The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-28
A TASTE OF DEAD LEAVES.
THE NooNsHrHE WHISKY OF rHE
GEORGIA MOUNTAINS.
A Glimpse Of Life at Tsliuiah Falls,
Among simple Folk Who Breathe
Pure Air and Drink Pure whisky
what Revenue ofiosr Has 10 Say.

Pure Air and Drink Pure Whisky
what q Revenue oflosr Hss 10 Say.
Taiiulah Falls tGs) Correspondence Of the New
York Tines
Here among the beautiful mountain
wilds Of northern Georgia the moon
Sinner" abounds in large numbers. In
fact, nearly all Of the honest mountaineers
In this part OF the country either mako or
handle Illicit, or BLOCKADE" whisky. n
they call IT, The moonshiner Of these
parts is not, however, the desperate char
acter whom you meet In novels and mag
sxines. In fiction tho illicit distiller Is q
desperate who thinks as little Of murder
ing an iniormer as he does Of tasting his
own whisky, and when not engaged In
deeds OF violence he Is haunted by q fear
Of being run down by revenue officers,
The real moonshiner, in this neighborhood
at least, Is = different character. He Il
not at all disposed to be violent except
when under the influence Of the products
oi.his own still. To be sure, he is some
times haunted by fear, but II Is fear oil
imaginary snakes. The revenue officer In
this district Is greatly respected by his
ncighbon because Of the manner In which
he performs the functions Of his Office,
He never goes out Of his way 10 discover
on Illicit still. When an inforrncr comes
10 him and charges any one with Illicit
distilling he investigates tho change
promptly and fairly. But II not In
formed against, his nearest neighbors might
disiill Illicit whisky under his very eyes
without being interrupted by him. And
yet, ~ he is paid In fees, II IL 10 his inter.
est 10 make IN many arrests M possible.
lie nj one time was himself a msnuiact.
urer (sub rosa) of whisky, and II was his
supposed familiarity with the workings OF
this illegal industry that caused him TO be
regarded by the authorities ~ peculiarly
fitted for the post he now fills. But MI.
though jealous in prosecuting an offender
against whom n charge has boon sustained,
he has all OF his old-tlme contempt for the
iniormer. An informer In despised and
sometimes prosecuted even by such OF his
neighbors M are not engaged in the block.
AIDE whisky traffic. A meanly-disposed
man who wished 10 injure his neighbor
might safely charge him with Illicit distill.
ing for the chances aro that q search oil
the neighbours premises would reveal n
still, which would be seized and cut up by
the officers. In case the moonshiner
should he convicted and sent 10 the peni.
Tertiary, he would not lose the respect Of
his neighbors. On the other hand, II IL
probable that on his return FROM the pcni-
Tertiary his neighbors would not only
welcome him back by manifestations OF
joy, but would start subscription list for
the purpose OF raising enough money 10
purchase now still for him. And IN the
meantime the informer would be Stunned
and dctcsted by all
Illicit whisky sells here for $3.50 gal.
lon, the same price that the lawful liquor
brings. For $3.50 enough corn can be
This leaves n largo margin for profit, but
the difficulty Of selling the liquor, owing
90 the danger connected with this sort Of
commerce, prevents the Illicit operator from
making much money. lie, M a rule, man
uiactures the stun conscicnuously, even
though the process " a long one, aud the
smoke produced w the operation " apt "a
give II TOO much publicity. This whisky 1,
somewhat thicker than tho regular article
and II less fiery. 10 tastes fairly vol,
though Il has flavor suggestive OF fallen
leaves Many OF the mOonshincrs make
whisky because they cannot find good
market for their corn. Ii they cannot find
q good market for their whisky, they have
nothing 10 do but 10 drink u themselves.
Excellent brandy could be male here from
fruit, hut the possession OF fruit In largo
l. 81 80
with suspicion. II an honest mouniaincor
should be seen driving up 10 the door Of
his cabin with load Of fruit, II would be
understood at once hatheproposcd 10 make
brandy out Of u. lie might say that he
had purchased the fruit for his own table.
but the most kindly disposed revenue
officer could not afford 20 believe such a
statement. The country around here Il
we'll suited for moonshining purposes
There are countless rcccsscs among the
rocks where stills can DO hidden. The
only thing connected with the industry
which cannot be safely hidden IL the
smoke. One morning recently, "a ] was
wandering through tho woods. | came
upon n clearing In the center Of which
stood a log hut. | saw no smoke proceed.
Ing from the rude chimney Of the hut, but
saw n great deal 81 smoke coming out Of
n crcvicc among some rocks near the edge
oi the clearing. These were my thoughts
'Now, although am perfectly willing
that the honest mountainccr who manage,
this clearing should make oil the Illicit
whisky that he chooses. and although
would not inform against him undcr ans
consideration, ] might not bc able TO con.
vince him Of these facts were he 10 sud
denly come In contact with me now. u
just then the loud bark Of dog, accom-
panied by the rough tones Of n backwood'
voice, was heard and | retired into IN,
forest. Soon aitcrward met mountain
Ger Of my acquaintance, 20 whom relate,
this experience, winding up with the qucs
ton Don't that man IN the clearing
make blockade whisky"
"Wcll, l don't think he does now; but
reckon he used 10, replied the man, will
grin. When asked the same question II
regard 10 each Of severaloi his other neigh
bon., the man invariably replied: "Wcll
don't think lac does now, but 1 cckoI
lac used &"
A few days ago, while walking along IN
road near the village Of Tallulah, | "a,
two hardy but honest looking young me
talking with an old man who was seated o
m ox.cart As passed the trio hear
the old man cay;
''But amt runnin' my still lust now.
''still think you'd ought ter run n
through about twenty gallonsor 40, "urgc
one Of the young men.
SO secure did these coniraband whisk
-