Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-04-18
WE'LL ORGANIZED.
4 FORTIFIED CAMP OF MOONSHI-
NERS IN FRANKLIN,
MEN ENTRENCHED IN THE NOUN
TAINS "A GANG OF DEPERATE
LAW BREAKERS.

More than two hundred moon
sinners have established fortified
camp in Franklin county, this
State says Danville telegram to
the New York World, and openly
defy the authority of the United
States. They have over one hundred
illicit stills in operation, and are
producing thousands of barrels OF
whiskey, on which no duty to
Uncle Sam is paid.
The manufacture of illicit whiskey
has been crrried on more or less
extensively throughout the South
for good many years, but the
cOntraband stills have been con-
Quoted on a small scale IN the hid
den recesses of the mountains. 1t
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
revenue officers to capture this
mOOnshlno stronghold, but with
ont s iccess. On each occasion
the officers have been driven OF.
Success has made the gang bold.
They have gathered recruits from
criminal class all over the country
and it is believed that it would
require a force of at least two hun
dred men to dislodge them and
break up their stills. The gang
it composed OF exconvlcts, despera-
does, murderers, and the most
daring and desperate cut.throats
ever collected together. They are
a menace to the community and
have committed numerous outrages
| in addition to the running ofilllclt
stills.
The place selected for the op-
Grafton is we'll suited for their
PURPOSES. Franklin county is on
the border between Virginia and
| North Carolina. 1t is sparsely
settled and mountainous. Enclrcl
mo one OF the lesser mountains
| near the North Carolina line are
| two streams boasting Of the poeti'
| cal name OF "Shooting Creek" and
"Ruunit Bag" The waters of these
| two creeks supply the one hundred
Todd illict stills of the gang. From
the top of the mountain one can
command a view of the surround
ling country in every direction
lGnards are stationed all around
the camp, and it is impossible for
any one to approach within hall
mile of the place without being
seen The moment an alarm Il
given the outlaws repair to the tor
of the mountain and prepare tor
fight. They are we'll equipped fol
offensive and defensive operations
They are armed with the latest lm
proved breech.loadlng rifles, shot
guns, and revolyers. They hav
built a small fort and are in
posltion to stand a long siege. L
is stated on good authority tha
tbey have recently mounted tw'
or three cannon In the fort. Every
person travelling through thai
part of the State, no matter VIVA
B his business may be, is escorted
D bv an armed guard across the dist
+ rict He is met at the borde
e and is not permitted to 60 any
q ,ehere alone until he leaves tn
moonshiners' territory. This atten
= ION is shown to every visitor n(
known TO be a member of the gan
II The World correspondent
credltably informed that two third
i of the regulor dlstillers IN thl
s. State and in North Carolina al
y seriously embarrassed in their bus
J, ness by reason of the productlo
l Of so much illicit whiskey. The
sales have fallen of more than
1t per cents, and they are calllT
le IondIy on the Government for pr
ID lection. AS the Government of
GERS are we'll aware of the existen
ofthe moonshiners' stronghold
Franklin county the questl'
~ might be asked, "Why don't tn
I take steps to break it upP
The revenue force isn't sufficle
49, to enforce the law, and red'ta
and a scarcity OF money preve
- any decisive action by the deps
- ment at Washington. Althoul
- there is presumably a large surpl
in the Treasury, the appropriate
for revenue service has nearly II
=. out for the fiscal year ending Ju
or 3Oth. and there is no money avai
o. BILE to employ large enough for
2v to break up the Franklln'cour
, Tho ravenue officers kni