The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-29
WAYS or THE Willy MOOHSHIHER
Where Roanoke Gets Her Block
ade Whiskey.
Federal Officials Fail to Locate Reszonsi-
hiiity for its Illicit Sale In This CITY.
Whore is is Made and tho Devious
Ways OF the Di0tiilers-corn, Rye sns
Various Roots and Herbs.

Various Roots aud Herbs.
The statements recently made be.
fore the excise board Of this city bv
several OF the city's guardians of the
peace to the effect that BLOCKADE
whiskey and brandy. more commonly
known by the appellation of moon
shine or Mountain Dew" was habit
uaily sold on the streets of Roanoke IN
violation OF the United States, State.
county and municipal laws regulating
and governing the sale OF tho same.
came to many like lurid streak of
lightning from a clear sky, and vet a
majority OF the citizens of the CITY are
sceptical in regard to the matter.
In order that the views of the United
States revenue officials stationed in
Roanoke might be known to the public.
q representative OF THE TIMES yester.
day called on j. 8. Pattie and asked
that gentleman what he thought about
It,. Mr.. Pattie said: II have heard It
said that blockade whiskey was sold in
Roanoke but never saw any of it and
don't believe that the report is true. If
the police officers were cognizant that
the municipal laws Of the city OF Roa-
noke, as we'll as the laws OF the general
government were constantly being
violated, 1t seems to me to have been
their duty to arrest the offenders and
bring them to Justice. at any rate thew
should have reported the matter.
myself am stamp collector and have
nothing whatever to do with the revenue
affairs OF the government except that I
sell United States revenue stamps and
receive the money for the government.
L have no moro to do with the appre-
henslon of parties who sell LIQUOR with
out license than you do. 1t does not
come under my jurisdiction. Another
United States revenue officer in Roa-
noke is John w. Mills, who is deputy
marshal, whose duty it is to execute
the warrants and orders of the United
States Court and whose relation to that
court is the same as sheriff to county
court or the sergeant to tho Hastings
Court. Ii the citizens make complaint
and have warrant issued for the arrest
OF any Of these parties who violate these
laws then 1t is in the province of the
deputy marshal to execute it, but the
United States officers are not spies or
even detectives.
George Il. Rhodes is the United
States com missioner with his office in
Roanoke. His relation to the United
States Government is similar to that of
n magistrate. He can issue warrants
conduct the preliminary hearing of
parties accused of violating the United
States laws, fix the amount of bail
bonds for the offenders and transact
similar duties. Further than this his
authority does not reach. The onlv
other revenue officer who has jurisdic
ton In Roanoke is Division Deputy
Collector S. M. White, whose head
quarters are at Salem, and whose
authority extends over the counties of
Botetourt, Bedford and Roanoke. and
it would be folly to expect him to catch
up with every petty violation OF the
law, as his time Is divided in the differ
emit counties in his jurisdiction"
This fairly defines the position taken
In the blockade whiskey business by the
revenue officers Of the city. However,
1t Is known to the reporters, whose &C.
cupation makes 1t neces sary that they
should know everything. and to few of
the initiated that, as a matter of fact.
"moonshine" whiskey can very fire..
quently be purchased in Roanoke.
moonshine in it's crude state, fresh fro J,
the still, that rivals in general damna.
tion the very choicest article of LIQUID
he'll! ever shovel over counter on Rail
ROAD avenue. This whiskey Is sold in
any quantities from quart to five gal.
IONS at the rate of 81 25 to 81. SO per gal
Ion, the purchaser providing his own
vessel. Why this can be done will be
better understood by those who know
why, where and under what circum-
stances this product Of the still ia man.
ufactured.
Perhaps among oil the lovely and
picturesque regions that lie along the
Appalachian range of mountains, from
the granite hills of New England to the
sunny slopes of Dixie, there is none
that contains more variedly charming
sites and scenes, in hill and dale, rug.
ged glen and high mountain cliff, than
the section of country geographically
known as Blue Ridge VIRGINIA. com
posed of the counties OF Floyd, Carroll
and Grayson, and parts of the counties
OF Franklin, Patrick and Montgomery
While this lovely country in summer
months is paradise, thereby hangs a
tale. In many a vine clad rayine turks
story OF aggravated and wilful viola.
tion OF the law, and in almost every
shaded valley whore apparently the
primeval silence is only broken by the
murmuring stream as IL leaps over its
peboled bed, is, almost hidden from
human eyes, rude shed where this
concentrated extract of corn and crude
cussedness, known to the natives as
"Moonshine" or "Hootentop," is turned
out.
The material most commonly used in
the manufacture Of this burning
burlesque on Bacchus is Indian corn.
but when superfne article is desired
for home consumption rye in the pro.
portion OF one bushel OF rye to four Of
corn Is added Than ON the othar hand