The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-03-08
A WOMAN BLOCKADER AND
HER UNDERGROUND STILL
The Clue Given by Ducks the Neuse is Patiently
Followed by Two Officers Who Effect
Capture.
a Capture.
q. C. L. Harris. in Richmond Ncws)

ed guilty to running a blockade still
and was sentenced at the recent Deem
Der term of the United States court in
this city to two years in the penitentiary
at Nashville, Tenn, where she now is
The convict is a woman of good sense
but without education, and is typical
moonshner. She is about forty years
old. and If she had on good 'store
clothes would be a comely woman.
She appeared before the court wearing
an old split bonnet and with a snuff
dipping toothbrush in her mouth, the
corners of which were REDEEMED by the
snuff she had been dipping. She is about
medium height, with light hair, and with
rather pleasant features. Her block
ade stir was successfully hidden from
the revenue officers for ten years The
officers knew there was still near
Hester and Thompson's mill, in the
northern part of this county. This por-
tion of the county which adjoins Gran
Vile county, is known as the dark
corner" and along the banks OF the
Neuse river there is an immense cane
brake which is known among those VINO
live in the dark corner as the mar
ricane" The land forming the "Harri-
cane" is uncultivated and is covered by
a dense growth of cane which is from
seven to ten feet high. The ground is
swampy, and the strip covered with cane
Is about three miles wide and five miles
long.
WARMING ALWAYS GIVEN.
In this cane brake the moonshiners
do a Furnishing business all the year
round. A public road runs through the
west end of the swamp, and at this point
two men by the name of Hester and
Thompson have a mill, which is propell-
cd by Neuse river; there is a dam
across the river about fifteen feet high,
and Hester and Thompson do a thriving
business grinding corn and wheat, saw
ing lumber and ginning cotton. For years
the revenue officers have been searching
for a blockade still" near this mill.
They have found several places where
stills had been set up and run, but they
had been pulled out when the officers
got there, they had raided every foot of
land for mile around the mill without
finding any signs of a still.
DUCKS GAVE THE TIP.
During the month of November last
Revenue Agents Starky Hare and DR..
Perkins were raiding near this mill, and
they found many wild ducks on the river.
The agents concluded they would kill
ducks for few days. While they were
ambushed on the banks they observed
that the ducks were continuously eating
something that appeared to be on the
top of the water. Investigation proved
this to be bran from cornmeal, and it
appeared to have been cooked. Hare
and Perkins were hunting below the mill,
and they at once concluded the bran
came from the slop of still which was
being emptied into the river. Again
the search began for the still without
success The officers came to Raleigh
because their presence was generally
known in the neighborhood. They went
back Immediately and by another route
They could not find any bean about the
mill dam, but Immediately below the
dam they found bran. For this reason
they were satisfied the still was con-
nected in some way with the mill house
WATCHED THE MILL.
This structure is OF wood, two stories
high, with chimney at the end near the
dam. In cold weather the MILL house
is heated by huge fire made of wood
The officers had before this hid them
selves in the woods some distance away
from the mill and watched with theil
glasses all who went to the place. They
had seen Huldah Mines go in and remain
a short time and come out, but they hat
never seen any kegs or barrels brought
away from the mill. For days at a time
L. ..t.v i e hoo
then again bran would be seen on the
surface of the water for several conse
cutive days. but the officers could no
find whence it came. In hunting up ant
down the river they found what appear
cd to be landing place. A further ex-
animation of the water exposed severa
kegs One of these was taken out ant
proved to be full of newly made corr
whiskey. 1t was put back and none
of the kegs were molested.
The dam across the river is about fif
teen feet high and about eighty yard!
long Water pours over the dam al
the time.
Hare and Perkins returned at night t.
the mill house, effected an entrance
themselves and awaited developments
manned in the mill until nearly day
light and no one came They then lef
the mill and hid themselves in the woods
and all day watched the structure witt
their glasses. Early in the morning they
saw the miller, man by the name oil
Ray. and Huldah Mines go into the mill
They observed the miller during the
day, but did not see Mines again unit
nearly dark. when she came out of the
mill and went off in the direction OF
her home, which was about two miles
from the mill.
MISS MINES VANISHED.
During the day the chimney had been
giving out a continuous heavy, black
angry smoke. As it grew dark the Of
hcers moved up near the mill and their
long vigil was rewarded by seeing Mines
return and unlock the mill and go in
The officers thought they had her now
After waiting a few minutes they effect
ed an entrance rs before and went in and
searched everywhere but failed to find
her. They could not imagine what had
become of Miss Mines; she had vanished
They remained until nearly daylight and
then left and hid again in the woods
AS they left the mill house they noticed