Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-24
DOCK, THE MOONSHINER
How I Aided Him in Escaping
From Jail

/ had been so Hospitality entertained
by Moonshiner Dock Davis. and his
invitation to call again upon him at
his wildcat still had been so cordially
given that could not resist the temp
tation to saddle my mare and ride
over on Lonesome one bright sparkling
iay about a week after the fox hunt.
[ found without difficulty the little
blind canyon at the head of which
was the ''spring branch" whose pure
water was so necessary to the manu-
facture of "mountain dew" and my
creek bed at quick walk. Dock was
at home and 1 saw the barrel of his
long rife protruding from a clump of
bushes before I saw him.
He welcomed me cheerily and I
'lited'' and tied my horse to sapling
while he brought out rough bench
from his little cabin and filled gourd
with moonshine from the barrel along
side the door. I was deeply inter-
ested in his description of the myster-
les of wildcat Shilling, and he had
just finished telling me how on GER
tain occasion he had plumb fooled
the ma shals" while ''blockading" a
half-dozen barrels of whisky into Dab
lonega. when, with an exclamation of
alarm, he sprang to his feet and
reached for his rife, which was resting
against the trunk of big oak tree.
His hands were already grasping the
weapon. when L heard a sharp click.
click, and man with a double-bar-
relied shotgun in his hands leaped into
the little clearing and by a quick
movement covered US both.
Throw up!" was his curt command.
and whilst I was quick to obey. the
moonshiner's arms were raised slowly
above his head and he watched the in
terloper keenly. watching for loop
hole of escape.
"It's no use. Dock said the stran-
ger, 1--WE got the drop"
He whistIed shrilly. and after a mo-
ment's silence there was a hurried
trampling among the brushwood and
two men armed like the first came
into sight. One of them produced
pair of handouts and snapped them
on the moonshiner's wrists. He
stepped forward to do like service
for me.
''He'un's not wanted by you uns,"
said Dock, shaking his head. ''He'un
air a stranger in this settlement"
Thus prompted introduced myself.
and the man who had covered us with
the shotgun held out his hand.
81 heard from the marshal the other
day in Atlanta that you were up
here" he said. land I promised him
to look after you. He said you were
studying the people, I presume
Dock is giving you a lessen in moon
shining. think you'd travel a long
ways before finding better teacher
Or one who understands his business
better. Eli, Dock?"
The manacled moonshiner laughed
proudly at this compliment and nodded
his head.
81 low that you'uns shore b'lieve
tibet O. me- he said. drily, and then
laughing again. continued: ''You'uns
hev caught me far an squar' this
a-time, an / reckin thar's no use'n
bawlin' over split milk. Thar's the
bar1 an thar's the gourd. Take
suthin'. gentlemen. ct my expense"
The '.ma'shals' were not slow to
accept the prisoners invitation, and
he bowed gravely when they drank
his health and wished him "better
luck next time" The balance of the
liquor in the barrel was emptied upon
the ground and two barrels of ''swiz-
zlings," a big hogshead of beer and
another of mash" just beginning to
ferment, met with like fate. The
revenue officers tore the little copper
still from the mud-daubed fireplace
and one of the men chopped it into bits
with Docks axe. The ''goose-neck"
and the worm were also destroyed,
and then the little cabin was set on
fire. Dock exhibited no emotion and
uttered no protest while the work of
devastation was going on, but sat on
log meditatively chewing a maple
twig.
'.Well, that seems to be satisfac-
tory cleanup" said the head marshal
as the flames began to lick the shin
giles of the cabin. Bring up the
horses. boys, and we'll get back to
Dahlonega"
Look a-hyar, cap'n." said Dock.
my place air rite on yore road. I'd
like to stop an bid the ole woman
howdy. Sides hev a likely saddle
mare, an twill make hit easy on you
un's horse critters eff I ride her to
town"
VERY well. Dock" said the mar
shall, s.you shall stop and see your
wife,
He started to climb the sloping
canyon wall and Dock and followed.
the marshal's two assistants, with the
horses. bringing up the rear. But for
the handouts on the prisoners wrists
one would have thought us a party of
friends ont for q stroll We chatted
together unreseryedly. and Dock was
in the best of spirits His wife. al
most child in years, but quite prot