West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1904-03-10
MOUNTAIN HDGETS.
A MoonshiDer Tells How nhiskey Was
Turned into sulphur Water aud lie
Was Saved from State Prison by the
Cuteness NJ the Old Woman.

Il t@'N''oH ~ ttt Uil W tmunt
"speakin' about moonshine
whiskey," said old Joe Baker. the
king OF South Carolina moonshiners,
as we sat. smoking our pipes one
evening--"speakin' about noon
shine whiskey and them revenoo
fellers, Igot three or four bad
scares while running still, and II
the old woman had not stood by
me on one pcrtickler occashun I'd
have bin nabbed fur suah Even
now il kinder makes my hair crawl
when think Of il. though ii hap
pened a good ten years ago.
only still was small one" he
continued after redIlipg his pipe,
"and to make any profit l had to
carry my own kegs away. had
five or six 10 gallon kegs, and
after run I'd shoulder one and
carry il six miles over the mountain
to customer who bought my whole
product. One day l brung keg
up to the house, so as to gii an
early start that night, and l found
the old woman looking upset and
narvns.
"Whats happened1' says / arter
hiding the key in the bresh few
rods away. tWhat is got the mat
ter with you since dinner7'
ats a fidgets, says she.
"But what you fidgeting about7'
al am fdgeting bekase I've seen
strange man around yere, Joe Ba-
ker, your gwine to git cotched to
night as suah's your born.
"Shool ] kin never believe It.
"I'm a-feelin' It in my bones, Joe,
and you know | don't gifts the fid-
gets over nothing. Better wait two
or three days before you tote any
more kegs away
"But can't. l promised that
whisky for tonight, and it's got to
go. Reckon you are gwinc to hev
chill and your fidgets don't count.
Better take some quinine, and go to
bed
otis no chill, says she as she
shakes her head in mournful way.
eff you take that key away tonight
yo'll be kotched and sent to State
prison. Go on, if you will, and
may the Lawd be with you. but keep
some sense IN your head when the
trubble comes. Don't own up to
the still when you are cotched.'
"Of co'se not
"Don't own up to the whisky at
ALL
al never will
"Don't say nu,hing except that
sulphur water is good fur rheuma-
tism, and tina, l have to drink it.
Keep these things in mind and mob
be YOU push through arter all.
"Ihat was queer talk, l said, as
the old man looked into the fire
with smile on his face.
Powerful queer sab" he ans
wered, but it turned out all right.
After sloshin' around the cabin fur
awhile and eating my supper l
shouldered the keg and started off.
1t was pretty dark night, but /
knew the path and kept it, and got
along all right fur the first half of
the way. I'd got over the ridge
and was hggering that the worst was
over when man steps out on the
path in front of me and orders me
to stand. Other men come running
up, and in about minute / was
took. asked who it was and what
was wanted, and the leader replied:
'"Better surrender, Joe Baker,
fur we have cotched you dead to
rights this time.
ain co'se l surrenders, but what
is it you want9'
1--WE want you, sab, and we've
gotyou fast. Bin laying fur you,
Mr.. Baker, fur more three months.
You won't make no more moon
shine whisky this y'ar-not this var.
Come along, now. and If you try
any tricks it will be the wuss fur
you
$50 they captured you with the
keg on your shoulder" queried.
with the keg on my shoulder,
sab, and as walked along with 'em
I knowed they had dead case on
me. They had camp not fur away,
and when we reached it made out
that their was FIVE men in the crowd
They was Just lickled to death over
my capture, as had the reputation
Of being the leading moonshiner in
South Carolina, and was spoken Of
as man who'd never allow hissclf
to be took prisoner. They took the
kcg off my shoulder and pui hand
cuffs on me, and heard one Of 'em