The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-11
AFTER A MOONsHINER.
Revenue Officers Experience In
the Georgia Mountains.

! Finding ans Illicit stiTl-It Took . Cleve,
Man to Devise 1t and Clever
Omcer TO Find and De-
stroy It.
"We were very much puzzled over a
. certain locality in the Cut Log region
. of the Blue Ridge mountains said
Revenue Collector Chapman. as be
leaned back in his chair and chattel
with New York Post correspondent.
) eve knew very well that whisky was
being made in the neighborhood, bu,
so carefully concealed was the habitat
of the moonshiners that we were un.
able to obtain any clew to it. There
had been distillery in that neighbo
hood some ten or dozen years ago.
run by noted moonshiner-old Reub
Davis-but times had become SO hot
for him that he suddenly decamped,
giving out the report that he was going
to Texas 1t had been so long since
his disappearance that people had al
most forgotten him.
still we were puzzled. Our depu-
ties could find evidence uninpeachable
of the existence of a contraband dis
| tillery by hanging around the little
crossroads villages and attending the
different gatherings where 'cornjuice'
and applejaclS were plentifnl; but ale
though the base of supplies could be
| traced almost to the fountain head, the
exact place of deposit could never be
found. Many and many weary tramp
| 4 xol- hoe
tains and dark ravines, night and day,
in sun and rain, but still we were
| baffied.
Finally we decided on making
regular ring hunt for the culprit, and
bright and early one morning started
| out with three of my keenest deputies,
determined to make a haul before night
or else spend the frosty night in the
woods. l sent two of the men in one
ridge with Mcdonald. Reaching
point near the summit, caught Whit
of the familiar flavor, and hating be-
gan to look around for some clew as to
its source. Perched away up on the
mountain side, overhanging brawling
brook that came tumbling down across
the road we were travelling, spied
shabby-looking cabin which would
have appeared uninhabited save for
little curl of smoke ascending lszily
from the rough rock chimney. Bidding
Mcdonald remain with the horses, I
climbed the mountain, and approach
ing the low doorway accosted an old
woman who was looking after her
household work.
Everything was as innocent and I'M
suspicious as if there were not a drop
of contraband within forty miles of the
spot.
May get light for my pipe?' I
asked.
"t'Ya-as; wait mint and I'll fetch
you a splinter
"'No, don't trouble. I'll just come in
and get it myself
"'Oh, the house amt ftten for ye to
come into she replied, eying me sus-
piciously.
g That's all right, ma'am. I'm used |
to that sort Of thing
''As said this stepped in, and, adj
vancing to the fireplace, / stopped as if
to light my pipe, but at the same time
it occurred to me that the chimney was
unusually thick in the back wall
"'Your old man isn't imp
- Lord, hain't got no old man.
"'You're widow, then?'
"'Yes, so fur as know. My old man
went off more'n ten years ago. Said
he were a-goin' to Texts, and I hain't
J.. xlox |
to this
"'Why did he 1eave?'
"'On count of the revenue men. Ye
see, he used to make little Ticker and
they found out about it, and he had to
skin out
"'What is your name?'
"'Davis, Sary Ann Davis. I'm hav-
in hard time of it and have had these
many years, with nobody to look after
me but myself; but thank the Lord.
I've managed to keep soul and body to-
gether.'
''All this time she was talking in
such meek and innocent way that my
suspicious were half disarmed; but
still was unsatisfied, as that Whit of
,avory steam, that thick-backed CHM
ney, and the name of the woman,
coupled with the history of old Reub
Davis, had aroused my suspicious
So suppose a traveller couldn't get
little dram hereabouts| remarked.
"'God bless you, not as 1 knows Of
never tech 1t, fur I'm strick church ,
member. and eff did I wouldn't know
vhar to start to git drap of licker.'
Much obliged. Good morning.
g 'Good-by. sir. Wish l could accom-
nodate ye. but can't
Descending the path met a gawk-
sh-loolking Lad driving an OK team =
oaded with wood, up a crooked road
oward the cabin. He eyed me askant :.
'ut continued his toilsome journey
stopping TO speak. 4,
Mcdonald said /. you may think :.
What you please, but we're right close
o the den, if we only knew how TO
ocate it y
Then I related all the circum-
tances. all the time casting about for =
ONE solution OF the mystery which / :
'ecame more and more convinced by
ONE vague intuition existed near By. 7
few steps from the road that led from
ne woods TO the cabin there was a
Eicket that INSTRUCTED the rude track, 7
nst below where il intersected with '
he road we were travelling 6
Mack. wait here minute: there is | a
o harm in a little investigation. and I a
aade my way down to the thicaet. IL =
Thich noticed an old door shutter L.
1g negligently, hall concealed By the 7
I u