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Support Our Research - Join The AFO! East Coast Allred Family Association Family Histories
and Stories |
Back to the main Newsletter page Newsletter #5, pg 8, July 1990 Moonshine in Hurrah Canyon or The Story of Sheriff Wilson Horice Allred (1899 - 1978) by: A. J. Redd Wilson was an Allred 3 different ways! 1. Wilson Horace, Wilson, Elizabeth. Richard, James, Sarah, William, Thomas 2. Wilson Horace, Wilson, Wilson Monroe, Sr., Elizabeth, Sarah, William, Thomas 3. Wilson Horace, Wilson, Wilson Monroe, Sr., William Hackley, James, William, Thomas (Here is an article from the San Juan Record. It was sent to me without an indication of who to thank, but it's a cute Allred story. Pat Allred Burnell) Some 50 years ago the Volstead Act was in force and we were in the throes of prohibition. Manufacturing, transporting, selling and consuming hard liquor were strictly prohibited by Law. The Volstead Act, or 18th Amendment, though well meaning, did stimulate moonshining and bootlegging in many parts of the country. Moonshining charges filled the court calendars as "driving under the influence" does now. Locally, if there was a secluded stream or cave in a canyon with a spring in it, it was a safe bet that a still would also be there. Any dim road might lead one right to a operation still. Our local sheriff was a 6ft 4in re-headed hulk of a man weighing 250 pounds. His name was Horice Allred. He was a good law man. This big man came to my home after dark one night, plunked himself into my rocker and said in exited desperation, "I've got an operation still in a canyon not too far from here, be every time I try to close in on it, somebody has tipped somebody off, and when I get there, it's vacated." "They have people watching my every move, and the signal to people in position to tip off the operators. I need help. I want you to have your car in your garage tomorrow evening. As soon as it gets a little dark, I will come and lie down in the back seat. You come in and drive south from town." I said "yes" and the next night after dark drove my car south. Everything was so quiet, I wondered if he was really in the back. Suddenly, a mile out of town, "Hold it" came from behind me. I stopped and the great hulk arose. As he came forward and sat beside me, he handed me a six gun. We proceeded several miles south. As we approached a dim road and gate to the left, he grunted "Turn here". We drove for several miles over stubble and sagebrush, turning left, we came to the rim of a deep canyon. It was raining and dark as we stepped out on the south rim of Hurrah Canyon. About one half mile upstream and in a cave in the opposite rim, a big bright fire could be seen. "That's it," said Allred. We climbed carefully down the rocky slope, holding on to "sarvus" berry and oak. Arriving at the bottom, we found the stream running fairly high. Horice directed, "Now you follow the canyon and come up t the cave. I will cross over and come down from above. When we are sure we are both there, we'll stick up the operator and warm up by the fire." I worked my way up the can yon, wading in water up to my knees at times. I pulled myself up over the rocks and waterfalls, holding on to any available branch. Finally, I found myself behind a big rock within light of the crackling fire. I was so wet and cold, I couldn't stand it any longer. I decided to step out and stick up the moonshiner alone if necessary. As I held the little six gun on him shouting "Put-em up, John," from behind another rock stepped the law man commanding the same thing. Allred barked, "Move away from the 30-30." We searched John Baker and told him to relax. we stepped between him and the 30-30 and warmed ourselves by the fire. Never was a camp fire more welcome. John advised us that he was merely a hired man and that the owner would come about 9am. "He will whistle like a bird on top of the ledge above the cave. then I will answer him and when he comes down you can take him." We spent the rest of the night getting warm while John told us how to make good whiskey. Promptly at 9am, the bird whistle came from above and was answered according to custom. Marion Gates was shocked to find he had company at his still. We took the two men to town and put them in the Lock-up and confiscated the still. The next morning, I was reminded that I must have come in contact with poison oak, I couldn't shut my hand or get my fingers together for a week. I have wondered since if the little six gun was even loaded.
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