Evening journal., 1897-05-27
FOUND IN A CAVE.
Eentuclcy Officers Discover a Moon
sinners Outfit.
A Crooked whisky Distiiiery Mile
Under GrouDd-succcss OF
"a Desperate Under-
taking.

taking.
When. some weeks ago. Deputy Col
lector }. c. Wilson, Of Ilarrodsburg, Ky. |
and Deputy Tom Austin, of Lancaster,
quietly perfected plans to visit Rock
castle county and raid the moonshners |
still in what is known as Salt Petre /
cave. they did not dream of the find
they would make. This cave is situated
on Crooked creek, in one of the widest
sections of country TO be found in Ken
tucky. and has long been known as a
rendezvous of the worst class of law
breakers, and for this reason hasulways
been given wide berth by government
men. none of whom ever dared explore I
it. When they began their preparations
for the raid they were warned by some
who were familiar with the desperate
character of the outlaws to forego The
undertaking, but this they refused TO
DO.
One morning the posse leftLivingston
station, on the Knoxville branch of the
Louisville & Nashville railroad, and,
after q ride that lasted until nine that
night, arrived at the cave. Entering the
hole in the side of the mountain, they
traversed distance of 600 feet and
came to n narrow defile which they
were compelled to pass in single file, :
and which led them into spacious
apartment. At the further side Of the
chamber was an opening that led down
ward to a depth of 30 feet, the bottom
Of which they reached by means of a
role placed there for that purpose 10y
those who utilized the cave for their
unlawful purposes.
Reaching the bottom, the passage led
them straight forward for a quarter of
a mile, where they were again COM
pelled TO 60 down 30 feet on q crude lad
der; thence there was gradual descent
for nearly half a mile, and then the way
led upward for fully COO feet, which was
easily ascended by means of steps cut
in the dirt.
From the top of these steps straight
and level passage led them for fully 200
feet, and from there on, for about the
same distance, the way again led down
a gradual incline. Then for COO or 700
yards level and smooth path led to
another chamber where the officers
found a clear spring of.sparkling water,
and within few feet thereof was
trough filed with water, and within
few feet of the trough was found q
nioonshine still in a furnace of the
finest masonry. The. capacity of this
still was 100 gallons. with eight fer
mentiag tubs OF 500 gallons each full of
new mash and ready for operation, and
leaning against the wall here We're
found four Winchester rifles.
The distillery apparatus was lie
stroyed and the firearms confscated.
Proceeding 100 yards further another
stil of the same capacity was found,
and near by three Winchesters, which
were also taken.
: Between these two stills. in an out
of-the-way corner of the chamber. was
found a box containing the bones of two
, skeletons. while the bones of another
Law by the side of the box. The Off
GERS also found evidence that the place
} is frequented by gang of counter
{ feiters. 1t is the opinion of the revenue
] men that these bones are the remains
{ of some government officers who had
Q met instant death at the hands of the
outlaws, or Of members of their gang
who had betrayed them, or who they
feared would give their secrets away
o and, acting on the theory that dead
men tell no tales. had murdered them
or that they might be the bones of those
who had met death in battles with the
officers.
There were many side passages lead
J ing devious ways. and the officers be
iieve that if they had continued ehrougl
r the cave they would have found another
n opening that led to the outer world
y They were disposed TO explore more o.
n this cavern, but their guide, John Nal
e Inns, a fearless mountaineer, warned
II them that If they valued their live
! they should get out of the vicinity, a
u Il they had destroyed the stills, th'
4 news of which would so abroad the mex
y day. Capt Wilson says imagination
= cannot picture the wonders of the place
and that if anyone who will visit IN
y, cave finds it different from his descriI
y- tion. they can draw on him for thei
)1 expenses.
n Capt Wilson is the man who led tn
'r party of revenue men in Perry count
= about a year ago. who were compelle
! to put the mountaineers' wives and chi
n dren Before and behind them on thei
horses in order to get out of the an
5uscade OF moonshiners. who would no
shoot for fear of killing their own fles
and blood.-Louisville Post