The New York herald., 1878-03-03

the government the sentences are almost invar.
ABLY nnd generally ridiculously inadequate
now TO SUPPRESS rBE
we nave referred 70 thc system nnaiiy adopted by
the British government result of long exper-
fence and protrscted series OF
the constituting Of amounted revenue police the
msnt OF tho United States reached the same con-
cusion is shown BY the fact that it has had
the past years. During this period its
efficiency has proved remarkable. This
4 gentleman OF rare executive ability, who served
Raanuy tor ten years In the regular and volunteer
eighth pennsylvania Volunteers by regular promotion
from the grade OF private II nov comprises al least
Two ds'schmsn.s M one under Major Wagner, operating
and Fiorida and the other IN Georgia and adjoining
States, under Lieutenant Miller The former, with
force OF only nine meu destroved l3o distlerIes and
arrested l3l prisoners In South carolina space
OF nine months, chiefly in the single county OF Green
vllc HIS operations were conducted with the utmost
activity and energy even 10 tue breaking down OF tho
horses oi his commands yet II is mortiiyips to know
aud as long as he remained. Within u mile OF his
operauons Illicit distiilng alter
risd on with even greater activity than before
ana at all times donantly resisting everything
but the uniforms OF the United States troops
The good resulss Of his Iapors have bee limited anu
temporary because o the nunericul insignhcance OF
iorce which could strike but place at time and
remain nowhere long Small as II is, however, IL
forms nucleus Tor Just such revenue police the
British government found necessary aud ensctve.
Sucn force should a. once be nuthoezsd by Con-
hundred men and officers, well mounted, and should
be under that thorough military discipline without
which efficiency cannot be expected. force OF this
and character would enable deiach ments be
sent into the different dsaeoted districts operate
done, and thoroughly done. This. with q vigorously
enforced determination the part OF the Treasury
Department and the Department OF Justice to remove
every uniahiul and neiclent officer, without regard
10 political considerations or influence, would no
doubt thoroughly suppress tho ev and conquer iSs
ably be looked for.
SPORT IN THE MOUNTAINS
Time was, s'beiore The war;" when resort was
much appreciated by tho lew sportsmon who
familiar with them as these same mountain ranges.
Few places offered such certain bon rod and
gum Possibly the game ~ nearly as abundant now
tneu but from what has been said tho foregoing
pages OF the physical geography aud social
ranges will readily perceived that an ex.
curson thereto at the day must require con-
the country ana Of woodcraft IN general the adven-
turer, whether sportsman, tourist officer,
must be thorough horseman, expert with the rifle
aud gun and fruitful OF expodients In emergencies
When the weather Is stormy and cold the struggling
trails hall obieraied ana slippery aud the rivers and
branches swollen SO as 70 necessitalc swimming st
every frequent crossng when every house deserted
OF the and the stilness in the woods
picious scrutiny. aud every stranger way farer with
Bible, fishing rod or sketch book, IS regarded AS
government spy IN dsguise, The cccason is, TO say
the least trying. An old campaigner would cay that
no better school for the sportsman could DO recon-
mended.
