The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1919-08-15
FEDERAL OFFICERS MAKE
RAID ON MOONSHINERS
Big Whiskey Making Outfit is I'm
earthed in Cascade Orchards
Two Arrests Made

The operations of moonshiners
known to have been engaged in the
illicit manufacture of whiskey near
the Icicle canyon for several years
past, came to an end last Friday
night when county and federal officers
led by Collector of Internal Revenue
Merritt raided the quarters of the
whiskey makers and placed under ar
rest Andrew Stevens and R. P. Clark.
While the visit of the officers seems
to have been a complete surprise for
the moonshiners, it was not unex-
pected by the citizens of this city.
For some time it has been common
talk on the streets that whiskey was
being manufactured out in the Cas-
cade Orchards and was easily OBJ
tanned. Stories were circulated
around that certain autos were keep
ing the road hot between the Cascade
Orchards and town and that on
Saturday evenings this was dan
gerous road to travel on account of
the number of cars one would meet.
The makers and the bootleggers of
Mountain Dew" were doing thriv-
ing business, and having never been
molested grew more bold as time
went on, But the day of reckoning
finally came.
Travelling men and others spread
the news about the state that the
Leavenworth brand of moonshine eX-
celled anything of its kind they had
ever gotten hold of. The manufac-
turers were being widely advertised
and it was a great surprise to every
one how the new industry managed
to escape the minions of the law.
The federal authorities, as we now
learn, were tipped off months ago,
but being busily engaged in running
down the same class of law breawers
in other parts of the state decided
to save this district for a later date.
They commenced laying their plans,
however, for cleanup here and the
raid which commenced last Friday
and ended Tuesday, brought to light
Mr.. Merritt says the largest and best
equipped moonshining outfit that has
vet been discovered in the state.
The arrest of Stevens and Clark
occurred on Friday night, at which
time a large amount of malt, corn
meal and some "mash" was seized in
addition to a number of bottles of
home brewed beer. Then followed the
search for stills which continued up
to Tuesday, when the officers SEEM
ingly took their departure. They
took with them three complete whis-
key making outfits which they un-
earthed, the largest of which had a
capacity of 120 gallons, the others 80
and 80 gallons, and in addition to this
several gallons of the finished pro-
duct. The evidence will probably be
transported to Spokane where the
trial of the men will be held in the
federal court.
Both Stevens and Clark are we'll
known in Leavenworth. Stevens has
resided in this vicinity for ten years
or more and was more familiarly
known about town as Daddy Stew
ems, and is nearly 70 years of age,
Clark is new conner and was only
recently discharged from the army.
From Mr.. Merritt the Echo learns
that from the capacity of the stills
the men were able to turn out from
twenty to thirty gallons of liquor a
day. Bootleggers from the lower val
lev and even as far as the Big Bend
country came here the officers say to
get their liquor, and as it usually sold
from $40 to $25 a gallon it is assumed
that the operators were doing prof
table business. Mr.. Merritt. pro-
nounced it an exceptionally good
grade of "moonshine" whiskey and
much better he says than that which
he has uncovered in the past.
He makes the statement that whis-
key making plants are springing uI
like mushrooms all over the state ano
that it is almost impossible to cope
with the situation. However, he has
big force of deputies and is going to
keep this class of law breakers on the
run.