Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-06-05

| mercy but for tie prisoners, who were
so placed TINT they wOLld help stop
some OF the bullets had the despera-
! does fired upon US. After we had
! crossed POwell's river they did ehre
! upon us, but did not damage, and we
! lodged the prisoners safely in the iall
at JonesviIle, and pl"nn'I,R strong
| guard over it.
The citizens that went with us and
assisted us, aud who lived on wallen 5
creek below where we captured the
dislillery that was located on that
| creek, then returned home that they
! might get some rest aud be ready to
resume their usual avocatiOns the
next day.
On the following day Monday the
18th, near sunset and while they were
at work in their cOrn-fielcs, with only
sufficient notice to enable them some
elk in number, to get together. they
were attacked by an armad body Of
men numbering twenty-six and one
OF their number, Jesse Vaudervinter,
MORALLY wounded, and has since died.
The little party Of citizens fought
manfully, and being reinforced by
some four others drove the murderers
To the mountains with a loss OF four
pretty severely. This attack was led
by Richard Brewer, John Duvalt, and
Bert GOurs, three noted desperadops
who reside on Blackwater The
names of the Blackwater party that
were wounded are Jesse Anderson,
MORALLY aud Andrew Testament,
James Collins, and Hiram Leyisay.
The county Judge If Lee at once
caused warrants to he issued for all
persons known to have been engaged
in the attack, and placed them tn the
hands uf Deputy Sheriff Doyle, who
viii do all in his power to arrest the
guilty parties; and if caught they VIII
certainly be brought to justice.
The friends of the prisoners threat
en"d to pull down the Jail or have
them out, and we were cOmpeiled to
summons fifty citizens to guard the
Jail at JOnesville until the Marshal
could summon witnesses and get ready
10 tart to Abingdon with the prison.
ers and have them tried by the Uni.
tea StHicS Commissioner.
On Wednesday, May 10th, Deputy
Marshal Austin. with about fifty citi-
2cns well mounted and well armed,
left JOnesvilIe for Abingdon with the
prisoners and stills. This large force
wrs necessary because Of his being
compelled to cross both WalIen's
creek md Powell's mountain on his
way out, and of reliable reports that
any ordinary force would he attacked
at one or the other of these points.
On Thursday, the 18th. after cross
ing Clynch river, the Marshnl dis
missed all hut small guard, and on
Friday night arrived safely in Bristol
with the prisoners and stills.
The stills are safely stored at Bristol
and the prisoners were all sent on by
Commissioner Gildersleevp, and four
committed to jlil in default Of bail.
We destroyed as fcrmenting-tuhs
500 gallons mash and beer. about
$50 gallons sinplinrs, and Il quantity
of huckiug1, and brought away all the
stills and fixtures We found The
substantial citizens of Lee county
stood 10y US nnbly in this affair, and
fun credit is due them for So doing,
and all seam very anxious that this
gang Of llWlese men be broken up,
and are eahy to render the officers
any assi>tance in their power to bring
all the guilty parties to Justice =; gnd
had IL not been for the good citizens Gf
lee ! am quite sure the United States
officials would have Jared very badly
IN TINS affair. Very respectfully,
lSignedl HENRY G JosLYN.
Deputy Collector