Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-23
STILL
SE|zED|N SWAMP
Plant With $1,000 Daily Out
put Is Taken Near Solo
mons Island.

With Washington's new police dry
agent squad girded by Federal au-
thority to dry up the distribution ma
chinery for Illicit liquor inside the
city, the prohibition unit is throwing
its full force into the field base of
supplies nearby, and today captured
and destroyed a huge still capable
of making >more than $1,000 worth
of whisky daily at profit estimated
at $500.
The plant was taken this morning
by flying squadron headed by Pro-
hibition Agent Thomas E. Wheeler,
in deep swamp about 65 miles south
of Washington, and not far from
Solomon's Island. An ancient OK cart
and yoke was nearby.
1t is the second huge liquor p1a mt
destroyed by the agents within three
days, and according to officials, is ex-
pected to cut a substantial hole in
the supply feeding Washington boot
leggers.
Operators Go Free.
Leaving the city about O'Clock
agents went to the site, previously
located, and waited for hours for the
operators to appear. No one having
come on the scene, however, the
agents concluded the operators had
been tipped off, and deciding to wait
no longer, destroyed the plant.
1t was located some distance from
a creek, from which water was drawn
by a steam pump through a buried
water line. The still itself consisted
of coils, instead of the usual 1 coil.
% i
be capable of making a fairly high
grade of liquor, with Installations.
A 40 horsepower steam boiler, one
of the largest ever found in the
vicinity, was used to operate the
plant and to move the several steam
pumps. The mash. for instance, was
transferred from the watts to the ket-
tie by a steam pump.
There were 10 watts for mash, about
eight feet long, four feet wide. and
four feet deep, each capable of hold
ing about 1000 gallons of mash, or a
total of 10000 gallons, at once.
60 Case Capacity.
The capacity of the still was esti-
mated as sufficient to turn out with
so cases of whisky a day. At the
regular retail prices of bootleg
whisky in Washington. So a gallon,
the output of this still in a single
day would thus be valued, it was
estimated, at $1,0S0. The cost OF
operation was placed by some pro-
hibition officials at about $500 pei
day, including materials and labor
| which would leave the owner of the
still, a profit, for a big days run OF
about $500.
The liquor was bottled under 6
large rough shelter made of timbers
taken from the woods. The plant was
completely destroyed. Among the
materials found were S cords OF
| wood, 500 pounds of cornmeal, 500
pounds of sugar, and 40 empty case.
and jars.
Chief Harry NJ. Luckett, of the
fourth division, prohibition agents an.
nounced he would concentrate the
activities of his agents on the source
of supply around the cities in his
fourth division. This will be much
| more efficient now that the Wash.
ington police squad is authorized u
take care of much of the distribution
situation in this city itself.
Three high-powered motor car.
have been placed at the disposal o.
| the flying squadron of agents operat
| ing out of Washington. Several NOR,
stills are understood to be on theil
lists for early action.