Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-08-24

has failed to collect its tax as during
the past year. The reports circulated
during the last session of congress con-
corning a disposition TO increase the
revenue on distilled spirits gave Il
great impetus 10 the business of the
illicit distiller in the south. The law
less element in the mountains of Ken
lucky appeared to see increased profits
in the prospects, and those already en-
gagged in the traffic Immediately en-
larged their plants while new wild
cat stills appeared in nearly every
glen sufficiently concealed to avoid de-
lection. AS a result the quantity of Ii
QuOr thus manufactured has been
enormous. The rise and progress Of
''mOOnShining" in Kentucky would fill
volumes of interesting reading, replete
with deeds of daring on the part of the
rugged characters engaged in defying
the government, whose courage is
equaled only by the cool, determined
revenue officers in their efforts to sup
press the illicit traffic. According to
! the government estimate, three-tifthS
of all the whisky furnished the consum-
Ell on which the government has failed
to levy 4 tax comes out of the glenS
and cavernS of the Kentucky noun
tains. In the aggregate it exceeds
100000 gallons annually. Some idea
of the magnitude moonshining has at
tanned in this section of the south can
be secured from the estimate when it
is understood that more than 1000
revenue officials are constantly Operat-
ing in Kentucky, immediate and re-
mote, while the force opposed to them
is about ten to one. This includes the
owners of stills, those engaged in
working the plants, getting the product
to market, watching the revenue Off
Gals at Louisville and reporting their
arrangements to make raids, and the
managers, who determine When a
locality shall be abandoned and stills
destroyed, which occurs when too much
attention has been attracted to Il given
territory by fights with revenue de-
tectives. The army of moonshine"s is
probably as well armed and disciplined
in their way and rs courageous as any
body of men in the world.
This fact was peculiarly demonstrate
ed last week, when Phil Watson, the
Well-kDOWn revenue officer, with
thirteen deputies, was routed by ten
mOonshinerS in an open fight, which
took place just across the Tennessee
line in the Cumberland mountains.
Tom Harris, Il moonshiner who has de
fed the federal authorities in these
,+,;. al, Gil thn ~
on spirits made distilling profitable in
the United States, was known 30 be
working a number Of stills near where
the fight occurred. For a year the
officers had been watching the locality,
preparing to make raid when the Oc-
caSion was prOpitiOus. Last week the
authorities in some manner received
information that the result Of IL big
run was to be sent to market
There were nearly fifty barrels Of the
precious liquor in readiness 10 he plac-
ed ON a small tiatbOat AID sent down
the Cumberland river to be distributed
along the route to number of custom
ers. The officers were anxious to cap
ture this treasure, Harris and his gang
and destroy the stills. They figured
on having some fighting to do, and
were heavily armed in consequence.
Harris is noted for his desperate cour-
age, and during his varied career in
these mountains since the war has fire.
GuentIy refused to surrender. even
when covered at close range by murder
Gus rifles. By some happy chance,
though frequently wounded, he es-
capped arrest. Watson and his deputies
in addition to carrying two heavy
revolvers and a Winchester, each had
a double-barreled shotgun hung to their
saddles. In pursuit Of mOOnshiners
officers count heavily on the latter
weapon. At close range, loaded with
16 buckshot, terrible execution can be
done, and while a poor shot with a
Winchester may get nervous under fire
and miss his aim with a single bullet, |
yet with shotgun he is sure of at
least winging his man.
The officers were in an isolated sec. |
ton of country and were proceeding |
with great caution. They knew about |
the locality of the stills, but the noun |
tain crags and glens were SO similar |
that they were somewhat confused. |
While riding along ridge they observ
ed two heavy spring wagons, contain !
ing several men, approaching in an |
opposite direction. The officers knew |
that they were either mOOnshiners or |
their sympathizers and arranged an
The thick cedars lining the /
roadside aided them. The officers dis
mounted and held their shotguns cock
ed. AS the wagon approached it was
noticed that while the men wore belts
and pistols no rifles were in sight.
When the wagons were between the
lines Phil Waston called upon the men
to surrender.
The moOnshiners, says Pikeville,
KY, correspondent of the St Louis
Republic, were taken completely by
but acted with such prompt
ness that they almost turned the
,ables. The small mules attached to
he wagons bounded forward under the
ash and had gained several lengths
before shot was fired. At the same
instant the men grasped their rifles
ying in the bottom of the wagon and
oiled off their seats promiscuously.
iring as they reached the ground and
.ushing to cover. The first volley of :
he officers disabled the mules and
several of the moonShiners,
nut the next moment they had scat
cred around the cover of the officers
md the bullets from their Winchesters {