Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-08-26


AT no period in the history of the state
has 50 much whisky been placed on
/ the market on which the government
/ has failed 10 collect its tax as during
/ the past year. The reports circulated
| during the last session of congress con
/ c. ming disposition 10 increase the
re, enue ON distilled spirits gave a
| e cat 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-
/ lmged their plants while new wild
cat stills appeared in nearly every
glen sufficiently concealed to avoid de-
/ lection AS result the quantity of Ii
quor thus manufactured has been
enormous. The rise ami progress of
/ "moonshining" in Kentucky would ill
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 snip
press the Illicit traffic, According to
I the government estimate, three-lifthS
/ of all the whisky furnished the consum-
] er on which the government has failed
| to levy a tax comes out Of the glens
and caverns of the Kentucky noun
1 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 a given
territory by fights with revenue de-
tcctives The army of mooushina"s is
probably as well armed and disciplined
in their way and as courageous rs any
body of men in the world.
This fact was peculiarly demonstrlt-
ed last week, when Phil Watson, the
well-kuown 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, a moonshiner who has de-
fed the federal authorities in tacse
mountains almost since the war I; X
on spirits made distilling profitable in
the United States, was known 20 be
working a number of stills near where
the fight occurred. For a year the
officers had been watching the locality,
preparing TO make a raid when the oc-
casiOn was pr0pitious. Last week the
authorities in some manner received
information that the result of big
run" was to be sent TO market
There were nearly fifty barrels of Tue
precious liquor in readiness 10 ne plac-
ed on a small hatbOlt 1dd Sont 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 'tillS. They figured
on having some lighting 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.
Guenhy 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
revolvcrs 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
1G buckshot terrible execution can be
done, and while poor shot with a
Winchester may get nervous under fire
and miss his aim with a single bullet,
yet with a shotgun he is sure of at
least wingng 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, bur 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 We're either mo0nshiners or
their ,ympathizers and arranged an
ambush The thick cedars lining The
roadside aided them The officers dis
mounted ANA held their shotguns cock
cd. As the wagon approached il WAS
noticed thar while hn men wore bolts
and pistols no rifles We're in sight
When the wagons were between the
lines PM Wast0n called upon the men
% surrender