The New York herald., 1921-07-24
British Schooner at Atlantic
City Held Though Empty,
but 1t Is Said She Had
Carried 1000 Cases.
DRY GORDON TIGHTENED
Appeal to Be Made for More
Coast Guard Cutters to Halt
Deluge of Liquor Flowing
Into Country.

"A ueiuSc VI IQuoi, ShS oihOuhe oAu
value of which, it is said, would
stagger the imagination, is pouring
upon the north Atlantic seaboard
from fleet of smuggling vessels.
Coast guard officials said last
night that hardly a port from Balti-
more to Boston but had received its
mysterious. swiftly cruising visitors
under cover Of darkness In the
last several days, each bringing
thousands of dollars worth of fine
liquors and wines and departing be-
fore the authorities with slower craft
could catch them.
Two important seizures of vessels
were made yesterday by Federal au
thorities, one a motor converted fish
ling smack caught at New Haven in
(the act Of unloading $4,000 worth of
(liquor from the West Indies, and the
other an auxiliary schooner at At
lantic City, empty, but under sus-
picion of having transferred her
cargo at sea.
The Federal powers felt last night
that they perhaps were at the edge
Of revelation Of several interlocking
smuggling plots which would astound
the country, involving hundreds Of
persons regarded as respectable and
Jaw abiding. many of them high in
business and finance, andnsiiterally
nations of dollars.
Liquor comes In Tidal Wave.
officials both here and in Washing
ton. however, readily admitted that
Yesterdays successes in themselves are
Insignificant when compared with the
tremendous traffic In liquor from for
eign ports that is going on. 1t is an
open secret in every port and seaboard
hamlet along the northern coast that
the liquor is coming in like tidal
wave, and yesterdays seizures and
preparations for wholesale encounter
with liquor pirates stirred every coast
community with a tenseness of inter-
est to seaward such as has not been
felt since the day German submarine
opened fire on coastwise vessels of
Perth Amboy
Prohibition officials admitted, how
ever, that they face tremendous DIFF
fculties in capturing or even thwart-
ing the smugglers. That arises. 1t was
stated, out OF the fact that the snug
glers have back of them sound solid
capital of the sort that doesn't take a
foolish risk. The result is that many
Of the smugglers have been equipped
with the fastest boats available-some
being auxiliary sailing vessels which
use both wind and power to make
speed, and others being equipped with
exceptionally powerful engines.
Their only hope, II was conceded lies
In better policing of waters at points OF
ingress that are most frequently and
successfully used by liquor ships. Moth
Ing short of additional revenue cutters
they said. would accomplish that, and
efforts to obtain them are expected to
be made. Even then. though. to stand
guard over every cove and inlet which
would shelter n smuggler and to comb
the night for unloading crews would be
hardly less than futile
BY far the most spectacular accom-
plishment OF the authorities so far was
the raid before dawn yesterday morn
ing which ended the romantic smuggling
career OF the motor converted swordfish-
Ing smack Jennie T. at New Haven.
Riot Guns Used to Make Raid.
The vessel was seized by a score of
New Haven police, armed with riot
guns. while she was made fast to Wide
mans nfer Ti0hthousp Point On1v m
mile from the centre OF town, and her
$4,000 cargo was being hauled away in
big motor trucks.
Eighteen persons who we're trans
ferring the 800 cases OF fine whiskey.
gin and wines from the ship to the
trucks. were arrested. Among them
were several men so prominent In New
Haven business that their apprehension
overshadowed the citys surprise at the
capture OF such prize cargo.
The arrested men were held In bail
by State and Federal authorities
Among them were j. Harman Bronson.
a wealthy New Haven business man ;
Pearl p. Sperry. owner of one of the
biggest garages in New Haven. and his
brother-in-law. William Beecher. and
David G.. Heroine, president OF the
French-Ttalian Importing Company.
Though armed for trouble. the police
found II necessary TO fire only one shot.
That was when one man brandished n
bottle and refused TO drop II until a
buiIst whizzcd over his head. The sud-
den xortie OF the police caught the
unoacing party completely unawares
and resulted In n wild scramble. dur
ing which many. seeing the hopelessncss
of egort to escape. cast their revoivers
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