THE GASTONIA
Published Twice a Week—Tuesdays and Friday<
W. F. MA1SHALL, Editor —4 faiclrta. DEVOTED TO THE H0TECT10W OF HOME AWP THE INTERESTS OP~TH£
VOL. XXIV. _ GASTONIA, N. C.. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY H. lOQ3‘
THE STOLL WAS UM1EKOIOUND
And it Did Business T« Ytara
Baler* the Officer* Biacavarad
- It
Kstotah UUpMch Co Ktcbnond Now*.
Hnldah Nines, a white woinao,
pleaded guilty U»d jwmrilig a
blockade atill ana was seutroced
at the recent December term of
the United States coart in ibis
city to two years in the peni
tentiary at NAsheville, Tenn.,
where she uow is. The convict
is a woman of pood sense, but
without education, and is a
typical moonshiner. She is
about forty years old, ami
if she had on good "store”
clothes would be a comely
woman.
She appeared before the court
wearing on old split bonnet and
with a snuff-dipping toothbrush
in her mouth, the comers of
which were reddened by the
■nuff she had been dipping. She
fa about medium height, with
light hair, and with rather
pleasant features. Her "block
ade atill" was successfully
niaaen worn toe revenue officer*
for ten yean. The officers
knew there was a still near
Hester & Thompson’s mill, in
the northern part of this coanty.
This portion of the county which
adjoins Granville couuty, is
known as the "dark corner” and
along the banka of the Neuse
river, there is an immense cane
break which ia known among
those who live in the "dark
corner” as the "Harricsne."
The land forming the "Hurri
cane” iis uncultivated and is
covered by a dense growth of
cane, which ia from seven to ten
feet high. The ground is
swampy, and the stnp covered
with cane if about three miles
wide and five miles long.
WASKING ALWAYS GIVEN.
In this cane break the moon
shiners do a flourishing business
all the year round. A public
Toad runs through the west end
of the swamp, and at this point
two men by the name of Hester
and Thompson have a mill,
which is propelled by Neuse
rifter there is a dam across the
river abont fifteen feet high, and
Heater and Thompson do a
thriving business grinding corn
and wheat, sawing lumber and
ginning cotton. For years the
revenue officers have been
searching for a "blockade still”
near this mill. They have found
several places where stills had
been set up and run, but they
bad been "pulled oat,” when
the officers got there, they bed
raided every foot of land for a
mile around the mill without
finding any signs of a still.
DUCKS GAVE THE TIP.
Daring the mopth of Novem
ber last Revenue Agents Starkey
Hare and Dr. Perkihs were
raiding near this mill, and they
found many wild dneks on the
riyer. The agents concluded
they would kill dneks for a
few days. While they were
ambushed oh the banks they
observed that the ducks were
continnoasly eating something
that appeared to be on the top
of the water. Investigation
proved this to be bran from corn
meal, and it appeared to have
been cooked. Hare and Perkins
were hnnting below the mill,
and they at once concluded the
bran came from the slop of a
still which was being emptied
into the river. Again the search
began for the still without suc
cess. The officers came to
Raleigh because their presence
was generally known in the
neighborhood. They went back
immediately, md by another
route. They could not find any
bran about the mill dam, bnt im
mediately below the dam they
found bran: For this reason
they were satisfied the still was
connected in some way with the
mill-house.
WATCHsn TUB MILL.
This s true tare is of wood, two
stories high, with e chimney st
the end near the dam. In cold
weather tha mill-house is heated
by a bugs fire made of wood.
The officers bad before this bid
themselves in the woods some
distance away from the mill and
watched with their glasses all
who went to the place. They
had seen Huldah Wnes go in
and remain a abort time and
come out, bnt they bad never
•*** **t hege or barrels brought
away from the mill. For day.
at a time the river would show
bo signs of brant than again
bran would be seen on the sur
face of the water foT several
consecutive days, bnt tbeofficer*
could loot find whence H came.
