The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-04-02

AOIe Cnau IWO ululCiIeQ IuOOuSAu1
ers have established u fortified camp
in Franklin county, Virginia, and
openly defy the authorities of the
United States They have over one
hundred Illicit stills in operation and
are producing thousands of barrels
Of whiskey on whichno dutyto Uncle
Sam is paid.
The manufacture of Illicit whiskey
has been carried on more OF less ex-
tensively throughout the South for =
good many years, but the contraband
stills have been conducted on a small
scale in the hidden recesses Of the
mountains. It has always been a
comparatively easy matter for the
revenue officers to capture and break
up these stills whenever they could
locate them. The camp in Franklin
county is an exception, however.
Several attempts have been made
within the last two years by the rev.
enue officers to capture this moon
shine stronghold, but without success.
On each occasion the officers have
been driven off. Success has made
the gang bold. They have gathered
recruits from the criminal class all
over the country, and it is believed
thatit wouldrequire force oftwo hun
dred men to dislodge and break up
their stills. The gang is composed
of e1-convicts, desperadoes, and the
most daring and desperate OF cut
throats ever collected together. They
are menace to the community and
have committed numerous outrages
in addition to the running OF illicit
stills
The place selected for their opera
tons is well suited for their purpose.
Franklin county is on the border be-
tween Virginia and North Carolina.
It is sparsely settled and mountain
GUS Encirchng one Of the lesser
mountains near the North Carolina
line are two streams boasting OF the
poetical names of Shooting Greek
an6 sRunnit Bag" The waters OF
these two creeks supply one hundred
odd illicit stills of the gang. From
, the top of the mountain one can com
mand view of the surrounding coun-
try in every direction. Guards are
stationed all around the camp, and it
is impossible for any one to approach
within half a mile of the place with
out being seen. The moment an
alarm is given the outlaws repair to
the top cff the mountain and prepare
for fght. They are well equipped
tci defensive operations. They are
armed with the latestimproved breech
loadingriies, shot guns and revolvers.
They have built small fort and are
In position to stand a long siege.
It is stated on good authority that
they have recently mounted two or
three cannon IN the fort. Every per
son travelling through that part Of
the State, no matter what his busl-
ness may be, is escorted by an armed
guard across this district. He is met
at the bored and is not permitted
to so anywhere alone until he leaves
the moonshiners' territory. This at
tention is shown to every visitor not
known to be o member Of the gang.
The World correspondent is credi-
bly, informed that twothirds Of the
regular distillers in Virginia and
North Carolina are seriously embar-
rassed in their business by reason OF
the production of so much illicit
whiskey-Their sales have fallen off
zAese, than fifty cent. and they
are calling loudly on the government
for protection. AS the government
officers are well aware of the existence
of the moonshiners' stronghold IN
Franklin county the question might
be asked, ''Why don't they take steps
to break it up?"
The revenue force isn't sufficient to
enforce the law, and red tape and a
scarcity Of money prevent any decl-
sYe action by the department at
Washington. Although there is pre-
sumably a large surplus in the treas
ury, the appropriation for the revenue
service has nearly run out for the
fiscal year ending June 80, and there
is no money available to employ a
large enough force to break up the
Franklin county camp. The revenue
officers know by experience that 1t is
practically useless to send posse OF
fifteen or twenty men out there, as
they could accomplish nothing but
Eheir o1yn destruction.
'.If the commissioner had any funds
left st his disposal" said revenue
officer to The World correspondent,
she would authorize us to engage q
sufficient force to break up the camp;
but he hasn't, and unless Congress
comes to our rescue we will be pow
erless to do anything before the 1st
of July, when the appropriation for
the next fiscal year viii be available.
For the past three or four years Con
gress has cut down our appropriation
so low that we have been compelled
to reduce our force of men about one
half. At no time since the war has
there. been so much Illicit whiskey
made as at the present time, and it is
largely due to the crippling Of the IN
ternal revenue service by Congress.
As long as the internal revenue laws
are, on the statute books Congress
should make sufficient provisions to
enforce them. An effort is being
made IN Washington now to induce
Congress to pass special approprla-
ton: to meet the Franklin county
case. IF the present state Of affairs
should continue SIX months longer,
most Of the lawfully registered dis
: tilleries in this part of the country
would be compelled to suspend.
Franklin county to-day is COM
pletely under the control Of the cut
throat gang of moonshiners. Que
Illicit distilery has more demoraEz-