The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
TRAPPED mr. xooSsHISERs.
A LiEhtninG Roe Man snd mn ASSURANCES Mat
where Their Cab Couidn't Savs Thew.


venture he recently had among moonshiners
In the mountains Of northern Georgia. Mr..
Munson IL "A lightning rod man, being q mem
Der OF an indianapolis firm. He belongs to q
leading f%raternal organization. and TO mem
bers OF this organization he has written OF his
narrow escape az the victim Of a plot planned
and executed by the moonshlners. There is
a link In the story which will have to DO
omitted, for II concerns the fraternal organiza-
tion to which he belongs. Through the Nom.
bersfjp In this order his own life and that OF
his friend. he says, were probably saved. As
Munson is still IN Georgia, selling lightning
rods, the name of the town near where the nd.
venture was had, with u few other Incidents.
will not be given.
While travelling through that part OF the
State, which Is the northern and mountainous
section, Munson made the acquaintance of an
insurance man, who was also out hustling for
business. IL CHANGED they 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 companionship they became the best
OF friends. They stopped at the same hotel In
the Georgia town, making the place headauar-
tiers during frequent tours Of tho ncighborinS
country. So far as possible they Joined each
other in these trips. and both were encouraged
WV ~ hN'Vo Nht1 luus ulS IL mo
friend were wholly innocent Of being in a
moonshine district, or within a hundred miles
Of a mountain still. They had no thought that
their presence In the town was causing suspi.
sion. BY later developments it appears that
Government officials, and spotted"
One day the Insurance man was informed
thousand dollar. policy written. The direct ion
was given to the writer of policies whereby
he could find the place. Although his visit had
hpan fairly EnFEa4aful fl. Nnlpa nf tho nn1Iripa
written had been small. so he was delighted
with the prospect OF writing one for ten
man on his trip. which was said to be n ride OF
ten or fifteen miles. Accordingly they pro
cured Tss a a hoFsT Sa Sfd 81 Su KS i and started ted, forth %ithout
event. They travelled over the road which had
been marked our for them; but mile after milo
appeared. The road was fairly good, but no
fast time could be made on It.. The hours
passed, yet the great white, farmhouse as de-
or rather where II divided in two, q man on a
horse vas overtaken: He was hailsd And and
man on horseback replied that he knew exactly
where such a man lived that he was going that
Georgian took the two travelling men down
the road to the right. The way was rough.
Il developed into little more than aa a path.
The two travelling men thought II rather
strange that such a road should lead to the
thought of sl6.o 900 policy Blinded them to con.
ditions. They rode through the forest and out
anne wilder and more rugged as they advanced.
1t was late in the afternoon. The road was so
bad they could hardly have turned around II
Ting to himself. The two travelling men be-
restless, but no though, Of danger en-:
concerning the distance to the farmhouse, and
each time the guido had an answer ready;
in 'I pointing ~ out the road ID drew i rein ~ and said Ei~ to
the two travelling men:
Right ahead thar in the clearin' you'll find
moved his hat and rode away. He had gone
but a few. yards when he gave an unearthly
yell. which echoed through the forest; The
action; but being so near TO the object Of their
trip they 1Dst drSve e, G ,Rs o GeteTminsd w to see son 5as
n the clearing. they found an old cabin, In
front of which stood a negro. The latter. in
nan lived who wanted the insurance policy.
Two other negroes came from around the cabin
heir horse was Embarrassed and led toward
he stable. Munson says in. his letter that at
about this time he was feeling most peculiar,
We must be returning soon, so you need not
Guess you had better stay wifi US tonight"
town lie Bad"
The two travelling, men accented the ritua-
within made them wonder. Five noun
aineers; armed to the teeth. stood on one
'luCs y ~ I'll hbuCi oiiC II tThll
II the travelling men was unnoticed. The
after stood uncomfortAbly by. the door watch,
they had been led a.tray for some purpose
yhioh was yet 10 develop. The appearance OF
he armed mopntaineers was not hopeful to q
ers realized how far they were from assistance,
he great, eIpanse OF wild territory between
we're in the hands Of the armed men. Mr.
iunson was the first to regain his power Of
n sAll each of the five armed men A lightning
"Gentlemen. as we are your guests. / sup.
,i ai nou I LEFT 's' by AVA val!se %iDs shs' fSs SFsy and It
II Will go. boss" interposed one of the
. u, ~
Ss get ste' Without { asi a Bringing 11Hu N the yaI HS" in. %A''A
Mf:. Munson pushed out q the cabin; On a
il, up and hsasteneed to tho stalls. lie
'rites that he was not a minute getting tn,
i Eie'i for on liSer aSr'' He snp ioo Sissdi'4bs BACK o Ss"c. t to q see zee
mountaineer standing. by the cabin with
ife IN hand. but the distance was too great
limit Of his speed. The animal stumbled
nd plunged through the, forest. keeping the
he approaching. darkness. The horse was
ept on the road until the woods were put be-
IN rode to the first house and hailed the occn-
He was received. and to the farmer he
old his adventure.
Government detective. ch?" asked the
No: nothing but two travelling men"
We'll. you were mistaken for detectives,
nd you are the first man | have known to es-
ape from the cabin alive. You were not 200
get from the still. Tho gang T. suspicious of
II strangers who come to these parts"
Mr.. Munson urged that Il posse he organized
, return and rescue his friend, the insurance
IAN. The farmer replied TINT IL would he sui
de ~. attempt II. He argued that no injury
'ould I've done Tho. insurance man with Nun
m at liberty. with the secret of the location
the stu. 4 crime could he traced directly
trough Munson TO the cabin IN the woods, Mum
m remained with the farmer during the night.
he next morning several farmers were col
cited, and together thew rode IN thc still. The
Of .NnnsOn sd the Insurance man
ms Nouched for, and, after n council! nf war,
10 two travelling men were allowed to gn.
ad not MunEon escaped, he profanity could
ave- talked nj night without convincing his
'utors thnt he was n liGhtuinr-rud agrr from
ldiannpolis and his friend M Insurance age nj,
I'd that neither was IA Government i"tcCti;".
was through the efforts Of tho farmers that
le situation was explained tO the satisfaction -,
The moonshiners. The insurance man said
. was treated kindly during thc night. The
seemed much cnrHEei t"Cuusc of !
Ne escape or Munson. He argued That. had u
ot been for the escape. bOtl of them wOnld
I'VE lpRu killed hlt tritl, ana .attt.t,yG,.l (,nN. I