The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-11
FIRE RESULTS IN FINDING A
 LARGE STILL
Alleged Moonshine Joint Is Discovered-One Man Is
 Placed Un der Arrest.

Fire caused by an explosion of gasoline and which ignited alcohol at 1:20 o'clock this afternoon, not only resulted in the discovery of one of what is claimed to be one of the largest stills" yet located in this locality but also resulted in the arrest of the alleged "moonshiner.
 The fire was in the old Sharick 1 house, two-story residence, on Gastineau Avenue, up the hill about half a block. The man arrested was John Edwards, better known as Frozen Foot Johnson"
 Edwards, or Johnson, did not sens, but the fire call was made by others who heard the explosion, which shook the hillside, and who saw the smoke issuing from the win dows which had been broken by the explosion.
 The Fire Department members were quickly on the scene and with chemicals extinguished the fire which was burning in the ceiling of the room, where it originated, and which had gradually spread to the roof of the front of the house. Burning alcohol was stubbornly fought, this fluid having been scat tered about the room, according to the firemen, as the result of the cX- plosion. ;,
 Chief of Police T. E. P. Keegan arrived at the house shortly after the fire boys had begun work and placed Edwards under arrest. He was then turned over to Deputy United States Marshal w. R. Gar ster who reached the house shortly after Edwards arrest was made.
 This afternoon Chief Keegan made the complaint which charged operating a still and having liquor in ones possession"
 Edwards was taken to the Fed eral jail. He received slight burns about the face and arms, and his hair was singed in many places He refused the jailer's request toI summon a doctor.
 The still" which consisted of two large tanks, containing mash, various arrangements of coils, etc, together with three barrels of mash was taken to the Federal jail store house under direction of Deputy U. s. Marshal N. o. Hardy.
 Chief of Police Keegan stated that he and Federal authorities had been keeping a watch on the local ity where the fire occurred for sev- eral weeks but that the alleged "moonshine" joint squealed on it. self
 l. J. Sharick, owner of the house, stated this afternoon that he rented the place to man who gave his name as Jacob Nelson. The rent was paid on October 20 and to be certain of clinching luther tenentcy, two months rent was paid in ad vance. MT Sharick said the man stcted he was an inventor and he with several others would only "batch"in the house. The man also said that he would have a small carpenter shop in connection and when Mir. Sharick protested to- this, said the shop would only be on a small scale and would cause no damage to the house.
 MT. Sharick stated he had been around the house several times, one time fixing the chimney. MT. Shar ick looked in the first story win dows on one visit to the house and said he was satisfied that batch ing was being done but he never had seen into the rooms of the sec ond story as they were closed in.
 Mir. Sharick also said he had watched the house and often com mented on the fact that he seldom witnessed any life about the place.
 The damage to the house will probably be several hundred dollars. ----------- -----------------------------