Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-11-21
The Moonshiner's Daughter.
BY THOMAS CoLQUITT.
He is coming, at last. "

IOhuSlueJ sHOII ulolahOo OuC ilOu 'hO
town of Hnwassee, as wagon drawn
by a yoke of oxen and driven by IA
pleasant faced old countryman was
coming slowly toward him from the
direction of the town.
Com my way-hic-youngster? ?"
said the WAGNER as he came to the
young man, and stopped his wagon.
Eyes, sir; all the way to Tray
mountains"
"Come ahead then, an ride. Its
too-hic-hot to walk"
The old fellow was evidently half
drunk and glad to have some one with
him on the long, lonely drive before
him. Had he known, however, that
he was riding with a man who had
been the means of destroying more
Illicit distilleries and bringing their
operators to justice than any two mar
shals in North Carolina he would not
have been so friendly with the stranger.
Had he known that his young compan-
ion had come 1000 miles to seek him
out, had been waiting in Hiawassee two
weeks for him to come to town, and
had come down the road that warm
afternoon to obtain seat in his wagon,
it is extremely doubtful if Jason Niles,
the young United States revenue Off
Ger, had ever reached old Coon Colts
lowly but hositable home alive.
They camped in the woods that
night, and cooked their supper over a
fire of sticks by the roadside. The
following afternoon they reached Mr..
COTS home. AS the wagon stopped
at the gate the old gentlemen said:
"Our fare is rough, Mr.. Niles, but
you're welcome to stop with me as
long as you like; and guess" with Il
meaning smile, 81 can learn you as
much about making corn whisky as
any of my neighbors-and you say you
want to learn"
Niles had evidently won the old
fellows confidence and lulled the sus,
pcion that these mountain people al
ways entertain regarding strangers. II
was the strongest proof that could have
been given of his proves as a detec'
tive, that he was able to ingratiate
himself so soon into the confidence O.
this man, who was the chief of {
dangerous band engaged in manutac
turing corn whisky.
Old Coon Goff's word was supreme
law among his men. 1t is not often
that characters so daring and reckless
as these mountaineers surrender entirely
to anOther's command, but when they
do they form a terrible combination
1t was sale that the blood of more thar
one revenue man stained old Coon
huge bony hands. 1t was charged tina
he led the merciless band of moonshin
ers who in 1874 burned revenu
officer at the stake in Rabun County
But the fate of the many United State
officers who have penetrated thos
lonesome lands and never returned Cal
never be known. Within an area @
a dozen counties from Rabun, Georgia
on the east, to Swaine, North Carolina
on the west, there is not printin
press, and these people guard thei
secrets well. In all that vast are
illicit distilling is the favorite occupa
ton, and farming is secondary con
sideration. They have well>estat
lisbed secret.service which covers tn
ground thoroughly throughout tn
moonshine district, and the news of a
intended raid by posse of "revenu
hounds" always reaches the threatene
locality long before the officers &C
there. An officer simply takes h
lite in his own hands who goes alon
among the moonshiners.. They al
almost sure TO spot him as a spy
and his life pays the forfeit. FrOl
this, readers will readily understan
that Mr.. Jason Niles, the youn
revenue man, is in position otextrem
danger.
Right or wrong, Jason, my fatht
is what they call mOOnshiner, and
Euavr vO,, uaro n ravanua ONioa