The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-11-02
MACHINE GUNS
USED TO HALT
LIQUOR AUTOS
Guns Sent to Canadian Border
Where Agents are Patrol
ling Roads
BIG PROFITS IN GAME
Offer Men $1,000 to Make Three
Trips Across Border in
Automobiles

Machine guns have been sent to the
Canadian border from the Adjutant.
Generals office for use in combating
whiskey runners during the next two
months, before winter stops traffic al
together. ~
A hurry-up call was made for the
guns and the .Adjutant-Ge General's Of
flee loaned two Browning machine
guns carrying 500 shots each in then
magazines. The guns, it is said, viii
be used by both federal and county
officials
= Two inspectors of the state license
department, who have returned from
Bottineau county, where they have
been operating for several days, tell
stirring tales of whiskey running
Big Profit Made.
They also revealed the immense pro
tit being made by liquor runners, Awhc
succeed in getting their cargoes
through. They buy much liquor foj
$40 a case inside the Canadian line,
some of it being priced as high as $751;
a case, or from $3.50 to $500 quart
They expect to dispose of it for an'ay'
erage of $40 quart.
The state inspectors claim tina:
Canadian wholesalers are cooperating
with the whiskey runners. They will
send ''tow car" across the line 1t
meet whiskey runners and guide then
into Canada, they say. They then wi.
send the tow car" ahead on the Am
erican side for several miles to see
the roads are clear.
The country is level in the norther'
part Of Bottineau county, and on near
ly every section line there is road
The small force of federal, state an(
county officials are able to patro
only part of the roads. The manner II,
which they captured two whiskey run
ners was related by inspectors.
Trap Two Cars.
They say two cars on the CANADIAN
side and road back in their machins
around knoll. AS the two cars com
one inspector jumped into the roa'
and turned their cars around ani
started back to the line but two In
spectors armed with rifles barred
their path.
Since the officials became active all
since one man was killed last wee
by a deputy of County Sheriff Hen
nessey, Of Bottineau county, the pa!
of chauffeurs for "whiskey SKIES" has
gone up, the inspectors report. 'Th'
price offered usually is $1,000 TO
making three trips with a car acrosS
the line, distance of about 70 mile
on each round trip, with the car fur
nished. It is reported one chaufteu
was offered $1,000 and Buick car II
take a load of whiskey to st. Louis. ;
From Far Away.
Cars have come from Minnesota. In
diana. and even from Texas and OKia
homa to transport whiskey, 1t Is salo
Bottineau county is favorite port
entry" because of the level land, bu
many runners who carry stuff>to Mia
neapolis drive past the Turtle noun
tains on the Canadian side ana tne.''
cross 49,
The whiskey is placed in sacks tt
conserve space in automobiles. IL Is
claimed by inspectors that they foun>
GO cases of liquor in two cars, the re
tail price" of the liquor being abou'
$4,000. >
So swiftly do the whiskey runners
drive that farmers near the boroeei
are afraid to get out on the roads =
night. All types of men operate, IL Il
said. The man who was killed had Z
wife and four children, and his WIZ
thought he was travelling for slou'
City, Ia., auto accessory house.
Officials frankly admit that II the
use of firearms does not stop the run
ners, many can get through, because
there is not sufficient number OF or
ficers to guard all roads. They oe
lieve, however, that the fact that sas-
katchewan voted dry, effective Janu
arv /. will nut crimp in the business
The liquor dealers in the province
have so days in which to dispose 0
their stocks. .. a..