Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-23
MYSTERIES OF mLEMORE'S
COVE.
Tall Stories About the Moonshiners OF
Georgia.
FsoM tAe Nese York Yribrlnc.

SUMMERvILLE, GA, Dec. 16.--In the
bark of the great poplar tree that lifts its
slender top 500 feet above the few acres of
level ground in McLemore's cove and
looks down like sentinel upon the mar
row pass that leads to the outer world
another notch has been cut. The moon
SINNERS have added another tally 70 their
bloody score, and the giant of the valley
now pears i've gaping wounds across its
trunk, silent but awful warning to all
VINO dare to disturb the domain of illicit
whisky. The last and highest notch is
yet bleeding from the stroke OF the axe,
Tor IT was cut there only a few days ago,
when Deputy United States Marshal Kel-
let, rlddled with bullets, fell dead from his
saddle. His body was found on the noun
tain side in lonely cluster OF pines. Who
did the deed? That question put to the
men of this region meets with a silent
Significant shake of the head or a nervous
whisper OF the word "shiners." That Is
all. III any one knows more he cares not
or dares not to tell it to the stranger.
Like the "whangdoodle'' of slavery DAYS
the word carries with it a world of mys-
terry. and fills all who hear it with name
less fear. The ramiticatiOns of this
Illicit business are so extensive that
the outsider who goes to the re-
spectacle dealer for information is in
danger OF making his inquiries of the
owner OF some mountain still. So watch
lul ls the eye OF the law that ''mountain
dew" must be Struggled in exceedingly
limited quantities and distributed by the
Jugtul to multitude OF dealers. 1t is safe
TO say that there Is not a town or village
In the State that has not two or more
reputable citizens" in league with these
laWless men OF the mountains. They have
hn Gecft1 nd
law or no law, they stubbornly uphold
the manufacture.
Lo, then, 1t is not strange that an out
slder ls unable to gain any Information
from these people. He may be revenue
Omcer In disguise. Who knows? just
how kellett came to his death will pro-
Dably remain mystery outside of Nc
IGNORES Cove. He went there a few
days ago to arrest an offender. He was
well armed and well mounted. When he
passed under the shadow of the giant
poplar and counted one-two-three-
tour notches in its trunk, he knew he
carried his life In his hand. But he went
on. de returned from his expedition
wing IN the bottom of a wagon, cold and
stiff and bloody. Five notches appeared
in the tree. The last one was cut for him!
On Sunday night United States Mar
shals Chapman and McCOrkle went to
Lookout mountain TO search for some
clew OF the murderers. When day broke
on Monday they saw beneath them smoke
curling from crevices in the rocks.
Tracing its source they came upon a
still, and surprised the moOnshiners en-
gagged in making the ''dew." The outlaws
made no resistance. They had
laid aside their arms and
could do nothing but surrender
or be shot down. Twentv-eight thousand
gallons of ''mash" and 300 gallons of the
dew" were emptied into the mountain
gulches, and three large stills. with caps,
worms and appurtenances were destroyed.
The captured gang numbered seven men.
Their leader, being absent, was not ar
rested. but officers are on his track. But
viii these men tell anything, now that
they are in the clutches of the law? lime
alone will show,
McLemOre's Cove is one of the loneliest
spots in all the wild region Of North Geor-
gia. Its few rough but fertile acres lie
south Of Mission r dge and stretch al
most ravine-lke between the battlefield
OF Chickamauga on the east and the Blue
Ridge range on the west. Encircled by an
amphitheatre of mountains that raise high
their perpendicular walls Of Jagged ma
sOnry, 1t is cut OF by nature from the
outside world. Little is known of the
hardy people who dwell IN it's dark
recesses. The women ''dIp'' snuff
and ''mind the h0use.o The men. tail,
handsome fellows IN picturesque garb, do
little farming, more hunting OF deer and
turkeys, and most distilljng of the dew"
Periodically they emerge from their hiding
places TO mingle in trade win men OF
warmer blood, and then it is seen that
they are well supplied with money and
superbly mounted. Their horses are the
best IN the State and excite the admira-
ton and cupidity of all behOlders. Quick
of eye and sure of foot as the chamois
clean-limbed and swift as the antelope
proud and courageous as the lion, they
are magnificent creatures. No wonder
the mOOnshiner looks upon his horse as
dearer than the life of any man. Where
did they get such beasts? Breed them
they certainly did not. Steal them? Who
dares to say 50? Buy them? Perhaps,
with the proceeds of their lawless work.
To ent the rough society of these men
Of McLemore the stranger must adopt the
course pursued in gaining admittance TO
the polite society Of the metropolis. He
must provide himself with proper letters
OF recommendation and Introduction. IL
he be honest and frankly tell his business
to the town merchant in league with the
'shiners, he will find no trouble In getting
such letters, or letter, Tor there is only
one necessary. 1t is generally a whisky
flask OF peculiar shape. In the locality
where it is in use 1t is the ''Open sesame
o all the secrets OF the gang. Woe unto the
spy who uses this key TO the injury OF the
men to whose hospitality it entities hIml
A Young man tried It in McLemOre's Cove
not many wears ago. Full OF the spcr"ts
OF the still he ha-ten"d TO officers Of the
government 10 tell all be knew, and rad
upon the moOnshiners was the result. No
captures were made, however, owing to
some miscalculatiOn. and the SOY was
sent back 10 learn more. He was never
seen again. Two human ears, supposed
10 be his, were received soon after At the
Office Of the marshal.
To dispose of his "redeye" the moon
sinner resorts TO innumerable tricks 10
hoOdwink the government. In this
neighborhood corn fodder--the dried
leaves stripped from the stalk and tied in
bundles-is selling at 81 hundred. An
Indifferent looking farmer % passed
through this place Yesterday with a
small wagon load which be offered slyly
81 20c. a bundei The uninitiated would
laugh at such prep0sterous prices. Four
bundles Of good fodder with a peck or so
OF corn make the daily rations Of one
horse. Al zoe. bundle IL would cost 81
a day 10 keep horse. But wait. See
men buying twO-fOur--six--a dozen
bundles Of this farmerl Buy one YOUR
self aud look into IL. Pushed securely up
under the band you find flask Of the un-