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“Catchable But Not Fetchable”
Mahala “Big Haley” Mullins was a legend of the Appalachian Mountains, known far and wide as the most notorious moonshiner of her time. Born in the mid-1800s, she lived in the remote hills of Newman’s Ridge (on the outskirts of Sneedville), Tennessee, in an area where the rugged landscape provided both a home and a haven for those looking to live outside the reach of the law.
Mahala was part of the Melungeon community, a group of mixed-race people who lived in isolation, often misunderstood and marginalized. But despite the hardships she faced, Mahala built a reputation that transcended the hollers and ridges. She was known for producing the finest moonshine in the region, a craft that was passed down through the generations in Appalachian families. Her whiskey was so good that it brought people from miles around, willing to make the treacherous journey up the mountain to her cabin.
At over 500 pounds, Mahala was famously immobile, which only added to her legend. The local law enforcement knew all about her illegal moonshine operation, but arresting her was easier said than done. Time and again, deputies and revenuers would trek up the mountain to arrest Mahala, only to be met with an impossible challenge: they couldn’t get her out of the house. Her large size and stubborn spirit made her physically unmovable, and the steep, narrow paths leading to her cabin made it impossible to transport her down the mountain.
“Catch me if you can,” she was said to have laughed, knowing full well they couldn’t. One frustrated lawman would dub her as “catchable but not fetchable.” I think that might be the greatest line in the history of great lines, but I digress.
Mahala Mullins’ story is about more than just moonshine; it’s about the spirit of independence and resilience that defines Appalachia. She was a woman who lived on her own terms in a time and place where survival wasn’t easy, especially for a woman. In a region where making a living often meant bending—or breaking—the law, Mahala Mullins became a folk hero. She stood her ground, both literally and figuratively, and became a symbol of Appalachian defiance.
She passed away in 1898, but her story lives on, passed down in Appalachian lore. Today, she’s remembered as one of the most colorful characters in the history of moonshining, a legend of the mountains who couldn’t be caught. Mahala Mullins was more than just a moonshiner—she was a symbol of the unshakable will that defines the people of Appalachia.
You can see a video about our visit to her famous cabin in this link:
Cabin Of Famous Melungeon Moonshiner, The Catchable But Not Fetchable Mahala “Big Haley” Mullins
https://youtu.be/mV8TrsUKaTk?si=d1hllx8XDIsu3FvV
We also have a discussion of her life and times in this video:
The Melungeon Moonshiner Who Was “Catchable But Not Fetchable”: Legends and Folklore of Appalachia