New-York tribune., 1908-03-08
A LEG OVER THREE STATES.

1t was still dark when General Howard. fully
dressed for the sunrise ride. tapped at the cor
respondents door. The veteran swung into his
saddle like in his prime and rode over the
rough mountain roads at pace that showed how
easily he could have accomplished the riding test
President Roosevelt recently prescribed for army
officers.
1t was ride of some five miles from the uni
versity campus to the height on which the state
lines A granite bowIder marked the spot.
and one could literally do the general sus-
gested. swing free leg over Tennessee. Virginia
and Kentucky with one sweep.
The way to the bowlder led through the town OF
Cumberland Gap and then up the steep mountain
side past a OF tuInbledOwn shacks and houses
The riders Joined on the outskirts Of the
town by colonel who had worn the gray and
who had fought against General Howard's men in
several battles
I'VE used to call this HeIrs Half Acre" said
the colonel. referring TO the shackS on the noun
tainside. There a time when this cluster
was the worst spot in the mountains. No ono
knows how many murders have been committed on
this half and you could not count the roo
berries. Again and again the revenue men have
pulled Illicit stills out of the cellars You see the
half acre is most conveniently situated 1t IS an
easy matter to get out OF Tennessee into Vir-
ginia or out of Virginia into Kentucky, when IL
is simply a matter Of stepping over the liIe-
I'VE took the devil out of HeIIs Half acre sew
eraI years ago." went on the ex-Confederate'
jerked him out bodily. along with the saloons. The
Gap local option now. and a stranger wouid
have as much chance Of getting d drink as .
wanderer the middle of the desert
few rods further along ne Indicated the Viz
ginia line and a house which built across IL
I'VE had great deal of trouble with this place.
he explained. 1t saloon. and the proprietor
had his bar just across the Virginia line Ono
could stand in Tennessee and buy drinks in Vir-
ginia where our local option not effective, but
we finally drove him OUT
General Howard led the way into the mountain,
then over a road that rough and strewn with
rocks After riding quarter of hour through
scrubby timber the party reached clearing IN the
centre OF which stood cabin typical Of the noun
tains 1t roughly built OF half-hewn logs. ne-d
together by ntches IN the logs instead OF nails
The cracks were pIastered with clay from neigh
boring bank. 1t had peaked ROOF Of shakes IN
stead of shingles. and at one end was leg chin
ney with top built OF rocks There was a rickety
front porch made by continuing the shake roof
bevond the front wall which punctured with
door and couple of windows \ picket fence sur
rounded it and inclosed small garden
There is a story about this cabin said the
colonel In the cellar under still OF which
the revenue officers had knowledge for years. yet
they were never able to arrest the old woman who
ran II. She weighed four hundred pounds and was
so fat that she could not get out of the door,
When the officers came TO arrest her shs
said they welcome to her. but II they injured
her house she would have the Law on them They
could not bring the court 10 the cabin and they
could not bring the prisoner to court without tear
ing out the side of the house For she laughed
at the law and continued distn mOonshine- she
died finally. and In order get her coffin out OF
the house they had pull down part OF the ba1<
wall"
Would you like to one Of the oldtinne noon
shine the colonel asked when the party had
ridden
The Tribune correspondent was enthusiastic over
the prospect. and General Howard agreed to wait
on the main road The colonel led the way into
q gulch the right In spite of the Jagged rocks
which projected here and there IL really a be-
lowered glen violets of marvellous size. heav-
ny weighted with perfume, grew wherever there
the least sign OF soil. At the end OF the gulch
stood a huge chestnut tree which the horses
tod