The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-05
INDIANA MOONSHINERS
How Clever Officer Broke Up Garg Of
Revenue Outlaws.
The Attempt Nearly Costs Him His Life
The Chief of the Gang
Hoodwinked.
lCourier-Ionrnal.l

lCourier-Journal
In Indiana, on the Knobs back of New
Albany, moonshiners were as numerous, not
many years since, as they in the noun
trims ana uDfrequented portions of Ken
lucky and Tennessee. About seven years ago
the citizens of Blue Lick, little village six
teen miles northwest of Jacksonville, began
to suspect that Illicit whisky was being dis
posed Of in their midst. They kept care
full watch, and finally were convinced that
some pretended hoop-pole traders were the
guilty parties.
The aid of a United States Marshal was Sc
cured. He relates a thrilling experience
while with them that is worthy the pen OF a
Dickens n character sketching. He went
among he moonshiners in disguise, and
lived ann = them for weeks until finally he
learned re their stills were situated and
all other s., rets. He pretended to be poor
farmer, ano squatted on an unoccupied piece
of ground that had escaped cultivation on
account OF tie poor quality of the soil. The
fact that it would hardly afford sustenance
for chicken was no drawback 10 him. With
the assistance of a dilapidated mule and
riCkety plOw which he borrowed from one of
the neighbors, an old fellow named Pap"
Wilson, he scratched up the soil and put
in his little crop. He lad his quarters with
one OF the moonshiners above the room
where the large family slept, separa I'D from
him by only floor of heavy logs I a car
pet of hay. This was reached by rough
ladder, and light in daytime was az tied
through an aperture which had been ,I we'd
through one of the logs. There was no / I'd
of artificial light as all retired at dark.
About the time Mr.. Thompson, the Mar
shall, had made all the observations he
wanted, his host began to suspect him, and
watched him, which the officer noticed at
once. he had worked for Pinkerton, and
had bad hair-breadth escapes out West, but
for the first time Inc felt uneasy. He had 10
60 10 work TO make his escape with more
caution than man breaking prison, for
prisoner has some show for his lite if he Will
surrender, but he knew that the first signs of
his attempting to escape or betray them,
would inevitably cost him his life.
Alongside the house was the wide Chin
ney, built of poles and mud, which is usu-
ally seen in that neighborhood. Fortunately
1T was summer time, and he used this to stow
away a figure which he mad cleverly con-
stIucted from hay. This he was to pat in
his bed the night of his intended escape
The OLD man thought the hole cut through
the logs too small for any one to make his
| exit through, and supposed his guest would
| have to come down the ladder if he tried to
escape. At last the night came when he was
20 make the attempt. 1t was raining hard,
| and the darkness was only relieved by an
occasional flash OF lightning. Care
| fully deposiiing his straw man in his
| bed and covering il with all the clothes he
| could spare, the spy cautiously squeezed
| through the opening and crept down the
outside of the chimney. the projections
where the poles crossed affording secure foot
| ing. He had just reached the ground when
| he accidentally shook the chimney with his
| foot, jOstling down a loose bit of dirt on the
| inside. The m0Onshiner jumped up, think
| ing him about to escape Just then flash
| of lightning revealed the straw man in the
| garrett, and, thinking all safe, the old man
lay down again muttiDg something ABOUT
.'clesDin' out them pesky chimbley swal-
| lers."
Thompson lay still for almost half an hour
| behind the chimney in ditch of water, ex-
! pectiDg every flash of lightning to discover
bis use. He was not treasured until he
finally heard the old man gently snoring.
! Then cautiously making his way for about
a mile through the woods, crawling part of
the way, and stopping every moment to
| listen to discover whether he was followed,
| he finally reached an open path leading di-
rectly to the wagon road. The storm had
now subsidized. and the moon shone brightly.
| As his clothes were wet through causing him
to feel cold, he walked along at a rapid pace.
| reaching Blue Lick, the nearest village in
| about two hours. 1t was about / O'Clock
| when he arrived.
In two hours more he was on the way back
| wife posse of twelve good men. As they
| all had good horses they made their way
4 back before day break. Leaving the horses
in charge of one of the number, they took
ciTcuitOus routes through the woods, sur
rounding the men at the still, just at day
| break. for il seems they started in daytime
| instead of at night, contrary TO the usual
custom of moonshiners. -Four of the party
/ III
| been sent ont having fled at the first alarm.
Among the number were Pap" Wilson,
| his former host, and his two sons The old
| mans rage knew no bounds when he found
that he had been outwitted and had left his
wife at home keeping watch over "dum-
N.Y." The rest of the gang was afterwards
| captured, but all except the ringleaders,
among whom was Pap" Wilson, were ac-
| quilted. The leaders are now serving terms
in the penitentiary.