TRUE STORIES of Bloody Harlan: Bootleggers and Moonshiners in Appalachia

[@noblebrooks1552]

Thanks very good video. When I was over Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm my mother sent me a can of red top malt syrup and some yeast. I made a 5-gallon batch of home brew in a water cooler jug.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Noble! That's a great story if we do another video on bootlegging I'd love to put it in it, with no names of course

[@DreamerSeerFaithBeliever]

WOW, you just never know how far your sphere of influence reaches! Thank you noblebrooks for your service to this country and for sharing your story. Prohibition over there I hear, was much worse than in Harlan. 😳 GOD Bless you and yours, Sir.

[@Warhead-haggis]

Your telling of the story of the two brothers and the rifle got my subscription. Thank you. 😊 Edit: Hello from Scotland. ❤ The story of the mother taking to homebrewing in her home triggered some early childhood memories of my father. He often would try his hand with varying degrees of success to homebrew wine, beer, and cider using all sorts of different ingredients. I remember at the age of four helping to cyphone cider into the donjon bottles by spigot hose. It wasn't long before my mum came across the scene and put a stop to it, but up to that point, I was having a great time. 😂

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks, welcome to the channel!

[@danielazure275]

Although I was never much of a drinking person , when I was growing up I did know most of the bootleggers in Harlan . The ones I knew were nice , friendly people . Great video , brings back a lot of memories .

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Daniel!

[@rogerray7820]

Love your stories. Filled and capped many a jar of my Dad's shine in North Georgia. I'm 70 now and still think about making one last run of Dad's recipe. Keep the videos and history coming.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Old times and old timers, gone but never forgotten. Thanks Roger!

[@terrybane6206]

This is hard to believe but you have set the bar higher than before. This is a gem Coyotes. I would love to hear more stories in the future.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Terry! If we can gather enough stories we'll do another one in the future

[@amyheltonwalker]

Really enjoyed the stories. My Dad’s Father was a moonshine runner. The revenuer Shorty Metcalfe caught him up on the old Gilhim Hill Road back during the Great Depression. Shorty had shot at his car. The bullet hit the pavement and ricocheted up into the oil pan. The car made it as far as Gilhim Hill where then my Grandfather who was crippled with Polio tried to run. He got caught and went to prison for a year and a day. My Uncle was also caught in the 60’s running shine. He had been set up cause there was just enough moonshine left in his tank to send him to prison for a year and a day also. He was caught at the red light in Middlesboro where the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant is now. He was on his way back from Knoxville. My Aunt also ran moonshine only she didn’t know she was. My Uncles put her to driving cause it would be less likely a woman would be pulled over by the law. My Aunt was just learning how to drive so she was happy they were letting her practice. She didn’t know till years later she was a moonshine runner!! Love the stories.

[@TimothyPace-e4q]

My grandpaw James Osborne born in 1897 ran his still and sold his liquor and was never caught. He sold it around local baseball games. He had the bottles hid in a hole behind the fence. When somebody asked if he had any, he’d ask how many you want ? Whatever number they said, he’d say that’s exactly how many I’ve got. When he’d take them to get their order he would act like that was his last bottle. That’s how he kept his liquor from being stolen. The customer thought that was all he had. Even though he had several more in that hole.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

That would be a great story if we did another video. Thanks Timothy.

[@TimothyPace-e4q]

@@IgnitedCoyote Thanks. Feel free to use it. I’m Tim Pace. Grew up at Grays Knob and I graduated from James A. Cawood. I live in Indiana now.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks

[@larryprobus3263]

Great Video !! RIP Maggie Bailey ♥️

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Larry!

[@marilynwilder1548]

I love this video... I think it may be one of your best.. Ty so much for doing this.. I love the scenery.. makes me so home sick for back in the day.. love love the stories you tell in this and the pictures.. Ty so much..❤

[@glendamartin7435]

Me too Kentucky is home

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thank you so much! We worked hard on this one to get the stories right and make sure we didn't leave anything out.

[@bluegrassdan9411]

THANKS I enjoy all your videos and it's because you put a healthy dose of love and care in everything you do !!!!!!!!!!!!

[@IgnitedCoyote]

THANK YOU!! We really appreciate that.

[@musclecarmitch908]

Awesome stories and history Coyote's! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Mitch, and thanks for watching!

[@tombaker4586]

Great video...yes, moonshining : great old American story. Tom, Belgium.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thank you Tom!

[@mariannehensley4400]

Wonderful stories thanks for sharing!!

