The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-01-11

carried over the mountain. to road
and wagon probably hired to tran
sport 1T. The value~Was well eat up
in expenses when it reached market
as corn. But on the other hand, turn
ten bushels into twenty gallons of
whiskey, and at dollar q gallon the
farmer would get enough money to
buy the little necessaries that he
couldn't raise we'll. L started my still
and soon had good thing in it. If
| made good whiskey it is not to brag,
for only made what could guarantee,
and had no trouble in disposing OF it.
coming about the section and naturally
as they moved up | moved my still
back until 7 was right in the noun
tains. l don't know why it was, but
the officers located stills all around me
and each time they made seizure |
would say to myself, "Well, I'll go
next, but still they couldn't como up
with me. Then they seemed to got
desperate and rewards were offered
for me; and, Of course, | was willing
then to keep them on the hunt. | kept
right on making good whiskey and
never lacked market for it. Tho
would lay for mo, but didn't show up
when they were AROUND. | found it
best not TO tell even my customers
exactly when to expect me, for some
how the date would leak out and
gang of officers would be on hand. |
would say, except me between the
18th and Both, and then come in quietly
on the 18th or l4th.
"Thc people in the country about
were very generally my friends, but
the offer Of reward for my capture
was too much for some neighbour of
mine, and one day while | was out in
hands, | heard voice say, Put up
your hands l looked around and not
forty yards off were three ncighbors
and some revenues with pistols and
WinchcsterS on me. | hadn't q weapon
of any kind and it was across II hill
and the river to my house. | just
walked away from them, up the hill,
they peppering away, but never touch
ing me, nor did they move up on me.
t was pretty hot walk and | confess
that when bullet cut branch just
over my head aud covered me with
chips and trash was so mad l turned
and cussed them. | couldn't help it.
Over the other side OF the hill |
3
back, but my neighbors had decided
then that they didn't want to capture
me after all and left. And they missed
crop that season, too, for they
thought the neighborhOod unhealthy
and didn't come back for n good while.
There was one in the party, how
ever, that asked me to forgive him and
when he owned up to being in the
wrong | gave him my hand. 1t was
some time afterwards, Of course. He
was ono Of my hest friends after That
and would have done anything for me.
- don't like to talk about my cap
turc and all that. In fact never do.
But can say that in my troubles
had some stanch and true friends, none
OF whom were more faithful to me
than Judge Field.
II shall never forget the visit of
reporter from The News and Courier,
| Charleston, out at my house in the
mountains, while the revenues were
! redhot after me. He was a fine young
fellow and came with Judge Fields, so
| knew he was all right, but he was by
no means easy. | remember that after
spending the night out there, and
| when liking to go back, he told mo
that ho was afraid that the revenue
officers would turn up and that sus
pecting him of foul play, would plug
him first thing. ltwas amusing to me,
but he was, no doubt, in earnest. He
went about that section with me and
was soon convinced that the reports
spread by the revenue officers about
my being a terror to the natives was
not true and, in fact, that | was we'll
known by most everyone, and he wrote
to Governor Hampton ana for The
News and Courier the true story OF af-
fairs or course you know Of my i'm
prisOnmcnt. pardon, etc.
"Well, it is all over now, and am
making good living and bringing up
my family in peaceful and regular
way. have nine children and two or
three of them are pretty well grown. :"
What do | think of the dispensary
law? We'll, | don't know exactly. But
it doesn't amount to much in that To-
cality. There are some constables up
there, but they watch the depots and
that's about all. The country people
wouldn't stand what goes on in the
towns, and the constable don't try that
kind Of work therc."
Mr.. Redmond said that he would be
i n the city for day or two perhaps.
Richmond was usually his market but
he had tried Charleston for better
prices. prices are very low, how
ever" he said, land there seems to
be an overstocked market, particularly
in hogs and cattle"