Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1918 — TOO MANY FUNERALS AT HARBOR [ARTICLE]

TOO MANY FUNERALS AT HARBOR

Now Find That Hearses and Cabs Go to Illinois to Bring Back Beer. The good folks at Indiana Harbor I have been appalled for several days at the fearful number of funeral * corteges passing in the streets. “People are certainly dying fast,” said "one man. “Two funerals today in our block,” said another. “There goes a hearse and ten limousines now. Some other poor chap is dead.” But alas Indiana Harbor is healthy as it ever was. The “funerals’’ were plain camouflage. Instead of a real funeral one hearse and so many taxicabs went to the Illinois side of the line, loaded up with beer and returned to some of the blind pigs. The hearses used had opaque sides instead of glass. These are stated to have hauled the kegs. The limousines for the "mourners” contained cases of bottled beer. The surprising number of funerals being held in the Harbor lately and the way several men reeked of beer is said to have lead to an investigation. Then it was learned that there seemed to be too many funerals. And some former saloonmen are said to have taken in as high as S3OO daily. According to the story the “funeral” heads for Illinois, presumably going to the West Hammond or a Chicago suburban cemetery. That attracts no attention. The “funeral” party return rather late and when it is dark the hearse is backed up to

the alley entrance of some saloon, and the thirsty are soon unthirsted. This is the substance of an investigation, so if you see to many funerals being held think of the prohibition law. —Lake County Times