The New York herald., 1922-04-09


Ill was operated by
nd Kenney Rainey.
ing for money. II the
father fails to give his
consent, then they prove
themselves willful and go
away to get into the
game anyhow. They are
the new generation, and
the new generation looks
with high scorn upon the
scruples of the elder folk.
One of these old school
moonshiners with an in
flexible conscience is
Ham Wilson. There are
many left like him, but
where there Is one Ham
Wilson in the mountains
there are ten score who
make vile whisky for
thirsty market In order to fill their
own pockets. Ham Wilson is one
Of the old fashioned. long whis-
kered type of mountaineer who
makes whisky to drink and not to
sell Consequently his liquor is
point of pride with him. He is past
master in the art OF distillation, and
his product meets the most exacting
tests His home Is high up in the
Great Smoky Mountains where the
Big Pigeon River crosses from Cooke
County, Tennessee. into Haywood
County, North Carolina.
He was once known to concede
that there was justification in law
made TO curb the sale OF moonshine
liquor, but he would not agree that
there could be any justice in
scheme to deprive man of the privi-
lege OF making whisky for his own
use.
A man like Ham Wilson will shoot
on less provocation than will the
commercial moonshiner. He puts
what he considers his natural right
above any law.
II amt sellin' any liquor, and 1
amt amin to-" he once said, but IL
any, OF them derned revenuers in
tight breeches comes sneakin' around he
I'll turn old Mirandy loose on EN-"
Old Mirandy, one OF the pioneer mod
of Winchester rifles, was at the moment
has relief in the wall of Hams cabin.
The instance OF Ham Wilson's mani
OF his second daughter is a refreshing
ample of the naivete OF this old backwoo
daughters, Oracle and Nilly. About "
ago he explained to friend, man fr
Chattanooga, how he had come to sci
the name, Nilly.
"The old woman and me couldn't
on any name for her when she was
baby" he explained. II was a-settin' q
s-studyin' about the thing one day whe
saw pretty name right on bottle in fr,
OF me. II said 'vernilly' or somethin' |
that. told Nav, and she allowed II v
right pretty, too, so we up and called
Nilly"
Half mile back OF the cabin was Hal
still, protected from the weather and
eyes Of the curious by low frame sha
The still was a huge copper affair and v
kept scrupulously clean. II shone insi
and this is In contrast to the state Of fl
into which the stills of the money moo
sinners" grow and are allowed to rema
None OF the greenish mold often found
side the stills of the commercially inclir
was ever to be seen in Hams still; II v
polished inside until 1t fairly glitter
His assistant in the manufacture OF liz,
for his own use was his brother, who Y
as conscientious as Ham himself. It
nephews aided him for a while, but ti
grew ambitious and Ham discharged the
They are getting rich now.
Dangerous for Strangers
To Wander In Mountai
That II is dangerous for a stranger
wander about In the mountains of
"moonshine belt" Is self evident
1t is broadly believed In the mounts
country--in some sections It is known
a fact--that Blaize L. Harsell sportsm
naturalist and writer, OF Bedford, N.
was shot to death in the mountains
Mitchell County, N. c., or some neighb
ing section, when moonshiner misto
him for a revenue officer.
Harsell's disappearance was a mystery