Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1893 — Hunting a Moonshiner. [ARTICLE]

Hunting a Moonshiner.

BY M. M. FOLSOM.

“We were very much puzzled over n certain locality in the Cut Log region of the Blue Ridge Mountains,” said Revenue Collector Chapman, as he leaned back in his chair. “We knew very well that whisky was being made in the neighborhood, but so carefully concealed was the habitat of the moonshiners that we were unable to obtain any clue to it. There had been a distillery in that neighborhood some ten or a dozen years ago, run by a noted moonshiner—old Reub Davis —but times had become so hot for him that he suddenly decamped, giving out the report that he was going to Texas. It has been so long since his disappearance that people had almost forgotten him. “Still we were puzzled. Our deputies could find evidence unimpeachable of the existence of a contraband distillery by hanging around the little cross-roads vil-' lages aud attending the dilferent gat herrings where ‘corn juice’ and apple jack were plentiful; but although the base of supplies could be traced al most to thefountaiu head, the exact place of deposit could nevdr be found. Many and many a weary tramp did we take among those rugged mountains and dark ravines, night and day, in sun and ruin, but still we were baffled.

“Finally we decided on making a regular ring hunt for the culprit, and bright and early one morning I started out with three of my keenest deputies, determined to make a haul before night or else spend the frosty night in the woods. 1 sent two of the men in one direction and set out across the Cut Log ridge with MoDonald. “Reaching a point near the summit, I caught a whiff of the familiar flavor, and halting began to look around for some clue ub to its source. Perched away up on the mountainside, overhanging a brawling brook that came tumbling down across the road we were traveling, I spied a shabby-looking cabin whioh would have appeared uuinhabited save for a little curl of smoke ascending lazily from the rough rock chimney. Bidding McDonald remain with the horses, I climbed the mountain, and upproaching the low doorway I accosted an old woman who was looking after her household work. Everything was as innocent and unsuspicious as if there was not a drop of contraband in forty miles of the spot. “ ‘May I get a light for my pipe?’ I asked. “‘Ya-as; wait a minit and I’ll fetch you a splinter.’ “ ‘No, don’t trouble. I’ll just come in and get it myself.’ “ ‘Oh, the house ain’t fitten for ye to come into,’ she replied, eyeing me suspiciously. “ ‘That’s all right, ma’am. I’m used to that sort of thing.’ “As I said this 1 stepped in, and, advancing to the fireplace, I stooped as if to light my pipe, but at the same time it occurred to me that the chimney was unusually thick in the back wall. “ ‘Your old man isn’t in?’ I said. “ ‘I hain’t got an old man.’ “ ‘You’re a widow, then?’ “ ‘Yes, so fur as I know. My old man went off inore’n ten years ago. Said he were a-goin’ to Texas, and I hain’t hearn a word from him from that day till this.’

‘“Why did ho leave?’ “ ‘On account of therevynue men. Ye see he used to make a little licker and they found out about it, and he had to skin ont.” *• ‘What is your name?’ “ ‘Davis, Surah Ann Davis. I’m havin’ a hard time of - it, and have had these many yeers, with nobody to look after me but myself; but thank the Lord, I’ve managed to keep soul and body together.” All this time she was talking in such a meek and innocent way that my suspicions were half disarmed; but still I was unsatisfied, as that whil! of savory steam, that thick-back chimney, and the name of the woman, coupled with the history of old Reub. Davis, had aroused my suspicions. “ ‘i suppose a traveler couldn’t get a little dram hereabouts?” I remarked? “ ‘God bless you, not as I knows of. I never tech it, for I’m a strick church member and es I did I wouldn’t know whar to start to git a drap of licker.’ “ ‘Much obliged. Good morning.’ “‘Good-by, sir. Wish I could accommodate ye, but I can’t.’ “Descending the path I met a gawk-ish-looking lad driving an ox-team, loaded with wood, up a crooked road toward the cabin. He eyed me askant, but continued his toilsome journey without stopping to speak. “ ‘ McDonald,’ said I, ‘ you may think what you please, but we’re right close to the den, if wc only knew how to locate it.’

“Then I related all the circumstances, all the time casting about for some solution of the mystery which I became more and more convinced by some vague intuition existed near by. A few steps from the road that led from the woods to the cabin there was a thicket that obstructed the rude track just below where it intersected with the road we were travelling. ‘“Mack, wait here a minute; there is no barm in a little investigation,’ and I made my way down to the thicket, in which I noticed an old door shutter lying negligently, half concealed by the brambles. Making my way to it, I carefully lifted it up, and to my surprise, found the mouth of a cavern, which, though narrow, showed signs of recent use. Calling to McDonald to fasten the horses and join me, we were soon exploring the cave. A descent of a dozen steps brought us to a turn in the cave and a rough door. I gave it a kick, but there was no response, except a hollow reverberation which indicated a considerable apartment beyond. “ ‘Get me a rock and I’ll break it in,’ I called to McDonald, but just then I •was startled by a shriek in the rear. “ ‘Don’t kill him! Please don’t kill him! 1 and down came the old woman I

had scan at the cabia. 'lf you won't kill him I'll let you in.’ “ ‘We don’t want to kill anybody,’l replied. ‘So go ahead.’ “She produced a rusty key and unlocked the door, which grated roughly against the rock as it turned on its rude wooden hinges. “ ‘Come up. Reuben; they’ve found it out,’ she cried, but no Reuben answered. ‘Oh, you’ve scart him clean to death, fur he weren’t well nohow,’ and she dived fnto the cave and we at her heels. A Slight glimpse of a smouldering blaze guided us, and we were soon blundering among tuba and kegs, from among which we dragged the body of a man. “Wake up, old man, and kindle a light,’ said I. “ ‘Mister, J’ll go, es you’ll promise not to hurt me.’ “ ‘No danger of that. Come on.’ “Well, sir, he was the most forlorn and abject speoimen of moonshiner I over saw. He looked as if he hadn’t seen the light in ten years, and I think he hardly had. He had spent his days in the cave since he pretended to leave for, Texas, venturing fortli only at night, and then with every possibleprecaution. “The cave, partly natural and partly artificial, extended as far ns the center of the main highway, which ran along the side of the bluff at that point, and our men had ridden over it unsuspectingly hundreds of times. “He brought the water through a covered pipe from a spring above the house, and by a cunningly-contrived counter-pipe, conveyed the smoke and steam to and up the rear of that double chimney, thus concealing every trace above. Below he let the slops down by a subterranean ditch to a point where the little brook descended into a wild and wooded glen, broken by many cascades, so that no trace of it could be discovered in that direction. “The mouth of the cave was so carefully concealed that in hauling wood a few sticks could be throwii off, ns if by accident, and carried down after dark, as were the raw materials for the distillery, and in the same manner the liquor could be taken out in stnul! kegs and carted away. “It looked almost like a shame to destroy such a place of ingenuity, but of course we did our duty, although the old man fairly blubbered as he saw his still broken up, his kegs removed, his tubs of mash overturned, and all his ingenious safeguards exposed to the gaze of the world. He was sent up for five years, but he did not serve out his time. The discovery and exposure, together with the enforced habits of prison life, proved the death of him.”—[Atlanta Journal.