The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-05-05
NORTH GEORGIA OUTLAWS.
STORY OF A MAN WHOSE DEATH
is RECORDED ON a POPLAR TREE.
riences Among the Moonshiners.--The
Narrow Escape of II y~enturesonio Eel
C"EuharIcc" in the New York Star.)

c'Euhdrice" in the NetD York Star.)
About the middle of last December
Deputy United States Marshal Kellet
was mu rdered by moonshiners in
the mountains of North Georgia. AN
account of his killing, published in q
New York newspaper, said that
another notch was cut i'm the big pop
lar that guards the entrance to Sleepy
Cove, the retreat of the outlaws,
making five III all, each significant of
the death at the hands of the Illicit
whiskcy makers, of a revenue officer.
Now, was until recently n revenue
officer, and | can without fear of con-
tradiction say that no one is better &C
quaintcd with Sleepy Cove and that
big popla. than mhyself. l knew W Ii
three of the poor fellows whose cpl
taphs stand gaping there, silent but
awful warnings, to all who would dis
turb the lawlcss men of that lonely
cove; the fifth notch is for Kellctt, but
for whom the fourth was cut seems
still to be a mystery to the surround
ing ncighborhood. Moonshiners sell
dom 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 il
done, with death staring me in the face,
Is it possible that the outlaws still be-
licvc my bones are bleaching on the
damp ground in Smoky Hole?
When notch No. 3 was cut there
was Il great stir in North Georgia.
Country people were wild with cx-
element. Revenue men riding through
the mountains had Il sort of itching in
the back, and were inclined often to
turn in the saddle. We laid the muir
der Of W at the door of the noto-
rious Cap Hawkins, the daring leader
Of a fearless band of. outlaws in the
Cohutta Mountains, and as soon rs
possible we were on his trail with q
good pack of bloodhounds. The scent
vas cold, and when we had penctrat-
cd seine eight miles into the range the
dogs became dishcartened. After
circling round us time and again in
search of the ira. they gave it up, and
we were forced to retreat without
having accomplished anything.
II vas dusk when we got out Of the
deep woods, and began to look about
for a place for the night. A log".cabin
of two roomssswas not inviting, but the
old crone who came to the door said
she could provide for II Of the party,
and that the others might fluid accom-
modations at another cabin n mile
down the road. In some way it was
arranged that | should STAY at her
house, and join the party next morn"
ing. Shc madom me as comfortable rs
possible. For supper had pure corn
bread and molasscs, with n tin cur Of
something hot which she called coffee.
While atc she smoked q clay pipe,
sitting in the chimney corner with her
legs crossed and her foot swinging in
cessantly. When she spoke to me,
which she did oftencr than | liked, |
could not help feeling that she was
trying to pump me. She wanted to
know entirely too much abOutthe moon
sinners and the revenue men, and
before | finished my meal hcmadc me
look upon her with suspicion. Once
| or twice ! allurcd to her family, for |
thought it strange that she should live
alone, and even went SO fDr rs to
inquire about her husband, and ask
when he would be at home. But she
replied cvascly, and all learned was
that her old nan and three grown
boys were up on the mountain, tend
ing crops. 1t did not require much
exercise of my imagination 10 deter
mine what kind of crops they were
tending. In thinking of them nv
hand went instinctivcly 10 my trustv
steel Draced me up. wondered how
| tl,n ,,n ,ynttt,r -, 11,,, -. IL
other cabin, and if they could hear a
pistol shot that far of.
When the old woman had shown me
to my room, she returned TO her chin
ncy corner and her pipe aud her foot
swinging. My bed was an old fash
'oncd one, with ropes for springs and
bear skins for mattrces and cover. |
didn't undrcss, but crawiAd ,ust rs |
was between the skins, and laying on
my back, thought | should not do
much sleeping. When my eyes grew
accustomed to to the darkness and
wandered aimlcs>ly over the open cell
ing, | saw something about the size of
thc'bed hanging directly over me. 1t
seemed to swing slowly back and
forth, | stood up and touched it.,
examined it as minutcly as possible,
ana again lay down. IT was nothing
but three or tour bed quilts stretched
across two boards supported at the
,.il By short ropes. If it grew colder
Gu Gn tho ~"' 1 would reach up to them
for more cover. .,
| intended to stay awake, but -.
have been nearly asleep when a crack
ing noise aroused me. The next
moment it was repeated, and the quilts
above me descended rapidly. 1t flash
ed upon me that | was in q trap.
Drawing my weapon, | attempted to
spring ont of bed, determined to sell
my life dearly, but as | Strengthened
up the quilts covered me, and before /
could throw them off strong hands
were at the corners. 1t seemed as if q
ton weight had fallen upon me and
doubled me up. My head was bent so
close upon my breast that my neck
would break. My breath came short
and fast.