Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-12-19
WITH THE MO0NSHINERS.
HOW ELICIT WHISKY is MAZE IN T1E
MOUNTAIN REGIONS.

Primitive Habits of the BlOckers and
How They Pursue Their Busimess-
Danger to the Revenue Officers
Messy and His Rife-why They Run
Il. stills.
a correspondent of the Washington
ECening Str, writing from Ashe county,
n. c., says in regard to the business OF
illici. whisky distilling carried on in that
section:
If these glorious mountain peaks were
group of islands in the South Pacific
they would hardly be more remote, more
entirely cut off from civilization-ai
least according to the city mans idea OF
that condition. 1t is Is miles to any
where, and this includes the postoffice
and the nearest village.
If brooks ever get drunk, every one in
Ashe county should get to its home in
Reddies or the New River in more OF
less maudlin condition, since each has,
per force, to take in two or three illicit
stills on the way, and perhaps one OF
more of the alleged legitimate outfits
known to the natives under the name of
"guv ments." Every fastness, every hid.
den cove or blind canyon of these mount.
aims shields its still, the shrine at which
The fetch of these mountaineers is wor.
SHIPPED, whose attending priest is
gaunt, sad colored creature with coun.
tenance at once suspicious and cunning,
and with habit of looking over his
shoulder.
The outfit of the moonshiner, or block.
ade AS by preference he calls himself,
is simt e and, above all, portable, since
he has to carry off the most precious part
of it at the shortest notice. 1t consists
ordinarily of copper "kittle," which
holds 30 or 40 gallons, "cap" of the
came material, four or five twists or coils
of copper tube an inch in diameter, a
long rifle of the most primitive pattern
with which he can hit shirt button as far
as he can see it, and eight or 10 tubs, the
capacity of which depends on the amount
of liquor he wishes to make at run"
About the kettle he builds a rude furnace
of stones, carefully chinking the inster-
stices with mud. After preparing his
mash and building fire the process be-
gins and a strangely weird picture it
makes if one has the good fortune to
witness it at night. The hour, the silence
intensified by the low gurgle of the brook,
the motionless pines, towering up into
the darkness, their outstretched limbs
like sheltering arms held above the
strange being who moves about as noise
lessly as flame shadow cast by his fur.
mace. One looks for incantatons, woven
PAGES, and waving arms in scene like
this.
1t is simply impossible to find such
place as this without a guide, and il
stumbled upon accidentally the stumhler
must either give proof of his friendliness
or carry away more or less lead in his
system. From his coign of vantage on q
hill near by the moonshiner notes the ap-
proach of the dreaded "revnew" at such
distance as will allow him ample oppor-
tunity to make off with the beloved 'cop-
per-" Once in a while he is caught nap
ping; oftener he isn't. The blocker
knows the footprints of each person liv-
ing in the neighborhood, so that the
presence of stranger is quickly noticed
and his movements watched with that
care which only self preservation war
rants.
The whisky made by this slow and
primitive process, if allowed to age prop
erly, which it seldom is, would undoubt-
edly be the finest in the world. At four
years old and made by skilled hand
from grain containing seven and half
gallons of white corn and half gal
Ion of rye to the bushel, it is not I'M
like chartreuse in color, specific gravity,
and boquet. A dram of it leaves a de-
licious muslly aftertaste at the root of the
tongue, and imparts a delightfully."- mild
exhilaration that is both uniform and
lasting. 1t is somewhat insinuating,
however, and the inhabitant of the city
visiting these parts, full of conceit and
overestimated capacity, has been known
to retire earlier than he expected and
with great want of grace and much
chagrin.
1t was only few weeks ago that a
posse of revenue people made a tour
with the view to cutting up a few stills,
and, if possible, coralling few careless
sinners. They made for the dwelling of
one Weevert, otherwise known as Mos
sy," from a habit he had contracted of
"layin out to avoid arrest, during which
periods of absence from the bosom of his
family it was claimed that the above
mentioned verdure grew upon his person.
A sudden turn in the narrow path
brought them to a pair of bars, on the
top of which was sitting young woman,
barefooted, bareheaded, and wearing the
customary black gum snuff brush.
"Howdy, Mahaley?" said the officer.
"Howdy?" replied the young woman,
not moving.
"Where's your paw!"
"Went over to the face o the mount
ain."
you are sure of that, are you?"
you asst me ware he wuz, didn't
you?"
Yes, but l don't believe you. Get
down off the bars. We want to come
through"
There being four of them and only one
of her the girl got down, but she was
angry; her eyes grew closer together and
had wicked light in them. While the
men were taking down the bars she
walked over to a rise of the field and
putting her hand to her cheek gave a
mournful sort of cry like a prolonged
yodle. Turning to the posse she said
detiantly:
You fellers he'd better a durn sight
stay ware you air.
But they passed on down in the direc-
fiop of tho hollow