The evening world., 1894-10-18
STILL IN A TENEMENT.
An Exploding Boiler Reveals a
Moonshine " Distillery.
Three Persons Severely ScaIded in
The Clinton Street Basement.
Revenue Officers Believe the Case
VIII Develop Great Discl osures.

BY the accidental explosion this morn
ing OF a boiler in the basement OF the
three-story brick house at go Clinton
street, very finely arranged and thor
oughIy equipped Illicit still was exposed.
1t Is located just around the corner
from the Madison street police station.
The explosion occurred at 7.3O o'clock.
Herman Bassuk. the reputed proprietor.
escaped during the excitement succeed
ing the explosion, apparently uninjured,
but his wife. d handsome young woman.
thirty years old, and her fourteen.
months-old child, were terribly scalded
about the head and body by the escap-
ing steam.
They were removed to Gouverneur
Hospital in an ambulance.
John Jobisky. twenty-five years old,
who Is supposed TO be connected in
some way with Bassuk, was also badly
scalded. but was able to walk to the
hospital.
There were six barrels OF mash, sew
eral copper worms and other articles,
besides lot of chemicals used in the
business.
Fortunately, the chemicals did not
explode, or the building must have
been wrecked and the lives OF the occu-
pants jeopardizeG.
Bassuk is man about thirty-fve
years old, and the two revenue officers
who came to take charge OF the place
sWOre that the appearance of the illicit
sun proved him to be an expert at the
He had only moved into the place
about a month ago. He was always
mysterious in his conduct, and neither
course with any of the other tenants
The owner of the building is Patrick
MG,Aloon, He stated to the police. that
other articles found. were in the place
when Bassuk moved in. Neither did he
ever suspect that still was located in
his house
He therefore declared that the boiler
and the other parts OF the still must
have been moved in under the cover
of night
The Revenue officers, W. T.. Smith and
w. a. Fulmer, intimate that they have
a suspicion as to the real identity OF the
Illicit. distiller. They believe Bassuk is a
fictitious name.
A handsome gold watch found on
on the inside case OF Albert Lewallee.
The police suspect that is the mans
ing will not exceed 800
The boiler, which was OF quarterback
iron. upright and of about ,five-horse
torn partly off. The explosion was not not
loud; but 1t was OF sufficient volume to
be heard by Policeman Sly, Of the
Madison street station. who was APP
preaching from the corner.
When ne reached the scene he saw
steam escaping from the windows. and,
mistaking II for smoke, ran to the fire.
alarm box and pulled 1t.
Returning to the base ment, the officer
saw man escaping through the rear
door 1t was Bassuk, the man who had
rented and occupied the apartment. In
hn nd laf, is usNi oh
containing an imitation diamond clus-
ter pin and his handsome gold watch.
which may furnish 4 clue that will re-
suit eventually in his apprehension.
The still had only Just been set ind
motion. There were no hghwines nor
anything to indicate that any whiskey
mad yet been made there. There Were
only the sleeping barrels of mash.
The apartments are composed of four
rooms. The front room was used as
66arllor ian and 6edro9m The middle or
Gals and tubs not in use. The third, the
largest of all was where the still was
located. The rear room was used as a
Kitchen as indicated by the cooking
utensils.
When the tlremen arrived the steam
had cleared away, and after making an
inspection they went away leaving the
place in charge of the police, who We're
subsequently relieved by the revenue
officers.
The plant had been fitted out quite
expense lively, and the owner or operator
or both, evidently had had previous
experience in the business.
MCAloOn was taken to the station to
make an explanation. He explained the
reason why he had not smelled the mash
boiling by stating that the fires had evil
IDENTITY only been started this morning
for the first time.
He Is a respectable truckman, well
known in the ncighhorhood. and the po-
lice let him go. The police and revenue
officers are hunting high and low for
BasSuk.
only short time ago another Illicit
stil was discovered In jefferson street
almost within a gunshot of the station
house.