The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-11
PROBABLY A Tie,
But is n Very Exciting Story just
the Same.
MoONSHlNERS WERE CAPTURED
Illicit blst,lier. Inred Revenue oaioor.
Into an Amhuscade-shot stepped the
Duel--It Had Been Bioody one with
Knlves-A sample story Located In
West virginia.

-hS following story appears IN the
New York Sunday Press. It is a SAM
pie OF the sort that frequently appears
In the metropolitan press about alleged
occurrences in West Virginia and helps
to give this state n wild and woody
reputation among eastern newspaper
readers, The writer OF this article.
however, overdld the thing In locating
the occurrence in Smyth county, West
Virginia. There is no Smyth county in
West Virginia. There Is q county by
that name in Virginia, and It Is this
sort OF mixing up OF the two states
by Intelligent" newspaper men OF New
York that has helped to give us the
| unenvlable reputation above referred
to. Following is the Press's thrilling
narrative:
Whoever says that the average
West Virginia moonshlner Is u merci-
full creature. so far as revenue officers
are concerned. certainly doesn't know
what he's talking about" said WELL
known revenue agent TO q Press re-
porter last night. Not long ago was
in Broadford, Smyth county. W. Va l
heard that moonshlners were operating
along Tumbling Greek, near the base OF
the Clinch mountains, and determined
that the gang was desperate one, and
that II went after them would prob
ably lose my life. had dealt with
makers OF Illicit whisky before. start
ed out Mt daybreak, accompanied by q
tall NlrRinlRn. who never experienced
n thrill OF fear In his life. when we
got within about three hundred yards
OF the place where I had been told the
still-house was situated, we tied our
horses and stole through the wood to-
ward the object OF our raid. AS we
neared the place we heard angry voices.
looked out Into the clearing In which
the stlll-house stood, and saw two
young moonshiners facing each other.
men.
"'Yo' lie ef yo' say so. said the other.
That settled II. Out came their
knives. The blades flashed in the air.
and It wasn't many seconds before they
were dripping with blood. They slash
ed right and left, Their clothing was
cut into shreds. and knew that It was
but question OF time when both would
sink TO the ground hurt or dead.
While they were fighting away /
heard yell. Next moment n short,
heavy moonshiuer. with n thick yellow
beard. burst into view. carrying gun.
Taking quick aim, he fired at one OF the
men. That man went down like a log.
The other staggered around to see who
fired the shot. II was his father.
'Yo' fule! shrteked the old man.
THE son tried TO answer, but he was
so weakened by the loss OF blood and
the fierceness OF the struggle, that he
fell in n faint beside the form OF his
adversary. Before he could raise n
hand, the old man shot his sons foe a
second time. He didn't kill him: he
only badly wounded him. i didn't
take us second after that 10 spring
out into the clearing and capture the
old man, You never saw such q sur
prised fellow in your life. We tied him
10 a tree.
How that old moonshlner did swear
and rave! never heard anything like
It. As the wounded men were In no po-
sltion to prevent us from carrying out
our plans, we went and DESTROYED the
still. We turned loose probably 800
gallons OF Illicit stun. When we step
ped out into the clearing again we
found the old man had wrenched him.
self loose and escaped.
Take the case OF Deputy Marshal
Lawson worrell, who was shot by
moonshIners ut the base OF the Blue
Ridge mountains. near Hlllsville, two
weeks ago. worrell and his compan-
Ion, W. II. Thornton. were told that
some men were operating an Illicit dis
tillery near the foot OF the mountains
and that II they went there at once
they would be able to destroy the still.
as all the moonshlners were away.
They regarded the man who told them
| the story as q person who could be fully
trusted. But, like all others OF his
| class, he was treacherous. The noun
taineer WAS moonshIner In disguise,
and worrell and Thornton were led In
! to an ambush. They rode out into the
dark. and kept on until they got near
the foot OF the mountain.
"Thcn they dIsmounted, and walked
| to the stiil-house When almost in
| front OF the building. six men, armed
with winchesters, rose up from behind
q number OF logs and opened fire upon
the revenue men, Worrell fell: Thorn
| ton escaped in the darkness. a moon
| sinner named Jones. lifted Worrell on
his shoulders and took him to n nearby
house. Thornton made his way to
Mount Airey, n. c. He saw a physi-
| cinn, and the next day he started TO
worrell's aid with some remedies that
the doctor had given him. While rid
| ing along the lonely road he was set
upon by a dozen or more moonshlners.
After dIsnrming him, they dragged him
from his horse and beat him SO that he
could not walk. A few days later Wor-
reii was taken 20 his home In Hiiisviiie,
where he now lies in n critical condi-
| ton.
80 far about 1000 gallons OF Illicit
whisky have been seized by revenue
agents In Carroll county. The moon
sinners are bad lot. You can't trust
them. and the man who is DESTROYS of
living long will do well to keep away
from them"