, 1881-03-13
'Moonshiners Fire on the Federal
Officers with a Small
Cannon.
The Outlaws Routed md Five OF Them
Captured by the MarsllAl's
Posse.
The Cannon Spiked and Thrown into
Deep Ravine.
Prominent Wisconsin Politician Rlddfed with
Shot by an Injured Husband.
FIGHT WITH INCONSISTENCIES.

IloA14 ~ L Ii
LEXINGTON, Ky, March 12.-Letcller Coun-
ty is one of the widest mountain counties,
and Ca1r's Fork is the worst part Of the
county, where lnoonshiners are supposed to
be thick. Deputy-Marshal james 1leflin,
with squad Of ten MEN raided into Letcar
on the 5tli inst, and, after capturing Il still
house and five prisoners OIL Rock House
Fork, made a dash into the Carr's Furk coull-
try. The news Of his coming went before,
and the nuunstiuers and their friends gath
erred and proposed to give the foe battle.
They secured an old cannon left by John
Brown in lis raid of;'G1, loaded it to the
mnzzle with rusty nails and broken pot
metal. They manned the piece, and when
the Marshal and his forces came near
enough, fired, but aimed too high. and the
load passed over them. The MUSE of the rx-
ploslUn tilrtW the officers into disorder; but
they quickly rallied, and, after Il yolley from
their carbnes, charged up. the pass with
drawn pistols. The nlonnsiilners fired few
scattering shots; but the steady firing Of the
Marshars party drove uleln out Of their am.
bush, aud they fled across the ridge and down
the crenk toward Breatnitt County. II is
supposed that several Of the Inoonshjncrs
were wounded Or killed. as bl6od-slaius were
1larsiIals party esvaped without injury, and,
after CAPTURING the hill, they spiked the call
non and threw it over the rlilf into the river.
The Government party went on tu BreatIlitt
County, having sent their five prisoners to
'nS GSarsoS. IL, fiy:on H.. March 1Letcher is one
OF ket1tucky's oack couutfes, onundeti OIL
the south side by the Cumberland Mountains.
where low~lying toot-hills break the SURFACE
Of the country into high ridges, between
which are deep and narrow valleys, watergtl
BY rocky creeks einptying into the Kentucky
River. Onc of these creeks Is Cars Forks,
which Is divided frlnl another tributary
ID By eMg c bfoken IN lu oaS ocf 6
a narrow PISS.
The long-halred Kenruckinn Is found here
in his aboriginal wildness, and supports life
principally by the manufacture and sale of
frequent occurrence On Carr's Forks. and
hardly month passes without murder being
committed. The denizens Of the Forks have
. bad reputation. and whenever Deputy
United States Marshal raids among them
they sound the t0csin Of war.
Deputy Marshal James Ueflin, with a
squad of ten men, raiued into Letcllen, OH
the 5th inst, and after capturing a stil-house
and i've prisoners or! RucS-ltoase Fork,
HE ass Of his s0 couS 3 's wsns befoqs a
the nuonsfiners and their friends gathered
OIL the high ridge before mentioned and pro-
posed to give tie foe battle.
When John Morgan Taided into Kentucky
leaving behind him several broke,,-t,nwn
horses and brass tield-plece Of six pounds
calibre. This canlinn tho moonshiners
planted on the bluff, loaded to tho lnuzzle
with rusty nails and broken pot-llletal. Us
the Marshal's party came charging up the
pass they discharged the Gantton, and the
n1t-hletal and nails vent crashing through
the lcafless trees. i'll the piece been aimed
4 little lower it would have been certain
death to the re:anne raiders. The noise OF
the explosion threw them into dlscord, but
they quickly rallied, alld, after volley from
their carbines, CHARGED up the pass with
drawn pistols. Tile nloonshiners fired few
scattering shots, but, the steady firing Of the |
Marsflal's party drove them out Ut their |
ambush, and they fled across the ridge and
down the troublesome creek toward Breathitt !
County.
It IS supposed that several of the moon
sinners were wounded or killed, as blood |
stains were found on the ground for some |
distance along the line OF their retreat. The
Marsilaf's party escaped without injury, and, |
after capturing the lliil, they spiked the can
non and threw it over the cliff into the river.
During the chase Marshal Hetlin's horse |
Slipped and fell, throwing its rider to the |
ground, brui5inE him considerably, and one
Of the party had 4 bullet pass through his |
boot top, another had the cylinder OF his pis- |
tol knocked out, and third lost 4 portion OF |
his hat brin, but none were scratched. The
party is now in Breathitt Coun-
IT,, and hope before they return to capture |
several Of their assailants. The five prison.
ers captured OIL Rock-l1ouse reached here to- !
day and are now In jail.