1t was the good fortune Of the writer TO accompany
Major Wagner on OF his raids during pei TOD
Of autumn vacation. IN the course OF which, may
be stated, his natural curosty aud love OF exciting
adventure were fully g-atfed while the necessity Tor
plenty OF open mir exercise, as prescribed by his
l,lOO miles in I'VE weeks. The expedition was
organized s1b rosa at the county seat Of Wythe
county, Va. on the East Tennessee Railroad,
point sufficiently remote from the Intended field OF
operations 10 prevent any surmse az to the LOCALITY TO
BE- invested When a rad Is ON foot concealment Is
most essential for hundred emssaries are always
hand 10 convey intelligence TO their friends the
mountains, and dispatches often fly in silent swift
I'm Inn 0nkA ain nnula Of
the Indians A wagon load OF commissary supplies,
arms and munitions together with cavalard OF
horses were quietly sent OIL TO the front manner
not 10 attract notice, when oil ready Major
Wagner ana the writer wero Joined by Captain Reed,
and innocsntiy am6lsd out Of Town by - diasrent
road At nRhtfall reached q small branch, whero
wo found our men encamped, tents pitched. and hot
supper awaiting u.s. negro was In attendance, and
everything 10000 ,.comiortaUls and snug. Quito
cavailard Of nurses was 'hung up" At an adjoining
fence picking over their hay Ram fell chat night,
but II of in trenches around the tonts, and
waterproois ready when wo were caued 70 sad
die al gray OF the next morning
THE READEzvOuR
From camp TO the pretty town Of Marion, at the
sun, which @ sSons out ssry s IL. '.Ss Journey
cheerful and there much 10 admire The valley
OF the middle fork OF The Hols.ou, which We were fol-
| lowing. Broad aud fertile farms aiternated win
diapidaton and the thriitlessness which follows the
mistortunss OF war. Tine highway was capital. IL
had macadamized years before, but neglect
constant wear had not materially impaired It's excel.
lence. On every side, throughout tho entire route,
ton and settlement 10 hnLdrods who would lain
know whore 20 lecate. Tue broad domains
merous, which paltry sums could purchase.
Marion 10 romantic. Tho hos.on runs through tho
town. goodly stream nllod with bars, and iuto II
winch tumpl"s down from tho mountains. Here the
OF cavaliers rested several days. catching goodly
messes Of trout and doing some havoc among ruff
nod grouse In the netgh borhood Meanwhile the
ihssary wagon aud its escort had taken somc byway
into the mountains. They had NO. boon seen since
noon, however. wading up ihe rocky bed
OF Staley's Brook-whicn constitutes tho only
thoroux ninre Ior wheels or hoofs into tho noun
tans-pickng out a trout here and there and nting
HIM genty the saddle ut the risk OF his dropping
from the hook, taking matters easy es We went, We
| where the white tlts Of wagon aud tcnts cleaned
through the srscs. The Major said they belonged TO
Spr mon.
That night We took possession and the next morn.
charge Of the Major taking tue turnpike over Iron
Aoantan into Asne county, N. e., leaving Captain
up the northern side Of Iron Mountain the south
FORK OF the HoIston. The latter amply provided
with blankets and waerproos holsters and nlrd tack
aud carried nshiny rods ana shotguns Ostenslbly
tbey we're sportsinen on rambie; IN reality they
went 70 spy the secret placcs oi the disters
proper time report their location to the
ing officer at point of rendezvous previously agreed
upon. the irst day's journey ran through deiecta
bic hill country, but leading constantly ~ hi CHER
attitudes and .iordIng occasional gIiwpsss Of noun
tain ridges und domcs IN the blue distancc or tho
nearer landscape Al intervals We pnssed The once
since melted away by the vlcissltudes Of war, aud
occasionally mill or factory which still
lspgushed OF had to run altogether.
A. length halt made night, alter long and
weary ride. The deepening dark barely called tho
clustering buildings VI an apparently well TO do iarm.
The hub6uD OF u dozen tonguey dogs called out the
master, aud the master Hospitality called US In. In
the bright morning which succeeded we discovered
blue grapes clustering over verunda. hives OF bees,
goodiy barns, flowers aud ncds all together nliing
little intervsle which nestled within Gordon OF
wooded hills. sparkling rivulet rattcd out oil
ravno and presently flowed past the door widening
current ana quiet mood, whcDcO II mcandered INTO u
meadow. A. tho head Of the stroam was stlil OF
considerable capacity ~ here peach and uppIe brandy
and rye whiskey wsre Manufactured from ths grain
aud iruit which the farm produced. Ttis was
licensed sti whose productssVine tax at least II
not The full measure, was paid IL the nrst winch
had been encountercd tor The inIected districts had
not been reached as yet. they lay hidden away fur
tncr IN the rscesses Of the mountains
NEARING THE WHITE TOP
From this point on wagon known to
so over the mountains Tho altitude was 2 zOv ioA
above sea lowell Hence (oysr Iron Mounlain) was