Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-10-26
"TRE MOONsHINE MAN"
A Peep Inte His Haunts and Hiding
Places.

THE M00NSHINE MAN"
A Peep Inte His HRunts and Hiding.
Places.
Chief among the numerous places OF
lawlessness which first attracted atten.
tion in the South at the close of the
civil war was that of producing what
Government officials are wont to de.
nominate Illicit whisky The making OF
this kind ofliquorby illegal process com.
mencedin consequence of large taxation
levied first in 1862. 1t has since been
carried on in many Southern and South.
western States, but in none of the others
probably to such an extent as in Ken.
lucky. Here, In thirty seven different
counties, for twelve years past, has this
kind Of whisky been made and sold. Its
manufacture has enriched no one, and
especially not,those who make it. Those
who distill Illicit whisky are of the poor
est and NEST ignorant classes. Watched
closely by the officials of the Government,
they can produce their whisky only with
extreme difficulty, and, having made it,
can sell only to a few, neighbors and
friends sworn to secrecy. Even then
they are constantly in danger of discov-
erya This style of bringing forth juice
from corn, so to speak, has received a
distinct title of its own" moonshining." }"
The man who produces it is termed a
moonshiner," and his product is known
by the appellation of moonshine." "
These provincialisms owe their origin to
the fact that this Illicit whisky, or, at all
events. the majOr part of it, is distilled at
night by the rays of the moon. The vig-
ilance of the officials causes this to be
necessary. 1t is also important to the
mOonshiner that he select as the location
Of his still-house, where the liquor is
made, q spot both difficult and danger
GUS to find. reiss
In the mountainous section of the
"dark and bloody ground" as the name
Kentucky IS supposed to signify, exist
many admirable places of this nature
Indeed, some are so dreary and desolate
that wildcats and other beasts of the
forest are still around them. In the
mountains, in ravines, briers, brushes,
trees thick and tall, in caves and under
cliffs, are these peculiar specimens of the
law-breakers, who exc out an existence
as romantic as il is remarkable. They
raise their own grain, erect their own
still;houses, and attachments, and, as a
general thing, confne the labor of max
ing liquor to their own families. AS
stated previously, the .moonshiners are
illiterates beings in most instances; very
few Of them can read and write, and
many have never beheld aught else of
the world than exists within a hundred
miles of their own habitations. They do
not consider the making of whisky by
Illicit means crime, singular to state,
and, believing thus, are invariably in
clined to resist arrest, though they do not
by any means always do so.
Though brave and bold at home, the
moonshiner in large city is as mild
looking aman as is ever seen. The sud-
den change from horseback to seat in
the cars, on which ninetenths of them
have never ridden until captured, and
the startling effect produced by sudden
entry into city after long years of life
in rural regions, so overcome the Illicit
distiller thathis appearance on the streets
would picture him to the observer as
meek andmild- -manneredi in the extreme.
Clad in garments of butternut, some.
times yellow, ofttimes brown, and occa-
sionally blue jeans, and always home
spun, with hands in pockets, an old
SLOUGH hat shaped in semi Continental
style and pulled partly over the forehead,
the moenshiner on arriving in Louisville,
where all of his kind are brought after
theircapture, ,waddles awkwardly through
the streets, an expression upon his
features, IL not of awe, most certainly as
tOnishment of the deepest dye.
A temporary stay in Jail follows his
arrival. He is next taken before a
United States Commissioner; witnesses
are examined, and, if the proof ELECTED be
deemed sufiic lent, bond is asked for his
appearance before the United States
Court at its earliest session. If the
proof is thought insufficient, he is dis
charged from custody, and permitted TO
get home the best manner he knows how;
and this Is. generally by walking, as not
one IN ten has enough money to defray
travelling expenses. In case bond can
not be given, the moOnshiner is placed in
jail, there 70 remain until taken before
court, frequently d period of six months.
A few months ago resolved to ac-
company two officers in pursuit of illicit
distillers, believing that many curious
facU nor otherwise attalnable could be
gathqleo ia this way. The men with
whd|n Went into the land of the moon
sinners were Deputy U. s. Marshal Wal
ter G .tWhitaker and Special Bailiff Edgar
WyNtss Leaving louisville early one
evening, we set out for Hardin County,
arriving at Elizabethtown while before
the IhtegestiAg hour when church yards
are eIpp0sed 70 yawn. Lunching first,
we thep pwakeped the proprietor of a
liyety sstahle eRd procured the three best
horsf be could offer Half an hour
aftef me time when the aforesaid yawn.
ing y reputed to occur onr party left
EtoVn, as Its Inhabitants are pleased TO
desisnats their pretty little village, for a
point twenty miles distant. The moon
shone brightly through the trees, the air
was mild and balmy, and sufficient wind
NOV " y make travelling by horse as
plea as possible. As we galloped on
toeatd our deaiination, however, aud in
two hours after starting, the wind in