The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-28

|
reach IL. Finally one of the revenue men
| by the name OF Oxeudine said ne would
| try 10 solve the mystery. He took OF
his clothes and jumped into the river at
| the same place where he had seen McRae
60 in and come out.
Moiitt and bis raiders waited for re-
turn Of their fellow -ofii GERS ana had grown
uneasy at his prolonged absence. as he
had been told to return in half an hour.
Twice this time passed without lis ep-
pearance, and Mofiitt was discussing what
to do, when, all at once, Oxendine pop
ped up out of tue water, blowing like a
porpoise. lie soon dressed and sat
down by the campfire to ssartle his as
socia'es with this wonderful explanation
OF the mystery:Wben he plunged into the
water he made toward the bank, keeping
his eyes open while Under water. After
going perhaps 20 feet In his dive, he rose
and found his head out OF the water in
an opening. lie stopped swimming,
felt for the bottom and perceived that he
was in water not over feet deep. Walk
water, out in total darkness. He era wled
along some distance until live Goals of
hre were discovered. SO far no one had |
been seen or any noise heard. He waited |
aud listened, but everything was perfect
ly quiet. Making light with wood
found near the fire. ne saw that he was
In we!l-appointed moonshiners' distil-
|
vide and IL feet high. Overhead the
earth was held mp by large cypress logs.
the sloes being plnnked up. The water
Tor the still was brought from the river
through rubber hose. Oxendine fol-
lowed the tunnel to the other end. and
found 1t like the one through which he
had entered. He then made his way back
With light, and when ne got to the
water he waded until he came to a log
'cross the tunnel, which was i'm bed oed
'D both sides of the bank, aud which
ouched the water. Diving under the log
ma raisingiup. he found himself imme-
lately in front of his compau.
ons. He stated that there were
everal hundred gallons of whisgey in the
4
ppeared to pass up into a hollow cypress
rec. The revenue men We're, of course.
realty astonished, but they knew the ,
ext thing to do was to capture McRae
nd his allies. All agreed that the way to
o this was TO occupy the distilIery ana | ?
'ait the coming of che moonshiner and .
is blockade runners, but Moffitt and the Q
'st OF his pose were not willing to un- I
ergo the experience OF Oxendine. so thew .
etermined to dig down to the timber =
nd remove log and get into the tunnel 4
that way. The plan succeeded, and in y
few hours they were in the DEVILS den.
ith their racks well covered behind
lem. Moffitt divided his force ana >
aced them nt each entrance. Just after G
wight the next morning McRae came "
I, and as soon 10 he got out of the water n
as seized and told not to speak or he a
ould be killed. In quick succession the :
her four men followed, and were seized g.
d tied. McRae knew Moffitt, ana his n
nsternation to find his underground p
treat occupied by the hated officers rem. p,
red him momentarily speechless. 4C
~NfS'ihBs ho uShSu tue OIDcer now thew / nj
'covered the secret, and when told snio
II came OF the failure to keep some one 90
the island to give news that it was d,
'upied. This had been done heretofore NJ
the precaution had prevented the SO
covery of their moonshine distiilerv .
all these 32 years.
icRae and his men loo ked on with 70
retful eyes as Motiitt ana his raiders II,
troyed the outfit. He said that it had
en- months to complete the tunnel and Il,
the work bad been done by deserters
m the Confederate army du.ing the La
:. The earth had been thrown into the wr
'r, so there was no sign of excavation. 70
isky had been distilled by many OF
persons who knew of the mysteriou,
de, but only certain number were
wed to possess the secret. No distilla- Ca
nHt been done during uayr1ght, but SIR
led on at night TO prevent the smoke
n being seen. McRae said the experi-
} Of the men lin diving and getting '''
the cave had been trsgicsl and ludi- a.'
Is. Two men, many years ago. had 20
J drowned while irving to Get in a..