Cañon City record., 1907-11-28
PASSING OF ~WHITE MULE
OF INTEREST TO MISSOURIANS

OF INTEREST TO MIssOURIANS
A United States marshal gave out an
interview year ago on the passing Of
the "moonshiner" in the Ozark noun
tain region.
"They are all gone," he announced.
We've wiped them out" But he was
mistaken. A still, one Of the old
fashioned kind was discovered in How
ell county, Missouri, recently. 1t was
located in the hills in the same neigh
borhood where "Laf" Wheeler, a noted
moonshiner, operated ten years ago.
Wheeler was the last typical wild
cater" arrested in the Ozarks. He
was one of the old-timers, a rugged.
picturesque character, who regarded
whiskey making as the natural right of
every free American citizen. 1t was
tyranny, he declared, for the govern
ment to interfere with his private
business affairs. Several moonshiners
have been arrested since Wheeler was
convicted, but they were novices COM
pared with him. He pleaded guilty to
the charge of making Illicit whiskey
before Judge John F. Philips in the
federal court at Springfield in October,
1898, and was sentenced to one year in
the penitentiary.
A s. Van Valkenburgh, United
States district attorney in Kansas City
remembers Wheeler. He was in court
in Springfield when the '"wildcatter"
was sentenced.
"Laf' was an old weather-beaten
mountaineer." Mr.. Van Valkenburg
said recently. He was a type not Of
parts of the Ozarks. In appearance
he was extremely rugged. His gray
beard was long and faded. His eyes
were faded in color, too. but they
shone with a natural fire.
"Wheeler's manner was decidedly
defiant when he appeared in court. He
was not abashed at the presence OF
the judge, and showed no humiliation.
In his opinion the whole proceedings
were an unjust imposition and an in
fringement on his natural rights.
Was an Unrepentant MOOnshlner.
Just before sentence was passed on
I.af' he announced in the presence OF
several United States officials that he
would continue to make whiskey as
long as he lived, what time he was not
confined in the penitentiary. Whether
he has kept his vow or not, l do not
know, but we have heard nothing from
him since he. served out his sentence"
White mule" is the name given to
moonshIne whiskey. The liquor Ia
colorless and strong as a mule" The
whiskey Is produced at a cost OF only
a lew cents a gallon.
A moonshine still Is very simple
and inexpensive contrivance. 1t con-
sists of kettle in which corn meal
mash Is boiled, coiled pipe or worm.
which carries off the steam from the
kettle, a supply OF cool water TO cool
the worm aud condense the steam, and
other minor "contraptions." The dis
tillation is boiled after it is condensed.
Sometimes the liquor Is colored but
generally 1t Is sold In the raw state.
rhe smaller still costs only few dol
lars. The larger and more elaborate
plants cost 500 or more according to
| the size.
Seciusion OF course was sought by
tne inOOubnlneTS IN selecting lOCAIlOu
for their stills. 1t was their aim to op-
crate as far away as possible from the
| Travelled roads. Often they took ad
vantage oI natural caves, lodges OF
rock and other recesses in the hills
L.! constructing their secret distilleries.
Scouting through the mouLtains In
search OF moonshiner~ has always
been regardei-and with good reason
as a dangerous business. Good mark
rnanship was generally one OF the ac-
complishments Of the moonshinerS,
and often they did not hesitate to
shcut in order to protect their pro-
perty. They frequently had the ad-
vantage, too. OF being more familiar
with The topography OF the country
thaH their pursucrs.
| Some Of the Insurance companies
viii not have the lives OF United States
maj shals when the, are Ell gagged IN
the suppression cf the Illicit cistilla-
lion Of whisky. They regard IL 40 too
great q risk
| The raid on the still In Howell
county few days ago had many 0s