The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-01-06
THE BOOTLECCER
AND HIS METHOD
WHISKY RUNNERS HAVE AN OR
GANIZATION WITH LAWYERS
AND SECRET SERVICE
Immense Traffic in Liquor Across the
Canadian Line Into Montana Nav
Cease With Going Into Effect of
Dry Laws of Alberta; the Whisky
Smuggler and His Ways.

Time was, in the old days, wher
John B~arleycorn, at dead of night
slipped into Canada from Montana
through the famous Whisky Gap. g
pass that found a place for itself in
the early day Biographies. In the
roaring sixties all that country which
now comprises the provinces of AL
herta and Saskatchewan were crown
colonies of Great Britain, known as
the Northwest Territories, and were
as dry as Joseph Pope's Hysham ran
chero. Whisky vas scarce and the
mighty thlrsts of the adventurous
Canadians living in those parts were
assuaged by Montana smugglers, who
took wet and welcome cargoes
through Whisky Gap and found a
ready market for their goods on the
other side of the border.
Old Fort Benton was the head
quarters of this ~clandestine trade
which flourished so years ago, and
in which, it is said, some prominent
Montanans amassed completeness.
The Royal Northwest Mounted Po-
lice, although strict guardians of the
law in all other matters, had the
grace to keep away from this under
ground whisky route, and only made
arrests of smugglers when under the
commandments eye, or when they
could not help it. All of which won
for them the reputation for discre-
ton.
Situation Is Reversed
During the past two years, since
Montana became dry, the situation
has reserved itself, and Canadians
have been returning to thirsty Mon
tanans this alcoholic bread cast up
on the waters of years ago, and with
interest. Whisky representing a
value of perhaps a million dollars
has come across the boundary since
the state voted for prohibition. The
current impression is that Alberta
is about to go dry, which would mean
an end to this traffic, and the date
set for the stoppage of the trade is
January 8. There is also a rumor
current to the effect that the gov
eminent of Alberta has the authority
to postpone the stoppage of this trade
Indefinitely, or until the people of
Alberta are given an opportunity of
on the liquor question again.
Many hundreds of men have en-
gagged in this whisky running, which
when the saloons closed, two
years ago. The start was made, of
course, by former saloon keepers and
tenders and those who had made
/ living out of the business before
prohibition came. When the immense
became apparent it began to
sttract others, including many dry
and farmers in the High Line coun-
ry. There was plenty of trouble,
many arrests, heavy fines and some
all sentences handed out, and ar
est usually carries with it the con-
iscation of automobile and cargo.
Organization of Bootleggers
The need of an organization
mong the bootleggers became ap-
aren't early and this was accom-
lished some six months ago.A large
roup of men engaged in the bust
EFT met in Havre about seven
lonths ago and perfected this Or
.anization, the name of which has
been given out. It's purpose, S
ccording to its constitution, was to E
promote cordial business relations
etween Montana and the Canadian :
r~ovinces." Capital was interested, p,
n executive head selected, lawyers .
ngaged, and a secret service force :
rganiZed, detectives of national rep !
tation being employed to keep an ,
We on the horizon of the border :
ountry for revenue men and sleuths
'orking in the interests of prohibit :
Lawyers took care of any boot q
members of the association. 7
no were arrected, saw that they
ere furnished bail, and got them :
ut of their trouble if it was possible 4
nd if the government had a good
Use against them, saw that they en-
red pleas of guilty and escaped with
minimum fines.
Comforts for Smugglers
Several routes, running from Can -
Ia south, were selected, and all au-
mobiles connected with the asso- :
alton were routed over the road
hich, for the time being seemed B
lie less dangerous. For long trips s
Denver and Salt Lake City, or into
lie oil fields of Wyoming, relays of
-ivers were arranged for, and that
an-killing four days and four nights
ip into the countries of big whisky
llues, was cut out. C%unningly con-
ialed stations, usually located on
farm off the travelled road,
here the drivers could get their
rs repaired, take on gasoline, get
square meal and a good rest were
ranged for, and at the end of the
,ar, just when it looked as though
e traffic was about at an end, the
~ganization was working with the
1elity of an eight-day clock.
In every hotel along the High Line
ere are groups of men, CARRIED like b
.ctic explorers, ready to make the
.sh for the line. Their talk is not
the defeat of the Nonpartisan lea
Ie, or the drop in the price of
leat, in both of = which subjects
ere is some local interest, but ra-
err of the run they have made that
v. and the incidents of their last
down Casper way, or about the
extension of the whisky
period by the governments of
berta and Saskatchewan. Theirs
a life of adventure, such as may
been lived by the rum runners
old England in the DAYS of Queen