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DreamerSeerFaithBeliever]

Awesome video! The drive along those country roads taking me back home was the best part! Thank you! New subscriber and sharing you with all the kinfolk!

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks!! And welcome to the channel.

[@virginiaasher9781]

Well done, very enjoyable and informative. I was born in Harlan and raised in Pineville and love hearing hometown history.

[@nightstalker35447]

My grandfather was a miner after World War Two and at some point he was injured in a mine accident. A rock fell on him pinning his leg. He had to go to Detroit to have surgery to help him walk again. He couldn’t work in the mine so he and family left Cumberland and eventually settled in Cincinnati. He visited Cumberland sometime afterwards and went to buy some moonshine from the ones he had bought from before. They knew him well. But because he moved out of Harlan county they wouldn’t sell to him. They told him sorry but they weren’t selling to him. He told me that story himself.

[@stephfmidwest9331]

My family were miners in Harlan as well. And also moved and settled in Cincinnati. However, I recently found out that I do still have family in Harlan today.

[@t.m.warren2124]

My daddy ran shine outta Cawood in the 40’s and 50’s. His name was Powders Warren. Thank you for this story 👏👏👍

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks T. M.

[@swampcritter-lz3bt]

On their day off the coal miners meet at an empty house to play cards on the porch. They used matches or toothpicks because no body had any money to spare. While playing cards, they would be passing a gallon jug of home canned sourkraut and a jug of homebrew. If FEMA had existed at that time, it would be deemed a hazardous waste site due to the toxic fumes being emitted from their rear ends from the combination of sourkraut and homebrew. Enjoyed your tour.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

When I read this critter I laughed till my side hurt! 🤣🤣

[@scottthomas3792]

My grandfather made moonshine in Clay county back in the Depression. It was all sort of a open secret as to who was making it, who was running it and so on. The law either ignored it because they knew the people who moonshined did it because they needed the money, or were paid to ignore it. Outside law generally got zero cooperation. Moonshining was common. My grandfather called the mash barrels " thump barrels" because of the noise they made when the mash was " working". To rat someone out to the law was almost unknown, and such a person was considered the " rakins and scrapins of the Earth", in my grandfather's words...and could expect some sort of payback. At least from what I was told, most moonshiners had " honest jobs" as well.. moonshining was just extra. A lot of local well-to-do people of that time and place had moonshining backgrounds. My grandfather made moonshine, but not in any huge quantity, and didn't run it. Sold it to locals and runners. According to him, one way to prevent " popskull" liquor was to put a slice of peach in each jar. ...and to keep the still and everything associated with it clean. I heard loads of funny stories about his time making moonshine. The 1930s was a rough time, and you did what you had to do....

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Scott! So many great stories about moonshining in Kentucky, we would love to do some more if we could gather enough.

[@haroldbevins393]

You talking about the northern boy that came to Harlan and got plastered.. hahah, I lived that one out when I was first married my wifes cousin brought some home brew over and after a few drinks of that I knew no more till I saw the picture later in the weekend.. lol

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Harold! That's a great story.

[@bl8680]

This is one of my favorite stories. My mom owned a bar for years in Florida for the same reasons. She made her living in what she called "the entertainment business." Not bad for her 4th grade education! She was born and raised in Harlan. I miss her something awful. What a witty business woman she was indeed. Un's would have loved her.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Yes we would have! I bet she had a lot of great stories.

[@bl8680]

@@IgnitedCoyote She sure did!

[@herschelpowers5086]

I've really enjoyed this video it's stirred up some memories of my childhood in whitley County

[@royhoskins1315]

Love this video i lived in the Brookside Coal camp bringing back great memories

[@kentonge1812]

real good stories.more please. n.z.fan.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Ken! And welcome to the channel!!

[@susanwillis9184]

This history is very interesting.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks

[@amylynnbynum6928]

I miss the old days, so many amazing stories from back in the old days coming from Harlan county isnt there?

[@susanwillis9184]

My cousins used to go to Maggie Baileys all the time.

[@trucked_uptrucked_up4768]

My Papa used to tell me a shallow grave will never be found in Harlem county and he used to point out different spots.

[@susanwillis9184]

And it was made in bathtubs in Corbin. My late husband told me.

[@susanwillis9184]

The VFW probably still serves it. 😂

[@susanwillis9184]

My mom told me that home brew used to cure sore throats and other things. I bet they did. My grandfather consumed it.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

I don't know if it cared anything like that but it would sure make you forget about it for a while 🤣

[@susanwillis9184]

@@IgnitedCoyote that’s for sure. 😆

[@susanwillis9184]

My grandfather Lonnie Ball was a sheriff back then. He probably arrested some of them.

