Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-01-08

ling the situation. AS rule the ulaJoi-
ity OF these Illicit stills are OF the most
primitive character. and generally Oh
small capacity. Nearly every laria
among the mountains has stu Sc
GREETED somewhere and Should the pro
Drietor be called upon to surrender MS
booze and 80 to Jail, the usual eNpla-
nation is that the mo0nshlne is iof
family use only There are. however
many large stills scattered all through
that rough country. and once in aWhiie
some OF these big fellows get caught.
The largest moonshine still on fecoiu
was captured about a fortnight ago by
Deputy Marshal ThaXton OF POLK
county, who, with posse, was engaged
in making a series of raids all through
that suspected region. In this case the
officials were well prepared Tor an
emergency, but had no idea OF the
warm reception that awaited them'
Guided by an informer. they tralled
their way up the mountain side by the
light Of the moon. and a faint Glimmer
in a ravine far ahead indicated the loca-
ton of the still. AS they drew nearer
the fire grew brighter. and jolly
crowd Of men could be seen going
about their work and talking among
themselves At signal the posse,
with drawn revolvers, made dash for
the spot, and the "jolly crowd jumped
for their arms. A pitched battle fol-
lowed. in which more than one
Skinner was shot down; but after
stubborn resistance the whole outfit
was captured, marched off to jail ana
their property confiscated. If there is
one thing a moonshiner hates worse
than a snake 1t is an informer. Moth
ing is more detestable to the clan than
a spy, and no mercy is shown should
one fall into their hands. This broth
erhood of moonshiners is somewhat
similar TO the old kukluX arrange
ment. for they will stand by each other
To- the last. The moonshiners really
have nc grievance against the revenue
officials and will rarely shoot or even
injure them, except in self-defense.
but an informer is their common enc
my, and woe TO one of this class should
ne ever be found out or even sus-
pected.
, There are individuals in every dis
-rict looking f1r this sort OF job; and 1t
Is DANGEROUS for stranger to be seen
wandering about the mountains alone,
let his mission be ever so innocent. a
pair OF suspicious eyes are following
every movement, perhaps womans
or a childs eye, and should anything
appear 10 these watchers to be OF
questionable nature, a rough clap on
the back and a gruff What's yer doing
in these paris?" may be very difficult
10 eXplain satisfactorily. Not long ago.
near Waco, Ga, young man of excel
lent character was ambushed by three
desperate moonshiners, who spotted
him as an informer, and it might have
gone hard with him had it not been for
his rare pluck and rapid work with his
muscle. Young Robertson is a rustic
athlete. who was written down in the
catalogue of the moonshiners as spy
and a plot was laid to make away with
him on the quiet. The opportunity
came one midnight few weeks ago,
when Robertson was riding home from
a visit to neighbor. In a very dark
part of the woods the SINNERS" waited
for their victim, and pretty soon he
was seen coming up the road, mounted
on A mule. AS he arrived opposite the
place of ambush quick as flash three
men jumped before his steed, and
ordered him TO halt. The rider, good
naturedly, said he had no objection.