The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
A MOONSHINER'S TRICK
SAMUEL lIUNsON HAS A STARTLING
EXPERIENCE IN GEORGIA.
An indianapolis Lightning Rod Mans
Bold Escape from n Gang OF
whisky Makers.

Georgia. The story Of his experience is as
exciting as any found in the books of adj
venture, for his life. as well as that OF
friend. he claims, were placed in jeopardy.
and he escaped by hard ride astride
bareback horse. The plot is laid in a dis
trict where moenshiners abound and where
more than one government official has lost
his life by a too jealous search after the
manufacturers of Illicit whisky.
Mr.. Munson is a lightning-rod man. being
member of an Indianapolis firm. He be-
longs to leading fraternal organization,
and to members of this organization he has
written of his narrow escape as the victim
Of plot planned and executed by the
moonshiners of the district There is a link
in the story which will have to be omitted,
for it concerns the fraternal organization
to which he belongs. Through the member
ship in this order his own life and that of
his friend, he says, were probably saved.
AS Munson is still in Georgia, selling light
ming rods, the name of the town near where
the adventure was had, with few other
| incidents. will not be given.
While travelling through that part of the
State. which is the northern and noun
| famous section, Munson made the acquain-
lance of an insurance man, who was also
l. clanceQ
| both were making for the same town, so
the mutual purpose made them friends.
Munson was delighted with the insurance
| man, and during their several days of COM
partnership they became the best Of friends.
| They stopped at the same hotel in the
| Georgia town, making the place headquar-
| ters during frequent tours OF the neighbor-
| ing country. So far as possible they joined
anh Of tn {r;xo
encouraged with the success they had
Munson and his friend were wholly inno-
cent Of being in moonshne district or
within "a hundred miles of a mountain
still. They had no thought that their pres
ence in the town was causing suspicion
| By later Developments it appears that Mr..
| Munson and his friend were mistaken for
government officials. and consequently
spotted
| One day the insurance man was informed
| that a wealthy farmer wished to have
| ten-thousand-dollar policy written. The di-
rection was given to the writer of policies,
| whereby he could find the place. Although
| his visit had been fairly successful, tho
| value OF the policies written had been
small, so he was delighted with the prospect
| of writing one for ten" Munson gladly
| agreed to go with the insurance man on
| his trip, which was said to be ride of ten
| or fifteen miles. Accordingly they pro-
| cured horse and buggy and started forth.
| DIRECTED TO A WHITE HOUSE.
| The first part of the journey was without
| event. They Travelled over the road which
had been marked out for them, but mile
| after mile was traversed, yet landmarks
such as given appeared. The road was fair
| ~ good, but no fast time could be made on
| it. The hours passed, yet the great white
| farmhouse as described did not appear. At
| the end of the road, rather where it di-
vided in two, man on horse was over
| taken. He was hailed and asked if me knew
| where so-and-so lived. The man on horse
back replied that he knew exactly where such
man lived; that he was going that way,
and would be glad to direct them. The
Georgian took the two travelling men down
| the road to the rgG. The way was rough,
| and led toward forest Of yellow pine,
| where it developed into little more than a
| path. The two travelling men thought it
| rather strange tha< such a road should lead
| to the house Of a prosperous Georgia farm
| err, but the thought of ten-thousand-dollar
| policy blinded them to conditions They
| rode through the forest and out into dead
| ening." The surroundings became wilder
and more rugged as they advanced 1t was
| late in the afternoon. The road was SO bad
they could hardly have turned around if
they wished. The Georgian rode ahead,
| whistling to himself. The two travelling men
became restless, but no thought of danger
entered their minds. They asked repeatedly
concerning the distance to the farmhouse,
and each time the guide had an answer
| ready. Finally the rider who had been so
very kind in pointing out the road, drew
rein and said to the two travelling men:
Fright ahead thar in the clearin' you'll
find the place." and at the same moment
he removed his hat and rode away. He had
gone but a few rods when he gave an I'M
earthly yell, which echoed through the for
est The travellers were at a loss to explain
his strange action, but being so near to the
object Of their trip, they drove on, deter
mined to see the place. Instead Of the an
ticipated white house in the clearing they
found an old cabin, in front Of which stood
negro. The latter, In answer to a ques-
ton, said there was where the man lived
who wanted the insurance policy. Two other
negroes came from around the cabin, and
before the travelling men could say word
their horse was embarrassed and led toward
the stable. Munson says in his letter that
| at about this time ne was feeling most pecu-
har.
I'VE can't remain" said the insurance
man. I'VE must be returning soon, so you
need not unhitch the horse"
Guess you had better stay Wit us to-
night" said the negro ut is late and the
| road back to town is bad
The two travelling men accepted the stua-
| ton and passed to the cabin The sight they
saw within made them wonder. Five noun
taineers, armed to the teeth, stood on one
side, talking in an undertone. The entrance
of the travelling men was unnoticed. The
latter stood uncomfortably by the door
watching the men. They realized for the
first time that they had been led astray fol-
some purpose which was yet to develop
| The appearance OF the armed rnountaineers
was not hopefel to a safe return to home
and friends. The travellers realized how fan
they were from assistance, the great ex.
panse OF wild territory between them and
civilization, and how helpless they were in
| the hands Of the armed men. Mr.. Munsor
was the first to regain his power OF speech
and he commenced as II he intended to sci
each of the five armed men lightning rod
Gentlemen. as we are your guests. sup
pose we might as well make ourselves a
| home The hour is late and we must Y,ro