News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-11
A M0ONSHINE STRONGHOLD
LIFE AMONG ILLICIT DISTILLERS
OF NORTH ALABAMA.
"A Visit to an Illicit Still-Rough
Men and Their Weird Surround
inGs-A Mountain Waif

"A Visit to an Illicit Stili-Rough
EIen and Their Weird Surround
ings-A Mountain Wait.
One of the most Interesting localities in
North Alabama is the mountain regions
of Marshall and DeKalb counties. 1t has
become so on account of the character of
the citizens OF this section the most
notorious and best known locality is the
Sand Mountain in DeKalb county. The
people in this section are far behind the
happy elements of civilization which sur
round their neiehbors Here the women
do most of the work, whild the men
make all the Illicit whisky they can. a
stranger is looked on as natural enemy,
and one is eyed with suspicion.
The visit to an illicit still was under an
o5sn characteristic of the mountaineer,
which was sacred and binding. 1t was
about two miles in the mountains, away
from any settlement. The distance was
travelled on the back of a mountain colt.
After following a narrow, beaten track
through bushes, over rocks, down hill
sides. across ravines and through noun
tain passes, a point of precipice was
reached. My companions pointed to the
depths below and told me to watch GER
tain SPOT. A blue curl of smoke arose,
which was from the still we were going
to visit. Then down the narrow noun
tain-side we rode, guided by the sensible
animals. If a slip of his foot was made,
eternity would have been our doom.
Soon a point was reached about two hun
dred wards from the still. One OF my
companions took from his pocket
whistle, made of piece of reed, and gave
two shrill whistles, which were answered.
The animals were tied, and one OF the
men said to the other: ''Jim, his peppers
are too good; I guess we had better cover
them" With these words the two men
proceeded to bind a cloth over my eyes.
After walking around and about cave
was entered.
When the doors were thrown back my
ewes were freed, and Il scene OF interest
was pictured. The room was cavern
dug out of coal deposit, about twenty
by sixteen feet, in which were arranged
the worms and barrels with piles of corn
and dried fruit Hanging about on the
walls were guns and pistols, near which
was a slide made to open and close at a
moments notice. The interior was sug-
oestive of the wild nature of the noun
tains. The men inside were dressed in
thing of coarse material made at home.
IL. the corner of the room was a man
busily engaged in pouring whisky IN a
funnel, which was conveyed off through
a pipe made of mountain cane.
"Where does that go to?" was asked.
E'You can't know all, stranger. Whar
that runs to you nor no other man will
- 4,1- Of 40 n
bet on it.
Behind tub of sour-mash was little,
ragged nine-year- child, who had a
stick stirring the contents. The little
thing was covered with dirt and half
clad in course homespun.
"Chunk it up, Mag, and come here and
see the stranger"
The child, half frightened and cow
cred, approached me, but her timidity
Qvercame her, and she stopped.
Come here, you little cat, and sing ,
was spoken by one of the men.
The child began to sing in voice as
plaintiful as a dove, and before she had
finished the tears were streaming down
her cheeks.
What is the child's name?' was asked.
''We call her Mag for short. That
child has a history as long as your arm,
but she will never tell it. She knows she
will get the strap"
Her dark blue, childish eyes looked up,
moistened with tears, and pleaded to be
spared the lash. Her story was strange
one. and was calculated to touch the
chords OF a hardened heart.
One cold morning six years before, a
man was seen slowly riding along the
mountain road with little child in front
on the saddle. The snow was falling and
he tendcrly clasped her wraps around
her
Up the mountain higher were two men
who have been introduced, and they were
gazing at the sight below.
Take the glass and see if you are sure
he is spy"
Soon the sharp pingof rifle was heard,
and the traveller dropped lifeless from his
saddle, and the child was taken to the
cave of the moonshincrs. The child has
been there since.
The duty of the child is to mix sour
mash and keep her eyes closed. This she
performs faithfully. The question was
asked of these men:
care you not afraid of the revenue
men, and will they not get you?"
stranger, we are not afraid of heaven
or hell, much less of any thing on two
legs. We are trying to make an honest
living, and the man who tries to stop us
that's ALL The law has got to take
the same chance that we do"
These arc some of the characteristics
of the men the revenue authorities have
had to contend with in Alabama. At
dnt0 Constitution.