Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1900-09-28

Not suspicious stranger had been
seen on the mountain for three weeks,
when just after dark one night three
long. loud blasts on fox horn sound
ed the alarm and called the moonshin-
ers to meet on Pine Bluff with their
guns. Fires were put out, and the
liquor on hand was moved away from
the still houses to some more secluded
spot.
Half an hour before midnight twenty
rough but determined looking noun
taineers were gathered around a small
camp fire on Pine Bluff. Ned Larkin
was the center of the group, and he
told them the cause Of the alarm. A
dozen revenue officers. all heavily
armed, had left Huntsville two days
before for raid on the mountain.
They had destroyed the still of Rube
Burrell at the foot of the mountain and
fired several shots at Rube, who came
near being captured. The officers were
then encamped in the pass leading over
into Bear Greek Valley. Down in this
valley seven stills were in full blast,
and the men had received no warning.
"YOu'uns knows it's like this" con
cluded Larkin. "Them fellers out thar'n
Bear Creek can't hear the horn, an
thar amt but one way O. getting to
'em er head O them Internal reve.
noos"
"How is that, NedT' was asked by
a dozen.
That's for one o. wee'uns to get
through that pass. go right through
them revenoos' camp an get the fell
ers warnln' afore dayl It's nifty tic
lsh, gwine through that camp. boys,
but some un's got ter take ther chances
'less'n we'uns go squar' back on them
Bear Creek fellers."
'T'll CO."
1t was Calamity Murray who spoke
and he was the only volunteer for the
perilous trip.
'You'uns thinks I've been telling the
Fevenoos, an l want er chance to show
yer that hain't never gwine back on
them what's stuck ter me-" and before
any one could say a word Calamity
was off on the dangerous journey. The
moonshiners looked at one another in
silence until the old man who had once
saved Calamity's life spoke up and
said:
"Boys, l allus knowed that boy Cal
amity's heart were in the right placer
Calamity reached the narrow path
where the officers had camped for the
night without accident or delay. The
officers, wrapped in blankets, were
sleeping around a small fire, and with
his blowing horn in one hand and rife
in the other Calamity started to crawl
through the pass, which was so mar
row that he would be compelled to 20
within ten feet of the sleeping men.
Not a twig broke as he crept slowly
forward and In ten minutes he had
passed the sleeping forms around the
camp fire.
Fifty yards beyond the sleeping Off.
GERS the pass began to widen, and
there Calamity rose to his feet and
started rapidly forward. One false
step, dead limb cracked loudly under
the feet of the moonshiner and he
started to run. Too late; dozen rifle
shots rang out on the still night air,
and Calamity sank to the ground with
dozen bullets in his body.
The officers hurriedly deployed into
an irregular line and advanced eau.
tiously toward the PROSTATE form,
fearing that others were waiting in
ambush. Just as the officers gathered
around the fallen man he struggled Ia
his feet. A dozen guns were raised
but were quickly lowered, for the Off
GERS saw that the man was wounded
unto death.
Calamity caught at a tree to steady
himself, and before the officers dl.
vined his intention he placed his horn
to his lips, and, with one terrible, dy
ing struggle, blew three long, loud
blasts. The horn dropped from the
blood-stained hand and Calamity sank
to the ground, dead.
Over hills and ravines, piercing the
still night air, went the sound of the
three shrrill blasts of Calamity Muir
rays horn. The moonshiners around
the camp fire on Pine Bluff heard 1t
and knew that their friends had beer
warned in time. Down in Bear Greek
Valley the moonshiners heard the
warning, and they prepared to meet
the coming foe.
Next day strong band of armed
moOnshiners entered the pass. The
officers had returned in hot haste tC
Huntsville, knowing full well tho
meaning Of three blasts of the moon
sinners horn.
Close by the roadside in the narrow
mountain pass there is an unkep'
grave. On a rough headstone blow
ing horn has been rudely carved, anC
beneath it is the name of Calamity
Murray"