The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-03
FOES OF MOONSHINERS.
Harry and AL Henderson, Two In
trepid Kentucky Boys,
ENGAGED IN A DANGEROUS SERVICE
For Uncle sam-Moonshining is on
Increase in the Mountains-one.
Fourth of Kentucky's Whisky Out.
pat is IIlicit-Bowman, King of
MooRshlncrs-An Awful Fight IN
the Foothllls-A Bravo Girl.


last few weeks this part OF Kentucky
has been considerably agitated over
tho numerous changes being made
among the revenue officials OF the state.
To those familiar with the manner in
which this section OF the south has hg'
ured in the internal revenue depart
ment OF the government there ia Moth
ing surprising IN the fact that this To-
Gality is interested in changes likely 10
affect the administration OF the laws
under which liquor is distilled and
placed on the market
When the interests Of the "moon.
sinner" OF the mountains OF Eastern
Kentucky are involved the entire CON-
munity is more OF less affected. While
the element actually engaged In the il.
llciE distillation OF whisky is an incon.
adorable portion OF the inhabiEants Of
this section OF the south, 1t is hardly an
exaggeration 10 estimate those indi.
Eectly connected with the traffic OF 90
per cent OF the people. For this reason
the entire valley OF the Big Sandy, eX-
tending over the watershed OF the Cum
herland into the "knobs" OF East leu.
nesaee, have been awakened to the fact
that many new faces have been recently
introduced into the ranks Of the small
army OF federal officials engaged in de-
stroying illicit stills and chasing the
dangerous individuals who operate
them in the Kentucky mountains.
Kentucky is recognized in federal
circles as the legitimate field OF
known as 'moonshiners" who
manufacture and sell whisky without
complying with the regulations OF the
government relating to the tax on the
product OF the stills.
WHAT MADE TIE MooNsHTNER.
Before the expenses incurred by the
government in the civil war rendered
the tax on spirits necessary private
stills in Kentucky were considered quite
essential, and II was the boast OF many
OF the historic characters OF the state
that the finest article their sideboard
afforded was the product OF grain raised
and manufactured wholly on their plan
tations. When the tax on distilled
spirits in 1851 was suddenly increased
from 10 cents per gallon to 81 20 the
idea OF avoiding the collector ofinternal
revenue became an object to men who
manufactured thousands OF gallons OF
whisky for the country trade. This
drew the country manufacturer into the
depths OF the mountains, and was the
death knell OF private stills conducted in
an open way. This gave birth to the
''moonshiner."
The deadly conflicts that have taken
place between revenue officers and the
moonshiners in the mountains OF Ken
lucky since the close OF the war would
fill dozen volumes and furnish some
OF the most thrilling stories OF daring,
desperate courage and cowardly assaults
To-day the industry is in its zenith.
Tho recent agitation on the subject OF
increasing the tax on whisky. thereby
augmenting the profit OF those who
avoid paying the duty, has increased
the force OF illicit still workers until
every secluded spot in the Kentucky
mountains is concealing one Or more
small stills, which are being operated
day and night The favorite locations
Of these stills are on the bluffs overlooks
ing tho Big Sandy river and its
branches, to which access is difficult,
and probably known TO none but those
residing in the neighborhood. There
is little danger OF the native Kentucki-
an betraYing to prYing revenue Off
cials the knowledge they possess
Their reasons are two.fold: In the first
place, they argue that as the stills OF the
tloonshlner consume the grain pro-
duced In the neighborhood. for which a
fair price is paid; it is nobody's bust
ness into what 1t may be manufactured,
They reason that il the same grain used
in the stills Is taken to tho mill and
prepared for food no tax Is demanded.
TO them the product OF the still is equal
ly rs essential TO their happiness as
bread. Ii the one is not taxed they
cannot appreciate the justice Of being
compelled to pay duty on the other.
They haye a vague idea that their rights
are threatened and in consequence they
are "agu" tho government. Again, II
the secrets OF the mooushiners are be-
tfayed every member OF the craft will
make 1t his personal business to locate
the source OF tho trouble, aud the life
OF him who gave the information to the
revenue officers ia the only atonement
Though in later years the business OF
Illicit distilling has grown in sufficient
proportions as to be regarded In the
light OF distinct industry In the noun.
tain regions OF Kentucky, tho crudenCss
OF q quarter of century ago continues
to characterize the manner in which
tho alcohol is separated from the
whisky. And yet the art OF distiling
has rapidly advanced among tho south.
ern ineonshiners, as even a novice can
attest on sampling the article turned
out by tho mountain still to-day and
that Of few years ago.
now "MooNsHlNE" 10 MADE.
The still consists Of an immense oven
constructed OF stone on which large
covered iron kettle is placed. From
this leads small iron or copper pipe,
through which the Vapor escapes into q
vessel, after boing condensed by pass.
ing through coil oil pipe. The entire
outfit can be purchased for $50. The
quality 10 determined by the skin mani
tested In keeping regular fire under
the kettle, II the heat becomes too In.
tense distillation occurs too rapidly.
Then tho output OF tho still becomes
blttor, duo to the great quantity OF fusil
oil secured 20 remedy this tho LIQUOR
must be redistilled or DO permitted TO
stand for years until mellowed by aye.
From those crude stills whisky sue.
cossfully competing with the finest ar.
ticle manufactured by the trust IL being
daily produced.
That tho moonshiners arc vol or.
ganiEod and have chief who directs