The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-01-24
HOME OF WILDCAT STILL.
Georgia, and Not Tennessee, Leads in
Production Of "Moonshine
Licker.v

Despite the impression which has long
prevailed not only In Tennessee. but
throughout tho entire country, says the
Nashville American. that this state, and
particularly the mountainous section Of
10. is the natural home Of the moon
sinner and that the streams which
descend from the mountains in the east
srn division are Favored with the juice
IF corn or distilled apples, the records
Of the internal revenue department for
the past 13 years show that there have
been fewer distiIleries seized ia Ten.
nessee than in any other section where
'moonshining" is carried cn to any ex-
tent The remark that The chief output
Of the eastern section Of the state is
'moonshine licker" IS thoroughly dis
counted by the facts.
The popular impression that the office
Of an internal revenue deputy is one
Of the most hazardous and dangerous
occupations In the world. and that the
murder of a revenue official is a common
occurrence, does not seem altogether JUS
tilted by the official statistics either
During the past 1S years only 12 revenue
officers have been killed throughout the
entire United States. This is less than
one year. During that period only 26
have been wounded These statistics
cover the years from 1891 to 1903 inclu-
siye. For the year ended June 30. 1903,
there was not single enploye of the
Internal revenue service killed or
wounded This statement is further
emphasized when It is known that dur
ing that year there were 1886 arrests
for violations OF the internal revenue
laws. the largest ever made during any
year since the establishment of the de-
partment. In 1903 there were ] 1888 stills
seized.
Not only did Georgia lead all the states
during 1909, but this is the case for
every year during the last ten. During
that period from one-fourth to one-half
the distilleries reported seized have
been credited to Georgia, and It has fur
nished from one-fourth TO two-thirds OF
the arrests. During the fiscal year 1908
less than three per cent. OF the illicit dis
tilleries seized were in Tennessee. The
average for other years is practically the
same
As Is well known, the Second Tennes-
see district is composed OF the counties
Of east Tennessee, much Of which is very
mountainous, the kind OF territory in
which the moonshinsr is generally sup
posed to flourish; yet In this district last
year only 80 Illicit stills were captured
and but "a arrests were made, about
three times the number made in the
Fifth district. In 1900, of the 44arrests
made in Tennessee, but rs we're made
in the eastern district.
Although there have been compare
lively few arrests made in nTennesseeand |
the number OF seizures IS considerably
less than that made in neighboring
states. the scene Of several OF the blood
lest battles IN the history Of the depart
ment between the revenue officials and
The moonshiners has been in Tennessee.
During the past 20 years several Of the |
Dravest officials in the service have met |
ieath or been seriously wounded in Ten
lessee in the discharge Of their duty. In |
he late sos, Jim Davis. one Of the most |
'earless and efficient men ever known |
o the service. was fired upon from am
'nga at the foot Of Ben Lomond noun
Az ia Warren county and fairly riddled /
with bullets, dying within few minutes.