The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-12-01
AFTER A MOONSH1NER.
Revenue Officers Experience in
the Georgia Mountains.
Finding an Illicit Still-It Took a Clever
Man to Devise 1t and n Clever
Officer to Find and De-
strOy 1t.

Man to Devise 1t ana clever
Officer to Find and De-
stroy 1t.
We were very much puzzled over a
certain locality in the Cut Log region
of the Blue Ridge mountains" said
Revenue Collector Chapman, as he
leaned back in his chair and chatted |
with New York Post correspondent. |
1--WE knew very well that whisky was
being made in the neighborhood, but
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 neighbor-
hood some ten or dozen years ago,
run by a noted moonshiner-old Reub
Davis-but times had become so hot
for HE 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 unimpeachable
Of the existence of a contraband dis
tillery by hanging around the little
crossroads villages and attending the
different gatherings where 'cornjuice'
i. and applejack were plentiful; but al
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
did we take among those rugged noun
tains and dark ravines, night and day,
in sun and rain, but still we were
baf1led.
FINALLY we decided on making a
regular ring hunt for the culprit, and
bright and early one morning Istarted
out with three of my keenest deputies,
determined to make haul before night
or else spend the frosty night in the
woods l sent two of the men in one
direction and set out across the Cut Log
ridge with Mcdonald. Reaching a
point near the summit. caught Whit
OF the familiar flavor, and hating be-
gan to look around for some clew as to
it's 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 a
little curl of smoke ascending lazily
from the rough rock chimney. Bidding
Mcdonald remain with the horses, /
climbed the mountain, and approach
ing the low doorway l accosted an old
woman who was looking after her
household work.
"Everything was as innocent and un-
suspicious as if there were not a drop
Of contraband within forty miles of the
spot.
MAY l get light for my pipe?' I
asked.
".Ya-as; wait mint and I'll fetch
you splinter
mo, don't trouble. I'll just come in
and get it myself.
OH. the house amt fitten for We to
come into she replied, eying me sus-
piciously.
That's all right, ma'am. I'm used
to that sort Of thing
AS said this stepped in, and. ad-
! vancing to the fireplace, l 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 fupas know. NY old man
went off more'n ten years ago. Said
he were a-goin' to Texts, and I hain't
hearn . word from him from that day
to this
"'Why did he leave?'
Ion 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 81 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
savory steam, that thick-backed CHM
Aey, and the name of the woman,
coupled with the history of old Reub
ASvASs aAoo oAOuSCu NY SUSPICIOUS
suppose traveller couldn't get
little dram hereabouts% remarked.
God bless you, not as knows Of.
never tech it. fur I'm strick church
member. and II did I wouldn't know
whar to start 10 git drap of licker.'
Much Obliged. Good morning.
Good-by, sir. Wish could accom-
mOdate We hrt cansfs
Descending the path met gawk-
ish-looking lad driving an OK team
loaded with wood, up crooked road
toward the cabin. He eyed me askant
eut continued his toilsome journey
without stopping to speak.
Donald, said ], you may think.
what you please, but we're right close
g the den. il we only knew how to
socets IT.