The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1874-06-05
Athens Cost.
Athens, Friday, June 8, 1874.
A Case of Constrained Cremation.

A passenger who came down on the
Telico Narrow Gauge few days ago
tells story almost too horrible for be-
lief. 1t seems that an Illicit distillcr
named Jones, who lived with his family
near thelower bench Of the Big Smokey
mountain, had been annoyed good
deal by the revenue rangers last fall
and determined TO change his location
and business 10 more secluded spot.
TO carry out this purpose he selected
the head Of deep gorge some four
miles distant, walled In with cliffs,
where, during the winter, assisted by
some friends, he erected a small log
building. As soon as the cold weather
was over and spring fairly opened, the
still and other things necessary were
moved TO the place, and the work of
violating the revenue laws was resum-
ed. Several "runs" were made, and
Jones begun to congratulate himself
that he had at last found haven of safe
ty, a refuge beyond the pry.ng eyes of
the government hirelings, where he
could pursue his avocation in peace,
with none to modest or make him afraid.
But, alas! how little we know even of
the immediate future, and how often do
the very steps which the transgressor
takes to insure concealment and safety,
lead to his swift and certain destruction |!
The still house being some distance
from where his family lived, Jones
rarely visited them more than orce n
fortnight, generally selecting Saturday
night for that purpose. Everything went
on well enough until about four weeks
ago, when he failed to appear at the &C.
customed time. Nothing was thought
of this for day or two, but when ano.
Their week elapsed without the return of
Jones tho family became alarmed, and
thought perhaps he had been captured
by the revenue jayhawks and carried to
Knoxville, or some other place, where
violators ofthe law are occasionally con.
victed and punished. The alarm was
given among the sparsely settled neigh
borhood. A small number of men gath.
cred and, accompanied by Mrs. Jones
and her son, youth ten or twelve years
of age, they started up the gorge in the
direction Of the still house. On reach
ing the building they found the door
closed and fastened, and no sign Of Jones
or any one else could be seen. Mrs.
j, called the name of her husband sew
eral times; noresponse, however, came
back to relieve her anxiety. The still
ness of death pervaded The gloomy spot.
But upon attempting TO force an en-
trance they were greeted with those Pc
culiar notes of warning which the ear
of thcEast Tennessee mountaineer never
fails TO recognize. The door was at once
broken down, and sight met them that
caused all to start with fright and hor-
ror. The form of the distiller lay upon
the floor with eyes starting from their
sockets, the features horribly distorted,
and body swollen TO twice its usual pro-
portions, while the whole interior of the
building was alive with rattlcsnakes-
some in coil and ready for battle, bu.
tho larger proportion stupid and inert
as though they had been imbbing lib
orally of the Illicit fruit Of the still. The
mother and son fled horror-stricken
from the place. A consultation was had,
and as it was impossible TO rescue the
body Of poor Jones without mourning
fearful risk, II was determined to re-
close the entrance, and other apertures,
aud fire the building; which was done.
The party stayed until the house was
entirely consumed and nothing remain
cd but the now useless still and the cal
clncd tones of the miserable dstiller.
1t is supposed that Jones had built
his mandatory close upon den Of
the deadly reptiles in the overhanging
clfl, and that, attracted by the heat, or
possibly the fumes of the whiskey,
they found their way into the building
in large numbers after he had closed the
door and laid down to sleep. His hor-
rible fate has created profound sensa-
ton among the people OF the hill coun-
try, and IL is likely to be some time be.
fore another Illicit rum-mill is erected
in that range. We tell the story sub
stantally as il was told TO us. Our in
formant, Notwithstanding he had an
odor of "bilod corn" about him fragrant
as the real dew of the mountain, look
ed like candid and truthful man, and
closed with the suggestive and scnten-
tious remark that "whisky Is mighty
dangerous thing to fool with in any
way"
Bethlehem.
r.. Ia af