In hunting up and down the
river they found what appeared
to be a landing place for some
thing, A further enaminntion
of the water exposed several
fcega. One of these was taken
out and proved to be full of
newly-made com whiskey. It
was put back and none of the
kegs were molested.
The dam across the river is
about fifteen feet high and about
eighty yards long. Water pours
over the dam all the time.
Hare and Perkins returned at
night to the mill-house, effected
ao entrance, concealed them
selves and awaited developments.
This was early in the uigbt.
They remained in the mill until
nearly daylight and no one came.
They theu left the mill aud hid
themselves in the woods, and
all day watched the structure
with their glasses. Early in the
morning they saw the miller, a
man by the name of Ray, and
Huldab Nines go into the mill.
They observed the miller during
the day, but did not see Nines
again until nearly dark, wbea
sup came out of the mill and
went off in the direction of her
borne, which was about two
miles form the mill.
MISS MINKS VANISHED. ' j
Daring the day the chimney
had been giving out a continu
ous heavy black, angry smoke.
Am it grew dark the officers
moved up near the mill and their
long vigil was rewarded by see
ing Nines return and unlock the
mill and go in. The officers
thought they had her now.
After waiting a few minutes they
effected an entrance as before
and went in and searched every
where but failed to find her.
They could not imagine what
had become of Miss Nines; sbe
had vanished. They remained
until nearly daylight and then
left and hid again in the woods.
As they left the mill-house they
noticed that there was no fire in
the chimney place. When it
became light they were sur
prised to see a heavy, black
smoke boiling out of the top of
the chimney. They were
certain now that lhere was some
other connection with the
chimney, bnt where was it?
They had criticaily examined
the mill-house before that day.
It was bnflt alongside of the
river and into the hill. The
chimney fonndatioo was down
even with that of the mill-house
and was up against the hill and
was simply an ordinary chimney.
Prom where the top of the
ground struck the chimney to
the fonndstion of the mlll-honse
was fifteen feet. The dam was
built in the usual way to a rise
of fifteen feet, ana then to
prevent logs from catching on
the dam, a plank bed six feet
wide was build to aid the logs
Over the dam.
AWAITED EVENTS.
About sundown of the second
day Miss Nines was seen coming
out of the mill again. Aa soon
as it was dark the officers again
effected an entrance and awaited
events. In about two hours
Miss Nines and a man by the
name of Tilly came into the
mill. The officers did not disturb
them, but watched to see where
they went. They went down to
the foundation of the mill and
walked along beside the fobay
and through the water as it
poured over, the dam and then
under the dam. and then they
disappeared and did not return.
The officers remained in the
mill until nearly daylight and
then returned to the woods.
Barly in the morning Nines and
Tilly came out and went off. As
soon as it was dark the officers
went into the mill and went un
der the dam. As soon as they
pot under the dam they noticed
in the side of the hill something
that looked like a door, but it
was securely locked and the offi
cers could not get it open. Here
was a defeat; wbat now to do?
The officers as yet had no tangi
ble evidence of a "blockade
atill." They went back into the
mill and wet some flour into a
Mate and took an impression of
tbe keyhole and then returned
to the city of Raleigh. Imme
diately they had a key made
I T.°.“ L" • fmpreeaiou, a u d,
*•*&■« T .p-. Brockwell, a lock
smith, with them, they returned
to the scene of their search.
They found the river inll of
ducks and the water covered
with corn bran. Prom this sign
the officers knew the still must
be running In full blast. They
wetchcd ell day from tbe hill
and saw black, heavy smoke
pouring out of tbe chimney.
About night Nines and Tilly
came out and went off. The
officers and Brockwell tried tbe
key Brockwell lied mede.. It
did not fit. but after considerable
labor with Brockwell'a tools,
the key did its work and showed
aa entrance under the ground.
