The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-15
RUM RUNNERS Land
WITHOUT HINDRANCE
Authorities Apparently I'm
able to Stem Tide of
Liquor.
RUSHED FROM CANADA
Bands of Men at EcOrse Re-
ceive Booze, Working
Without Haste.
POLICEMAN WATCHES
Insists That His Is Dryest
Town in State; Troopers
Not Present.
POLICEMAN WATCHES

Special Despatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
DETROIT, Mich, Aug. 14.-Hundreds OF
laden with beer and whiskey that their
gunwales were washed by water,
pushed away from Canadian shores
late Saturday night and headed for the
American side of the river. Their
landing was made without interior
ence. Prohibition authorities appar-
entity found themselves unable to stem
the tide of forbidden liquor which
poured into the United States at
Ecorse, down river suburb, and other
such gateways.
At Ecorse the shipments were re-
ceived by bands Of men who efficiently,
but without haste, carted them to their
destinations. Ecorse officials took no
steps to get possession of the cargoes.
A solitary policeman. complacently
smoking q pipe and watching the bibu-
lous groups. wore an expression of sur
prise when some one suggested that the
weekend parties on the river shore prob
ably were made up largely Of rum rum
ners.
why, this is the dryest town in the
State tonight" he said.
Where are the State troopers?"
II dunno, and no one else does" he
said.
II don't think they are here. If they
had been coming they wouldn't have sent
out a general alarm"
One Policeman There.
weedy lanes leading down from the
main highway to the marshes which are
said to be the usual anchorage Of the
pootlegger flotilla showed no sign of any
person, uniformed or in civilian clothes.
Except for the one policeman no uni
formed man was on the principal streets.
Those most familiar with the methods
employed by the professional rum run
ners predict serious trouble when troop
crs begin active enforcement Of the
liquor laws.
On the Canadian side II was estimated
at least 200 boats made the trip to the
United States. That figure might have
been largely increased, 1t was estimated,
had count of others which embarked
from Amherstburg been possible. Up
river points. Windsor. VAUDEVILLE and
the like. provided the whiskey shipment.
Boats swarmed about the docks at these
towns throughout the day and evening.
Sandwich was the source of the beer
traffic. Throughout the day boats
Rugged the shores of Canada from
Walkerville down the river below Sand
witch.
AS early as o'clock Saturday morn
Ing sweating, swearing truck drivers
guided their loads to advantageous
points along the shore AS rapidly as
the beer or whiskey was brought to the
waters edge 1t was piled high up on he
craf It which lurked in readiness.
Many Wait for Night.
With the first setting of the sun in
tense activity prevailed. Floating with
the current down the river many grad
ually came opposite the American side al
Ecorse. Others still loading as darkness
fell hided their time. apparently waiting
for night.
Fifty truclSloads of beer were reported
have been driven to one dock and un-
loaded during the period from daybreai
to dusk. Canadian beer was quoted ut
S2.75, to be sold on this side of the
river for $40 case. Meanwhile Cana
dian docks were busy all day with in
creasing activity in the afternoon as
dray after dray of barrels and bottles
found Its way to some anchored boat.
Word from Washington was that the
Department of Justice was porting over
the customs laws in an effort to find n
way to stem the tide of liquor coming
over the border to Detroit and environs
BY Monday force of State troopers Is
expected to be in the CITY headed nv
Commissioner Vandercook. Charles p.
Campau of the State Public Safety De-
partment had said seventy-five troopers
were ordered to Ecorse.
The State police patrol operating in
the vicinity of South lockwood to-day
was stopping all automobiles and search
Ing the cars for liquor. Macomb officers
conducted raid near the mouth of
Milk River to-day, arrested one man and
seized liquor valued at $4,000 Five ar
rests also were made here for alleged
violations of the prohibition laws