Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-31
THE TABLES TURNED
On a Party Of United States Marshals
Who Went After Moonshiners.
THE MURDER OF DEPUTY eHAGAE.
An Ingenious Maker Of Pinetop Liquor
Hides His Illicit Still
UNDER A HOLLOW MOUNTAIN TREE

UNDER A HOLLOW MOUNTAIN TREE
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DISPATCH. ]
| PARKERsB URG, W. VA, August 3d.
The mountainous counties of West Virginia
among the Alleg henies, Middle, Shaffer,
Huff, Black and other laterals, which SUBJ
divide and bisect the country into wilder
ness OF forests, dark glens, narrow val
leys and frowning ramparts of stone
form natural retreats for many mo-
torious outlaws, especially the il
licit distillers of whisky. These men
Pennsylvania and other populous States
mere remnants of degraded humanity, who
manufacture gallon or two of vile stuff in
some cellar or back room In some town or
village-but are stalwart men, who believe
that they have en- inalienable right to con-
vert their crops into an article which can
not only be easily transported, but will
bring them the best returns for their labor.
Their stills are concealed in the depths of
the forest, strongly guarded by shrewd men
with Winchester rifles. 1t is difficult for
the best woodsmen, even when the locality
is given them, to find the places, as there
are no plain paths by which to travel, and
often the faintest "blaze" on the trees are at
long distances apart.
The grain is generally raised many miles
distant and then taken to some miller who
is in the secret, when it is coarsely ground.
1t is then taken to the top of the nearest
mountain on horses, and from there carried
on the shoulders of men who
KNOW EVERY TREE
and turn of the country. So well guarded are
their movements and so we'll protected by
the settlers generally, that the moonshiners
have carried on their svocation tor many
years, notwithstanding the fact that the
Government officials have made numberless
raids with strong posses and the best attain
able guides. Many of the guides and marshals
have been ambushed and shot, and although
the Government makes an occasional haul
of still and the capture of an occasional
moonshiner, the most notorious members of
that fraternity manage to evade arrest and
punishment
Hunting the typical mountain moonshiner
is considered one of the most dangerous
duties a Government officer has to perform
in this State. and it is only such men as
Colonel Bob Saunders, Captain John Van
who ever dared to undertake their capture.
1t was only few days since
that Captain O'Hagan, one of the most
noted trailers and moonshine hunters in the
service, was ambushed, shot and killed
while going from barn to q house near
Basin Springs, in Wyoming county.
O'Hagan had left the barn and was walking
in the direction of the house, small log
cabin, when he was fired upon from the
woods by men who are known to be outlaws
and moonshiners. He succeeded in getting
20 tba he, hall
him, bringing him to the ground. Before
he could fire his gun, which he was in the
act of doing. he was literally shot to pieces.
HARD TO CONVICT THEM.
The Government is now making strong
effort to capture his murderers and have
already got two suspects in prison in
Wyoming county. But as usual, it will
probably be almost impossible to convict
them, as these men are noted for their
allegiance to each other. They are always
posted through their friends Of the move
ments of Government officers, and if it is
seen that the marshals have located their
stills or hiding places, they get together
and carry off their entire outfit and secrete
it in one of their many hiding places in the
mountain fastnesses.
There are some peculiar characters among
the moonshiners. One Of the most noted at
Z
Harris BY his friends and enemies. Harris
was tall, fine looking fellow Of 45 or 30
years; sharp as steel and as courageous as
panther. It is believed that he originally
came from Tennessee, and that the direct
cause of his leaving the mountains of that
State, was the killing ofone deputy marshal
and the wounding and capture of several of
the posse. Be that as it may. every deputy
marshal of note in this part of the country
has had long and unsuccessful trips after
Harris.
DETERMINED TO GET HIM.
Several years ago Colonel Bob Saunders
started out with the determination OF captur-
ing the noted moonshiner. He took with
him four men Of undoubted courage and
shrewdness. They had followed clews given
them by paid parties up into the mountains,
and actually located their man in log
cabin at the edge of deep forest at the foot |
of the mountain. They had travelled nearly |
all night, and when they got close to the |
house they laid in the woods and waited |
until daylight. As soon as the sunbesms |
began to appear above the mountains Saun- |
ders deployed his men In such a manner as |
to completely surround the cabin.
Having got his men in position, one of |
the officers knocked at the door with the butt |
of his pistol, and soor heard the inmates |
stirring. Presently the door opened and q |
tall, fair-haired, blue-eyed man OF deter
mined mien stood in the doorway. 1t was
Harris.
"You are my prisoner, Harris" said
Saunders. "You may as we'll surrender |
quietly, for we have the house surrounded,
and you can't escape"
Harris stood with his hands resting on the !
door jamb above his shoulders, quietly and
coolly looking at the officer.
"It does look little like capture this |
time, don't it, Colonel? But you know the |
old saying: The best laid plans of mice and /
men gang aft aglee.' Look behind you,
Colonel. You see that the best of us some
times make mistake"
IN CLOSE QUARTERS.
Colonel Bob looked over his shoulder, and |
there stood dozen mountaineers with rifles |
leveled at the posse, and not 80 feet away. /
The gang had Kept trace of the marshals
and had determined TO show them that cap
turing a Moonshiner was work worthy of the
best detectives, and too dangerous to be un-
dertaken with impunity.
"Now, Colonel, be kind enough to turn
IA