Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-04-06
AMONG THE MOONSHINERS.
Though They Violate the Law They
are Yet Kind and Good.
(J. S. Price. in Greenville News.)

Greenvillc, lives the genuine "Moon-
shiner," Of whom so much has been
read by the public and so little seen
in private life. Then on this side Of
those stately hills live men who
make Illicit whiskey, and Just as much
Of 1t as those on the other side. Per-
haps the most interesting part of the
life Of these people is not the kind
Of whiskey they make. how they
make 1t, when they make it, and their
reason In making 1t, but their frank
ness and openness to every man or
woman who cares to tote fair" with
them.
No better evidence Of the traits Of
these ruddy mountaineers can be had
than at this time when the snow is
on the ground. A stranger going
through that land will be watched
with an eagles eye, but If he proves
that he is man-that Is, a man in
the true sense Of the word-.he will
be welcomed to their homes for shell
ter until the roads are fit for him to
continue his journey.
The Mountainccr'S Hospitality.
The other day in the Ozark Cor
ner,' when the snow was falling in
solid sheets, a stranger was seen
driving through that part Of the coun-
try in buggy. The storm grew Sc
we're, exceptionally severe for this
part OF the country, but knowing
that he was a stranger and having
heard so much about the "hatred' Of
the mountain people for "spOts," and
thinking that they might suspect him
OF being one, he attempted to drive
on. 1t was deSolately cold and the
traveller wanted shelter, but was
afraid to let his wants be known.
His hope. however, was realized. 4
big, burly man of the hills came rid.
ing down the mountain road on a
mule with a sack of corn stretched
across the animals back, and asked
the stranger, "What's yorc destina-
shun?" Upon being informed by
the lonely occupant that he was
bound for North Carolina, the noun
taineer, in all frankness, said:
"Partner, it's tn cole for you to
make ther trip ter-night. and you had
better go home with me. wher yu
will be out Of the cole, and so yer
hoSs can be fed
Coming as it did, that frank and
open welcome completely changed the
strangers view Of the much-criticised
mconshiner, and together they drove
back down the road and across a
small trail to the home, nesting
snugly in the thickness Of The pines
that the traveller had just passed.
y fire was burning in the big old
time fireplace, and, after standing be-
fore 1t a few minutes, they went to
hn Ii fn1,
per was spread. ITS awful weather
roads, and specially when it's snow
ing so. Why, stranger, you would
have gotten lost in these hills had
you tempted to go on further"
With a plainness. which the moon
sinner liked, the stranger replied: Il
had heard SO much about the noun
tain people not liking strangers that
| cared to tackle 1t instead Of stop
ping. ! appreciate your kindness and
will always feel differently toward
you. You are kind and good and by
this act Of consideration | am thor
oughly convinced that the people of
the Dark Corner" are people whose
traits are just as noble as those who
have every advantage in the thickly
populated sections Of the country"
Reporters and the MoOnshincrs.
Not so very long ago an ex-news-
paper man of this city went on
raid with the revenue officers and
State constablcs in the Ozark Cor
ner. They were gone for three days,
and returned to the city with four
prisoners. These four men were
mere youths, the sons OF two families
of
were caught lin the act" as the OfIi-
GERS say. Before bringing them 10
Grcenville. the officers carried them
to their homes to get changes OF
clothing. On arriving at the home
steads their mothers, old and feeble.
broke down and cried. The tears
were not from grief that their sons
had committed some Offense, but be-
cause they wcr" to be carried away
to the city to lace the laws OF the
United States Government.
While the officers went off some
distance to get their horses near the
home OF the last two, the other two
men being brought on to this place.
the newspaper man was left in charge
or the prisoners. He felt peculiar
tingle at his heart, and the thought
came to him, What have these peo-
pie done to me?"
Walking over to one Of the men he
said that his mission with the Off
GERS was not one OF malice, but was
lor the purpose OF learning some
thing Of the life OF the mOonshiners
and while the men were left in his
charge, small man against four big
SiX-footerS, he was simply acting as a
temporary marshal, and that he had
the kindliest feeling in the world for
them. The leader turned around.
ana facing the newspaper man. said
we were caught fair and we gave
the officers our word that we were
going 10 GrcenNille with them. Ii