the boat passed between the piers of the old Brown Street Bridge wreck there
was a flash of a seven spot and an ace that denoted either seven up or a game
of ‘freeze out’ in progress. However, there was no exultant cry, or knitting
the brow that gave any evidence that a jackpot had been landed, or the
successful bidder had been shut on his bid of three.
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| Brown Street Bridge from TCHA Archives & Preserve Historic Lafayette |
The cruise expected to end at Pittsburg, with the wind-up in the shape of a landing at the Main Street wharf at midnight tonight.
As
the boat wound around the curve of the river at the bend, just before revealing
the first island, there was a commotion on board when the pilot instructed the
captain to notify the passengers to doff the life preservers for fear of the
treacherous logs hidden beneath the current of the east bank. Tecumseh Trail was
reached in safety and this being the first historical spot on the cruise, Nick
Prass, in German accent quoted, "The names are written on our waters; you cannot wash them out."
The
mouth of Burnett’s Creek was reached and the cable lifted at the old Davis
Ferry without incident of note. At the mouth of the Wildcat Creek, John Cuppy
cast a shy glance up the low ripple, found no large catfish basking on the
ripples and returned to spin a yarn with old John Opp of hunter fame.
Birmingham Bluff and Stair’s Landing were passed with only an expression of
later day amazement at its beauty. Near the mouth of the Tippecanoe, John Opp’s
right hand went with a fervor to the back of his shirt collar and wiped out a ‘bar’
knife and with the other, an old time navy from his pistol pocket in his east
pocket, for John thought he was in a cane brake of old Arkansaw and ‘smelt a
bar.’ When Kite’s Ripple was reached,
Dan Storms entertained the party with an Indian romance of how an Indian maiden
who once awaited her lover there, who in a later reincarnation, is now Del
Bartlett.
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| Photo From Wabash Valley Trust for Historic Preservation |
At the mouth of Deer Creek, George Fraser gave the most inspiring illustration of the wild Cheyenne Indian’s green corn dance. This undoubtedly being inspired by a stiff breeze that wafted o’er the excursionists from the direction of Prophet’s Town, and thus the day passed with incidents rare and amusing.
As
The Call went to press before the return by moonlight, it is impossible
to relate incidents that may happen en route home, except to say that the
program is outlined. It is that as the party steam into the port of Lafayette,
the passengers are expected to sing in German, selections from the ‘Runaway
Girl’ in German under the directorship of Herman Lodde.”
Well,
that was quite a story! Who wouldn’t want to go back in time to experience a
Dewey steamboat excursion? The surnames of some of the Dewey fellas are
recognizable to many who live here today as they were the early pioneer
ancestors of present-day citizens.
So,
what do you think? Was the judge correct in putting the kabash on the Dewey
Club for selling liquor to its members during river cruises?
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