The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-09-30
JoHN Koosrz,
HARRIsoS T. LoHR,
JoHN J. Wilt,
Committee.

Two covered wagons driven rapid
~ over the rough crossing of Main
street at half-past three o'clock Friday morn
ing, caused many of the sleepy dwellers
along that thoroughfare to wonder what
wild yagers were of on such devils
ride" Had the dweller been wide enough
awake to have glanced from his window he
would have found that the wagons were oc-
cuped by Internal Revenue Agents Larkin
ana Plummer, Deputy Collectors Al. Ed
wards and Frank Stutzman. Deputy Maz
shal Ruf. Campbell and General S.orekeeper
Ed b. Scull. The Simpson boys, Charlie
and Ed, held the reins and acted as guides
for the party. who had risen before the lark
in hopes 20 catch the morn. The party
reached Putnam's bridge, which spans the
Laurel Hill creek jus, At the foot Of tie
mountains, as the first gray strcaks of dawn
were seen in the east. Here /, 81 deal Of
valuable time was wasted s-sfiag tie
arrival OF native who had given the infor-
nation in regard TO the noonshine disiiilers
and who had promised to Poiai them OUT 20
the officers.
" He cometh not, remarked Agent Pluni-
mer, and We had better try il alone >
About three miles from the bridge, along a
rough and rocky road. was found the house
of Jonathan Hochstetler. who was strongly
suspected of moonshiuing Hoehstetler
was not at home 10 receive his guests, but
the officers say that judging from the way a
man was seen sliding through the bushes
into the thick forests of the mountain that
be had been spprised Of their arrival aud
stood not on the order OF his going. In a
spring house in . deep ravine just at the
edge of the woods, and so sheltered by g7esL
sugar trees as TO make it scarcely visible
| from the road. was found a complete NOON
shine distillery. Two shlls, one copper, the
other iron, holding about forty gallons esch,
We're SET in a regular furnace at one end ci
the building. Near them were five mash
and fermenting tubs with a capacity OF
large barrel filed with beer and in aa-
other q sealed tub containing a number OF
gallons of low wines; i've gallon keS with
few drops Of moonshine" lay on the
floor. Everything bespoke recent oeeupan-
cy and q hurried fight Revenue Agent
Larkin, who has had large experience
among the moonshiners of Kentucky and
Tennessee. said that he had never seen n
moonshine distillery better located. The
stills were torn ont. the mash and low wines
emptied into the spring run, the furnace
doors wrenched from their fastenings, and
everything disrnantled. \ large sugar keel
er, with a wooden goose neck, had been
used for cap this had been fastened to the
kettle by rye paste, or dongh, large can OF
which was found in the establishment The
worm had been taken from the cooler and
carried of, thorough search of the woods,
| fields and buildings around failing to reveal
all knowledge oft In fact, they said they
didn't know anything, and unless they were
greatly belied by their looks, they spoke the
| truth in that. High and low, Up stairs and
search was carried on, bat it failed to reveal
the hiding place OF Hochsteiter, or of any
more moonshine whisky. Such God for
saken, poyerty-stricken looking place as this
same house is, it would be hard to find any
where. Everything bore the impress of the
| fingers of want, and of careless, doless man.
agement- 1t is the typical home ofthe moon.
sinner, the dwelling OF the Ishmaeliie, who
cares but little for home from which he
expects 10 have to tee at any moment
Hochstetier, the moonshiner is tall raw
boned mountaIneer, with wayy black han
tina; hangs down TO his shoulders, blue.
black eyes that glisteD in a manner Gnpleas-
ant to the beholder, and it is said usually
appears ia public with silver moon oa bis
hat, a belt around his body from which ar,
siung a number of pistols, his long rifle oyei
his shoulder, and revolver in l.is boot. He
imagines himself the King OF the Moon.
sinners, and Jesse James ora Texas
BILL Revenue Agent Larkin found the
moonshiners rifle i n the house. loaded and
capped. The cap was taken OIL, and the
nipple securely plugged with wood Load
ing ap such of the plunder as they could
carry, the party moved on. The next stop
was made at the farm of man named Peck
on whose land a moonshine disiillery was
supposed to be located, butts weary tramp Of
miles through the mountains, closely exam
lining every place disiiilery could be hid
failed to reveal anything to the officers The
premises of man named Miller, who had
been reported as moonshiner. were next
visited, but a searching examination failed
to reveal anything contraband. On the
homeward road the party made another call
at HocbstetIer's. but failed to find him. He
had, however. been there in the meantime
secured his rife and again broke for the
bush.
For Tie HERALD.
EISp (f-rTTpr -Tur ErpM,N T.pa H.