The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-10
THE SWAMP ANGEL.

I frequently travelled tie Nashville,
Chattanooga and ST. Louis Railroad, whom
I'm the revenue service, and from force of
habit closely observed everything going
on that would indicate the presence of
'swild cat or "moonshine" whisky
Upon at least two occasions a couple OF
young men boarded the train at Hollow
Rock Junction. Tennessee, and entering
the smoker Immediately produced
bottle of white corn whisky and took
drink / observed that IL had thnt
peculiar odor OF the raw corn product that
had never noticed in liquor made at "a
government distillery, hence. | came 20 the
conclusion that the stuff was distilled I'm
the neighborkood and determined TO locate
tho cat" as revenue raiders designate
IL, IL possible.
There are three indispensables TO the
success Of an Illicit distillery water (the
colder the better) a secluded location and
public opinion favorable or Indifferent.
Immediately around Hollow Rock June
tion water was abundant, but seclusion
and public opinion were lacking. The
town of Hollow Rock, one mile from the
junction, had had its charter repealed In
order 20 prevent the sale of whisky with
in four miles of It's limits. l concluded,
therefore. that 1t must be operated, II nc
all south of the Rock, as the country
north was thickly settled. Sandy river
is a shallow, sluggish stream, about 20
feet wide upon an average, and filled with
logs and brush every few hundred yards.
Here and there from its mouth 10 Its
source, are low. marshy places, the water
standing In small pools the year round.
These laRoons are covered with thick
growth of alder and swamp dogwood that
spring from the countless little mounds of
earth-island. Under this growth Is a
rich, succulent grass that.tempts the cat
tie for miles around. BY trimming out
the alders and dogwood it is possible for
q person to pass over acres OF these
swamps by leaping from turf to turf.
As there are no accommodations at the
junction except a depot house, 1 went up
TO the town of Hollow Rock. mile or so
distant and put up at the hotel. After
careful and painstaking inquiry found
that there was not the faintest suspicion
of anything wrong In the neighborhood
In this line. l came to the conclusion,
therefore, that IL there was one 10 was up
the river ten or fifteen miles distant.
With my gun and fishing tackle started
up the stream. 1 trudged away for miles,
stopping at every inviting hole TO cast n
line until night came on, when i went
into the hills and found a farmhouse
that offered me its hospitable shelter.
The next morning / resumed my tramp
was involved, until / came to n grist
mill 1t was small affair at point
where the county road crossed the stream.
the bridge spanning the river and mill
race. 1t was operated by an Intelligent
colored man for the owner, who lived I'm
the hills Inquiry developed the fact that
/ was fifteen miles from Hollow Rock;
that it was the only mill on the stream
for ten miles. i imagined that the negro
eyed me with more than ordinary inter
est, and while was making inquiry in
regard to the fishing in the pond that no
was studying nv makeup to determine
whether / was a genuine pupil Of lzaak
Walton or a revenue officer IN disguise l
laid around the mill all day, pretending
to fish. but really studying the surround.
ings. i noticed that the negro purchased
two or three small lots of shelled corn
and paid the money for the same, and
declined in one instance to sell meal for
the money. / observed an extra large
duRout, made OF a sassafras log. lying up
below the mill. The sides OF this
near the end, were worn smooth
apparently caused by dragging sacks
ence as revenue agent 1 bad never
found q disloyal negro 1 have had white
men for IS or $40 to betray a distillcr, but
negro never. l attribute this to the fact
that as general thing they do not care
for money beyond Its use TO produce bread
without an exception, they all love
whisky. When night approached l asked
permission TO sleep In the mill house, and
made him q tempting offer to bring me
my meals from his cabin He politely
but peremptorily refused, as IL was against
the orders Of the owner. Upon my mani
Testing some uneasiness as To where |
could obtain accommodations, he referred
me to a farmhouse and assured me of
hospitable treatment took advantage
of this information and spent the night
with garrulous farmer without increas.
Ing my stock OF Illicit distillery knowl-
edge. The next day the owner OF the
property and two or three neighbors
visited the mill, hunted me up and applied
their pumps TO extract either the real OBJ
ject OF my mission or Information as to
what was going on In the great world
around them. One was Methodist, and
supposed that 1 was follower OF John
Wesley; two were Baptists land had no
doubt but that i agreed with them that
John the Baptist organized the first CON
Rregation. ALL however, agreed that the
bard times were attributable TO the con-
ccntratjon OF capital In Wall street, and
the only remedy was the making and dis
tribution Of more money 10 supply the
vacuum produced by the Wall street with
drawal. / stood the ordeal Of their inyes-
tigation with unperturbed equanimity.
took advantage Of the hot sun at noon
20 spend couple Of hours I'm the mill
house, pretending TO sleep while the negro
was attending TO his grinding, but dur
ing his absence examining for signs cf
malt corn This is corn that has been
wet spread out and allowed TO sprout. 10
Is then thoroughly dried and ground IL
Is used In making the malt. found sew
eral grains In the cracks around the !
rocks and became thoroughly satisfied |
that there was a still IN the neighbor. |
hood. 1 Judged IL was below the mill, |
because the boat was below and not In !
the pond, where they are usually kept |
The fact that the negro bought corn and /
did not sell meal was itself persuasive |
circumstance, coupled with the fact th at |
the owner fed no hogs az the mill.
j went back TO Nashville and secured a 1
small boat, with capacity for two, made |
Of plank, with hinges In the center % |
fold. Securing the services Of Albert /
Strong an experienced and brave officer |
we made our arrangements q arrive nt /
Hollow Rock Junction M 10 n ~ ahgp-