The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-11-07
4 M0ONSHINE RAID.
BIZ ROYAL DANIEL

Weary and trayel-ztained. aching In
eYery joint and footsore from the long
days tramp. party Of five men sat
down spon huge log beside the narrow
mountain road 70 resi-.
We had walked al day. Prom early
dawn We had tFamped over the noun
tsiBs and explored the darksome dells
and glades. And now. as we watched
the Gun sink below the line Of hills, We
drew q sigh Of relief and shifted our po-
sition on the log. We were covered with
dust. and the languid expression On
each face told the story Of hard days
work. Not word was spoken, and the
deep silence only expressed the disap-
pointment that each one felt.
The party was composed Of five men
-four revenue officers and myself In
formation had been received the day be-
fore that in certain locality in the up
per corner Of Cherokee county an Illicit
distillery was in operation.
Following the reading of the letter
came orders to make preparations for
the raid and four brave men were as
signed 10 the work
just as the gray dawn was streaking
from the east, our party al-ghted from
the train al a small way station, and as
the tail lights OF the reee1ing train
faded from view around the curve, we
found that ge were alone. II was not
yet day snd the village was sleeping.
Ara af~ II a
gloomy little station seemed 10 BE- IN
conscious OF the fact that we had ar
rived We had expected 20 be met by
The iDforIner, who was 70 set as guide
and pilot IA 10 the still. We waited
few minutes, and 30 be failed TO appear
il was suggested that we proceed. an
our directions were too plainly given
for us 10 miss the way.
IL the uncertain light at early dawn
We began our journey. and soon the
slumbering village was left behind.
The morning afr was crisJ and exhila-
rating and az we passed the farm
houses, the cocks, just waking from
their nights repOse. crew Justify as
they watched the faint streak Of gold
in tine east. The 'stiii- was supposed
10 be located about six miles from the
station, and as we had already covered
two miles we slackened our pace and
leisurely climbed the steep hills. Now
and then noisy little brook would rip
pie across the road, and then the long
ascent would reach out before as seem
ingly a mile away.
As the country people aWoke and
signs Of life became apparent. we were
careful TO avoid passing the bosses, as
our appearance would excite suspicion
and possibly, diyining our purpose. the
friends OF the mOOusbiners would give
the alarm. We turned from the road
and sought shelter in the dense woods
that skirted the highway. We passed
steadily on and long before the sun
reached the zenith the forks Of the road
md the tall pine shattered by the light
niHg's bolt told us that we must leave
the mountain road and follow the
Tavine. Follow the branch up the hol-
low" read the letter.
Deep down In the ravines below muir
INJURED the mountain stream, and its
plaintiye gurgle could be heard above
the signing of the trees. The brook lay
ike silver thread. bouncing and dane
ing as ID leaped In cascades from rock
20 rock and then spread over its peb-
bis bottom like a bridal veil As we de-
seconded 10 the waters edge, the morn
ing scene IN the dense glade was one Of
beauty and grandeur. The mountains
vsse on either side and faced each other
Ike gladiators eager for the conflict.
Their rugged sides were as the faces Of
battle-scarred veterans. The scene
Uas=ei from that Of grandeur 10 solem-
nifty. This was my first trip upon a
raid and the character Of cur business
uun the rugged scenery filed me With
awe. J felt as II see trespassing,
and II the worst shouid come a rifle ball
from the moonshiner might be THE pen
Ally 81 nay inyasioP,