The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-25
A MIDNIGHT BATTLE.
Moonshtners aud Revenue men ut War In
Georgia.
Nom Me Atlan,a Can,titu,iou.

| ", on tue 1est8tee River, ana known 9
the Bark creek settlement, was the seen
of the most thrilling battle that ha
occurred in Georgia aimee Lee surren
dered. For skirmi>h in times of peac
1t stands unexcelled in interest, aud th
results were as fatal as the recital mus
be exciting. For nearly twenty. fou
hours the excitement lasted, and tw,
dead and several wounded was the sum
ming up when the tragedy was over.
The Bark Creek settlement il abou
twelve miles Northwest of Gainesville
Once bar>room was there and one o.
two stores. but the bar>room exists M
longer. The Law ground for the Distric
is Bark Camp, and there the temple O
justice reas its humble walls. One O.
the most noted citizena of this settlement
was Anderson Grant, giant In size and
strength, and desperate and fearless in
whatever he chose 70 do.
| Grant owned an Illicit distillery
which was hidden away in one OF the
gulches Of the Bark Camp District. In
the locality lived . young man, named
Prater, o cousin Of Alf Prater, the
mountain wonder" pedestrian, who, in
last juno, ran ak hours in q walking
match here without stopping. ALI Prss
ter is revenue scout. His cousih led
him through the bypaths of the Bark
Camp country, and pointed out the Illicit
distillery of Anderson Grant.
1t was arranged that there should be 8
raid on the distillery. The matter was
placed in the hands Of the officials here,
and as o result, on Tuesday morning
abou: ten O'Clock tho following party left
Gainesville, beading for Bark Camp
Deputy Marshal j, B. CASTOR, Special
Revenue Agent Lofiand, Deputy Collec>
| tor M. Van EsteB, Minor Estes, (son OF
| NJ. Van Estes,) ALI Prater, the guide.
The party had wagon drawn by two
mules and buggy drawn by white
horse owned by Deputy Marshal Castor.
It appears that 40 they rode out of
Gainesville they rode towards the Valley
OF Death, for Prater, the informer, had
set q trap for the entire party.
About one o'clock the party Of officers
reached the neighborhood OF the distil>
lery and turned from the little mountain
road into the woods few feet where the
teams we're left in charge of Minor Es>
tea, boy of seveuteen, but q powerful
fellow for his years. The distillery was
! about O mile away through the woods
and the officers had nearly reched 1t
when they heard q rapid firing of pistols
aud guns in the direction of the wagon.
Deputy Collector Van Estes became very
much alarmed and exclaimed:
"They have murdered my son |"
The party ran hnrriedly back to the
wagons and found that young Estes had
disappeared, and Deputy Marshal Gas>
toms horse had been cut out of the har.
ness and was gone. The breast yoke and
| hn hall nd S-tr A.
lines bad been cut 80 as to leave enough
were being fred in Reveral directions and
own safety. Horns began 70 blow aud
get alarmed were heard. One of the
mules was hurrlediy unhltched from the
wagon and Alf Prater, the guide, mount,
ed Che animal and dashed OF down the
road with the intention of inquiring at
one of the farm houses If the boy had
been seen. He had not gone more than
two hundred and fifty yards when he was
fired upon froE, ambush. Prater was
not hit but the mule was wounded In
several places and fell under him.
Prater dashed back to camp and reports
ed the facts and In short time bis mule
limped into camp and attested the truth
Of what he had said. A full load of
shot was in the animals head and neck.
A carbine that had been left with young
Estes, was noticed to be gone. The
raiders then hitched up, tied the buggy
on behind the wagon and moved off and
proceeded to Bark camp, where they
were re>enforced by several citizens,
armed with guns. It was about night
when they reached the camp.
Prater was put on mule and sent to
Gainesville for help. In the meantime
the firing Of guns and general uproar
continued. The raiders went into camp
in pinG thicket and put out sentinels.
The watch was kept up until near mid.
night when Prater returned with the fol.
lowing reinforcing party; James Find.
Icy, Jesse Davis end John Martin.
Deputy Eershsi CASTOR had: IN the
meantime, gone to the residence of jap
Carter, near by, and summoned him to
aid the officers.
It appears that when tho moonshinera
attacked the wagons they were headed
by Anderson Grant, the owner Of the
| distillery. Grant took possession of the
horse, as the officers learned, and all the
afternoon and into the night rode hiu,
very hard getting up the r1oonshiners oi
the country. The horse had hssn Yur
nearly to death, "a was reported by par.
ties who cav him.
After help arrived o consultation wa
held as to the best thing to do. It wai
decided to let party remain at the camp
and another squad 60 ont end make or
effort TO capture the stolen property
namely, the horse and the rife. Jus
before midnight the party was divided q.
follows: To remain In the camp ant
take care Of the teams: Revenue Agen
Lofand, Deputy Collector Estes, Thoma
Robinson, Thomas Robinson's con, ant
man whose name Is unke0wa. Th,
party that went OUT to battle with tn,
moonshinerS was then as follows Depu
ty Marshsl CASTOR, James a. Findiey
| Jesse 8. Davis, Jasper Carter, Aif. Pra
ter, the guide, John Martin. Isl
/ When Prater was shot at he saw th
white hose In the possession of the mai
who had shot at him. W,
i Clearly, it was q desperate undertak
| ing to make midnight attack upon th
moonshinsrs. !. sa&E ~ l4i,s ',s,ss: 5g.
i Aliithe men were armed ais they star.
ed down the road IN tho direction Il
which the moonshfners were known I
be. The party had gone along the iittl
road about half o mile when they cam
upon body of the moonshipers.
J was decided to wait until the arnoonshi
D ners came up and then arrest them
i The m9onshiners were firing pistols, cur
u log and swearing, and by the flashes Z
: the pistols the white horse could bSrseeI
81 Affefla few moments there was q. sudde