The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-05
DRINKMOUNTAINDEW
Virginia Moonshiners Defy the
Government.
THEY FoRr,Fs a CAM


DAsvrIHE, Va, April a-More than 800
noonshinefs hare established . fortified
camp IN Franklin county. this state. and
openly defy the authority Of the United
States They have over 100 Illicit stills in
operation and are producing thousands Of
barrels OF whisky on which no duty to
Uncle Sam Is paid
The manufacture Of illicit whisky has
been carried on more or less extensively
throughout the South for q good many
years. but the oontraband stills have been
conducted on . small scale in the hidden
fecesses OF the mountains. IL has always
been 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 IN excep-
ton. however. Several attempts have been
made within the last two years by the
revenue officers to capture this moonshine
stronghold, but without success. On each
occasion the officers have been driven of.
Success has made the gang bold. They
hsve gathered recruits from the criminal
class all over the country, and IL is be-
heved that it would require Q force of at
-~~-~s Nv sA-cAA - 04SA&pAkC toCuk 3uQ VfG4k
up their stills. The gang is composed of
ex-ccnvicts, desperadoes. murderers and
the most daring and desperate utthroats
ever collected together. They are q menace
to the community and have committed
numerous outrages in addition to the run
ming OF Illicit stills.
The place selected for their operations is
well suited for their purposes. Franklin
county 10 on the border between Virginia
and North Carolina 1t Is sparsely settled
and mountainous. Encircling one Of the
lesser mountains near the North Carolina
line are two streams Boosting of the poet
ical names Of Shooting creek" and run
nit Bag" The waters Of these two creeks
supply the 100 odd Illicit stills Of the gang
From the top Of the mountain one can
command view of the surrounding coun-
try in every direction. Guards are sta
toned Ill around the camp, and it is i'm
possible for any one 10 approach within
half mile of the place without being seen.
The moment an alarm is given the outlaws
repair TO the top Of the mountain and pre-
pare for fight They are well equipped
for o6ensive and defensive operations
They are armed with the latest improved
breech-loading rifles. shotguns and revolt
vers. They have built small fort and are
in position to stand . long siege. Il IL
stated on good authority that they have
recently mounted two or three cannons in
the fort Every person travelling through
that part Of the state, no matter what his
business may b, is escorted by an armed
guard across the district. He is met at the
border, and il not permitted to 70 any,
where alone until he leaves the moon
sinners territory. This attention 10 shown
to every visitor not known TO be member
of the gang.
A correspondent OF the New York World
il crcditably informed that two-thirds OF
the regular distiilers in this state and in
North Carolina are seriously embarrassed
in their business by reason of the produc
ton Of 50 much Illicit whisky. Their sales
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 up7"
The revenue force isn't sufficient to en-
force the law, and red tape and scarcity
OF money prevent any decisive action by
the department Mt Washington. Although
there Is presumably a large surplus in the
treasury, the appropriation for the revenue
service has nearly run out for the fiscal
year ending June 30, and there is no
money available to employ large enough
force 10 break up the Franklin county
camp. The revenue officers know BIZ ex-
perienoe that it is practically useless to
send posse of fifteen or twenty men out
there, IS they could accomplish nothing
but their own destruction.
eff the commissioner had any funds left
At his disposal. /" sail revenue officer TO q
World CORE pondent yesterday. 'hc would
authorize US to engage a sufficient force 10
break mp the camp: but he hasn't, and
unless congress comes to our rescue We
will be powerless 70 do anything before tho
LIST Of July, when the appropriation for the
next fiscal year viii be available. For the
past three or four years congress has cut
down our appropriations so low that we
have been compelled 10 reduce our force of
men about one half. AT no time since the
war has there been so much Illicit whisky
made as at the present time, and it 10
largely due TO the Gripping OF the internal
revenue service by congress As long rs
the internal revenue laws are on the statute
hooks congress should make sufficient pro-
vision TO properly enforce them An effort
is being made in Washington now 70 Ia
duee congress to pass . special appropria-
ton to meet the Franklin county case. n
the present state OF affairs should continue
six months longer, most of the lawfully
registered distilieries in this part of the
country would be compelled to suspend.
Franklin county today Is completely
under the control OF the cut-throat gang of
moonsniners One illicit distiiiery has o
more demoraiixing effect on locality than
. hundred licensed saloons In the one
case the men meet after dark tn secret and
drink the raw whisky until they are hope
lessly drunk Ii is cheap and they drink q
great deal more than If they went to a
regular saloon. We viii not be able 10
capture the Franklin county camp, how
ever. unless congress comes 30 our aid. IL
Is hard enough 70 get men TO 60 with us on
raiding parties when we have money 10
pay them, as the government makes no
provision for mans family If he happens
70 get killed. or even pay bis doctors bills
If he is wounded You see the inducement
TO loin the government forces Is not very
great under the most favorable elrcum-
stances"
The revenue officers have had obstacles
thrown in their way in the performance OF
their duty. The illicit distilIing of whisky
in this state and in North Carolina has
the majority of the citizens now would
gladly see IL shated- There Is more or less
danger TO the people who render tho rev.