The New York herald., 1921-08-22

This valuation, to be sure, is that
which the stuff attains in its travels
from the Nassauvian wholesaler, via
the bootlegger, to the ultimate Amer
ican consumer. In brief, it is the
American selling price. Within the
ten days Immediately preceding this
writing five untidy fishing schooners
have left these islands to become the
mystery ships" of which the United
States hears so much.
And within the past month hun
dred motor boats have come and gone
and come and gone again, bearing
British and American whiskeys to
Florida that American citizens might
not die Of thirst like the Georgia peach
crop. There is just about as much
mystery about these booze carrying
schooners and motor boats as there is
about City Hall Park. up in Manhat-
tan. Any person who cares to look
into this mystery will have volumes
of information thrust upon him by
the wholesalers ana the bootleggers
themselves.
They'll tell you, as they told the re-
porter for THE New YORK HERALD. that
during the past twelve months an
average Of 10000 cases of booze a
week has left these islands for the
United States, and that 80 per cent.
Of it has reached the eager American
throat. There's no mystery down here
nothing but liquor. money and a
huge satisfaction.
During the last fortnight at least 10000
cases of whiskey. gin. rum and brandy
have left Nassau. Gun Cay and Grand
Bahama for the States. At least six two
masted schooners the size of the Henry
Marshall and as heavily laden left Grand
Bahama under British colors. They
cleared in ballast for a point at sea
fourteen or sixteen miles off the Ameri-
can coast. They we're loaded after
nightfaii by negroes to whom shilling
call that night lost that does not enrich
them by $40. $50 and even $50.
They may clear for another British
port-Jamaica. Bermuda. Canada. They
are manned by sailors who used to think
Grand Banks fishing was exciting by
dock wallopers from West street and
South Brooklyn UP in New York; by
hard boiled lads from the Gulf OF Mex
leo: by Europeans who learned the busi-
ness OF overcoming marine difficulties in
the Mediterranean Sea by remittanceless
remittance men out from England, gem
tlemen gone wrong by former service
men CAmerican and British). who
learned the art of being rough ia the
army and navy by American college
students who contend that Il is the only
way TO pass the summer holidays Here
and there along the docks you view In
dividuals who you are assured arc
wanted in the States and IN England for
various crimes. a man who murdered
his wife, lad who absconded with a
banks funds q giant who escaped from
Joliet, having murdered a guard hi the
y, ocess forger a boodling state Sen
ator a confidence man who was enc of
Charlie Ponzrs agents: two Georgia
planters who deserted cotton and peon-
age for rum running when Gov Dorsey
issued his dumfounding manifesto; q
former Clergy HlAt VINO bNCaHlt iHN'iNth
with n woman and decided deniaB
would do no good; huiking individuals
whose caulifiower ears and spatulate
noses leave nothing to be guessed at.
But OF these personalities more later.
They attended the Bootleggers' Ball In
the Incerne Gardens In Nassau. That
ball must be a story by itself. and It
will be. But let us go back
The 1920 census gives the Bahamas
a population Of $4,000. Eighty per
cent. OF these people arc blacks. Mas
sau. the capital and principal town, has
a population of $4,000. with blacks In
the same predominance. Prior TO Jam
uary 1. 1920. the total exports Of the
Islands never exceeded in any year
more than 5000 tons. In other worde.
the annual exports never would have
filled more than half the mold II one
large modern cargo vessel. Such was
the archipelago that faced bankruptcy
and possibly crown rule less than two
years ago.
To-day the reports OF II. +. $. Cor
dcaux. Governor and Commander in
Chief show she Is the British En-