Unknown parties last Friday night raided upon the moonshiners on the south side of Neuse River in Lenoir County, and destroyed four illicit whiskey distilleries, cutting up the stills and burning up the buildings, together with several casks of genuine rye and corn whiskey.

They also destroyed about one thousand gallons of beer almost ready for distillation and turned thirty fat hogs loose in the pocosin to find their swill at other more fortunate places. It is said when the torch was applied to this whiskey the dazed, but concealed owners sent up howls of lamentations much after the tune of the unfortunate Jeremiah.

Certain Kinston merchants say there has been recently an unaccountable demand for seed rye and empty molasses barrels, but now their eyes are fully opened. The causes of this vandalism is unknown. This is a free country, where no one should be molested in the use or manufacture of pure rye and corn whiskies. Such is the staff of life.