The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-12


of this, the 22nd Internal Revenue district
on Saturday morning last, made a descen
on supposed illicit distillery and captureC
part OF the paraphernalia of what is suppos
ed to have been a moonshine producer o
mountain dew. The party, which consisted
of Collector Case, Deputies James L. Ora
ham and Al. j. Edwards. of Pittsburgh
Charles Mitchell, L. 5. Gauger, of Philadel
phia, Ed. b. Scull, General Stsrekeeper ol
this district, and Ed. Rhoads, of Somerset
as guide, left here at o'clock Saturday
morning, in a heavy rain, and a night a;
dark as an anthracite coal mine The dis
tillery was supposed to be located near th'
old registered disiillery formerly operated
by Jacob Fletcher. The party travelled the
old turnpike to the top OF the mountain
and were supposed by all who saw them to
be railroad contractors and engineers
looking after the line of the new South
Pennsylvania Railroad. A halt was made
at the farm of Lud Gardner, in Jefferson
township for a short rest and the coming oi
day. as the road to be traversed from there
was rough, hard to find and not familiar to
any Of the party. As soon as it was light
enough TO distinguish objects at the distance
Of a yard. they pushed on rapidly, making
their first halt in a deep rayine back of the
old Fletcher distillery, right in the heart OF
the mountains, and but short distance
from the Fayette county line. At This point
are the ruins of an old saw mill, that would
make a capital place for the operations of a
moonshiner. This was thoroughly searched,
but revealed nothing more akin to illicit
whisky than a small stream of water, that
would have supplied the foundation for an
excellent article Of the ardent. The party
then. proceeded down the stream, searching
every hollow, ledge ofrocks, and old build
ing that might have hid the machinery for
the manufacture of white whisky. After a
hours, the party toilsomely returned TO the
old saw mill Here the teams were left in
charge Of one of the officers, while the Others
ascended the steep hill to the residence of
whereabouts being seemingly buried IN as
much mystery as the grave of his immortal
namesake. The family consisting of the
mother. three grown sons and young wo-
man, were startled at the sight OF such a
number Of strange gentlemen. When told
the errand Of the party they denied all
knowledge of the matter. and made no OBJ
lection TO a search of the premises. The
house consists of two rooms, one up stairs
and one down, with a cellar under the
whole. The down stairs room and cellar
were then searched, but nothing of q contra
band nature was discovered. The party
separated, searching the barn, out
buildings, an3 following paths that seemed
to lead into the mountain fastnesses, Final
ly, as they were about to give up the search
the attention OF one Of the members was
drawn to a large sugar tub, in the sugar
camp. which was surrounded by countless
mum Der Of keelers it was carefully raised,
ed the presence of some metallic substance.
The keelers.were quickly thrown aside, the
tub raised, and as nice copper cap as ever
crowned a still brought 10 light. Under an
adjoining tub 4 copper worm about one and
one-half inches in diameter and about ten
feet in length was found. Several other ar
ticles were discovered, but all efforts failed
to uncover a still 4 close examination,
however, led the officers to believe that the
sugar kettles were made to serve the pur-
pose Of still that top was fitted to them,
on this was placed the cap, and connec-
tiun made with the worm by placing a
keller with wooden spout. on top the cap.
The party returned TO the house and Depu-
" Edwards ascended to the loft, where he
discovered a small keg of liquid which he
thought mountain dew, but which examin!-
alton proved to be vinegar.
The Pecks denied all knowledge of the
property and insisted that they had never
seen it before, saying to the officers that it
must have been placed there by some mali
cious neighbor, who wanted to play n joke
on them. No arrests were made, but the
property was seized and taken to PITTSBURGH
by the officers. Peck's place is but a short
distance from the old Fletcher distillery, and
it is thought that this IS part Of the apparatus
formerly used there. One thing is certain,
tits OF the best, and evidently made by
some skilled mechanic. II is a peculiar
circumstance that nearly all the moonshine
whisky manufactured in this county. has
been made in this neighborhood 1t is but
two miles from Peck's to the place where an
illicit still was found a few years ago by a
party of raiders headed by Capt. Graham.
and which got Miller Hochstetler and a
number of Others into a peck Of trouble. 1t
wasn't exactly picnic for the raiders, as
they were ou; in drerching rain without
food from three O'Clock in the morning until
five the next evening.