Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1894 — “OLD NANCY.” [ARTICLE]

“OLD NANCY.”

An Illicit Still that Ha* Been Operated for Thirty Years. The capture of an illicit still operated near Sinking Mountain by Deputy Collector Brown recalls a story of longcontinued defiance of 'aw, siys an Elberton (Ga.) correspondent of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. The still was bought in in 1858, and was put to use on the plantation of the late George Dye. When the war opened it passed into the hands of a Habersham County whisky dealer, who did a rushing business for four years. There was no railroad at the time within 10J mile, of this section, and the liquor made by “Old Nancy,” as the still was fondly named, was the favorite trade not only throughout northeast Georgia, but cross ad the lines into North and South Carolina. Once the still was embargoed by the officers of Habersham in 1863 because of the demoralization it created among the small boys, who with the old men were about all there was left. With the restoration of United States authority “Old Nancy” became contraband. Revenue prisoners brought before United States commissioners would tell about how “Old Nancy” was prospering, but try as they would the officers never could capture the still. When the distillers of one community found themselves too closely pressed they would run the still over’the mountain or down the creeks to where companions in lawlessness would secure possession of. it. and they would run it until compelled to do likewise. This was the still in quest of which Lieut. Mclntyre of the United States army was killed in Gilmore County in 1875. Subsequently it was run back east, being operated on Warwoman creek in Rabun County for several years. Of late the officers havfe heard that this will-o'-the-wisp, which they have been following for thirty years, was in operation in a secluded region near Sinking Mountain. Collector Brown, with an armed posse, successfully located the spot one tiight recently during a violent rainstorm. The moonshiners fled, giving the officers the opportunity of destroying the whole plant