The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-04-23
A NIGHT-RAID ON DONEGAL
SMUGGLERS.

On a wild, stormy evening, some
years ago, the writer was returning to
Ballyroughan, a miserable little town
on the bleak coast ofDonegal. Ithad
rained heavily all day, but having
cleared up a little, | drew rein as l APP
preached the town. Onsuch an even
ing the scene was far from inspiriting.
The road followed the windings of the
seashore, here bounded by huge rocks,
over which the waves were dashing
furiously, like demons storming a fort.
About five miles from the mainland
lay the little island OF Innismurry, al
most shrouded in mist, and only dis
cernible by the ring of white foam
which marked it's coast. Beyond
stretched the Atlantic, raging with all
the force and passion of a November
storm. had barely time to take in
this scene, when / was accosted by q
man, who seemed to rise out of the
road at my side.
OTIS a eve day, yer honor" said
he, politely touching his hat. "God be
good to them that'sat sea on an even
ing like that"
at is very stormy indeed; but l think
the worst of it is now over"
God sind it thin, tor it, hard times
for the fishermen; though it's mighty
good for the stillin'."
"Goodforth the stillinl" Isaid. "What
do you mean?"
"Why, | name there's little fear of
'the boys beinginterruptedin weather
like that"
interrupted at what?"
"Why, at the stillin', av coorse; and
by the same token, yonder they're at
it," and he pointed to the little island
already referred to, now partially dis
robed OF it's mist.
"Do you mean to say that there is
Illicit distillation now going on al that
island?"
"Faix and yoa've just guessed it; and
sure 1T come mighty handy, by rayson
that the fair IL on Monday"
need not weary the reader with all
that passed between me, and my
chance companion, whom Recognized
as Mickey Mehaffey, a hanger-on about
one OF the hotels in the town. From
Mickey / learned that the inhabitants
OF Innismurry consisted of about q
: score of families, who obtained a liv-
ing by fishing and illicit distillation,
and | grieve to say, chiefly by the lat
ter. There were no police on the is
land, and as in stormy weather it was
wholly unapproachable from the
mainland, they could carry on their
nefarious business without fear of
disturbance" At other times their
scouts would give at least
half-an-hour's warning OF APP
preaching danger, and this was
sufficient to enable them to
secrete their contraband goods before
the ''inimy'' arrived. And when hard
pressed, the Atlantic always formed q
safe and capacious storehouse. They
had also their agents and confederates
on the mainland, who assisted them
to land and dispose Of the poteen pri-
or to fairs, wakes, and marriages, these
being the favorite channels of sshome
consumption"
But to return to Mickey. He still
kept a wistful eye on the island, par
ticularly on one little curl OF blue
smoke that he assured me rose from
the identical cabin where the stills
were at that moment being fired"
They'll be sure to land it on Sum
day night" said he, s'as Monday is
the fair. The new gauger is very Sc
ware, I'm towld, and means to makea
raid on them"
Who told you THAR" / asked.
"Oh, the diviI O. one; sure, I've been
dhraming it, or something"
'Well, Mickey" said /, s'since you've
been so very free with your informa-
ton, l don't mind telling you that |
am the new gauger' myself, and GER
tainly mean to put q stop to this
smuggling, if possible"
stOh, the saints protect usl'' piously
CALCULATED Mickey. "Bad luck to the
tongue of mel I've been an informer
all unknownst to meself; but your
honor won't betray me?"
Never fear. knew already most
OF what you told ME" ..
"Arrahl did you, now? Well, and II
you want any more information
about them same smugglers, sure
Mickey Mehafey's the boy that can
md 1t out for w" /.
! was certainly rather amused at