The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21

In a rural part Of the old South hves
woman broker and -soocat' maker who hss
grown rich and important through her
knowledge OF fiery intoxicants and b.
skill In business deals. She Is the mot..,.'
, Of nine children, all OF whom, boys and girls
alike, have been trained up In the handling
Of firearms and the secrets Of distilling.
And as she drives along the country roads.
invariably with loaded pistol ready at
hand on the buggy seat beside her. she il
looked upon by the neighbors alternately
as terror and as Lady Bountiful.
"Soocat' Is made from all varieties Of
cane-mash. sorghum, millet and sugar
cane. II is a powerful intoxicant. The
propensity Of soocat drinkers has for years
enlivened the particular neighborhood In
which the woman lives and through all tbs
scandal and entertainment Afforded the
woman distiller's personality runs like a
scarlet ribbon through the intrioacies OF
network.
Imagine a mddle-aged woman OF good
features and complexion and dignified car
rage and always showily dressed. and you
have some idea OF this backwoods heroine,
who has foiled the law every time It has
sought to lay hands on her. Through born
knack for cajoling and managing tbs
neighbors in need Of money and the work.
ing folks who serve her she has come to bs
large property owner. and she is no liberal
purchaser at the stores in the county
towns that the merchants show her con-
sideration. And II they know about tn,
little home still that her servants help her
to run in the midnight hours they choose
not to talk about IL.
More than one murder at a Christmas
dance or Saturday night frolic can b.
traced directly to the guns and pistols
habitualy rented out by the woman 500
cat maker for festive occasions. And the
family feuds she has participated In sound
like the annals OF the mountain moon
sinners rather than the doings in a hum
drum farmers neighborhood.
Several years ago the woman's husband
separated from her and took up quarters
at his son-in-law's house, a couple of miles
from the homestead. Then the children,
all OF whom We're grown, or nearly SO,
divided forces. Five Of them took sides
with the father and four with the mother
and war WAS waged between the two fac-
tions. A piece OF land, the title to which
was in the wife's name, though the hus-
the separation.
One Saturday afternoon, when both
factions had had enough soocat to make
them crave excitement. the oldest son Of
the mothers adherents was MORALLY
wounded by the father and a brother who
took the fathers part. The wounded hoy
died the next day and the mother swore
to be revenged. after promising the lad
hut h<, L.
that could be bought.
This monument, showing a life-sizc
figure OF the dead son. is now the show
piece of the little country graveyard where
1t stands. 1t is said to have cost &, 900,
and il is almost tall enough to be seen from
the woman's home in the swamp, where
in friendly. foggy weather the little curl
OF smoke going upward tells that the 800
cat still is working. For at favorable
times. when the constables are shy and
only friends about, the distilling is carried
on out Of doors, where water 10 con-
venient.
The father and brother were tried for
the homicide. but were acquitted. The
mother and the two daughters who be-
friended her appeared as witnesses In the
case and created sensation BY their good
looks and stunning apparel.
After the case was settled the family
reverted to it's former state Of enmity.
But two of the children from the fathers
faction went back to the family roof and
took up their mothers cause At this
time the warfare waged 80 hot that II was
said that no member Of either faction ever
slept on two successive nights with the
bed in the same position or in the same
part Of the room.
The mother got more and more land regis
tered In her name and people seeking 500
cat always knew where to get IT,
On the day before last Christmas the
queen mother appeared before the house
Of Sor her .ha s s%ns asJns az. eod
she did not have time to get out Of the
buggy and come In, but begged for q con-
ference with her husband.
She told her husband that che was tired
have him back home to live. She then
whipped out a flask from her pocket and
a little folding cup and proposed that they
drink together to this compact.
The invitation was accepted. and the
husband was In good humor over the pros
the wife's departure he was seized with
such symptoms that he suspected that he
had been poisoned. An antidote was used
and the man recovered. But from that
Time on ne uVeO IN terrOr OF ms lIe Oarr1-
cading himself In a stout log clubhouse
at night and granting mono entrance. A
neiehbor went there on a peaceful GRAND
about 10 o'clock one dark night and knocked
repeatedly without getting Response. He
had abandoned the quest and started for
home when the house door opened and the
occupant issued forth equipped for battle.
He held a shotgun to his shoulder ready
for firing and his head was surmounted
by a blazing device which threw a bright
light over the dooryard and its surround
ings. The neighbor kept quiet. Seeing
nothing the besieged husband shot on tbs
gun three times In rapid succession. as IL
to intimidate any lurking enemies. then
stepped backward within his fortress, ex-
tinguishng his odd torch when safe inside.
Two months ago he eft for the West.
having Acknowledged himself vanquished
in the contest with his wife and ii n be-
lieved he will remain there until the old
thirst for home distilled liquor under IA.
miliar conditions becomes too strong to b
resisted.
The mother since her husbands depart-
ure has all the more time to devote to BUSH
ness Her second son. who went to college
after the shooting of his brother. has come
back with some knowledge OF electricity.
Now he gives exhibitions In electric wonders
to such Of the rustics, black and white, as
arf a N nj Mt n v,rtox,