The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-15
Typical MeonsAinefs. Detroit Free PrUeA


 western part of the state, not unlike Athens of classic memory, "the city of the violet crown" Ia also surrounded by the blue mountains; and from tho fAr~away dells and roscesses Of the mountains, come tho contingent ot moonshiners biennially to this city to answer charges made against them by tho state for Illicit distilling.
 Often 1t is he hst ofiense, and judgment is suspended on the payment of the cost. Then the offender returns to his obscure mountain home, often A hut far up among tho higher peaks, where he immediately klndlcs under his picturesque shed--a rude shelter serving for a still.house--~the smoui- dering fires which had scarcely gone out sinoe he left for his trial. Let us follow the mountainecr through the process ot tho mantAoture and safe Of the ardent. In rude mortar he bcAts up his corn Into kind of meal, This ia often lngenlously run byw Ator power, SO that In case of tho advent Of a government official no one would be found operating 1t, for tho shrewd and cautious distiller watches the process from neighboring crag out of reach of tho clutches of tho law. When . sufficient amount ot corn has In this way been made Into meal 1t Is then put into tubs and allowed to tcrment be- forc the slow process of distillation begins.
 The capacity of the still is usually not more than four or five gallons day. About once month. or when sufficient number of gallons shall have been distilled to warrant the moon- shincr to take trip to market, he yokes up his oxen and loads his wagon covered with canvas. Ills plan of con oealment of what he hauls ia simple. Over tho barrels or kegs which con tain the mountain dow hc piles pota. toes, corn ar apples. Ostensibly he is loaded with ono of these commodities, as hc drives slowly his steady, trusty team down tho creck--the rushing crystal guide that leads him to the big road down in the settlement thousand feet below. Following the devious windings of this more trnvcled but still rough and ungraded roadway, he pasacs across the country . days Journey, and the next day finds him winding again up the banks Of another mountain stream, seeking passage through the Blue Ridge mountains, beyond which lies his best market, the snowy cotton fields ofsouth Carolina.
 From the top oi tho mountain his field ot operations Ia spread before him like map, a scene whose grandeur can be imagined only when seen. Butu mindful of such surroundings he drives slowly along toward the low lands i've thousand feet below, bearing beneath this canvas cover Of his cart his contribution to tho commerce of the world. Then, after two days Of descent, the stealthy moonshiner pitches his camp, and soon to this sc. cluded spot the thirsty toilers of cot ton fields find their way.
 Supplying thus one community, he strikes bis tent and endemvors further down the country to sell his potatoes at an immense price. The high prices asked are but an advertisement of what Is beneath them, and so again he finds a community Of anxious purchasers. Then when finally hc has disposed of the last gallon Of the mystic juice of the mountain "DubbiD," he turns the heads of hIs slow but sure beasts oi burden in the direction of tho blue mou ntains in the distance.
 These trips are repeated until, un- fortunately for tho mounfaIncer, some revenue officer chances to dlscOver him and causes his trial and his sentence to the national penitentiary, or perchancc he k acquitted, in which last event he returns to his still and his steers and continues to make and to deal out to his doughty neighbors the pure juice of the corn, the mou ntaineer's fsvorIte beverage. But this man is not the worst or lowest class of criminals, by any means. He is in no sense vicious and mean and corrupt, but in all other respects, sayk this one, he Is law abid. ing and haf5nIess. No more hospita- ble or ReBetbus host could bc found if the stranger should happen to bc his guest. Not a cent of pay would he re- ceive for lodging and food such as he could give you. B1t when the law takes from him what he considers his liberty refuses to allow him to do "A he likes with his own--he will not obey 1t. Ills father was allowed to distill nndisturbed by revenue officers, and he sees no reason why hs should n not 90 much one Of total depr&yity and utter hwlessDess, that prompts the mountsiDecr to kindle his Ares