The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1902-06-20
RAIDED STILLS.
Hazardous and Exciting Esper'
fences of Revenue Officers
With Moonshiaers.

Deputy Revenue Collector l.. Il.
Mcclure, Of Louisa, arrived home
Monday evening from Morgan
county, where he had engagedin a
successful raid on Illicit distiller-
ies,capturing three moonshiners and
destroying two stills,together with
400 gallons OF beer.
All this was not Accomplished as
easily as the bare statement might
indicate. The raid was unusually
full OF danger and excitement aud
it is remarkable that the officers
captured the parties or escaped
with their lives.
With MIR. Mcclure was Deputy
IL. S. Marshal A, b. Patrick, Sam
Ri,ner, aud Floyd and Green Pat
rick. The location Of the stills was
on White Oak creek, in Morgan
county, In a neighborhood said to |
be ono OF tue most dangerous in
the mountains for revenue officers
to visit. Seven or eight years ago |
Col. Gates, a brave Z. S. Marshal,
attempted a raid there with a
posse often men, They were met |
by 70 moonshiners and barely es-
capped with their lives. Several OF
the posse discovered bullet holes
in their hats and clothing when
they got far enough away to gather
themselves together and make an
examination. Since that they had
not been disturbed in their Illicit
business until last Saturday morn
ing, when Berry Burton, W. 81
Mannin and Mat Whit were
caught in the act and landed In
Jail at West Liberty.
On Friday night the five men
lnaHed above started for the noto.
rious neighborhood, arriving there
shortly before midnight. When a
short distance from Burton house
they dismounted, aud the two Of
4 lcers and ono other man went TO
/ look for the still. They found it,
and an examination showed that
/ the "brer' on hand was Just in
condition for running through the
still, and the officers agreed in the
Iopiuion that the operators would
make the run the next day SO
! Mcclure left tho other two men TO
guard the still while he went back
after the two who had remained
with the horses.
In passing the home OF one of
the moonshiners on their way up
| to the still, the dogs had raised an
alarm and the officers heard voices
in the house Immediately after
ward. Mr.. Mcclure returned TO
the horses by a different route, but
while on his way shot suddenly
rang out on the night air, and a
bullet whizzed past Mr.. Mcclure.
| He sprang behind an apple tree
but did not return the fire, In a.
short time he proceeded to whore
the two members OF his posse were
waiting with the horses. Expect
ing an attack they took refuge be-
hind pile Of rails, but no further
demonstration was made. Il was
decided TO 30 back few miles and
secure achievements. While
mounting their horses a man cross
ed the road, but no one spoke.
Not man could the officers
ma VINO "oulu "ll'''G'E ~ WIN
them on tho RAID, SO they forced
two men TO serve ana returned 10
the place. arriving Wl'h'i s'Rh' OF
the sun mouse or sheu Jus' at Jay
break,
Three moonsolners were alreauS
! 4,
there, two pouring beer into me
sttIland one doing picket duty AS
soon AS the latter saw the officers
he gave the alarm and the Two
men stopped work and started up
the hill. Just at 'ha' instant the
two officers who had beenonguard
since midnight, sprang into The
path with revolvors leNeled at the
.moonshinerS, ordering them to
who shot at officer Mcclure, raised