Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-09-02
| METROPOLITAN |
M00NSHINERS. |
Kentucky Mountaineers Outdone In the Suburbs :
of New York City. :


Deputy William Cadzow of the First
district, United States internal revenue
service, only q few days ago led party
of fellow officers into the dense woods
near Jamaica, n Y. known as the
"Black Stump district" There he cap
tured members of the Strumpf band of
illicit distillers and sellers of illegal whis-
Ky. 1t was the result of 2 long and per-
sistent search on the part of the men of
Collector Moore's staff, including Depu-
ties Rawlins, webster, Krisletter and
1thers.
The ''Black Stump district, says the
New York Herald, is one of the most
abandoned spots within 100 miles Of New
York, the ideal place for moonshiners 10
carry on their nefarious trade. l visited
the spot. armed with only Il camera ani
found il unspeakably desolate. The 81
lence of the tomb reigned through the
dense underground, which seemed TO be
abandoned of every living creature, and
a thick mating of dried and sodden
leaves made carpet which drowned ev-
cry football like velvet.
Here and there through the forest was
seen the little huts of the Polacks, living
in more or less of squalor and with 20 ap-
parent means of livelihood, yet apparent
ly we'll fed AIoonshining with them is
no pastime. 1t is q business. and one
which requires the incest caution. Ever
and anon through the creepy thicket was
seen a dark figure fitting from shadow to
shadow, leering this way and that, suspl-
cious and yet arousing the gravcst suspi-
cion. Though clothed iii the garb of pow
erty, the iuoonshiner is not poor man.
He merely takes on the habit OF niendi-
cancy SO that he can plead innocence if
accused of owning ar illicit still or the
fruits of one, and also, in case of ncces-
sary fight, to leave nothing more yalu-
able than wife, children and Il cooking
stove behind him.
On the occasion Of Deputy Cadzow's
raid he found the suspicious hut-and. in
deed, the whole outlying district-under
armed guard. Upon the approach Of the
invaders a password was whispered
through the silence Of the Ifyrcanian
wood, and several of the gang took to
their heels One of two made Il show Of
resistance, however, and We're arrested.
1T was scarcely typical raid" said
Deputy Catizow. for the reason thar we
did not catch any of the men in the ac-
Cudl lj11ltldclute
time. We merely seized all suspicious
parapherIialia and carted off our prison
ers The raid was one Of a series which
we have followed up in the dense forest
districts about Jamaica and other nearby
Long Island villages. The vicinity seems
to be particularly favorable to the carry
ing on of the moonshining trade, being
accessible to the Enthusiastically and
New York-and yet as far estrapged
from human hahitation in parts lis the
great Dismal swamp of the SOUTH
"Do they work in bands, as the pan
handlers the burglars and other GRIM
inals?"
Always" said the deputy. This was
the Strumpf gang, and we caught the
principal offender. The bands i'll both
New York and Brooklyn are well organ
lied and generally work comparatively
with those of the outlying districts. Some
of these rings are very rich and power
full Take the Greenfield gang, for in