Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-09

ces and returned TO the road. In medl-
ately across was an old mill and the
ripple we heard was made by the water
over the broken dam.
We picked our way across the dam
and began the ascent OF a long, steep
activity, heavily wooded, through
which We struggled with much difficult
". After a long climb we reached
the backbone Of a sharp ridge. This
we followed for nalf mile, stumbling
over logs and stones, not word being
spoken.
1t was hot August night, and
We were dripping with psrspiratlOn
after our arduOus climb. The guide,
who stepped as lightly as deer, stop
ped under a mighty pine and pointed
into the black gulf below. Family glim-
mering vas a small light, like a star.
That's her" be whispered.
Captain Jackson Immediately ar
ranged his men for action. There were
eight OF them. White, a deputy mar
shal: Carr, an Inspector; Cooper, Uni
ted States Commissioner, and five dep
MY collectors, Including Jackson-all
OF them heavily armed-the guide aud l
not counting, as we were non-cOmbat-
ants, but 1 carried the unlighted Ian
tsrn.
The force was deplOyed, with Jack
son on the left aud Carr GU the right
while / stuck close TO Cooper aud Fuller
near the middle Of the line. With Win
chesterS 10 hand, we began rapid de-
scent as silently as might be, but
stumbling over obstacles az every step
ia the darkness. Suddenly Cooper, a
small man, who was just ahead Of me,
disappeared. Instinctiyeiy l grabbed
husband just in time. The commits
sioner had fallen into deep hole,
caused perhaps by the burning out o!
stump. He called Uut once for help,
but no one stopped. just at that mo-
ment Carr stepped on a rolling stone
and came down with crash. After
this further preCautiOn was useless, and
II was q mad rush TO the bottom Of the
rayine.
There, az the head OF a little cove,
was the "Still" hOuSe-a rude structure
OF stone, with smoke and flame pouring
from the chimney. All the men charged
together, but the house was deserted.
The mOOnshiners had heard Us coming,
and, wary as wild turkeys, had fed.
There we're several casks Of raw, new
corn whisky in the hut, some stands Of
"siugiugs' aud "0eer, and iair-sized
copper still which had the appearance
Of having been ia use for some time.
Carr and two men were detailed 20 de-
stroy the still and pour the liquor on
the ground, while jackson and the
others made q reconnaissance. / went
with the latter party. The guide had
disappeared, and this gave US some un-
easineSs, as we feared after all he might
have led US into a trap. We followed
the ravius down 10 where it widensd
into q little field, 10 which was growing
corn. Skirting Ihis we were passing an
old shed when We heard a steaithy
noise behind 1t. White darted into the
darkness, there was q short struggle
ana almost before We knew 10 he return
ed with a very black colored boy, whom
be found hiding there. The boy was
speeches. with fright, and II was some
time before a word could be got out of
him. He did not deny that he had been
working al the still, and said there had
been five white men there, when they
heard US coming aud skipped out. The
still, he said, was operated by "Mr.
Buck" Taylor aud his SOn-in-lGW, Sid
Morrow, with three assistants.
We knew who Buck Taylor waS-a
laWlsss desperate who had deded the
authorities for years, but Sid Morrow
was q new man 10 the officers. The
boy, who said his name was jeS'
h.a IN n,
Taylor's house % catch him; that the
men would separate and so into hiding
for some time, but that Buck would
most likely strike out at once for his
"mammy'S house, t'othsr side the ridge"
"a distance Of two miles or SO.
II was decided to 90 back 10 the still,
get the other men sDd capture Buck,
be being the most important man In the
gang. So, with Dave as a guide, the
whole party reclimbed the ridge and
descended the other side, where we
found a path leading into the valley.
This led US into a little clearing, sur
rou0ded by a brush fence, in the cen
ter of which were log cabin, few
peach trees and a small crio for storing
corn. The little field was surrounded
bv a dense growth Of "black jack
scrub oak. Our men were disposed in
hiding around the Enclosure and or
dered to wait for daylight, now nearly
due.
In the division I fell in with Fuller,
aud we disposed Of ourselves under
thick cover Of bushes, lying fat on the
ground. Fuller was a quiet, slow man,
with a long mustache, who chewed to-
bacco necessarily. He had his Win
chester rifle I'm easy reach, aud l still
held the unlighted lantern, my only
weapon.
-Four or FIVE yards away was the
brush fence, and just inside was pen
10 which were a couple Of pigs The
darkness gradually melted, and We
could discern objects with more dis
tinctness, though a gray mist hung in
the valley. On the corner Of the cabin
a wild gourd vine pad clambered and
hung filed With p 0ant crO0ked-Reek-
ed gourdS. The chickens walked up
and began their pisy day while the
martins fluttered Round q sm9imbox
placed for their . he6t on the t6p Of Ne
cabin.
Presently the attsne& door Of the