Evening journal., 1921-07-25
NAVY PLANES IN
rum SHIP HUNT
CONTINUED from first page,


the Delaware Coast.
Opinions differ in Lewes and
throughout this section as to whether
the contraband whisky cargoes,
brought on swift yachts and small
cruising schooners from the Ba-
hamas, are being landed on the
Delaware Coast, as they are on that
Of neighboring New Jersey. N
If it means anything. on a six-mile
walk over the wind-swept sands and
through the dunes Of this wild bit Of
seaboard, twenty-three empty ia
maica rum and whisky bottles were
counted. And strew along the beach
also were green bananas. such as are
washed or tossed overheard from
boats sailing from the tropical islands
of the South.
1t would be hard to find a better
place for the running in of contra
baud cargoes than this wild stretch
in the neighborhood of Bethany
Beach, where stories of rum-smug-
Cling have been rife.
The town Of Bethany Beach itself
is a dozen miles from Frankford,
Del. It consists of a small hotel and
small group Of about a score of
cottages. 1t is as wild and solitary
spot as could be found. The sand
dunes, a dozen feet high and covered
with clumps of long grass, lie in
long irregular line, excellent hiding
places for cached contraband
Coast guards at Bethany Beach
/ 4 h. fr.fn nf
Of Reboboth Bay patrol the long
stretch Of lonesome sand twice a day.
At other times It is almost deserted.
1t has been reported that whisky
is being brought in through the In
dian River inlet. which would be an
] ideal place for rum-runners using
I bank boats. The nearer of the two
coast guard stations is a quarter
mile away The inlet is about $50
feet wide and only from four and a
| half to five feet deep. too shallow
for a sub-chaser or similar craft TO
get through, but deep enough for
the shallow draft bank sliffs, with
their "one-lung" kicker. to pass
through easily even though deep
laden with case goods The waters
of the bay itself are about ten feet
deep in places. and there are many
little bayous and shallow off-shoot-
ing streams where skiffs could be
drawn up to hide during the day.
Though many are TO be found
who deLy absolutely that any
whisky has been brought ashore on
the Delaware coast, the story told
by George vikings. a Jamaica Ne
gro, who. was marooned back oi
Cape May a month ago, is at least
: worth the telling in this connection
! vikings says he comes from
r Bimini. in the Bahamas. He say
? that he wanted to get to Baltimore
where he has friends. so he shipped
as a seaman on sugar ship, whicl
he names.
1t was a big tramp, wilkins says
with a crew composed mostly o
Spaniards. He was the only Negr,
aboard and he says he was mis-
treated from the first and forced Il
do other mems work. The men, n
declared. were frequently drunk.
When the ship was a few days ou
vikings says he learned that tn
skipper had headed her north. an
l was not steering her in the direc
ton of Baltimore. His next discov
cry was that the cargo. though os
y tensibly made up OF raw sugar. wa
e really Of whisky. with sacks Of suga
n piled over it for concealment.
He asserts he learned that the shi
was to go in through the Delawar
a capes. presumably bound for Phna
G delphia. He began TO scheme to fin
( someway to get off the boat. II
% pretended illness, but the captai
To- found out that he was malingerinl
The captain said he would have hir
, taken off the vessel, but threatene
q to kin him IL he revealed the rea
nature of the cargo.
Next morning, at 2.30 o'clocl
Vikings says. he was seized and pr
q over the side in a boat. with a cre'
n which seemed unfamiliar with tn
b waters where they were. Seven case
a of whisky were put over at the sam
r. time. There was a heavy fog, an
he had no idea where the boat wa
! going when they cast off from III
- steamer.
. After two hours OF steady going r
was ordered to get out of the boa
He refused and was thrown over n
side. He found he could stand,
l. ashore, throwing himself down q
r about four feet Of water and wade
'e he beach to wait until mornin
"he boat which had marooned hi
lc went away in the fog, and he do
p lot know what became of Il or n
IA iCfsor
- When day broke vikings four
le was i'm a swamp on the south
Cape May harbor. He had J
" money, and got a job with son
lshermen repairing nets. They to
ii him he might get steady work
& Lewes. where there are two III
houses. He crossed to Lewes al