Page 9 - Robeson Living Winter 2020

ing to drip. In addition to the still they also captured 6- gallons His wife made several visits to during his incarnation. He was
of beer. Those arrested were given three months on the road released after seven months. Sandy Tyner was known to speak
gang. his mind and fear no one. Once while in court on a different
matter a young lawyer asked him if he had ever been tried be-
One distiller that had Robeson County roots was my 3rd great fore, he replied yes. The lawyer said, “well tell the court what
grandfather Alexander “Sandy” Tyner, son of Confederate Sol- for”, Tyner replied, “for slapping the hell out of a smart-alec
ider James Tyner and his wife Julia Ann Council. He operated lawyer like you.”
three separate still locations one at Pine Bridge on the Plank
Road from Fayetteville to Charlotte; one on Drowning Creek Robeson County Sheriff Malcolm McLeod was known as the
between Orrum and Fairbluff; (this one was destroyed by the still buster. During his first four years in office, he busted 2,967
wives of the Native Americans that operated the still for him) stills, destroyed 6,831 gallons of liquor, 690,735 gallons of
and his main one on the Silver Run Branch near Hoffman. It mash and arrested 521 men in connection with the still opera-
was from this still that his whiskey took its name “Silver Run tions. This collage of photos appeared in The State magazine.
Whiskey”. The whiskey was placed in 55-gallon wooden bar- (pictured on page 16)
rels to be taxed; the large cork at the top was covered in wax
and stamped with the Revenuer’s seal. Tyner would then take I will end with story of the tragic end of a historic still at the
these to a bar operated by him and his brother-in-law. Tyner Cumberland County courthouse. In late May 1908 Sheriff Wat-
had designed the barrel so that one band could be removed, and son captured a still in Hope Mills with a connection to Scottish
the whiskey taken out from a hidden hole. They then refilled Poet Robert Burns. Burns was a whiskey gauger, the Scottish
them allowing each barrel to be used several times before they tern for excise officer for the government. He had cut this still
paid the Revenuer again. Unfortunately, one of his workers in half as was testified by the patch ring found around the still.
eager to take over the operation alerted the Revenuers. Tyner Around 1808 Archie McNish brought the still from the old
was tried and sentenced to one year and day at the Federal country. It passed down within the family until inherited by
Prison in Atlanta, Ga for failing to destroy a Revenue stamp. Neill McArthur. He was operating the still but one morning
He managed to fake sickness and with the help of money he came out and found it had been stolen and fifteen dollars found
smuggled in, he spent most of his time in the prison hospital. in its place. It was recorded that many honest Scotch had in-
dulged in drinks from this still. Sheriff Watson poured the last
of the liquor into Gillespie Street ending its career. Politician
Tom Settle was upstairs in the courthouse pleading for “per-
sonal liberty” to drink all the liquor he wanted.

Editor’s Note About Author:
Growing up in North Carolina, Blake Tyner was surrounded
by history and great Southern cooking, spending countless
hours with his great-grandparents. The busy kitchen and
large family dinners gave a perfect settling for hearing about
the people of the past. As he learned the history of the area
and her citizens, he developed a craving to bring the people
of the past alive and share their stories.

He has published four books as well as numerous articles in
regional newspapers and magazines. He served as Executive
Director of the Maxton Historical Society and the Robeson
County History Museum. More of his writings and projects
can be found at blaketyner.com

Pictured left:
Alexander Tyner and wife, Annie McDougal

Robeson Living ~ Winter 2020 Page 9