331. Saloon Smasher Avoids Pensacola 1908

Updated: Mar 25, 2022

The Temperance Movement began as far back as the 1830's in an attempt to make the consumption and production of alcoholic beverages illegal in the United States. The political movement continued until 1919 with the passing of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. Known as "Prohibition" the amendment made production and sale of alcohol a Federal crime. Prohibition was finally repealed in 1933 by the the 21st Amendment. Although it was passed with good intentions, the profound effect on American society was devastating. Organized crime gained a strong and permanent foothold throughout the nation by supplying alcohol on the black market. Although there were numerous temperance leaders that stepped forward during the long struggle, one that traveled extensively to spread the message was Caroline "Carrie" Amelia Moore, known as the "Saloon Smasher."

Carrie was born in Kentucky on November 25, 1846 and would marry Dr. Charles Gloyd in Cass County, MO in 1867. Within a year, the two had separated just after their daughter Charlien was born. Her husband had been a Captain in the 118th Ohio Infantry during the Civil War and was a severe alcoholic, an issue that killed him in 1869. Rightfully or not, Carrie attributed her anti-alcohol obsession on Gloyd. In 1872, with her family's inheritance and her husband's estate she became a teacher. In 1874, she married a much older David Nation (1828-1903) who was a lawyer, minister, and editor. The couple tried several business ventures in Texas until forced to move to Medicine Lodge, Kansas in 1889. There, Carrie helped establish a chapter of the (WCTU) Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), an organization that became the spearhead for women's rights as well as the abolition of alcohol. However, she became dissatisfied with the results of simple protests and singing religious hymns outside of saloons. Carrie wanted more! She wrote that she prayed vehemently for an answer and recieved it on June 6, 1900. On that day, she received a heavenly response that told her to take up something (rocks) and smash the nearest saloons. This she did, destroying the whiskey bottles in three saloons with her rocks. Over the next ten years, she would smash thirty saloons in all with her more effective hatchet while singing hymns and prayers for the sinful patrons. The consequence of her actions also brought her thirty arrests of which she gladly paid the fines. Perhaps because of this or maybe not, she and David split up in 1901.

As her fame and media coverage grew, she was given the moniker of "the Saloon Smasher" and even went so far as to sell souvenir hatchets to pay for her prohibition expenses. She also published "The Smasher's Mail" and "The Hatchet" newspaper in addition to appearing on vaudeville and in music halls. And, as if prohibition was not enough, she also crusaded against tight clothing for women (corsets) because she said it damaged their vital organs.

In 1908, she was on tour through Florida on her way to Washington, stopping at various cities to spread her prohibitionist message to the southern populace. In February, she was touring Tampa over a period of ten days as she lashed out at the people for their sinful ways. It was there that she heard of "Pensacola" and their wild bars, drunken patrons, and Mardi Gras revelers. She told the Tampa reporters that perhaps it was time to visit this den of iniquity during this particular lascivious festivity! After Tampa, her next stop was the port city of Jacksonville on February 15th where she planned to smash up some bars with her hatchet. She told the media that after a short stay there she had set her eyes on Pensacola planning to arrive on or about Mardi Gras on the 1st of March!. The News Journal even stated that during this time all Pensacolians are known to throw "confetti and everyone employs every device of human ingenuity that will make noise on the streets over those two days (March 1-3)." They further stated that the citizens had also heard that Carrie is "peculiarly adverse to ALL forms of levity so it is expected that numerous sensational incidents will occur this Mardi Gras!" This information was relayed intentionally or by happenstance to Carrie who thus decided that her machinations were better exercised elsewhere than on the fun loving rambunctious Pensacolians!

Carrie eventually moved to Eureka Springs, Arkansas and founded a home known as "Hatchet Hall." One day, she collapsed during a speech and was taken to a hospital in Leavenworth, KS. There, she died on June 9, 1911 and was buried in the Belton City Cemetery in Belton, MO. Her home in Medicine Lodge was eventually bought by the WCTU in the 1950's and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.