Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-08-19
AN UNDERGROUND DIssTILLgRY.
Device That Shows Moonshiners Are Not
Lacking in Ingenuity.
Atlanta Constitution

seizures ever made for violation of the
internal revenue laws, was made by Dep-
uty Collector Chisholm, assisted by
Deputy Marshal Mcdonald, two miles
beyond Stone mountain.
The seizure consists of one man. Ben
jamin Franklin Kilgore, a gin house,
fifteen-horse power engine and boiler,
one still, cap and worm, one cotton press,
cottonseed, one mill, and a number of
other things.
Deputy Collector Chisholm has been
working the case for nearly a month. He
knew that the ardent was being made in
or near the Clubhouse, and he knew that
| he would get it, even if it was as d eep
down as an artesian we'll.
Wednesday night the deputy collector
and Deputy Marshal Mcdonald went
down to the mountain aud made a careful
survey of the surroundings. All was
quiet around the gin, not noise save the
chirp of the cricket could be heard.
"Deviiish lonesome place." said the
collector, as he quietly walked around.
I'D rather be in Paulding county, re-
piled the strawberry blonde deputy COZ
lector.
II don't like these old houses"
me neither. Ding sight rather be in
the woods
"Well, here, know there's a still here,
and I'm going to find it,"
and l hope wen find some benzine
with it,"
The two officers began to try the doors,
but found everything tight and fest. The
deputy collector squared himself back
and a few vigorous kicks brought one of
the doors down. The two men walked in.
1t was as dark as stack of black cats,
but after getting the cold gusts and
chills off them, lantern was lit and,
guided by its dim rays, search was
made. There were no signs of still,
not the least indications.
"Ain't no still here said the blonde
as he jumped about three feet high as a
large rat scsmpered over the floor.
yes, there is, and am going to find
it," replied Mr.. Chisholm, stamping his
foot on the floor.
"What yer hunting for?,'
Want to see if there amt cellar under
here
"A CELLAR"
eyes"
"That's or fact. | was raised up here
bout Gainesville, and don't know much
about them, and never would have
thought of that Wen find that still
now"
And they did. The two men began
walking around, and soon found place
in the floor that sounded hollow. They
knew they had struck the winning card,
and the next thing was to get into the
opening.
q There's a trap-door here somewhere"
said the deputy collector.
"Eh-what" asked his companion.
"a trap-door,"
"And what the deuce is that?"
"A door in the floor"
"Then I'll find it,"
And getting down on his stomach he
crawled over the floor lizard fashion,
feeling every inch of the plank with his
hends. He crawled up against pile of
cottonseed, but didn't stop; he just crawl
ed under and was buried from sight.
Presently he came out almost suffocated;
and with long breath said;
"I-I7Tye found it,"
"You have?"
yes; let's get this pile of seed away
Ind Wen be in there in pair of minutes.
They went to work and the seed was
soon removed, and sure enough the door
was found. 1t was raised up, and hold
ing the lantern over the the opening the
two men looked in. They could see
nothing save the pitchy darkness
string was tied to the lantern and was
lowered depth of fifteen feet or more
before bottom was found. Swinging the
lantern around they discovered a lantern
against the side of the wall. As soon as
this was discovered the two men felt all
~
in an underground distillery. Every
thing was in tip-top shape and ready for
business. There was the still, and every
thing showed that it had only been
short time since a run had been made.
Lets get out of here" said the dep
nty collector who began to turn pale be
hind the gills.
Not yet; let's see it all, " was the reply
of the deputy marshal, who appeared
deeply interested
Mcdonald" replied the collector sol
EMMY, had you thought how easy it
would be for the moonshiners to slip up
here and close that door down on us?n
Great Lord No, hadn't" and up
the ladder the deputy marshal scrambled
1t didn't need seconds time to make
the ascent and he was soon followed by
the deputy collector almost dead with
laughter.
Marrow escape" began Mcdonald,
wiping the beads of presperation from
his brow.
Yes was the only reply the deputy
collector could make.
what IN thunder are you laughing
about9'
Nothing just how quick you got out
of that pit"
at was getting time, If the door had
closed down ON us, we never would have
got out. Get me in such place again
The next thing was TO arrest Kilgore.
They found no trouble in this, for going
to his home only a short distance away
he was found enjoying the sleep
of the innocent. He was arrested
and brought to Atlanta, and gave bond
20 the som Of $500.
A man was sent down to guard the
seizures, and what things could be NOV
ed we're brought to Atlanta.
Nothing But m Old Maid"
The Oregouian.
Elizabeth of England, one of the most
illustrious of modern sovereigns, WON