explosion

“Bootlegger Flees after Still Blast; Explosion Sets Fire to Flat Building”

“Another Rockford moonshiner took

to the tall timbers this morning

at 8 o’clock when one of his two

stills exploded and started a fire in the

basement of a flat building at

730 Dickerman street.

Responding to a fire call to that

address this morning at 8 o’clock,

firemen found the basement window

wrecked by the explosion of a

36 -gallon still and a small blaze.

Entry into the basement disclosed

a 50 – gallon still operating full force.

The fire was soon extinguished.

Detectives John Anderson and Ed

Cavanaugh were called and investigation

developed that some of the half a dozen

families occupying the flat, a former

macaroni factory, knew the identity

of the owner of the two stills.

There were four other gas plates in the

basement in addition to the two beneath

the stills.

Fifteen barrels of mash were destroyed

and the two stills, five gallons of hootch,

300 pounds of sugar, five packages of

yeast and several containers were

taken to the police station’s “liquor cellar.”

The two stills were equipped for fusil

oil elimination and embraced every

device and art known in scientific

“moonshine” distillation. The 50 -gallon

still appeared to have been in operation less

than 2 weeks.”

Rockford Daily Register-Gazette

1/18/1924

“Explosion, Fire Demolish Empty Duplex” – 1986