The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-11
A BLOODY Fight
IN THE DARKNESS
Revenue Officers in Thrilling Bat
tie With Moonshiilcrs on
Mountain.
DEPUTY TUCKER WOUNDED
DEPUTY TUCKER WOUNDED
Three "Blockadcrs' Believed to
Have Been Killed and Two
Wounded.

oCGuIIeQ 4tibt 1I1urSuay morning ABOUT
l o'clock on or near the top Of n noun
tain near Jane postoffce on tho border
between Buchanan and Dickinson coun-
ty, and as result of 1t Deputy Collector
wound in the groin Inflicted by a A
calibrc Winchester bullet, ana three
n1oonshiners, names. unknown, ere be-
1leved to be dead and two others badly
wounded. The bloody battle occurred
near Jane postoffice, in Dickinson coun-
~, Just across the Buchanan county
line. Five officers and fifteen or twenty
or possibly thirty, blockaders, were the
antagonists, and Winchesters and revolt
vers the weapons used.
Henry Adams. one of tho alleged
blockaders, Is said to have boeen shot
three times in the body at close range
by tho officers, and Is believed to have
been killed. Two others IRE known to
have fallen, killed or wounded and Dep
uty Collector Tucker states that when
he struck match to find his hat, which
had been lost in u desperate hand-to-
hand fight with q moonshner, he saw
another man lying apparently dead on
the ground nearby. Mr.. Tucker is now
at Chrstlansburg under treatment, and
there is hope of his recovery. The big
"A did not perforate the intestincs, but en-
tered the lower part OF the stomach and
is embedded In the body. With such a
wound and bleeding profusely, the wound
cd officer succeeded In making his way
down the mountains to the point where
the horses were tied. He was assisted
by the men Of his posse. and the entire
party rode to Grundy. the county seat
of Buchanan. There they found feeling
running high and sympathy with the
moonshiners, whereupon the party left
the county, and Mr. Tucker made his
way to ChristiansbIrg, where he in
formed Revenue Agent Thompson, OF
this city, of the battle.
WILD COUNTRY.
The party consisted Of Deputy Collector
Tucker, United States Deputy Marshal
Short and a posse of six men. They
started out Wednesday on Information
furnished by nm informer to capture q
big Illicit still In the mountains, which
was said to be owned by Henry Adams,
Andrew Anderson and Columbus Collins.
1t is wild, rugged locality, and n very
dangerous one, remote from railways,
the revenue party having to ride across
country from Richlands, Tazewell county,
distance Of about thirty-three miles.
Arriving at the foot OF the mountain and
finding the ascent too rugged to be
reached on horseback. the posse tethered
their horses and left them in charge Of
two OF the posse, and then cautiously
made their way up the mountain afoot
1t was after midnight when the five or
six men representing the majesty of the
law reached the summit of the noun
tain. 1t would have been necessary to
pass the homes of the three men named
to reach the still, and the party dis
creetly concluded to await until dawn
before making the raid ~ X
About l A. M. the five officers lay
down on the ground, but had not fallen
asleep when they heard footsteps and a
moment later voices In the blackness of
the cloudy night. One of the voices was
heard to say: God d. the revenue
officers. If any Of them come up in
these mountains they will go out
corpses." Deputy Tucker in whisper
gave the word. AS the footsteps drew
of the path and cried HALT and sur
render; 1 am an officer A volley of
six or eight shots was the response. and
MIR. Tucker states that he felt a singing
sensation In the abdomen. A fusillade
ensued. Two of the blockaders we're seen
standing with a lantern. The posse fired
and the men were heard to fall and the
the two parties were at close quarters
and powerful man. supposed TO be
Adams, made for Tucker, who fired
twice at him and heard him grunt or
groan each time.
HAND TO HAND FIGHT.
The moonshiner closed with him and,
Selling him. attempted to throw him vlo-
IN, mr..
bed his arm and held to him, however
WHO arc you. anyhow" demanded the
moonshiner. II am an officer" said
Mr.. Tucker. hoping that the awe of the
law might save his life. His antagonis,
became but the moro desperate and crap.
| pied with him. "You have shot me-" he
cried. II am shot. too" Curs!ng him
the mountaincer giant tried to throttle
| him, and would have succeeded but 70,
| the timely aid of the posse. "Releast
that man." were the welcome words thai
| Tucker. In the grip OF his antagonist
heard, and at the Same time the moon
sinner was flung from him. and started
10 rum Tucker. wounded rs he was
fired Mt him the third time, ana Is conf
| dent that his shot touk effect.
Meanwhile the moonshIncrs and theIl
friends had scattered to the shelter O.
L
izins that spy had warned the block
aders of their coming, concluded to re-
treat and get back to Grundy, IL tho,
could. 1t was then In the utter darkness.
that Tucker struck n light to find his ha /
and as he did so, saw one of the moon
sinners lying on the ground perfectly
sun, The odds being heavily agalns
them, the little band of officers mad
their way down the mountain as hes
they could to where their horses wer,
picketed. Before they reached then
the 1nountaincer sharpshooters with thei
Winchestcrs. posted behind rocks, agal,
opened fire, and the Officers returned tn
IRE IN the direction OF the flashes. For
tunately none of the party was killc,
ana none hurt save Mr.. Tucker.
Hurrying on to Grundy they foun,
FEELING against them so high that the,
lost no time In getting away Mr. Tucke
went on TO ,Ghristiansburg, where nc
now under treatment. IIe sent a prc
hin'nary report by wire on tho sth, an,
supplemented that yesterday with
more detailed written story sf the at
tempted raid, Mr.. Tucker is conf,don