The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-28
Most Remarkable One
Ever Found by Officers.
Thrilling Account of Manner
of Its Discovery.
A Peculiar Revenue Mystery That
Was Ultimately Solved.

LAwRENcEBURG. Ky, Jan. 2s--The re
markable moonshine raid made by Cap
tain James Z. Wilson, internal revenue
deputy collector for this division, in
hockcastls county, recently, when two
Illicit stills were located one milo and a
half under groun and oestroyeJ, has its
parallel only in a.somewhat similar cap
ture made in North Carolina some years
ago. Captain Wilson, on his recent trip
Tor sinners, bad posse with him, ,inciud-
| ing the veteran, "U ncle" Asby Owens.
over four-score years of age In making
passage. to the subterranean retreat the
revenue men were forced to some of the
most periious desceDts imaginable. Once
they had to slide down pole 20 feet
long, which, turning over in coming
back, showed notches to assist the elm.
Der. At another point Captain Wilson and
men had to go down a ladder so feet long.
Finally the estiils were found. Fortunately
for the officers, howver, the moonshiners
were absent, ms the plants were so situated
than an invasion was impossible without
being exposed to the rre of the operators.
The ways Of the moons h iners are almost
beyond the ken Of the revenue officer,
and many, peculiar and various are the
hiding places of the blockade still. These
things considered, Captain Wilson doubt
less deserves the prize for discovering the
most remarkable in Kentucky; but the
North Carolina raid, mentioned above.
certainly holds the record for the entire
country.
While the find Of Captain Wilson was
one and half miles under ground, the
case reported from our sister State was
actually under water, however incredible
1t may seem. 1t is the only submarine
still ever brought 10 light, and it is safe |
to say no other one ever existed. The
facts about the wonderful plant, as shown |
In by the report of the officers on file in |
the collectors office are as follows:
There is . small island in the Pedee river.
In Richmond county, N. G., about the
'ize of ten-acre field. The ground il
studded with large cypress trees and the
Indcrgrowth of the bushes and brisrs is
Utmost impenetrable. None OF the land
,asever been cultivated, because it is diff
'ult to get to the island. the water beng
ieep and the banks steep and dangerous.
Wild hogs, wild cattle, coons and other
Wild creatures Of various kinds. inbabit
be place alone. Ever since the making
4 corn into whisky was made ubject TO
a during the war, there has been a
,oonshine distillery on the island. 1t
as been raided many times by the re-
enue officers without discovering the
lockade plant. The SINNER had been
ION to land on tho island often, but his
'treat had never beeps discovered, the
Ulcers having probed the earth for a cave
T undergi ound retreat without success.
Finally Deputy Collector .E. A. Moffitt
u several raiders occupied this island
the night and picketed themselves so
one could arrive or leave without be-
< seen. About daylight a canoe, oc-
pied hy two men and containing sev-
al i've gallon kegs, was seen approach
2 from the Richmond county side. ;,
offitt gave orders for them to be AL =
/
IL made, j. X. McRse, who hac been :,
'pected OF running the still on the >,
and, sank the kegs in the river near =.
lere the cnnoe landed. This movement =.
10 not understood by Moffitt, hut his ..
prise was unbounded when McRae
his companion began tn disrobe =,
After divestipg of ell their go
thes, which were placed in the hollow -,
pk of cypress tree, Moftitt was dumb :.
nded to see McRae plunge headfore- :,
81 into the river and disappear from 40,
ht. His partner performed the same
!. Mofiitt and force waited all. -.
for the resurrection OF the two. Just
ut sundown II was noticed that n %
oe, occupied by two men, who, upon M
mination by aid OF the spy-glass.
we'd TO be McRae and n companion, was
ring the other shore. Where they had a.
and how they hadigots away without g.,
lg seen were too much for the revenue
!. A search up the river disclosed
ther landing place and a chain and
where the second canoe had been
ened. Ii was now evident to Moffitt
there was an underground retreat on 7
island, but no entrance TO ii could be loci
I'D. lie and his men msdc another J.
1t on the island, and next morning L.
'ae and his partner were observed re- ID
ing to the upper landing. Here they A,i'
ressed agsin, hid their eliot hes, div,d
the water and disappeared as before.
ard nightfsll McRso ana four men Bud
Ienly arose out Of the water at the ID,
n landing. Clothes were found for E,