The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-04-20
FIRE DISCLOSES ENORMOUS
STILL IN HOTEL CELLAR.

New York. What is declared by
experienced moonshine hunters to be
the biggest Illicit distillery uncover
ed in the history of the internal rev.
sequence of fire in the old Speedway
hotel at 1872 Ocean avenue, Sleeps
head Bay, 1t had just arrived at the
stage of profitable productivity when
the misfortune or carelessness Of its
operator led to its discovery.
Revenue officers found the cellar OF
the ancient tavern partioned off into
labyrinth of doors and passageways
with a view to the quick getaway of
the distiller At the heart of the maze
they encountered a working outfit
which included the following:
Three fifty gallon copper stills, ca
pable of a total of 1870 gallons of mo-
lasses; eight cans of 1873 proof alco-
hol thirty-three barrels of ferment-
ing mash. two pumps, one funnel, pip
ing and thirteen pieces of hose and
six pounds of yeast.
The police and revenue officers are
looking for man who, when he leased
the old hotel two months ago, gave his
name as Joe Gallo and his address as
567 East Sixtieth street, Manhattan.
They quickly discovered that no such
address exists, and suspect Gallo also
gave false name. The man apparent
ly fed when his distillery caught fire.
He lived alone in the hotel and so far
as the evidence in hand shows, had no
partners in his undertaking.
The building stands couple of hun
bred yards from its nearest neighbors
to the north and south and perhaps 100
yards from the nearest houses to the
west Since the winter snowstorms be-
gan there has been little travel past it.
Mounted Policeman John Mccarthy
of the Sheepshead Bay precinct, on his
rounds saw smoke pouring out of the
old hotels cellar windows. He turned
in an alarm and then fastened to the
building to do what he could to sub
due the flames.
The sharp odor of distillery mash
far advanced in fermentation met him
as soon as he entered the door. II took
only a couple of minutes to learn that
he had something more interest ne
than a cellar fire to deal with He
telephoned to the police station and
detectives were sent to-his assistance.
Another telephone call brought reye-
nue. officers to the spot.
By the time they arrived the fire
IVES cut, having done little damage be-
yond eating away the flooring of the
former barroom. The officers made
their way promptly into the cellar
where the contraband above described
was found.
Gallo, or whatever his true name is
had gone to work cunningly. A sheet
iron portable garage, which Varelli
says he had built, was an invaluable
adjunct to the scheme. 1t was contig-
uous to the house and a trap door led
from it into the cellar. BY this route
it was possible to unload from atruck
all of the heavy properties of the dis
tillery and get them into the cellar UNI
observed.
Besides the trap door there were
three other exits from the cellar while
the labyrinth which had been built in
boosted no less than seven doors and
was ingeniously calculated to battle
any stranger who attempted pursit OF
the man running the whisky factory.
The electricity and gas hod both
been tapped beyond the meters. evil
IDENTIFY for the purpose not only OF