Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-13
NORTH CAROLINA APPLE
JACK.
A Visit to still la the Mountains
How two Quarts Were
obtained and Paid For.
Cor. Cleveland Herald.

We were in Western North Caro-
lima, in the mountain region of the
Nantihala, and, having unfor.
tunately run adry of snake bite pre-,
ventive, had stopped a native to in.
quire Of the whereabouts of the near
est still. Anew minutes later we were
mounted and riding over a wild and
picturesque road through the forest
Soen we came to a ford, and urging
our animals into the clear water of the
river, succeeded without swimming
in reaching the opposite bank. Ii
was but short distance from this
ford where we reached our destina.
ton.
The picture of that brandy still is
in my mind. AS it was run under a
government license, there was no at
tempt at concealment, as in the case
OF moonshine camp. There was
an open, level space amid the beech
and sycamores. At the further edge
Of this was a rude shed, consisting Of
sloping roof of long boards propped
up on four posts, with no sidings.
Three or four men we're before the
structure. We galloped into the open
space, refined up our mules, and after
dlsmOunting tied them to trees. The
men saluted US as we walked up to
them. and shook hands upon intro>
duction. One gray haired old noun
taineer, with a coon skin cap on his
head, a flint rock rife across his
shoulder, and starving dog between
his legs, had come down the mountain
whspRing at squirrels on the way, and
was present to get a fat flask filed,
which he had in his pantaloons pocket.
He was rpgaling the crowd by story
of the imaginary bear tracks he had
come across, and how his other three
dogs at scent "hed slid hell-bent, and
were at that moment chas-
ing and baying in the laurel
tsngles high up on the slope of
Shaggy Head. TEO of the other
men we're loungers, while the fourth,
judging from the appearance of his
begrimed face and dirty shirt, was the
distiller. The under side of the
root was smoke blaCkened. In the
center of the sheds interior was a
large mud plastered stone furnace
without q door, and crammed full oil
burning logs. Above this furnace
and at the further end was a large
copper boiler. A pipe led from it
and formed a worm through large
hogshead Of water. Around the shed
stood casks containing the apple
pumies, or pounded. spoiled, mashed
and rotting apples, which were to be
used in turns for the runs of brandy.
They were just about to make run.
AS we stood there great Pennsyl-
vanis wagon, looking like a scoW on
wheels, and drawn by two oxen, was
driven into the open space by non,
descript individual from the Graham
county wilderness. The conveyance
was loaded With apples, a prime pro-
duct Of the mountains. These .--ero
sold to the smoky looking man at the
rate of ten cents per bushel. GUESSING
at the number of bushels in the loaS
without troubling themselves to meas cas-
ure it.
wall, hits bout time 1 was getting
this run outer the way, remarked the
distiller, and he stepped back under
the shed while we followed him. BE
took a small plug out of a cask con.
nected by q pipe with the boiler. and
held a vial about as long and as large
around as his fager under the stream
After closing the hole again he tasted
the contents.
Hits bout prime said he, then
addressing me, "Hyar, taste O. this
first tap O. the doublins
| did as requested. 1t was a color
less liquid, and, being almost pure
alcohol, burnt like FIRE, Two drains
the size Of the little vial would render
an inVeterate topper tipsy.
How do you sell your brandy" |
asked.
I'VE don't sell hit now at all. He'd
to Wait till hits guaged," be answered.
look ere, " said Ruck, motioning
to the distiller to step around the
hogshead with him. AfteEa minutes
confab they returned. think the
conversation was to assure the fire
water man that | was all straight.
Buck went to the saddlebsgs strung
across one OF our mules and returned
with two quart bottles. These he
handed to the distiller, who in turn
gave them to one Of the lazy looking
loVlgeTs, VINO appeared to be ia his
employ. The fellow put the bottles in
the great pocket Of his homespun coat
and Immediately disappeared inta .he
shade oil the woods. Be ,sas gone pos
sibly afteen minutes Upon his return
he delivered the bottles, filled to the
oorks, directly to BuckY
These two quarts" said Buck
looking at me, ARE IS cents"
| took the money t.rors nav root,
anu eA'tuHeC ~ coward the dlstelitl
q shook his head, and replied with
this mysterious sentence:
"Chestuuts fall to the ground"
| took the cue, dropped the money
at my feet, then turned and went to
my mules. The money was still living
on the ground when the trees shut
out the still and its crowd from our
sight.
The mountain distillers all sell
liquor with impunity, but at the same
time use all precaution possible to
prevent conviction ifthey are arrested
These precautions are in many cases
however, palpably thin. The distiller
did not know but what | might some
the be summoned as witness against
him. To prevent my being able to
swear that he had ever taken money
fEoia me for his brandy he had il
dropped to the ground, 1t is a cues,
tion whether the fact would bother a