The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-25
TRAMP SHIPS
WATCHED FOR
WHISKY Ring
Federal Authorities along At
lantic Redouble Vigilance
Following Indication Of
Smuggling Operations.
REQUEST AID OF NAVY
(Rv Associated Pressl


NEW YORK, July 25.-Federai au-
thorities along the Atlantic coast re-
doubled their vigilance over tramp
ships today following disclosure of
evidence indicating the existence of
at least two gigantic international
whiskey smuggling rings, one having
headquarters in this city and one in
Atlantic City.
Aid of the navy department also was
being sought in an effort to build up
a rum hunting fleet capable of coping
with the mysterious ships and their
allied fishing smacks which are al
legged to have landed hundreds of
thousands of dollars worth of contra
band liquor at secluded points under
cover of darkness.
According to Leroy W. Ross. United
States district attorney of Brooklyn.
foreign and domestic capital aggregat-
ing several million dollars is being the
whiskey smuggling conspiracy.
Keeps Keen Watch.
Keenest watch was being kept by
revenue boats today off Montank
Point toward which authorities were
tipped, large vessel was bound from
the Palmira Islands, with a cargo Of
10000 to 10000 cases of choice Scotch
and Irish whiskey. The conspirators
learning that word of the sailing had
reached federal officials, were report
ed trying frantically to get in touch
with the whiskey runner to direct her
to another point less carefully
wacthed.
A tramp schooner cruised saucily
outside the three mile limit off At
lantic City yesterday, according to
reports received here, and taunted
federal agents by breaking out per-
mants saying: Lay down your
money and come and get it,
The tramp slipped away as night
fell and it was thought she was head
ing for some deserted point where
fishing vessals could work unhampered
at the task of lighterng her cargo
ashore. A three masted schooner
suspected of beng rum ship, also
was reported off Atlantic City.
Reap Rich Harvest.
Fishermen along the coast. accord
ing to Mr.. Ross, are reaping a rich
harvest running the forbidden cargoes
ashore. They work almost entirely at
night, he said, making landings at
points known to be free from surveil-
lance
Their compensation is said to be
SIS for every case of whiskey landed,
and many of the fishermen are de-
clared to have abandoned entirely
their regular trips to the fishing banks
in favor of the more lucrative snug
Cling. The smugglers are met on shore
by automobile truckmen who whisk
the cargoes away to secret store
houses.
Efforts of federal agents to check
whisky running along the coast have
led so far to seizure of two vessels.
They are the schooner Curlew, taken
last week off the coast of Florida, and
the fishing smack Jennie T., seized
Saturday at New Haven.
Taken in Action
Government men also have boarded
the British schooner Pocomoke at At
lantic City, but as the vessels papers
show her wet" cargo to be consigned
to Canada, no action has been taken
against her or her crew. A part Of
the Pocomoke's cargo was jettisoned
off Atlantic City. her captain admitted,
but this was done, he declared, be-
! cause the vessel was in distress and
| not because of any design to get the
cargo ashore there.
Emanuel Katz. an Atlantic City ho-
tel man, was to be arraigned in the
| Cape May county courthouse today on
a charge of violating the state prohibit
| ton enforcement act. katz was ar
rested last week in connection with
| the seizure of 163 cases of whisky al
| legged to have been smuggled in.