The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-25
KENTUCKY MOONsHINERs.
How They Evadcd the Revenue OH
GERS Watchful Eyes.

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
About four miles from Morehead, KY,
upon a little stream known as Christy
creek, on the road that leads to Martins
burgh, stands the cabin of the once notori-
Gus John Martin. He was the leader Of
the Martin faction In the celebrated Mar
tin-Tolliver feud, in which thirty-eight
citizens of Rowan county closed their
earthly careers with their boots on and
with their guns in their hands
The quarrel between these factions was
brought about by politics. After the
democrats had enjoyed an uninterrupted
reign of twenty years In Kentucky the
inhabitants of Rowan county awoke one
morning 10 find their offices filled with re-
publicans owing to the diligence OF Mar
tin and his men. Toliver and his crowd
determined not to submit to republican
rule and forthwith the war was on.
John Martin was n small man. He did
not weigh over 40 pounds; his hair and
eyes were black, and he was quick to
think, decide and act. A revolver was
no sooner in his hands than a messenger
OF death was winging It's flight. This ac-
counts for the death Of Floyd Tolliver
for they stood face to face In a saloon In
Morehead. taking a drink OF Martins own
handmade moonshine, when Tolliver
tried TO draw a revolver from his belt, but
ere II was out of its holster Martin shot
him dead.
Martin was perhaps one OF the most
successful moonshlners that ever built
FIRE under a still. For ten years he made
and sold moonshine whisky, ut the same
time feeding revenue officers at his own
table, whose sole business in that neigh
borhood was to ind out who made the
spirits that were being sold throughout
that part of the government domain with
out United States stamps attached there
TO- II had long been an open secret that
there was still somewhere close To John
Martins house. but who operated h and
where II was hidden no one could discover.
A a boy ! lived with John Martin, and
IL was my task 90 carry messages 10 and
from the men At work az the still I was
about l2 years Of age and my memory
goes back to those boyhood days, and II
seems tp me but yesterday since 1 stoe
aroundft the path over the mountain to
whore the old nogro's cabin stood. This
cabin was built % logs. with a big fire.
place In one end OF the only room in d.
II had what mountainoers call a truck
patch" OF half an acre attached 60 d. and
there were usually on sunshlny days a
half dozen or so pic6aninnics basking In
the open doorway. A. tho rear OF the
truck patch. behind bunch OF Wild plum
trees. stood an old We'll so common IN the
rural districts of Kentucky. with its dry
goods box covering and long pole sweep
dangling over g. IL would be safe to say
that the well had Quenchcd the thirst OF
scores Of United States revenue officers
who were looking for the SIN of John
Martin. and as they drank they little
thought they we're close TO IT,
Shortly after ! had taken up my abode
nt the Martin house I was awakened one
morning boy Martin, who. after eating
breakfast, took down his rifle his powder
horn ana bullet pouch aud handing mo
o lieht sinrle-barrel shotgun and ammunl-
ton FOR day's hunt. we set out on what
! supposed WAS GO DE "a squirrel hunt We
BEGAN " scale the rugged mountain side