The Bootleggers

From 1917 to 1924, Saskatchewan was dry.  When prohibition was repealed by popular vote, bootleggers turned to an even bigger market.  The United States was dry from 1920 to 1933. During Prohibition, the making, selling and buying of liquor was illegal.   That didn't stop bootleggers like Peter Druar, who was known around Shaunavon for his home brew.  It was risky business.  One day, Mounties arrived at Druar's home with a search warrant.  They went down into the basement, where three 20 gallon kegs were standing in plain view.  Unknown to the Mounties, the first two kegs contained chokecherry wine while the third was filled with home brewed liquor.  The Mounties demanded a sample from the first keg.  They pronounced it quite good, and asked for a sample from the second keg.  They called this sample delicious.  One Mountie pointed to the third keg and said, "I suppose this is the same?"  Druar said yes and offered to pull a sample.  "No," the Mountie replied, "wine is alright for your own use, so long as you don't bootleg it." As they left, amazed at his good luck, Druar decided to hide the keg of home brew.  It was years before his family realized he had actually buried it in the backyard, under a horseradish plant.