South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-04-09
RUM SMUGGLING Is
INCREASING DAILY
ON GEORGIA COAST
Four States Get Liquor Sup
plies From West Indies
With Slight Risk,

SAVANNAH. Ca. April S-With
national prohibition less than three
years old. Savannah and its contigu-
Gus territory southwark as far as
Brunswick honeycomed with scores
of narrow coves and inlets. has be
come the clearing point for the con
traband liquor supply Of four states
Along the swampy Georgia coast
4 mystery ships plying the trade
from the British West Indies north
ward drop their anchors almost
nightly and unload into smaller YES
sells which dart furtively from the
protection of the darkened shores or
signal. thousands of cases of the
choicest brands Of European liquors
wines and cordials.
This cOntraband cargo, hurried
under cover of darkness to the
shores. more often than not success
fully eluding the vigilance of the
federal prohibition agents. finds its
way further up the coast in boats
overland by automobile and by va
rious other methods TO the fastidious
lockers and cellars of those able 70
pay the price
Federal prohibition agents work
ing the territory estimate that APP
prOXimateIy 10000 cases Of this IL
quor are unloaded and distributed
along the Georgia coast on each trir
of the ships which receive their car
goes from the Bahama Islands. GO
miles off Miami, Fla. These trips
according to the officers. vary from
two 20 three times "a week. or often
/ er. according to the whisky demand
Goes 10 supply Four States.
Most of the liquor unloaded on the
Georgia coast goes to supply the
thirst of four states, Georgia, NORTH
/ Carolina. South Carolina and Tonnes
see \ large percentage Of il does
not 20 directly through savannah
but is carried overland 10y automo-
bile or relayed up the Carolina coasts
IN regular trade channels established
by the rum runners whose custom,
ers. 90 whom regular supplies are
furnished have become as well es-
tablshcd as i'm the dry goods or gro
Gerry lines The whisky runners del'
. in wholesale quantities largely. From
their distributes the stuff is retaled
10 the consumer and the small boot
logger throughout the territory COW
cred
According 20 federal enforcement
ofhc the Georgia coast. partic-
utrly that portion south of Savan-
nah for "a number or miles extending
ass far as Brunswick, is favorable for
the illicit whisky trade. first because
10 is within easy sailing distance II
the Bahama Islands q part Of tie
British Nominations where the IL
Quor stocks can be loaded without
interference. and second. because ii
is literally honeycombed with
scores of convenient coVes and liz
/ lets All preparations for moving
The liquor supply are made in adj
vance OF its receipt.
Federal agents are frank 10 say
that so long as they are compelled tC
depend on catching the liquor after
/ 20 has been landed on the coast after
removal from the vessels which
bring it in. they cannot hope for d
great measure of success in break
ins Up the traffic They declare that
the only solution OF the problem is
for the government 10 put into com
mission a large number Of subma-
rine chasers or other SPEEDY boats.
Arrange Quick Distribution
These could watch the liquor
ships. they say. from the time the
are loaded az Nassau. Bimini and
other points In the West Indies. and
hang TO their trail until an attempt
IS made 10 unload me cargo OF IL
quor inside the three-uile limit. or
ir is actually unloaded outside IN,
tnree-mile limit and brought within
that radius by the smaller boats
which make their headquarters fol
that purpose in the coves and ir.
let's once the contrabands liquor
81 safely landed they say. IL Is i'm
mediately scattered 10 the four winds
through the various transportation
systems
IL was after reaching this conclu-
sion that Fred Dismukes. national
prohibition director for Georgia
recommended 10 Prohibition Com
missioner Haynes the use OF mum
Der OF the idle chasers lying IN navy
yards throughout the country for pa
troll duty along the Georgia and
Florida coasts.
Regardless. however. Of whether
these boats. 20 be manned by regu-
/ lar navy crews. under the direct
charge OF federal enforcement