The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-28

product as champagne is from CIDER
He and his assistants sampled it again
and again. and 1t was not late in the
night before they had absorbed some of
thrs mell3wnes5 from the jug. Then
they sang and danced and panied the
old mountain a brighter color than 1t
had ever known.
One of the songs they sang run some
thing like this:
The Gle stll's runnini
jas fit TER kill;
Revenue men
Comm up the hill.
We work it early,
We work it lac;
Best corn Ticker
In Georgy state.
Chorus
We don't give a damn
For ole Uncbs Sam;
And We III make sholIt work Of
The revenue men.
There were dozens of other just such
original songs as this sung by the Md
low moonshners during the night.
While the still of this old fellow was
well arranged 10 escape detection from
the revenue men, onsi was captured in
the eastern part Of the county last week.
which was even an Improvement upon it.
The still was in cave, and tha opening
to the cave was just large enough fer a
man no enter by shopping down very low
So we'll hid was the entPance by rocks
and bushes that it was practically out of
the question 30 detect IT. The cabin Of
the moonshinelr was nearly over the cave
lOu side of the cabin door was a great
iron pot used by the mi5oEshiner's wife
for cooking, boiling clothes and, indeed,
anything else that she happened to want
TO boil. Under this pct was an opening
leading into the cave beneath and
through which The smoke from the still
escaped. AT all times when the still was
in operation, the moonshiner's wife was
| about the pot, boiling something OF
course there was a fire around the pot.
with this was mingled the smoke from
the st1ll furnace, and no one who hap
pened to be It'll; re would have suspected
blockade still anywhere in the vicinity.
1t was near a public road much travSled
fer that SECTION of the country, and had
been running successfully for a half
dozen years.
1t was not due to any shrewdness on
the part of the officers that the still was
captured bur to the $40 reward which
the government offers to informers. This
moonshiners own brother reported 1T to
the revenue msn in order to make the
$40 fee. Of course, the officers were not
expected to tell the name of thsir in
formant; but IN this case Ut leaked out,
and the informer has fled from the coun-
ty. Had III, remained by this time he
probably would have bsen beneath the
cold mountain sod.
A moonshiner hesi.ates no more to kill
an informer than he would a squirrel.
The business of an active revenue Of
ficer is as hazardous as that of soldier
engaged in actual war.
An officer out on a raid carries his
life within his own hands, so to speak.
Altog Their 1T is desperate bu dnsss, and
the pay is a mere bagate He. But ihsre
is an excitement about it which has an
rafft ri for reckless and those
who go through a half dozen raids gen
orally remain N the business until they
bs come the victim of a bullet from some
mountain ambuscade, or else fall in open
battle with a gang of moons hiners.
A little band of a half dozen revenue
men were raiding up in Rabun county
| a few weeks ago. They were as shrewd
men as there are in the service, and in
week had succes ded in destroying four
stills without difficulty. They heard of
another. but we're told that 1T was run
by a desperate old fellow who had half
| dozen assistants ais reckless as he. The
| officers were we'll armsd with Winchss-
tiers and pistols, and decided to under
take the job of capturing 1t.
The night selected happened to be
stormy one. The march of the band of
officers was heralded by keen flashes of
lightning and the thunder claps sounded
almost in time with their tread.
It matters not how severe the weather
ing rum they are never off their
guard This night was no exception.
Before they knew 1t the officers had
stumbled right in among the moonshin-
ers, and with a flash of lightning rifle
cracked and q revenue officer feel with
a bullet in his body. In an instant both
sides were firing, and bullets flew
Through THE woods like hail. The moon
sinners were poorly armed, but they
made a desperate resistance and fought
mi - x.ta
too much for them, however and they
fed, pausing at every hundred yards or
So and ele nding bullets at Their pursu-
ers.
1t was a wierd battle there on the
stormy mountain with the thunder bay
ing like a hound behind the combatants-
pursued and pursuers stumbling over
rocky precipices-the one demanding
surrender@the other shouting defiance,
which was emphasized by the rattle of
the fast firing rifles.
And after all what did 1T amount to?
A revenue officer badly wounded; one
poor moonShiner cap tured and a pitiful
little whisky still made of big pot, con-
fiscated by the United States govern
ment.
Court week in mountain county is
a great occasion. The moonshlners
mountainous and farmers flock to the
court house town in great numbers. Ev-
cry man In the county IS supposed 10 De
in town one day during court week, and
Tuesday, usually the day for taking up
the criminal docket is the big day.
This day is selected as horse swapping
and trading day generally.
Men come from every part of the coun-
ty, and nine tenths of the men in the
county come Some ride on horses and
mules, others drive in wagons with
horses mules or oxen, and still others
walk. Those who have anything to sell
bring 1t with them. All bring along
bottle or jug of corn liquor.
There are hitching posts and trees all
around the, court house, which is in the
center of a large open square with few
stores scattered around on the edges cf
aro flaeso fraerc a nd Ilasts the