The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-09

heafd II. 1t made such an impression on
me that l remember it distinctly.
Boys" said he, the most adventurous
raid ever took part in, occurred nearly
ten years ago, up in Rabun county.
have not spoken of it much because the
story seems very improbable, nevertheless
II is true and l will pledge my honor for
every word of it.
In the afternoon OF one cold day in
the latter part of December, nearly ten
years ago, while I was stationed at
Parksville a little village in Habersham
county, an old mountain wagon drove up
to my door and a countrYman alighted.
He told me that there was moonshine
still near Craig Mountain, some fifteen
miles away, which he wanted me to raid
that night. I did not like this much, as
1t was so cold and the roads were so mud
dy; but as there was no way to get out
of it l telegraphed to Gainesville for
deputy, and found a posseman in Parks
| vile. The deputy arrived al 8, and with
in half an hour we began our slow jour-
ney on horseback with the countryman
as guide. The roads were SO rough and
mountainous that it was nearly u o'clock
| when we reached Craig mountain. The
| guide pointed out a narrow path which
we were to follow After hiding our
horses in the woods we started off to find
the still. We had to creep along so as
not to make the slightest noise. which
would, of course, alarm the moonshiners;
but the trail was so narrow and rough
and the night so dark that 1 slipped sew
eral times and could hardly keep from
falling.
After following this circuitous path
for about three-quarters of an hour
we saw cleaning through the trees
light which the guide said was the
fire under the still.
after giving us a few directions the
guide left US. The possernan, deputy and
| crept cautiously on and were soon near
the still. My companions stayed a lit
| tie way off while I crept forward. There
| were great many dead twigs and leaves
on the ground and 1 had to move very
cautiously, for if / made the slightest
noise the moonshiners would get the
alarm and a fight would be inevitable.
At last l got near enough to see the still
plainly. 1t was in an ideal spot, sur
| rounded by dense woods that covered
the slopes of the rugged hills round about.
-Four men were at work there, and
resting on the posts of an old wooden
shed which covered the still, were four
old flint and steel guns whose barrels
cleaned in the freight I crawled back
! to my companions, and after a consulta-
ton we decided that each of US should
go around to different sides of the still,
and at a given signal, we would rush In
and capture the moonshiners before they
could get their guns.
Our nerves were straning to the
highest tension as our undertaking was
very dangerous. Pistol in hand we crept
forward, the posseman separating from
| US as we neared the enclosure. Sudden
ly the stiffness was broken by the acct
dental discharge of the possemans pis-
tel.
THE moonshiners, alarmed grabbed
their guns. When the deputy and / rush
ed forward we were met by a fusilade
of bullets. The deputy fell shot through
the brain, while I staggered on and fell
forward with bullet through my Shout
der. Everything began to whirl around
and soon lost consciousness.
When l regained my senses. I was
being roughly dragged to the fire by the
moonshiners. 'D-n him, he's not dead
yet. Let's finish him. said one of the
men. Better not, said another, We've
got one murder on our hands now
Then began a heated discussion as to
whether they would kill me or not; and
finally l was Mortified to find that l was
doomed to die. One of the moonshiners
got up and picked up an AK which was
lying on the ground, saying DIN him..
I'll finish him now. Well not waste an
other bullet on him.
HE raised the ak, and with a prayer,
l closed my eyes to receive the blow
But suddenly shriH whistle was heard
behind them and as I opened my eyes
the moonshiners turned TO see four guns
pointing ait their heads. / raised up on
my elbow, and with glad cry, recog-
nized the newcomers as revenue officers.
I then sank back exhausted after the ter
rible strain I had gone through.
"The revenue men closed in on the
moonshiners and soon had them hand
cuffed A few words sufficed to tell what
had happened. The revenue men had
started from another town in search OF
this same still. not knowing that we too
were searching for it.
after breaking up the still and mash
tubs, and setting them afire, we left with
the prisoners. When we reached town
had the bullet extracted and the wound
dressed. AS soon as l got well was sum-
moned to court where the moonshiners