The Washington times., 1922-03-11
lost SHIP NOW
A HOOTCHMAN'
Of SEA, IT'S SAID
Reported Sunk, with All on
Board" Submarine Chaser
Figures in Rum Running.

NEW ORLEANS, Marcn IL
"The Flying Hootchman" is what
men in old New Orleans call the
missing Mercedes. former sub
marine chaser, which was put IN
the cocoanut trade and was sup
posed to have been sunk with all
hands last December.
Heard Of Since.
But since the Mercedes vanished
queer tales have floated along the
bayous and the little lagoons where
in Lafitte, the pirate, once found pro-
lection from pursuers OF the law.
Men have affirmed most solemnly
that they not only have seen the
missing Mercedes, but have engaged
in jovial conversation with her
skipper, one Capt. Samuel l.. Reed.
than whom local reputation has 1t
there was none more efficient afloat.
Jack Sheehan, a well-known local
celebrity, owned the craft. which In
war days was known as the Blue
Ridge. She pulled out of the new
basin canal last November for Cuba
to gather a cargo Of cocoanuts. She
never returned.
M0urneu Dy "1uOW.
Meanwhile. the runuors have per-
sisted. First one seafarer and then
another has given voice to his sus-
picions. and finally Capt. w. r..
Railey. of 1923 Pauline street. told
Detectives Acomb and Kuenfferle
that he had not only seeE the Mer-
cedes, but had talked to her captain.
He said;
.0rh1 NSx-x~d1. $50. g. rJoSd,,ro 4,
q short time ago because Reed told
me SO himself after he got back from
the trip. All the time un the fuss
was being made over the sinking Of
the Mercedes and the loss of al,
hands aboard Reed was in town
laughing about 1t. saw him again
and again during those days"
Mrs. Reed said she had heard moth
ing from her husband since the Mer-
cedes was lost in December. but a
neighbor is said to have corroborated
the statement Of Captain Railey.
Jack Sheehan vigorously denied the
report, expressing sympathy for TIE
wife of the gallant skipper. he said:
"The poor woman is all upset. II
these detectives are so smart let them
produce Captain Reed within the next
ninety days and will give $1,000 to
the police fund or any New Orleans
charity they may mention. It's all
q he."
And as some one says, '.that is
that"
Hidden Rum Likely.
Internal revenue agents say most
Iforcefully that the entire lower lit
toral of the Louisiana lower coast Is
Idotted with secret caches and hidden
caves in which are large quantities
. of Cuba" rum, Jamaica Joy juice,
, Scotch whiskey and other refresh
ments are stored.
That there Is truth in these rumors
10 shown by visit to New Orleans
itself. In no place else. perhaps, other
than Key West, does liquor flow as
smoothly and as excellently as in
the Crescent City.
The bootleggers maintain an un-
official exchange, and the cargoes
are smuggled in. unpacked and doled
out to restaurants and soft drink"
saloons. 1t is entirely possible in
these latter days to get genuine alb
sinthe, champagne. whiskey and cock
tails.
Liquor prices compare very favor
orably with those of New York. On
account of the large quantity i'm
ported, the prices range from six to
seven dollars a bottle for good whis-
koy, four or five for bootleg jolts,
while gin sells for three dallors a
crock. Champagne costs about nine
dollars a pint.
Rum Pilots Of the Sky.
New Orleans. which has always
been a high liver. does like its booze
and will have it Not only does It
como in by boat, but II is said that
aeroplanes have recencly been put
into service from other cities on the
Gulf coast and that these bring
back as much as one cockpit can
hold
You will ha aurpriaed and AMUSED