The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-03-22
THE NEW BROOM.

In the good old days of the French
war. when England was SO occupied
upon the seas that she had little time
to guard her coasts minutely, the peo-
ole of Trewarne were smugglers to a
man and throve exceedingly. There
were indeed riding officers stationed
hard by. but they were not numerous
enough to interfere effectually-nor.
It's said. were they notably eager to
have their hands strengthened.
But this season of prosperity and TN
troubled quiet came to an end. Peace
to England meant the very reverse to
Trewarne. 1t was with the utmost dis
gust that it's people saw their old friends
being replaced or so surrounded with
new colleagues altogether unused to
the ways of the district that they could
not remain harmless if they would. 1t
was soon beyond doubt that the rev.
enue men were really in earnest in their
endeavors to suppress the free trade.
Among the men of Trewarne the
whole blame in this matter was laid
upon the shoulders Of John Coffin. a
new man. whose energy was such that
in mere self defense his comrades were
compelled to emulate his detestable
activity.
He was little man. black bearded
and exceeding neat in his attire. He
spoke outlandishly, mincing his words
after the manner Of people inhabitlns
the regions Which lie up the country
And he irterfered shamelessly with the
business of his neighbors-
For example. at the edge of the cliff.
some two miles to the west OF Ire
warne, there was a copper mine. Just
above the sea level a tunnel had been
driven from the shaft to the face of the
cliff. The water pumped up from the
bottom Of the mine was not taken to
the surface. but simply raised to the
level Of this '.adit' and so allowed to
gain the sea- And the recording angel
alone can tell how many keg of good
LIQUOR, landed on the beach. has gone
into that adit. been carried to the shaft
and conveyed to the surface in the
great iron .'kibble, bucket which
was used for hauling the ore to
..grass. Once the stuff had gained
the surface it was slowed away in the
engine house. to be sent to its ulti-
mate destination at convenient oppor-
tunity
Now, one night very decent little
cargo had been run A goodly number
Of kegs were buried in the sand of the
beach. Some twoscore were carried up
into the adit and later cn drawn to tie
surface in the kibble. They had been
carefully disposed in the engine house.
and ali seemed well. when suddenly the
place was invaded BY a gang of revenue
men. The engineer did not lose his
presence Of mind He sprang to the
safety valve. In Il moment the room
was filed with steam, and customs Off
GERS and miners were tumbllng one
over the other in wild confusion But
presently John Coffin got to the safety
valve and stopped the escape of steam
The miners melted away like summer
clouds (being unarmed) and a little
later saw the good liquor going OFT IN
casks to the stronghold of the revenue
men. Mr.. Coffin was proud man, but
there were ominous murmurs as he re-
tired, and his name suggested many q
grim pleasantly.
This sort Of thing happened contlnu-
ally, but as the s,uugglers were still Sc
cure from loss if they saved one cargo
in three-and as thoy had behind them
many years Of uninterrupted success
it made 10 great difference. Indeed tie
men engaged in the traffic saw the hu-
saorous aspect in the triumphant mien
of John Coffin. and for a little while
thought the spectacle well worth the
loss of few kegs from time to time.
It was at this time that they construct
ed a .scayie. or store. in a big field not
200 yards away from the custom house.
But John Coffin was not content With
these successes. and his ambition soor
became intolerable.
Of all the young men in those part:
jim Penlerrick was the most promls
ing There were none but knew tht
traditions of the smuggling and coult
help if help were needed. But Jim was
one of those rare spirits who make ira
ditions He was hardly more than tou'
and twenty. tall fair and boyish. bu'
be had already made himself name
by the cleverness Of the lodges ne IN
vented and the magnificent coolnes'
with which he carried them into execu
tion. 1t was no wonder that Maggie
opie the prettiest girl in Trewarne
was proud to have him known as hel
sweetheart
She was a little. dark haired creature
with cheeks tinted like wild roses ant
big gray eyes that would have made
conversation an easy thing to her If sh'
had chanced to be born dumb. There
was childish innocence in them some
times, and sometimes a reckless mis-
chief, which Jim himself could onl.
envy and admire. twas said that SOM
of his cleverest inventions had been III
spired by hc: And there was only OF,
thing in her which Jim deemed unrea
sonahle. She appeared to detest JOIN
ce. II 4I,o 81 of bp1. soil