UNTnSBD A TtJKMEU
All entered end cloeed aud
locked Ike door aud took tbe key
out. A tunnel about six feet
Ion* was found, which led into a
room tweuly-five feet long and
twelve feet wide. The excava
tion had been made and the dirt
thrown into the river, and with
plank from the saw-mill the
opening had been walled up as
it had been made.
In the large room was a com
plete wiskey distillery. The wa
ter from the still was taken from
the dam, and was run back inro
the river below the dam and the
slops from the still were turned
off in the same way. An addi
tional chimney had been bnilt
to the other one and covered up
with earth, and into this was
run the furnace that ran the
•till. About the middle of the
room was a tunnel up through
the ground into the heavy cauc
alongside the dam, which served
os a ventilator, in addition to
door under the dam, which was
always left open at night when
the still was running.
The officers were heavily armed
and they hid themselves the best
they could behind the still house
paraphernalia to await the re
turn of the moonshiners. They
knew that a desperado by the
name of Charles Pearce, who had
been convicted and put ia the
penitentiary for four years, and
who bad escaped, waa in the
neighborhood, aud they expected
he waa interested in the still,
and that he might return with
Nine* and Tilly. Io abont two
hours tbc officers beard the door
open and in walked Nines. The
officers did not show themselves,
and Nines threw off her rubber
clothes, which she wore to pro
tect her from the water pouring
over the dam. She then com
menced to kindle up the fire un
der the fnrnace when the officers
exposed tbemselvea.
HULDAH S FIRST REMARK.
Nines looked st them in utter
consternation, and as soon os
her power of speech returned,
she said:
"Well, well, well? I have
been running this still for tec
years and I never expected you
to find it.” Huldah said the dis
tillery was the handiwork of a
iqan who bad been dead several
years. She was asked what be
came of the whiskey they made.
She got up, took a keg, rolled it to
the door, pat it into the river,
and turned it loose, saying;
"You will find that keg in a few
minutes at a landing place about
four hundred yards down the riv
er. where it is taken out.” Hare
-winked at Perkins and Huldah
caught the wink and said; ”1 see
you have been to the landing.”
The officers waited until nearly
daylight in the distillery, bnt no
one came and they left and
brought Hnldab to jail. So much
for Hnldab "blockade distillery.”
As they rode to Raleigh Hnl
dah asked the officers if they
knew bow Charley escaped from
the penitentiary, and then abe
told this story;
"Yon remember that Charley
Pearce, soon after he was put in
the penitentiary, was made a
trusty and was put to minding
the drove of cows on the land
beyond the prison walla at
Raleigb. Charley waa not being
punished roach, bat he pined for
the dark comer* and his block
ade atilt.’ He seht me word to
come and see him and to bring
a citizen’s suit of clothes. I went
and he told me wbat dsv to re
turn, and that be wanted me to
pnt on his striped suit of clothes
and mind the cows in them all
day while he waa making good
his escape. I went bock on the
day he said and he put on the
salt I brought, and 1 minded the
cows all day, and abont night i
got into the bathes sod made my
way back home, where I found
Charley when I got there."
, The officers told Hnldab that
if she would help them arrest
Charley Pearce they would aee
that she was not punished. She
refuted and said the would take
tier punishment for her part, but
■be would not betray her accom
plices. She said further that the
and Charley would have been
married some time ago,
but , that they could not get
the license, because Chsrley was
in the woods evtdlng arrest.
etovea clevelarb elected.
Mad* First Vu7 President o| a
EUh and Dam* Protective Ac
sectarian.
WuhlMCm r»,.
Princeton, N. J Peb. 1.—Ea
Prealdent Grover Cleveland haa
"J?P ®r*t vice president
of the Princeton Pish and Game
Protective Association, and Prof.
UWc Dahlpren, of the htuolori
cel department, was elected pres
ident.
The other officers elected ere:
Vice presidents, Dr. Henry Van
&
retsry and treasurer, H. L. Rob
inson.