[@undertakersgarage3834]

Mag is my great-great aunt. I’ve heard a lot of stories about her. My dads side of the family is all from Harlan and yancy the old coal mining town. We live in Muhlenberg county now

[@margaretstidham3835]

I lived in evarts and there were bootleggers around...shhh

[@susanwillis9184]

Ask Rhonda about her great grandfather George Lee. He was the master of bootlegging.

[@VickyArnold-n8m]

Do you know anything about John Augustus RIce born 1863. His is my great, great grandfather. He was a well know moonshiner. We have a movie prom. photo of him that was taken. Supposably there was a movie that was going to be made about him, but never happened.

[@MissBee1969]

Your friend was a friend of mine and I loved his mom, he was a good friend of my dads and he handled some stuff for me himself! I saw another bootlegger there too, I don’t know if that was intentional or not. Lol

[@alexsetterington3142]

My parents, from N.Z, visiting in late 80, ended up in a dry county 1 new years eve. My dad went to find something to drink. A local, maybe at a gas station I think, told him it was dry county but that he knew where my dad could buy a drink up in the hills outside the town. Obviously he didnt take the stranger's directions.

[@alexsetterington3142]

Late 80s. 87 or 88 probably.

[@maggieklara5884]

EXCELLENT.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thank you Maggie!!

[@gpt465]

My mom sold it. She didn't make it !I remember taking to think up places for her to hide it!Would go with her at night and she would bury it!Never really knew what kind of trouble she could have got into!Thanks for sharing!Enjoyed it!!❤❤❤❤❤❤😮

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Thanks Gp!

[@herdfan697278]

I knew a couple of bootleggers in the 1950’s. One had hogs and the other had talent. Both are passed now. My dad even bootlegged in the Prohibition era.

[@susanwillis9184]

I smelled of moonshine once. Oh goodness. Sickening.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

I agree

[@kevinwilliams552]

😂😂😂

[@Smith53823]

This reminds me of two things my mom used to tell me stories about a distant relative Bill Bailey who was married to a Smith a distant relative one of the stories I remember is about during the Depression the sheriff stop this with a half a pint oh moonshine and was going to arrest him Bill said leave that man alone I have a whole gallon oh, if you knew of Bill Bailey

[@teresaland3146]

My name is Wayne cloud I knew mag Bailey well she was the sweetest of Lady and go up and get my liquor all the time God I remember Willie Anderson Oscar Whitehead all them old bootleggers Ernest Brockton

[@markepperson8482]

Knox county was dry back in the 80's still, bootleggers was ya best friend, Barbourville is now a wet county.

[@dougclem7711]

SPLIT SCREEN! YOU BLOCKED MY HOME. DAM IT.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

Sorry!!

[@kd6836]

Dad told me a few years back that both of his grandmothers, who I remember as really old ladies, made and ran shine. I wish I could have heard them tell stories. They were both born in 1888. I guess few people suspected two women. 😆

[@herdfan697278]

Knew bootleggers when I was young.

[@amylynnbynum6928]

Nobody ever would have convicted Mags she was great! Dennis (Ping) her guy that sold for her when i was kid just passed away about a month ago! I miss my childhood alot, Dennis and Mag were really good friends with my grandpa Bill Poindexter so I was always hanging out around the house there with Mag and Dennis as a child! Now they are all three sadly gone, but i have so many great memories of them! Dennis once was running from the law when they raided Mags, my grandpa used to belly laugh and say he got across that river behind Mags so fast that his money in his wallet never even got wet, true story! Good times

[@stephfmidwest9331]

Me and my best friend of 18 years just recently discovered that we both had family in Harlan County back in the early to mid 1900s. We were hoping to dig more and discover that we might be related. However we ended up piecing together that a sheriff related to her. Most likely shot and killed a coal miner related to me. Wowzers. Lol.

[@IgnitedCoyote]

It's not unusual for good frienda and even husbands and wives around here to find out they have kinfolk that was on opposite sides of one kind of violent conflict or another.

[@floydsadler3559]

Mountain people will survive.

[@kevinwilliams552]

Could leave one night with a load come back the next night with another load and you rested in the daytime

[@Hen993]

Ben to "mags" with dad in the passenger seat of his 52 chevy many times😂

[@amylynnbynum6928]

I miss the old days, so many amazing stories from back in the old days coming from Harlan county isnt there?