The New York herald., 1922-02-23
Machine or Riot Gun Equip
ment Advocated to Fight
Bootleggers.
BATTLE UNEQUAL NOW
Savannah Used as Distributing
~ Point by Rum Runners
~ From Bimini.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Federal pro-
hihition agents in Georgia are waging
arrnnequal war on rum runners oper-
ating along the coast, according to
report to Commissioner Haynes from
general Agent Mack Overpeck and
FEDERAL Prohibition Agent w. P.
Ffmchum at Savannah.
The report describes the condition
ofEthe Illicit liquor traffic along the
G9ergia coast and the dangers en-
cq4ntered by prohibition agents in
cqtbating tte rum smugglers who are
dsSlared to be heavily armed and
qtack on the trigger.
= rIt is reported here through what
we sconsider reliable information" the
report said, that at least once or
twice a week boats coming from
BFhini Island or elsewhere, carrying
fr6m 200 to $500 cases of liquor, are
uuaoaded on an island in some one of
the rivers leading from the Atlantic
ingtoward Savannah The seizure of
these cargoes of liquor is made ex-
tremely difficult from the fact that
ails one of the many islands may be
ushd as a base from which to unload
and distribute the cargoes.
Proof of Resistance.
s'1t IS an acknowledged understanding
that the crews of these. boats will make
n ssstubborn resistance against arrest.
Proof of this was shown in one instance
not. long ago. when Capt Charles H.
Nolsie on board the Champ was shot
three times when at the wheel. His
crew at this time was imposed of Pro-
hibition Agents Frederick King and c.
W. Austin. The Champ still SHOWS the
holes made by bullets from high power
rifles in the hands of the whisky run
ners.
Another favorite method OF the run
ners in distributing their liquor direct
from the large boats is to unload at
the mouthfof the harbor or rivers into
smaller boats plying UP the rivers to
some of the numerous landings and
unloading the liquor on automobiles
which carry the goods to it's destina-
tion to Savannah under cover of night
TT may be remarked at this time
that Savannah is more of a distributing
point than a consumer. and by stopping
the distribution from there il will have
marked effect upon prohibition at
other places.
Where Watching Is Needed.
There are three or four main roads
leading from Savannah to the landing
places mentioned above. These land
ings and roads will have to be watched
when information is received that a
boat loaded with liquor has cleared
port and whose destination is thought
10 be Savannah. IL Is said that when
boats clear at Bimini they are given
port Of entry as of Canada.
1--WE think II cannot be expressed too
strongly that the agents should be pro-
tected I'm chasing the whisky runners
boats as they always have full crews
Of men and will not stop at any means
whereby they may make their escape.
They have very fast running boats.
making it hard for the agents to come
alongside And observing an order not
TO shoot unless in case of self defense.
or II they are not attacked FIRST. all
they can do Is to let the faster boats
and crews escape.
"The agents boats equipped with a
machine gun or riot guns In the hands
OF a crew of four or five men Will have
the desired effect on the runner Then
in most cases the runners will stay out
side the harbor or rivers.
when this condition prevails, IL goes
without saying that II they cannot
make their deliveries of liquor they will
have TO go out OF business The whisky
runners have made remarks on various
occasions that IL the Government should
arm fast boats they would have to
stop the traffic Immediately"