SAMPSON’S FATAL MALADY.
Admiral Sampssn Suffered Pram
Aphasia far Tear* — Organic
Drain Disaaaa Developed Load
Bafara Spanish War.
W«*klHglOB Po,t. {id.
A pension of $30 a month was
recently granted to the widow of
Admiral W. T. Sampson, of the
navy. That was done under the
geueral law of Congress govern
ing the Commissioner of Pen
sions in sncli cases. It is the4
same rate of bounty allowed, ac
cording to rank, to the widows
of all military officers who lose
their lives from causes arising
put of the performance of duty
in the service of their country.
The medical record of the case
however, is not without interest
to all those who have followed
the stirring events that began
with the blowing up of the Maine
in Havana harbor and culmina
ted in the sea battle of Santiago.
Porfullv five years prior to his
d«lh Admiral Sampson was
afflicted with aphasia, according
to the medical records upon
which the pension was granted.
This has been duly certified to,
and the-facts were compiled from
official records made by surgeons
of the navy who attended the
distinguished officer during va
rious Illnesses of that malady
when it came upon him in a form
mote or lest acute.
FIRST ATTACKED IK APRIL. 1897.
The first record of such an ill
ness of Admiral (then Captain)
Sampson was iu April. 1897.
when be was incapacitated for
some time and a patient at the
Naval Dispensary in Pbiladel
pbia. The rigid rules of the
service as to sach matters made
it imperative that information
about his illness should be for
warded to the Navy Departineut
where it was undoubtedly known,
because of Admiral Sampson's
prominence as an officer, not
only to the surgeon general, but
likewise to the Secretary of the
Navy and his several cniefs of
bureau*, who keeps informed as
to the personal fitness of'officers
for various important duties.
Some ten mouths lster—in Jau
uary, 1898—while he was in com
mand of the battleship Iowa, of
the North Atlantic Squadron,
Capt. Sampson was again inca
pacitated by the same malady,
which seized him with sufficient
virulence to prevent his perform
ance of duties.
IMFOBTANT DUTY WHILE MEN
TALLY PAILINO.
Within a month after he had
recovered from the attack of
aphasia, while in command of
the Iowa, Capt. Sampson was
derailed as president of the com
mission, which examined the de
struction of the Maine. For
weeks the country and Congtess
awaited with expectancy the ver
dict of Captain Sampson and his
colleagues, which, it was fully
realized, meant either war or
peace for two nations, and re
results that were important to
all the civilised world. Lives of
thousands of <nen—for aught any
one knew then the lives of hun
dreds of thousands of men—de
pended on the decision, not to
mention expenditures of millions
and million* of dollars, and the
destines of Spain and the United
States.
While the knowledge of that
insidious mental dieease was
fresh in the minds of officers of
the Navy Department, another
important assignment was be
stowed upon Capt. Sampson, who
was promoted temporarily to
the grade of rear admiral and as
signed to the command of the
entire naval fleet on the Atlan
tic.
The Century Dictionary uivci
the following definition of apha
sia:
OBOAMFC IMIM DltlAII
Dr. A. B. Richardson, the
superintendent at St. Elisabeth's
where there are always a eoa
aiderabU number of patients
suffering from aphasia, said last
evening that it waa a serious
organic brain disease.
Richardson.
"Would twoor three attacks o(
it affect one's capacity for per
forming responsible duties?” ’
. "I b*v**y*rfa a case vet."
b« «PbH. ' where aphasia In
adnlts did not affect the }edg
m«Dt. Patient* arc also awareoi
their inability to apeak correctly
and It irritates them. The
disease ia almost invariably fatal,
bat tbe time fen which it rnna
vanes with different patients."
Physicians arc agreed that
among patients past middle life
aphasia ia, laving in exceedingly
rare instances, eventually euded
in death. Aphasia is alasost al
ways accompanied by agraphia,
a form of tbe diseaaa in which
the patient is unable to write
correctly.
