BEDFORD DAILY MAIL BEDFORD, INDIANA Thursday, November 28, 1929 DENTON BASS HAS HISTORY That is Interesting - Deals With Work of Prohibition HAS MANY NARROW ESCAPES "Thirty seven years is just one big day, but it's a long one" according to Denton Bass, prohibition agent, living in Mitchell, who will retire to private life December 4, his seventieth birthday. In March 1892, Bass was appointed storekeeper - gauger in the internal revenue department of the State of Indiana. During the thirty-seven years he has been in the department, his title has changed twice, first to prohibition inspector, later to prohibition agent. During this --- he has served under ten department heads. In addition to the various captains and "straw bosses." At present Bass in on leave of absence, but will not have to return to his duties as his vacation period extends to December 4. In an interview the prohibition officer pointed out that all federal agents are allowed a leave of absence of two days during each month. I have worked straight through, thus earning my present extended vacation. "But I am glad to get away from the job and out where I can be my own boss." Bass declared "The life of Prohi agent has it ups and downs just the same as any other occupation." During the thirty seven years of service Bass has paid a certain percent of his salary each year to a pension fund. He will start drawing this next month. He will start drawing 1234 next month. He is the first man in the department of Indiana to be retired on a pension and therefore is the oldest dry officer. Bass has lived through the ages of the Buggy, the wagon, the automobile and the airplane. He interestingly described his first duties, after his appointment. His duties as storekeeper-auger required him to cover a radius of some thirty miles out of Bedford. He checked up on the liquors being sold by the many stores. On many occasions it was impossible to travel in a buggy and then he rode on horseback. For twenty eight years he has traversed this district and then came the first change in the department of internal revenue. All gaugers' titles were changed to prohibition inspectors and each agent's territory was increased. This change followed the eighteenth amendment. Instead of the old fashioned stores, inns and distilleries the inspectors now visited drug stores and other places liquor was kept. This title did not meet with approval an on September 3, 1921 all agents of the internal revenue department became prohibition agents. "It seems that shortly afterwards we had far harder times than in the last few years." Bass said " I mean by this that about the time prohibition went into effect we were forced to go out and collect a great number of stills from individuals, who did not agree with the new law. The majority of the hard cases which I have met up with resulted when residents of the hilly country in Southern Indiana defied the law and openly started a big bootleg ring. "I never worked much as an undercover man but I knew that in those early days of prohibition it was a mighty hard job for the secret service men to get by. I recall one case to mind, which is a good example. There is a place in Floyd county known as Floyd Knobs. A man by the name of Thomas Crawford and his sons had defied the law and it was generally known they were operating four or five stills in that neighborhood. They had the reputation of being Southern Indiana's biggest bootleggers. " A group of federal men, led by Group Captain Dan Moore including Bill Marshal, Rou Nagele, Charles Lebert, myself and three New Albany policemen were detailed to clean up the place. A large truck was rented and late one afternoon we headed for Floyd Knobs. The Crawford place was located back in the hills far off the road, but we hit it about the right time. The bootleggers had four sons and two of them were in charge of the house. They were arrested and two big stills were fond in operation in the house. "Nagele has been an undercover man on this job and had worked many months getting the correct data and location of the stills. Realizing that the father and his other two sons would return home we remained inside the house and waited. Before we left we had thirteen prisoners handcuffed together for the return ride to New Albany and in addition to the prisoners and the two stills found in the house, we located three other stills in the woods nearby _____ us four_____ to complete this ____" "On another raid in that vicinity we were after a widow her daughter named Moody. Upon nearing the house the two were seated on the front porch. The girl was the first to sense our presence and realizing that we were federal men, she hurried inside. By the time we reached the door she came running out screaming at the top of her voice. It developed that in her attempt to destroy the contents of a large still which was at the time in operation she slipped and fell face downward into the boiling mash. We expected the girl to die but rushed her to a physician under whose care she recovered but was badly disfigured. Although Bass has been through many thrilling episodes h has never felt "Hot lead" but once. An attempt was made upon his life in his home town, Mitchell, about four years ago. While on a trip home he was aiding Mitchell's chief of Police, Harry Chess in a liquor raid. The officers had searched the house and outbuildings but had failed to find any evidence. While other members of the group were searching the house, Bass located a jug of liquor in the orchard nearby. The owner was called from the home and informed that he would have to go to jail. After starting he asked to return to get his coat. "Chief Chess returned to the house with him and in a few minutes. I heard an awful racket and saw Chess start dodging out of the door. About the same time our prisoner made his appearance with a single barrel shotgun and opened fire. Chess was pretty badly wounded and staggered toward us. The man then disappeared and the next thing I saw was a man standing in another doorway pointing the gun toward me. He fired and some of the shot struck me in the left shoulder. This man later served a year in Leavenworth. Bass has many interesting tales of adventure and he could sit and talk all night about them. He has probably aided in the capture of more bootlegger in Indiana than any other man. Although there has been a number of retirements in other departments of the Internal Revenue in Indiana. Bass is the first man in the prohibition department to receive this honor. He has no plans for the future other then a quiet life in Mitchell. He lives on Main street the first house east of the railroad tracks on the south side of the street.