Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-11-23
WITH THE MOONSHINERS.
HOW ELICIT WHISKY rs MAZE IN THE
MOUNTAIN REGIONS.


Eceniag Str, writing from Ashe county,
n. c., says in regard to the business of
illicis whisky distilling carried on in that
section:
/ Ii these glorious mountain peaks were
group of islands in the South Pacific
they would hardly be more remote, more
entirely cut off from civilization-at
least according to the city mans idea of
that condition. 1t is Is miles to any,
where, and this includes the postofiice
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 or
less maudlin condition, since each has,
per force, to take in two or three illicit
stills on the way, and perhaps one or
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 a 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 simple 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 32 or 40 gallons, a "cap" of the
came material, four or five twists OF 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 q 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 incantations, woven
| PAGES, and waving arms in a scene like
! this.
1t is simply impossible to find such a
! place as this without guide, and if
stumbled upon accidentally 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 a
hill near by the,moonshiner notes the APP
| proach of the dreaded "rev'new" at such
distance as will allow him ample oppor-
tunity to make off with the beloved cop
per-" Once in 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 a half
/ gallons of white corn and half a gall
! lon of rye to the bushel, il is not un-
| like chartreuse in color, specific gravity,
and boquet. A dram Of it leaves de-
I licious musky aftertaste at the root of the
tongue, and imparts 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
10 retire earlier than he expected and
with a great want of grace and much
chagrin.
1t was only few weeks ago that
posse Of revenue people made tour
with the view to cutting up few stills,
and, if possible, coralling a few careless
sinners. They made for the dwelling of
one Weevert, otherwise known as Mos
sy," from habit he had contracted of
~layin' out to avoid arrest, during which
I 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 pair of bars, on the
top of which was sitting young woman,
barefooted, bareheaded, and wearing the
customary black gum snuff brush.
-Howdy, Mahaleyf" said the officer.
"Howdy?1 replied the young woman,
not moving.
Where's your pawi"
@Went over to the face o. the mount
ain.
@You are sure OF that, are your
You as't me ware he .wuz, didn't
your"
Yes, but don't believe you. Get
down of the bars. We want to come
through.
There being four of them and only one
of her the girl got down, but she uas
angry; her eyes grew closer together aud
had a wicked light in them. While the
men were taking down the bars size
walked over to rise OF the field ind
Y putting her hand to her cheek gave a
mournful sort of cry like a prolonged
yodle. Turning to the posse she said
def1antly:
You fellers he'd better a durn sight
stay ware you air.
But they passed on down in the direc-
ton of the hollow.
Messy being bold as well as an old
offender they rather expected to come