The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-08
CHARCOAL MOONSHINERS
HOW JERSEY DEN zENs KEEP
THEMSELVES STIMULATED.

Grim Scenes in the Woods Whera the
Charcoal Burners Revel-Whet Old
Luke Has TO Say OF the Illicit Dist IL
ing.
Among the wild aud desolate pine woods
that stretch away seward from Borien-
town. Burlington, Tuckerton, Cr,sswicks,
and Pemberton, n. j., there exists a race of
New Jersey charcoal burners who carry on
in a quiet but most businesslike manner
Illicit whisky distilling. The camp of the
men was located by Press reporter in the
almost impenetrable forest during the rain
storm of Saturday.
The start in the search for the distillers'
camp was made from Tuckerton, the re-
porter's guide being a rollicksome young
farmer named Amos Ayers. As the rig he
drove splashed and jolted along vlllainous
country road through the driving rain, he
RECALLED the monotony o; the seven miles
that had to be traversed with incidents Of
his intercourse with the very charcoal
burners who were sought after.
HE KNEW THE MOONsHINERs.
"Lor' bless We, yes. l knows mos of the
burr ers' folks hereabouts," said he, land
real harmless lot they be in general. They
BARNS nobody much and they spends most
o. their days out o doors cutting trees and
charriDg the logs, and o. nights they fill up
en- the stuff they keep abrewing spite of all
the raids as the revenue officers keeps
amakin' on their shanties.
whisky did We call it? Why, the pisen
as they brews never heard the name of rye
1t is a liquor obtained by fermenting a
mess of coarse corn meal and molasses
I cbC
Why, yer throat would have to be lined
with an iach Of copper sheeting and yer
stomach must be O. biler plating to hold the
stuff
They don't have large stills in full blast
ike hearn tell the boys run in the noun
tsins Of North Carolinv, and they don't
make enough of it to sell to outsiders. All
they wants is 10 keep the pot abilin' and
get good and drunk after their days char
ring be over. Well, yes. they be pretty
rough lot of citizens, specially when you
jne them in one o. their shindigs or dances
at one Of the big bugs shantes.
These gatherings mostly ends in a free
fight, and when their blood is up and the
corn whisky is in their brains they make
pretty free with their axes and knives and,
at such times stranger best keep out O.
their way. If one Of the boys gets badly
used up we very rarely hears anything of
it. If they die they get most in general a
decent burial in an old charcoal pit; and
that's as good for them as if they was
fixed out III mahogany coffin and healse
ana plumes.
They are uncommon shy folks, and
even the old original digger folk, as our
Old people still call them, don't have much
q do with each other They build their
shantes as far as possible from one another,
and You could hunt these woods for a month
at time and not see a sign of their huts
except when their fires is agoin'."
IN THE MIDST OF THE FOREST
While Ayers had been talking the road
had become at every mile worse and worse,
until, as he finished speaking, the horse was
Jogging along sloppy sand track. A house
had not been seen for nearly half an hour,
and not a sound could be heard but the
weird soughing and moaning Of the wind
among the trees, and the plash, plash, plash
OF the steady rain on the buggy and the
puddles through which it plowed. A thick
white vapor seemed to emanate from the
reeking forest and brought to the nostrils Of
the Wayfarers the strong aromatic perfume
OF nr cones. lt appeared to be growing
darker and darker, the effect being pro-
duced by the somber appearance and re-
Election Of the black swaying foliage of the
tall pines.
The Ioad-if the ruts along which the
wagon was travelling could be called a road
edge Of the forest. The tree trunks stood
up in black and serried ranks and barred
all entrance. The reporter lookel in vain
for any indication of an opening, but his
driver was familiar with his bear
ings and drove carelessly between two high
trees rather wider apart than the others
The only sign that he was on the right
track was that as he lodged in and out
through the labyrinth of trees the reporter
noticed that the zgzag route taken by the
horse was free from underbrush, while all
round there spread heavy jungle of sap
ings, creepers. and vines of every size aud
description. Everything seemed deathly
still The light was dim. The heavens were
entirely shut out from view.
Now and then large rain drop splashed
upon the buggy's occupants and caused
momentAry start The conveyance jolted
sharply to right and left, ami glided on as if
the wheels were rolling over feather boil
sters, 30 little could the faintest sound be
detected. At last wide, circular clearing
was reached perhaps some forty rods in
circumference, and the guide exclaimed:
We'll, we're right SO far, guess. There's
tracks away to the lefs, so l think Ill
nave to light a match and trail around
bit"
He soon had a dry pine bough blazing
and examined the trees to the left carefully.
Here we are; here's the marks" he cried,
N1AN Jumping lutO IiS DuESy ODC6 more
plunged into the darkness.
Sit tight, and hold fast" came the eau
ton, as the trap lurched precipitously down
steep incline. 1--WE are comm to tue
sbanty of one of the oldest burners in these
parts" at last Amos found time to explain,
and guess he'll take us the rounds if he's
IN the humor. Father and he was old
cronies way back when they was boys and
when was quite kid"
THE DISTILLER'S HOME.
faint odor OF burning wood came to
I tle reporters nose, and peeriug through the
gloom he could family distinguish the
snadowy outlines of what appeared to be a
i rude log hut. Amos pulled up and shouted
Justify. For what seemed an age no answer
came, and sign of human life there was
noAe-then the rude door was slowly opened
trlfle and grizzly head was thrust out,
while grub voice inquired: "Who be you,
and what do you wantn
Don't you remember Amos Ayers. Uncle
Aukeg' responded the driver.
4. wall, perhaps l does" growled he of
81 chapW
81 On! he's city gent as is staying with
..elher, and was just takin him a ride in
.ue woods when the rain came down hard
so uG turned in here to give you a CALL"
sad Amos, glibly.
IN wen, hitch to the post yonder and come
~ returned Luke, with no great cordiality
al "a ms lE voice and cycling the reporter sharply
al the time.
M Tbo