The evening times., 1896-08-06
GOING TO HUNT FOR men
Ex-Doorkeeper Anderson Will
Chase Moonshilers.
.'.'.<,.ss.s'ss s....-s-
IT is FASCINATING SPORT
While the z Danger Is Great There Are
Always Officials willing TO Take
the Risk-Exciting Capture Of Geo.
Davis, One of the Most Noted Out
laws In That Section.

A. A. Anderson, until recently an assist
anI, doorkeeper of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, has left Washington to eng q &c
in nianfunting down Ia the .mounshin.
ing district 81, West Tennessee. On and
off, he has been engaged in that business for
more, than seven years-the limit of life
given TO the United States marshal in the
Southern mountains.
Il suppose!'',he said TO Times re-
porter before he left, that will stay In
II until IN time comes. There Is fascina-
ton abeutit,. as there is about bear-hunting
or fox-chasing. You firmly resolve 10 give
itup. but the momcfta cal comes your reso.
iutions'are forgotten and you join in the
raid.
"During last summer and fall / par
ucipated in several raids, the most notable
OF which led TO the capture of George
Davis, who was TO fsfeIlow .moonshiners'
what Robin Hood was to other outlaws
Davis is known all through Western Ten
nessee. For tch years he had been distilling
Illicit whisky, andewe could never put our
hands upon him.
The country where his stills were To-
Gated is Of the widest character; pre-
cipitous hills and great canyons alternate
and none but a skilled mountaineer can
pick his way. Red Sulphur Springs was the
nearest point to 1t, and creek. not far
distant, has been known as Davis dead.
line.' He publicly announced that any
revenue officer or deputy marshal who
crossed t'wouid pay forfeit with his life,
and without precise information as to his
whereabouts none would dare make the at
tempt. r'lr. NJ
Davis, strange to say, is church men,
Der, and belongs to several secret orders
He wasa prominent map In the community
and well known through several counties.
Five years ago last June United States
Marshal J. NJ. Brown determined to cap
ture Davis. He took six or eight deputies
with him, and they crossed the dead line.'
Not far from Davis house they found dry
still. They advanced toward the house,
and seeing two men outside, called TO them
to come for ward.
OFFICERS BEATEN BACK.
THE men disappeared in the house, and
the next moments perfect fusilIade OF bul-
let's was poured outon the marshal s party.
Deputy Marshal Bronson Garner was killed
and Marshal Brown-sho through the chin.
The officers were forced to retreat, leaving
Gamers body on the ground. Neither the
coroner's jury nor the grand jury could be
prevailed upon to bring charges against
Davis, some OF them being animated by fear
ard Others by friendship.
Associated with Davis was Gus
Thomas, almost as famous character
For yearsthey had been working together,
and after the killing of Garner we al
most despaired OF capturing them.
Winter before last a drummer put up
at Red sulphur Springs and went to d
country dance. He met Gus Thomas there,
anu the latter asked him to have a drink.
The drummer declined, saying he did not
care Tor II. Thomas then introduced him
to a young lady and told him he must
dance with her. The drummer did not care
TO dance ami said so. He neverspoke again.
Thomas whipped out his revolver and shot
him dead.
"For this crime Thomas was indicted,
but they could not capture him, and he is
still at large, although there is reward
of -S30oupo his head.
"Some time in June last Davis and
Thomas had a quarrel, and from warmesr
fricnus became bitterest enemies. This
afforded US an opportunity. United, these
men could battle the law; divided. there
! was a Chance TO capture them.
The State ,authorities made overtures
to Davis for the betrayal Of Thomas. They
had no charge against the former, and
would be gamers by the deal. Atthe same
time we made overtures to Thomas for
n. .. ON. Il
a letter from Thomas, stating hattie knew.
Davis was trying to deliver him over to
| the State authorities, and he added that
if we would not modest him he would set
a trap and fix it so that you can capture
Davis
CAPTURE OF DAVIS.
ION September 23 we received letter
from Thomas, stating that on September
20 Davis would beiat his still doubling
up Meet me by the bridge, over the
dead line,' he added, at midnight, and
will ia Ike you to the still.'
"At the appointed time six of US were
there, General Raider Ferguson and Deputy
Collector Rutledge being among the num-
Der. Thomas soon arrived. He made a
figure that would attract attention any
where. His skin is as fair as a blonde Of
purest type, aid his eyes are as black as
Goals and fierce as lions. He was nicely
and even elegantly dressed In mountaineer
style, carried his Winchester in his hands,
and had two pistols in his belt.
"puring the whole time he guided us he
never removed his eyes from us, nor his
finger from the trigger OF his gun. After
much rough travelling We reached a ravine
where Thomas left US, saying that in the
canyon beyond we would find Davis and his
still. ,,.., ,,-en
1--WE cautiously pushed on until We had
located tue stilla7 Then, dividing our party.
three took one side and three the other.
Davis and another man. whom we after
ward ascertained was Bob Thomas, Gus
Thomas brother, We're, there. They sus-
pected nothing aud did not know We were
| within miles of.-them until they were
looking down the barrels OF our Win
chesters.
well, boys, Davis remarked, after
throwing up his hands, You have me at
| last. / came here once too often
1.-The still had a capacity of ninety
barrels. We broke ups the still, spilled
out the liquor, and then started with our
prisoners back over the mountains. We
reached town safely, and Davis and Bob
Thomas ere now serving long terms of
imprisonment. Gus Thomas continues to
distfil whisky at the old stamping grounds,
and IL tdaubt very ,sauch II be will ever be
taken alive"
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