Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-05-29
THE FOURTH NOTCH.
4 Close Call for a Smoky Hole
Victim.

About the middle Of last December
Deputy United States Marshal Kcllctt
was murdered by moon-hiners in the
mountains Of North Georgia. An ac-
count Of hi, killing, published in a
New York newspaper, said that another
notch was cut in the big poplar that
guard, the entrance to Sleepy Cove,
the retreat Of the outlaws, making five
in all, each significant of the death, at
the hands of the Illicit whisky makers,
of a revenue officer. Now, | wa until
recently a revenue officer. and | think
| can say without fear OF contradiction
that no one is better acquainted with
Sleepy Cove and that biz poplar than
myself, knew well three of the poor
fellows whose epitaphs stand gazing
thn~a, a;l~-s Sao u~iun warning, TO all
who disturb the lawless men of that
lonely cove; the fifth notch is for Kel-
lett, but for whom the fourth was cut
seems still to be a mystery 10 the sur
rounding neighborhood. Moonshincrs
seldom make mistakes in their matters
Of murder, but in this instance | think
they have lost their reckoning. That
fourth notch was cut for me. ] saw it
done, with death staring me in the face.
1t is possible that the outlaws still be.
lieve my bones are bleaching on the
damp ground in Smoky Hole?
When notch number three was Gu
there was a great stirin North Georgia
Country people were wild with excite
ment. Revenue men riding through
the mountains had a sort of itching in
the back, and We're inclined often tt
turn nthe saddle. We laid the murdel
of W at the door of the notorious
Cap Hawkins, the daring leader of
fearless band of outlaws in the Cohutt;
mountains. and as soon as lossible w.
were on histrail with a GOOD pack o
b%loodhounds. The scent was cold. an,
when we had penetrated some eigh
miles into the range the dogs becam
dishcartened. After c"ircling round II
time and again in search of the trai
they gave il up. and we were forced +
retreat without having accomplishe,
any thing.
Ii was dusk when we rot out of III
deep woods, and we BEGAN to loo.
about for a place TO STAY for the nicb,
A log cabin of two rooms was NOT in
viting, but the old crone who came t
the door said that she could nroyid
for one of the party, and that tn
Others might find accommodations q
another cabin a mile down the roat
IN some way it was arranged that
should STAY at her house. and ioin tn
party next morning. She made me a
comfortable as possible. For supper
had pure corn bread and molasses
with a great tin cup of something he
called coffee. While | ate she smoke
a clay pipe, sitting in the chimney co,
ner with her legs crossed and her foe
swinging necessarily. When she spok
to me, which she did oftener than
liked, | could not help feeling thu
she was trying to pump me. Sh
wanted to know entirely too niue
about the moonshiners and the revenu
men, and before | had finished m
meal she made me look upon her wit
suspicion. Once or twice | alluded
her family, for | thought it strane
that she should live alone, and eve
went SO far as to inquire about h,
husband, and ask when he would be
home. She replied e~vasively, and all
learned was that her old man and thrt
grown boys were up on the mountai
tending crops. 1t did not requircm uo
exercise of my imagination to dete
mine what kind of crops they wer
tending. In thinking of them n
hand went instinctively to my trust
revolver. and the touch of the col
steel braced me up. | wondered ho'
the men were getting on down at II
other cabin. and if they could hear