New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-28
AMONG THE MOONSHINERS'
PERu.s OF THE STRANGER - UNCoN'EN'
TIONAL COURT SCENES

Asheytlle, n. C., Feb. 60 Spccial.-During recent
tramp through these mountains with Young anu
brilliant Government geologis large snake erossca
our path The geologist hit the reptile Win MS ioo'
at which the snake eurled Its body ihto heap
resembling somewhat the form Of q lady's back
hair when arranged In long twisted coils Cnderhea'n
all rested the snakes head. far away from danger
n protectine body could Insure II. The ghs'ehihg
black coils were thrust aside by the geologst 10 ge'
nj tho protected head and his fingers caspcd he neck
Of the snake close 10 the head. Inc srasp was NV
close enough 10 prevent the repule trom 'u'h,i,s
quickly and burying ts fangs In the ndeA hhRer vi III"
cap,or Throwing the snake away. the yonns man
ouickly placed the finger In his mouth. sucNo u
vigorously few moments and continued the journey
pnconeernedly A slight sV ellng and redness were
the only indications Of his dangerous poisoning ms
gentleman In recountng his snake adventurs' spo]o
~ n black snake OF the Dlue RieFe Mountains once
coIIng about his body combining his arms and exertng
q remarkable constructing power which only repeASea
vigorous efforts succeeded In weakening
While surveying In the Great smoky Mountains Oh
the Tennessee line. this geologist had an experience
with moonshiners, which he outlined as follows:
81 was ascending u steep bride path alone. think
Ing Of certain mountain point far In the distance
from which wished to make On observation ana get
specimens OF ore said 10 exist there ouoaeiS
entering @ little clearing. noticed log cabin In the
doorway Of which stood long. lean. iank
piciousiy stepped Indoors. picked up squirrel rihe
And ievelled IL at my head. His attitude was not no
assuring showed no ALARM though felt IT, wslkn
straight up 10 the cabin door and soon MADE known
that was unarmcd and harmless The rnc was theh
returned to its rack Indoors. while cDdeaVoreo '"
persuade this Suspicious mountain man that was
not a revenue agent. but simply geologist' linen
tried 10 hire him ~ guide ne 10 the POM nan vet
out for At first he refused absolutely. said IL was
dangerous. The mountainecrS he feared would Sh"''
lis from the thckets, or Kill him anyway LOT pnouhH
a stranger among them. hvedOllar bill oVercanc
these scruples. Providing horses. no set out rihc
In hand, making ride before himi FOR hours VIC
went on in this order. low whistle shead ih"uo
us halt. My companion answered the call. and s'oh
there appeared another lcan long legged mouhtaheci
Ny escort explained the situation. The newcomer
was somewhat TO proceeding further ih' inc
maintains Another five dollars him 10 my side
on condition that should ride between them 10 VIC
continued tho Journey with one moohshlhcr uor
moonshncrs they undoubtedly wcrcl ahead and one be
hind with rifles ready for In this order &C
complIsed NV erand and returned to town, glad TO 10
out Of the mountains. where stranger ~ould 70
killed a. matter OF course. II Thought 10 he revenue
agent $780,, .,,.. ,,.r. tried not long
since at tho Federal Court In this TOW II IS
t0 convict these lawercakers. stll NAV be cspueu
in mountain fastncss with fire under IT, but unless
the presence OF mash In the stu house IS pro.en
mn conviction can be made. on the moonshincrs ueu
here the heaviest sentence imposed was one year IN
prison and 500 hnc. This was lot Nnl>'lnh
revenue officer. Dozens OF cases were dl,ihi,sru Or
cause the presence Of sour mash In the s,iS va, ~"
proven fhe men on trial were mean looking iellows.
Long unkcmpt hair and untdy, coarse ci9tnns ,ho
Gtting equipments for the coarse cunning faces OF inc
prisoner Nearly all che~ed tobacco They drank
and conrt attendants the pail standing on the END oi
The counter over which the Judge presided The tln
waterdipper passed the lips OF judy ana br'onf L
out his knife and began peeling an apple telling me
lawyers TO 60 ahead. between pronleo1us AZ
Of tho fruit tho judge would biurt ont decisions ae
yef charges 20 the Jury. tell the prosecutor the law
az olive the defendants counsel needed ADVICE ana Keep
he hall rolling in true New York police court styc.
The cases At times passed upon ~ quickly as IN
,,"Iicc courts The mOnOtOnOus round OF trials was
rr.hed In several weeks and the moonshincrs Ancon
vctcd returned TO their mountain homes to continue
uhtsIcv mailing This corn whiskey Is vile stun. IL
Iii ,nr =, a gallon and Is strong enough 10 hurn
serIously the yltals Of ordinary man. But these
mountslncers can eat or drink almost anything