The New York herald., 1922-08-04
RUM CHASER TRAILS
ship 70 MILES OUT
Appleby Sends Reinforce
ments to See if Liquor
Is Discharged.
CARRIES FOREIGN FLAG
Three Other Suspected Yes
sells Get Away-Search
Privilege Sought.
SHIP BOARD CAPTAIN HELD
Says Bootlegging Charge Is
Due to I'll Feeling Of
Wassaic's Grew.
SHIP BOARD CAPTAIN HELD

John ID. Appleby, prohibition zone
officer and admiral of the Dry Navy
received word yesterday that one OF
his deep sea rum chasers had come
upon four vessels thought to be laden
with liquor twenty miles off Fire Island
Wednesday night. Three of the vessels
lifted anchor and disappeared out to
sea. The fourth, an unnamed vessel ny
ing a foreign flag, was weighted down
with cases and boxes apparently full of
liquors But this craft was well be-
yond the customs twelve mile limit
and therefore was free from visit and
search.
1t was from the rum chaser Hahn,
commanded by Capt. George w. Tawes,
and with, Customs Inspector Thropp
aboard, that the ships were sighted.
From the information telephoned by
Capt. Tawes to Mr.. Appleby it ap-
peared that the recognition was
mutual as the four had hardly been
seen when three lifted anchor.
Mr.. Appleby considered conditions
pCyOiid lilC vi liAAiAl 81 lNilSC Lildl lit
issued orders Immediately after he had
received the message from Capt.
Tawes for the rum chaser Hensen,
commanded by Capt. j. III. Dizer, to
put to sea and help the Hahn The
latter vessel, in the meanwhile, will
keep the ship it has overtaken under
observation to see If she will discharge
an alcoholic cargo.
Search Ruling Due.
The zone chief said that IL the vessel
now being watched proves to be an
American IL will be seized but foreign
ships are exempt beyond the customs
limit. A ruling is expected which, if
favorable for the enforcement authori-
ties, will classify the waters In which
the rum runners unload their cargoes
as ports Of debarkation Under such a
finding the enforcement officers could
seize the vessels regardless of the flag
they happened to be flying.
Edward Barnes, Assistant Customs
Solicitor of the Port, Is conducting an
Investigation into the why's and where
fores OF the arrival here recently of two
vessels with large amounts of whisky
In their holds. In the case of one of
the ships, the United States Shipping
Board steamship Wassaic, charges of
bootlegging have been made against e.
w. Stetson. the skipper, by members of
the crew.
Agents of the Norwegian steamship
Luksfjell. say the ZOO cases OF Johnnie
Walker in her hold was to be trans
shipped to st. Pierre de Miquelon, an
island off Nova Scotia, where, the
authorities say, the population is small
and there are no saloons.
Capt Stetson, whose home is in Mo-
bile, Ala. was before Mr. Barnes yes
terday and denied ownership of the fif-
teen cases of liquor found on the vessel
He charged that members OF the crew
had brought the booze aboard and had
accused him merely to satisfy fancied
wrong. The Wassaic, which was towed
into port Wednesday by the Shipping
Board vessel City of Eureka, left Pensa-
cola, Fla, early in June with a cargo
OF lumber for Rotterdam. Trouble de-
veloped In the condensers after the
steamship was a few days out, the cap
tain said, with the result that 1t was
July 4 before she reached her destina-
tion.
Had Trouble with Crew.
At Rotterdam, Capt. Stetson said he
went ashore and returning Unexpectedly
he discovered members OF the crew in
the act of selling everything movable
to Ill feeling between the skipper and
the crew. and on the way back more
trouble developed I'm the machinery. The
engines stopped a few miles from Ber-
muda and she sprung a leak. Things
were beginning TO look serious. the skip
per said when the City OF Eureka ap-
peared in answer to Il distress signal.
l,atx 49, n
Staten Island. that the crew made the
charges against the captain. Customs
men who boarded the vessel said they
found the crew intoxicated. Mr. Barnes
told Capt. Stetson he had made himself
liable to a fine of $500, but that the
fine would not be assessed until the case
had been reviewed by the Treasury De-
partment.
A customs guard has been placed aboard
the steamship Luksfjel, moored to pier
rs North River, until instructions are re-
ceived from Washington as to whether
the 1000 cases OF booze on II shall be
seized. The vessel docked Tuesday from
dominican ports. Its papers designated
New York as the destination and the
Z whisky. consigned 20 II. c. Stuart OF
st. Pierre de Miquelon, was taken on al
TURKS Island, the last port OF call.
Came Here for Cement.
Representatives Of the Columbia
Eieamship Company explained that Capt
~. Funnemark. commander OF the YES.
eel, had expected 20 discharge part OF
his cargo and take on a cargo Of cement
for Canada and then proceed TO Nova
Scotia with the cement and liquor. But
when the vessel reached here no cement
could be obtained.
Preparations were being made 70 take
the liquor from The ship to re-expor1
when the Government authorities stepped
in. Mr. Barnes said that this, IN view
of a recent decision In the Cunard
Anchor case could not legally be done
Customs men pointed out TO Mr.. Barne,
that liquor seized on rum runners re-
Gently had been manifested for 81. Pierre
de Miquelon.
William G. Hect, n. S. Marshal
ordered the captains OF two rum running
vessels---the Viking and the Victor--cap
fured last March by customs guards. q
brinh their ships 20 the barge office to
morrow and left there for public inspec
tion and sale by the Government. Tn,
boats confiscated were the auxiliary
Fishing schooner Viking. caught Marci
2e Mt the foot of Tiffany street, The
Bronx. where liquor was being unloadec
from her, and the Victor captured
alArch . Off Red Hook flats. Brooklyn.