QUEEN OF “THE MOONSHINERS.”

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 30, 12 April 1907, Page 2

QUEEN OF “THE MOONSHINERS.”

Betsy Sims is known as the Queen of the Contrabandista of North Carolina. Although only 22 years old she has been a seller of contraband whisky for six years. She has all her life been taught to believe that the illict selling of whisky is one of N the noblest occupations in which any one can engage, and that revenue officers are oppressors of the people, whose career ought to be cut short. Bast time Betsy got into trouble she was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment in Columbus, North Carolina. The gaol there is an oldfashioned, barn-like building, three stories high, and the only other prisoner there was a man who was serving l twelve months for manslaughter. Betsy was on the second floor, and the other prisoner was on the (loor above, They could talk to each other through the trapdoor, and the subject of their conversation when the gaoler was not within earshot, was the best means of getting out. The weather was cool and there was a (ire in Betsy's room. Taking a firebrand one day, when the coast was clear, she went up the staircase and set die to the trapdoor, burning a hole therein, through which the man emerged, and descended to her room. He then fell to work to make a hole through the side of the gaol, while Betsy made a ropo out of blankets and bedding. The man wont down first when all was finished, thus testing the rope. Once outside he Hit ted away. Betsy was following, hut when she was? half-way through the hole she felt the rough hands of the gaoler upon her, and she was pulled back into the room., Like u lioness she sprang upon the gaoler, who had a bad (piarter of an hour, for Betsy is equally good at wrestling, scratching, and hair-pulling. When these failed she whipped out a knife, and indicted five nasty wounds upon her gaoler before he succeeded in knocking her down and securing her. When the matter was reported to the authorities, orders wore given that she be placed in the strongest cell and closely watched ; and at the next assizes she will be charged with assault, with intent to kill, not to speak of another indictment for attempt to escape. Some of her friends, however, say that the gaol is not built, that can hold lief,