Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-12

were destroyed later on BY . hiding party
which - pilotsd.
xxPxnf sRAnpsHsoTanA
TSs edicsrs who raid moonshine stilb - -
vsys neantsd, sseh man being provided win
rsvolvsrs sad . Springfield rife which val
carry IN ounce ball !, 900 yards with prseisso..
Many q shsua are most expert shaxpshootsrs
quicknsss and accuracy With vsApoas being a.
essential regulate for this kind Of work
wonderful stories are told Of their akin with
PISTOLS which they secustom themselves 70 NE
rhils running afoos o. riding ss fsli s.llep.
Distances ere dif6cult TO tsdes in shs noun
.ains. 90 that objects not Close ct hand are apt
% BE- missed through mistakss in the range
The celebrated revenue agent George W. Atkia.
| son, tells . story OF raid in the Cumberland
MONTANA, where . moonshiner began firing
from cli6 at the party engaged in destroying
still Nj. Atkinson and two others fred 1t
him repeatedly with their rifles but 70 unsuc-
eessfu!ly that the man finally came out from
continuing to shoot at the officers. Being
fatigued BY this performance. Mr.. Atkinson
summoned enc Of his subordinates who was
known never to fail when he Ievelled his rifle
that the distance was 100 yards less than the
others supposed. took aim. and at the crack
OF his gun the moonshiner leaped several feet
into the air, falling dead.
HooSsHISERs IN AMBUSH
The method usually adopted by moonshinsrs
in attacking revenue officers 10 in ambush
Along the roads which wind through the noun
tain defles shelter exists at every hand for
armed outlaws. No sooner do the government
agents make their appearance in district than
an alarm of horns is sounded from hilltop to
hilltop and soon all the country around resounds
with EARNING blasts. II is like the beating Of
the war drums by the ssvsges in Africa, who
thus communicate from settlement to settle
ment along the rivers the news that strangers
are approaching. Surprising that the region is
particularly lawless, as In some parts Of North
Carolina bodies Of men, organized like
kuklux with oaths, grips and passwords.
quickly gather and make preparations for
hostilities. Sometimes they garrison forti-
ned stills and defend them to the death.
Hundreds Of pitched battles between raid
ing parties and these mountaineers have
taken place in the south within the last few
years, the lighting being usually Of the most
desperate description. Many book could be
hlled with thrilling accounts Of duels fought
single handed between revenue agents and
outlawed distillers.
Obviously, the quality Of whisky produced
oy the moonshiners is the worst conceivable.
II is sold and drank fresh from the still. and
the intoxicatlon produced by it is madness.
10 It's oeieterious effects are chiefly due the
nerce tends between families. constituting q
game OF progressive murder, which, carried on
through generation after generation, have made
the region described famous for atrocious deeds
| OF blood Three bushels OF corn meal being
ordinarily exchangeable for one gallon OF corn
juice. the husDaui and father will often barter
the last OF bis family provisions for liqaor.
ILLICIT DISABLING IN THE NORTH.
BY no means all OF the Illicit distiling is done
IN the south. Inc same business il carried on
in the north under conditions which render
| it even more difficult to deal with. In New
| York city few Years ago The unlicensed manu-
! iacture of rum had become an industry of
| large proportions The cheapest grade of
| molasses, known rs ''black strap was utilized
| ior the purpose As a rule the stills were
iocated Ia cellars, pipes connecting them with
chimneyr, by which the odoTs of the process ses
| were carried CT. The slop and refuse were
conveyed away by pipes underground into the
| sewers. OFTEN these Ilils were established
| in soap and bone factories which people
| generally keep aloof from because OF the
| unlieaEan'ness o! the smells they produce.
| From 1866 to 1871 when the tax on spirits
ranged from 70 cents as high % gallon, a
| multitude of such unlawful enterprises sprang
up III the metropolis and Its vicinity. centering
Ia the Ever wagGs of Er0oaiyn. The article
prodaced.by them sold Ia the market low as
| VI gallon, which implied a considerable saw
| Ing to the consumer as well as q large profit
| for tno manufacturer
THE FIVE BRApYs.
The industry mainly controlled by Ave
brothers named Brady who were remarkably
| tough Characters, the other producers dispos-
| ing OF their goods through iLen. In 1877 the
go sernment sent l.j00 soL.iers into Irish
fown, as At was called, ca tbs brooklyn river
Trent. and broke up the organized business.
lhep the Bradys established a licensed recti-
flying house at the foot OF Gold strces through
h!ch they placed on the market enormous
Quantities OF moonshine whisky manufactured
secretly al SUPPOSED bone-boLing factory
on Barren Island, IN the lower Jay. When this
Was discovered revenue officers landed upon
the ISLAND with 10 United Stats regulars and
destroyed the still. which had been making
ltCe gallons of spirits day for several mont tbs
MOI At all discouraged, the Bradys next Set UP
| a SILL OF large capacity on the Hudson shore
beneath the ElSh bulls known as the Palisades
1t was discovered b. following a suspicious
sloop which was found to be conveying quanti-
ties of moiasscs up the river. Three govern
ment agents raided 1t at night, landing from a
ting with two boat loads OF deputy collectors.
deputy nlarshais and policemen. Capt G. W.
WILSON. at present assistant commissioner OF
Internal revenue, located in Washington, who
WAS Que Of the three officers mentioned teIls
the story OF the adventure very amnsingly.
AN EARLY MORNING RAID.
ave landed at about o'clock in the morn
ing and marched in a body to the attack of the
suspected building" he said. Il hastensd to q
window, through which some light escaped
from within. though 1t was covered with a tar
paper blind. With one stroke Of the AZ which
carried broke the window open and spranQ
upon the sill, intending. with pistol In hand. to
call upon all the inmates to surrender or be
shot. Unluckily my weight caused the rckety
window frame to break from its fasteninss and.
with pistol and AK IN my hands, I fell hsadlong,
together with the window sash. fifteen feet TO
the floor of the distinery. The racket created
was simply astounding. It seemed to me as il
everything about me had fallen to pieces The
glass jingled, the barrels rolled chairs were nm
set. dogs barked, and maybe YOU think the
moonshiners didn't run for dear life There
we're only two of them.
Zone of them ran out Of the building at n
door which Revenue Agent Brooks was Just en-
tering. Believing from the noise made from
my fall that company Of federal soldiers with |
q Calling gun was right on his heels, Mr. Moon
sinner fed with such speed that he and Brooks
both went dowa in heap, Brooks pistol going |
off accidentally in the scramble. ReeaininS |
his feet first, Mr. Moonshiner made tracks down
. foot path which led along the river, Brooks /
following in hot pursuit With an eye for COM /
bining business with pleasure, these gentry /
make whisky in the moonlight and caught fsh /
in the daylight The nets being stretched /
to dry across the pathway, Mr.. Moonshinsr be- /
came entangled in them and fell with Brooks /
on top Of him. Brooks brought the prisoner
back and placed him in charge Of policeman. /
The policeman searched him, and finding in /
ono pocket . razor he drew . huge navy
revolver about two feet long and isveled
1t at the man, demanding to know what he
intended to do with the razor The poor NOON