The Washington times., 1921-09-09
ONE DEAD,
9IN)URED,
IN FIGHT
. ON DECKS
Dry Agent Commits Suicide
After Capture of Steamer
In N. Y. Harbor.
by lnternaslonaI Nsws service.

ny fnfefnauonal SeWs bervtce.
NEW YORK, Sept. 9-One
known dead, a second dying; and
eight men Nos6 6ded was Che toll
Soday Of the fiercest y.stie between
prohibition agents and booze snug
glers New York has witnessed since
the country went dry"
On Greek Steamer.
1t was fought on the Grek steamer
King Alexander, anchored in New
York harbor off Brooklyn, beginning
before dawn with an attempt by two
prohibition agents to trap the SUNG
biers, and resumed in daylight. with
every member of the crew fighting
desperately against the raiders. The
latter included also members Of the
city's narcotic squad, for the vessel
had large quantities Of dope aboard.
At one time police fired at federal
agents, rnlstaking them for sumgglers.
When the smoke Of battle had cleared,
cocaine, opium and lfluor estimated
Collins, United States District Attor-
ney. were in the hands CT the raid
ers. Twenty-eight members OF the
ships crew--incmding eight in hos
pitfalls with bullet wounds--were un-
der arrest. =.
Officer Frank J. Fitzpatrick. head
OF the narcotic squad Of the New York
police, following the raid, shot and
killed himself In the wash room OF Q
Terry house on the shore, near the
ships moorage, police reported. Ac-
cording to their story, other prohibi-
ton agents were Standing near F'itz-
patrick when he shot himself. Il In
not known whether he shot any of
the crew who were wounded in the
fight. -
Body on Water.
Some OF the combatants declared
they saw body floating IN the river
after the fight but It vanished after a
moment. The harbor police were try.
ing TO verify this at noon. &,
The seaman who was probably fatal
shot In the abdomen. -
The capture Of the ship was made
only after q bitter battle between the
raiders and the crew. An arrange
ment had been made by two prohibi-
ton agents and the sailors, by which a
portion OF the drugs and whiskey
were to be bought by the agents for
$4,000.
EARLY this morning. IN a boat dim.
ly lighted by a lantern, the two agents
went out to the moorage OF the King
Alexander, climbed up the Jacobs
ladder and began to pay the crew
for the contraband. AZ agreed.
Shortly after noon, United States
Marshal James NJ. Power, with thirty
deputy marshals and twenty-five no
licemen, boarded the King Alexander
and arrested every member of the
crew, said to number close to 500.
The men were formed into lines
aboard the vessel to be taken to the
Federal building In Brooklyn.
The discovery OF the rum and drugs
interrupts the schedule Of the ship,
which was to have sailed for Greece
next Wednesday.
Seizure of the vessel was considered
by United States Attorney Collins. Of
Brooklyn.
Launch or Officers.
Close behind the boat, as Il sp-
preached the steamer, came a launch,
filled with fifteen prohibitlon officers.
heavily armed. Hardly had the two
aboard begun to hand over their
money when watch aboard the King
Alexander espied the approaching OF.
ficers. -
Immediately an attack was made
upon the two men upon the ship.
Efforts TO raise the ladder to prevent
the storming party from climbing the
steep side OF the vessel proved just
Armed with heavy irons ana IRE
arms. the crew fought bitterly % 70