The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-13
snr srLLs MOUNTAIN pEw.
when the revenue Onieers Come to
Arrest Her She says. Take Me-"

when the Revenue Oaicers Come to
Arrest Her She says. take Me-"
From the Atlanta Constitution; Bet
Az Mulens Is the largest woman In
tennessee. She lives In a little log
house on top OF Newman's ridge, In
the mountains OF Hancock county,
where she earns a living by the sale
OF ullcltly distilled whisky In open de-
aance OF the government officers, VINO
have time and again been sent TO ar
rest her. but have never been success
ful. Her ayolrdupois Is about ofo
mounds. and this accounts Tor the Wo-
man never having been arrested ~
was In the fan Of the year Just passed
that visited the Mullens home IN
company with the revenue officers rom
Knoxville. The place where she hNes
is sixteen miles from the railroad ana
by no means easy OF access. As you
near the foot Of the ridge where the
woman lives you can see her canih
on the top. A conveyance cannot "ehu
is way 10 the home. and those VINO
wish TO see the largest woman IN Ten
nersee. and one who has caused more
talk than any other woman In the
state. have 20 leave their conveyance
behind and make Il on foot up the
steep mountain SHE. Approaching
the house. the lrst thing out OF the or
dinary which attracted my attention
were four mounds In the back YARD
which. upon inquiry. learned were
the graves Of her husband and three
sons. the latter having given up ther
lives In mountain lights and had been
buried IN the yard. whore the mother
could turn from her bed IN the little
house and gaze at the spots which con
talned beneath their grassy sod ali
that was mortal OF those who were
so near and dear 20 her. For years me
woman has been bedriddon. Not that
she Il sick. hot her immense size 10
such that she IL unable 20 walk OF
move around like other people. Her
husband was for years an invalid ana
the family was without visible means
OF support until Betsy conceived the
idea Of selling whisky. There are any
number OF Illicit stills 10 the noun
tains near by. and just across the line
IN Kentucky. aud with their operators
Betsy made arrangements for her
supply Of mountain dew" Il IL
brought 20 her Ia stone jugs. and from
her bedside she can reach down and
pour out any amount Of whisky which
the patrons Of her place may desire.
In open defiance Of the law has Mrs
Mullons carried on this method OF
liquor selling for years The federal
grand jury has indicted her time after
time. and officers have been sent 20
arrest her. but that was all They
would come 90 her bedside and serve
the papers. but could not take her 20
court or 10 jail Ter size bahicd them.
u would take half n dozen strong men
20 carry her out of the house and
when the outside was reached they
would not be- able 90 set her 10 the
road az the bottom Of the ridge, a. u
Is impossible 20 sot a wagon TO the TOP
where her cabin g. located. Even
time the officers call az the house she
simply laughs and says. Take me q
you can" The officers cannot take her
, and that Is the end OF u. In Mrs. Null
lens will be- found the pcrsonihcatior
j. % ignorance. Her knowledge OF the
world Is confined 20 a radius Of thrcl
u miles OF her home. She was borr
near the place where she lives. and
has never been on the ridge Novcl
saw the little county town OF TaEe
y well. the county scat Of farewell coun
Z ~. and has never seen railwal
7 train. although she Is at present near
= ing the hftieth milestone Of her mon
otcuOus life She delights Ia havinI
sisiiors call 10 see her and talks inter
> estingly During an the years tha
Mrs Mullens has been confined TO he
. bed she has seen her three sons an,
husband pass 20 the beyond. She coul,
y not attend the funeral services al IN
~ little church. which ,s situated sevcra
miles from her home. and the tunera
= services. u such they might be- called
were held IN the rooms where m
7, mother and wife lay on the bed. an
" their bodies were laid 10 rest jus, on,
side the door IN the back yard. wher
she could witness the interment In
woman takes her misfortune good
he naturally. and says that she viii con
W tinue the sale Of whisky until her tim
& TO die has come. and then she. 10,
expects 10 be laid to rest beside N
'lt bodies Of her husband and sons /
nc the little plot In the back var,
te known as the family burying groun
e- OF the Mullens family.