Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
pondencs Of The Evsniux 0taf.

CAtsklu region. a lAn0 OF tnOuSanu purple
hills, Of thousand brooks. some like down
ward smoke" where they fall. and all crystal
clear, their margins lined with hedges Of dog
wood. rhododendron, laurel and witch hazel, and
all hurrying along with a strange monotonous
complaining, as if they knew they were run
ming (Which they are) plump into moonshine
distiiiery. II brooks ever get drunk, every one
in Ashe county should get to its home in Red
dies or the New river in a more or less maudlin
condition since each has. per force, to take in
two or three Illicit stills on the way, and per-
haps one or more Of the alleged legitimate out
fits known to the natives under the name Of
''guv' ments." Every fastness, every hidden
cove or blind canon Of these mountains shields
its still the shrine ut which the fetch of these
mountaineers is worshiped, whose attending
priest 10 o gaunt. sad-colored creature with q
and with habit Of looking over his shoulder.
THE OUTFIT OF A MooSsHINER.
The outfit of the moonshiner, or "blockader,"
as by preference he calls himself, is simple and.
above all, portable, since he has to carry of the
1t consists ordinarily OF q copper ''kittle,"
which holds thirty-two or forty gallons, q cap
Of the same material, four or five twists or coils
OF copper tube an inch in diameter, q long rifle
OF the most primitive pattern with which he
can hit shirt button as fur as he can see 1t and
eight or ten tubs, the capacity Of which de-
ponds on the amount Of liquor he wishes to
make at run" About the kettle he builds
rude furnace Of stones, carefully chinking the
interstices with mud. After preparing his
mash and building fire the process begins and
q strangely weird picture it makes If one has
the good fortune to witness it at night. The
hour, tho 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
vxhn I'M mia Han,
shadow cast by his furnace. One looks for in
carnations woven PAGES and waving arms in a
scene like this The blocker il easily trans
formed by the fancyinto an alchemist seeking
the elusive eiixor or wrinkled daughter OF
Eblis brewing some deadly potion.
1t is simply impossible to find such place as
this without guide, and if stumbled upon &C.
cidentslly the stumbler must either give proof
Of his friendliness or carry away more or less
lead in his system. From his coign Of vantage
on hill near by the moonshiner notes the ap-
proach of the dreaded ''rev'new" at such dis
lance as will allow him ample opportunity to
make off with the beloved copper" Once in
while he is caught mapping; oftener he isn't
Ever-present fear OF being suddenly swooped
down upon by the laws minions has tended to
develop his eyesight and hearing to n remark
able degree. 1t is probable that the Indian,
even with his instructive aptitude for wood
craft, is not in it when it comes to a question
of alertness. The blocker knows the footprints
even those Of the horses and mules, SO that the
presence of q stranger il quickly noticed and
his movements watched with that care which
only self-preseryation warrants. The same
mysterious means Of communication obtains
among these people which baftled the English
during the Indian mutiDy.
MESSY AND THE REVENUE orFicHns
It was only few weeks ago that posse of
revenue people made a tour with the view to
cutting up few stills. and, if possible, coral
ling a few careless sinners. They made for
the dwelling Of one Weevert, otherwise known
as .Mossy," from habit he had contracted Of
''layin' OUT to avoid arrest, during which
periods Of absence from the bosom OF his family
1t was claimed that the above mentioned YER
dure grew upon his person. A sudden turn in
the narrow path brought them to pair of bars,
on the top OF which sitting young woman,
barefooted, bareheaded and wearing the GUS
tomary black-gum snuh brush.
.HOwdy, MahaleyY' said the officer.
"Howdyl' replied the young woman, not
moving.
where your paw
"went over to the face O. the mountain"
''You are sure Of that, are youY''
"Yon asst me ware he wuz, didn't you9"
Eyes, but don't believe you. Get down of
the bars. We want to come through"
There being four of them aud only one of
Der the girl got down, but she was angry; her
eyes grew closer together and had wicked
light in them. While the men re taking
down the bars she walked over to q rise of the
field and putting her hand to her cheek gave q
mournful sort Of cry like a prolonged yodle.
Turning to the posse she said defantly:
You feilsrs he'd better a durn sight stay
ware you air"
But they passed ON down in the direction of
the hollow. One OF the men laughingly made
some remark to her and another offered her
chew Of tobacco, which she accepted.
Messy being bold as well as an old offender