New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
A BIG MOONSHINE RAID.
REVENUE OFFICERS DISCOVER AN
u1Jc1T DIsTILLERY IN WOODS
NEAR HUNTINGTON.

Az rNNocENT-LOoKING DUTcHMAN WHO FLED
WHILE THE AGENTS WERE NOT LOOKING
WOMAN AND A BOY on THE PREMISES
ARRESTS MAY FOLLOW IN BROOK
LYN AND NEw-YORK
Alexander Mckinney. deputy revenue collec-
tor OF Brooklyn. Deputy Collector Mullen, ReVe-
ME Agent Brooks Of New-York. and his depu-
ties. Mcssrs. Yates and Koch, discovered an IL
licjt distillery yesterday afternoon four miles
east of Huntington, In a lonely spot In the
woods They returned to Brooklyn last night.
without any prisoners. however, one man whom
they captured on the spot having escaped by
daring run through the woods
The distillery has an estimated capacity OF
ninety gallons a day. Ir the cellar was found
twelve barrels OF pure spirits. about an equal
number of barrels Of French spirits, and great
store Of corn and rye. Connected with the es-
Establishment was a rectlfying plant, for purify
ing the stock. The property will be coniiscated
by the Government
Messrs Brooks and Mckinney had been suspi-
cious for some time that somewhere on Long
Island pure spirits were being produced without
the knowledge of Government officials to be sold
in Brooklyn and in New-York without the pay
ment Of the revenue tax. Yesterday morning
they started for Huntington. near which place
they had located the Illicit distillery, arriving
there at noon. They walked four miles on
lonely road. only to find that they had mistaken
their way, and then they were obliged TO retrace
their steps second start was made and the
posse after a long tramp out Of Huntington tow
ard Cold Spring. came upon the suspected house
at the end Of woods road, in little valley sur
rounded by the West Hills.
HOUSE IS CENTURY OLD
The house was OF a typical old Dutch pattern
and was built by Long Island settler more than
one hundred years ago No houses were nearer
than one mile After watching the premises for
few minutes the party stealthily advanced.
Mr.. Brooks entered the front and Mr.. Mckinney
The rear door. The only people In the house
were a man giving his name Samuel Geiber
about forty years old a woman giving her name
as Rebecca Pattcher and boy, thirteen years
old apparently her Aon Gcber was placed under
| arrest.
| While one OF the deputies kept watch on the
woman and the boy search was made OF the
premises In the well-stocked barn. 1t was
found that the two horses and the best wagon
were absent. and. according TO the boys story,
his father was In Brooklyn. marketing. The
boy was an exceedingly bright little fellow. ana
spoke English. as we'll as German. Mckinney
and Brooks think that the family are Ponsh
Jews.
The agents found the first complete Illicit
grain distillery that they have run across on
Long Island for long time Everything was
IN trim for the production e pure spirits. Csu-
ally Long Island Illicit whiskey Is made from
,roI,sses or sugar but In this case the spirits
yvoro evidently made from grain almost entirely.
Deputy Marshal Koch was placed in charse
% Gciber who sat In the Kitchen ana pia'in,S
feyr haT mo-
Koch "or III shoot you full of holes I'm just
going in the next room here To speak 70 one oil
my men" -
"Oh yah. yah" ead the man Il no run away.
40 be afraid | he here all the time
EMIT INNOCENT DrTCfMAN.
81. Io,k.i 60 innocent that the Deputy
Marshal Joined his companions who were ran
f sacking the cellar. intending To come back u
/ Geih.r In a minute He returned In a minute.
hut his innocent looking Dutchman was no
I longer there He had disappeared as |; by mage
While some II the men went T. work searching
the house. Mr. Mckinney and one II the depu-
ties started up the road on the run. After nall
mile Of sprinting they came across Long
Island farmer and asked him II he had seen
ANYTHING II the running away. Wall
yes" said the farmer. II did ketch sight OF a
i Dutchfnan tearing through :he brush niue
? while ago a. II the devil vas after nm lie
| showed them the course tlldt b'lb'l '''h' anu
they kept up the pursuit. once o. twice they
th.ught they were close enough T. make nm
> hear. and it is said that they hfed volley at
him from their reviewers. Mr.. Mckinney would
no. exactly confirm this last night when asked
! about H. He was conscious however. OF bring
ing back 70 Brooklyn a badly srraned ankle,
/ hd wing received his INJURY Whilr l"lo"'ns '"c
flying Dutchman.
/ Il think this plant has been running Tor over
two wears" said Deputy Collector Mckinney to
a Tribune reporter last night at the Federal
Pudding Pattcher has probably sold his prod
net I'm New York and Brooklyn carung 1t
10 the city by the wagon road. II he had sent
II bv freight or express. he would nave been
+ suspected before this. The house Is poorly fui-
F nished but there Is a good deal OF property on
IN. tlace There were four or i've cows. a barn
well stocked with hay and grain. lots of chickens
and ducks an! other accOutremcntS or a Iarm
The spirits that We're captured are about LOO
proof and worth about 81 SO a gallon. He s)d
+ il for 81 Il gallon found and made about
90 cents on each gallon. The distillery had "A
capacity Of about ninety gallons day, and 1t Is
easy To be seen that he did an immensely
! proiitable traffic. The spirits VIII be shipped
/ I. this city. Deputy Marshal Koch ana Two OF
his men were left in charge of the place ana they
NAV catch Pattcher and Geber yet.
The revenue officers have. II IL said, also
learned where Pattcher disposed OF a large
amount of his Illicit product, and 1t is expected
/ that within the next week a large number or
arrests will be made Of whis<ey dealers who
/ have handled the product In New-iork and
I Brooklyn.