The Sacramento Bee of Dec. 24, 1908, ran the following article with a Klamath Falls, Ore., dateline:
“Sheriff W.B. Barnes, who is determined to rid (Klamath Falls) … of blind pigs and dives, assisted by three deputies, made a raid that resulted in finding a jug of whisky in a place called the Standard and owned by C.L. Reed, while in the Central, … a place operated by J.V. Houston, nothing but a bottle of grape juice was found.”
The article continues, “Sheriff Barnes believes by … raiding some of the places under suspicion occasionally he will be able to suppress (those) … that have since last July been a disgrace to the people of this city and a detriment to the entire county.”
So what is a “blind pig?”
The Blind Pig Supper Club in Asheville, N.C., defines it this way:
“The term ‘blind pig’ originated in the United States in the 19th century; it was applied to lower-class establishments that sold alcohol during prohibition. The operator of … a saloon or bar would charge … to see an attraction (such as an animal) and then serve a ‘complimentary’ alcoholic beverage, thus circumventing the law.”
Sources: "What is a Blind Pig?" The Blind Pig, theblindpigsupperclub.com/what-is-a-blind-pig/. Accessed 22 Jan. 2019; "HISTORY SNAPSHOT 110 YEARS AGO: Sheriff's raid on blind pigs. [original story published by the Sacramento Bee on 24 Dec. 1908]" The Midge: Cultural Newsletter for the Klamath Basin. 19 Dec 2018.