At the Pension Office the
records of Admiral Sampson's
illness are more carefully
guarded and no- information
about them is vouchsafed. Tbe
details of tbe apbaaia cannot be
1 u. acute or how
mild it waa in the first two
serious attacks upon him pH or to
the Spanish war. With patient?
well along in years tbe disease
1* generally accompanied by
other complication*. Itis known
tbf* ,th« medical record shown
Admiral Sampson aa having
suffered for Man from cephalal
w^ich U headache not
traceable to any immediate cause.
Tbf b**WNty ^ suferers from
tphssia, following ooe or two
severe attacks of it after fifty
years of sge, to safely perform
important mental work is
universally recognised by the
medical profession.
PATHETIC ATTENTION TO DCTY.
The piinfil efforts which Ad
miral Sampson mnsP at limes
certainly have been pat to in
trying to perforin hia duty make
a pathetic feature of bis naval
{*****•. The energy of Capt.
Chadwick in coming to Mb as
sistance at intervals when the
admiral's indisposition was pro
nounced baa been emphasized
more than once loog ago. The
stress of controversy over the
famons Fourth of July dispatch,
after the victory of Santiago,
eventually brought out the state
ment from some of those near
him that it was not written at all
by Admiral Sampson, bat by
one oi bis aids—bis chief of staff.
.Aphasia in adolt life generally
marks the breaking up of the
brain faculties, a condition that
will be brought vividly to mind
by those who not a great while
after the Spanish war nsed to
see Admiral Sampson walking
along the streets in the residence
section, his frame bent, bis face
haggard, recognizing only
vaguely, if at all, the friends who
greeted him as they passed. It
was a favorite theme of certain
prominent newspapers to herald
that Admiral Sampson was dying
of broken heart, doe to the harsh
ness of bis critics and the failure
of the public to appreciate his
great service. Qirile probably
in the last year or two of hia life
he knew little or nothing of what1
his critics were saying of him.
Lem than a year before he died,
while the prolonged court of
inquiry waa sitting at the navy
yard, the Navy Department
stoutly refused to permit his ap
pearance as a witness in that
famous proceeding.
• thral Accom»lishmsata.
Frae**Mi*» Varaur.
A new boy lias moved into the
neighborhood. He waa sitting
on the fence that separated hia
particular back yard from the
ysrapertaining to the next-door
neighbor, and was proceeding to
cultivate the acquaintance of the
next-door neighbor’s boy.
"I've gone through grammar
school," he said. "I can do
every sum in menial arithmetic,
sod 1 always got a handled mark
boy, throating oat hia lower jaw,
•I can move my en.-*, end you
can't. '
General Nelson A. Miles was
the guest of the King and Queen
at dinner at WindsoS CastlTlsst
Sunday night. The Prince and
Priucesa of Wales and others
were among the party.
MOVING!
Roman, the Clothier Is moving
this week Into his new stood next
to Torrence vs Jewelry Store. Now
hotter prepared than ever to serve
our growing trade. We Invite yon
to call on us at our new place. A
cordial welcome and many bar
gains await you. Too busy may*
Ing to write more.
ROMAN,
T h c CI o t h I e r.
GROWIN
Notwithstanding thb _
reagh winter weather
THE GAZETTED circulation
continues to climb. We hm
done no aaialic soliciting gar
lag the month, but for the 33
days already past we have made e
WET PAIN QF FIFTT.SII
la ear circulation. These art
not high pressure subscribers,
they came of their owa accord,
and have, we believe, rtmr to
•hjr. We give them a hairly
welcome to THE GAZETTE’S
large aatf growing family, mmi
thank them far coming.
Laat year was THB 0A- .
ZBTTE’S banner year. Oar
frlenda have started eat tomake
UU year another. We are going
to help them.'
Twice a Week; One Dollar a Year.