Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-25
T'lOO Big Navy Planes
/ Seek Rum Runners

Continued from Page One
deny absolutely that any whisky has
been brought ashore on the Delaware
Coast, the story told by George Wilk-
ings, Jamaica Negro, who was ma
rooncd back of Cape May month ago,
is at least worth the telling in this
connection.
Vikings says he comes from Bimini.
in the Bahamas. He says that he
has friends, so he shipped as q seaman
on sugar ship, which he names.
Was Big Tramp
It was big tramp, wilkins says.
with a crew composed mostly of
Spaniards. He was the only Negro
aboard, and he says he was mistreated
from the first and forced to do other
mems work. The men, he declared,
were frequently drunk.
When the ship was a few days out
Vikings says he learned that the
skipper had headed her north. and was
not steering her in the direction If
Baltimore. His next discovery was that
the cargo, though ostensibly made up
Of raw sugar, was really Of whisky, with
sacks Of sugar piled over it for con-
cealment.
He asserts he learned that the ship
was to go in through the Delaware
capes, presumably bound for Philadel-
phia. He began to scheme to find some
way to get off the boat. He pretended
illness, but the captain found out that
he was malingering. The captain said
he would have him taken off the YES
sci, but threatened to kill him If he
revealed the real nature Of the cargo.
Seized and Put Into Boat
Next morning, at 2:30 o'clock,
Wtlkings says. he was seized and put
over the side in boat. with crew
which seemed unfamiliar with the
waters where they were. Seven cases
Of whisky were put over at the same
time. There was n heavy fog, and he
had no idea where the boat was going
when they cast off from the steamer.
After two hours of steady going he
was ordered to get out of the boat.
He refused and was thrown over the
side. He found he could stand, in
about four feet of water, and waded
ashore. throwing himself down on the
beach to wait until morning. The boat
which had marooned him went away in
the fog, and he does not know what
became of It or the liquor.
When day broke Vikings found he
was In a swamp on the south of Cape
May harbor. lie had no money. and
got job with some fishermen repairing
nets. They told him he might get
steady work at Lewes. where there are
two fish houses. He crossed to Lewes
and found them closed He is planning
to work his way to Baltimore.
Story Disbelieved
W. J. Burbage, u shipping agent at
Iewes, does not believe the story told
by Vikings. He says the ship named
by Vikings is not known in the ship
ping register or in the Government re-
ports.
Il don't believe whisky is being run
to either the Jersey or Delaware
coasts" said Mr. Burbage What
would be the object of shippers bring
Ing it so far north, with all the attend
ant risk, when they can find as ready
a market nearer the Bahamas, on our
Southern COAST"
Captain George z. Chambers,
Delaware Bay and River pilot, whose
home Is at Lewes, similarly disbelieves
the story Of rum running. The Lewes
Methodist minister, the Rev. Mr.. Davis,
says that after an investigation ex-
tending over two years he is convinced
likewise that there is no rum running
in Delaware.
1t would be a simple matter along
the wild stretches of Delaware coast,
however, to send out bank boats, as has
been done along the New Jersey coast,
and bring in the COntraband under
cover of darkness.
Neither here nor elsewhere have the
United States coastguard stations been
able to lend much of hand in the
detection of rum running. The coast
a a ~ Ia NaI faN
Washington to be in q run down con-
ditiOn at present.
Five Cutters Available
There are five revenue cutters avail
able between the Virginia Capes and
New York. Five cutters, that is, of
cruising type. AS a matter of fact. not
all the five are III condition at present
to 90 outside. One of them, the Man
haitian, Is in drydock for the next sew
eral days, and another, the Manning,
Is out of commission for month for
her annual overhaul and repairs.
The other boats are the AndrOscog-
gin, which has headquarters at Nor
folk, where the Manning also is, and
the Seneca and Gresham at New York,
which is also the home port of the
Manhattan. The spcCdiest Of these
bOdlS' NlIC .ihIllliHS anu ilNohulA' h"'N
Il cruising speed Of eighteen knots.
In all the harbors up and down the
coast are smaller harbor boats, but
these cannot be used for outside work.
There are many coast guard stations
on the coast, but their crews are small
in numbers, six or seven making up a
full crew.
Between the Delaware and Chesa-
peake Bays are nineteen coast guard
stations These include the stations in
Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. On
the New Jersey Coast are forty -one
more stations, including a number Of
auxiliary stations, manned by only
three men.
There are in all about $50 coast
guards available along the coast from
New York to Virginia. They have their
own proper duties, however, princi-
paIly concerned with the safety of ships
at sea, and nothing much can be ex-
pected of them in the prevention OF
rum running.
Inadequate appropriations are blamed
principally for the decay Of the coast
guard service. Many stations have been
discontinued and the personnel cur
tailed.