The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-12-19
BOOZE MEN ARE MAKING
TREMENDOUS FORTUNES
GET RICH QUICKLY IN THE
BAHAMA ISLANDS SUPPLY
ING UNITED STATES.
EX-BARBER is A MILLIONAIRE
Negro Who Was in Rags Three
Years Ago Now Counts Wealth in
Seven Figures. He Operates Large
Whisky Fleet Other Fortunes.

Years Ago Now Counts Wealth in
Seven Figures. He Operates Large
Whisky Fleet Other Fortunes.
NEW YORK, N. Y.-The Indians,
who became violently attached to the
fiery liquid which flowed from the bot
ties of the Dutch who landed in what
is now New York sold the island of
Manhattan to Peter Minute, the first
governor general of the province of
New Netherlands, for 90 guides, a
sum which in those days meant a
drunk for the whole tribe but which
today represents scarcely the price of
a few diluted beakers.
The transaction might easily be
termed the first piece of booze profit
eering in the history of America, but
when compared with the deals put
through today in the up to date plu-
tocratic bootieggers of Nassau, New
York and Newport it shrinks to in
significance
The vast fortunes which have been
made during the past three years m
the illicit booze traffic between the
the statistician, because the money is,
in many cases. invested in foreign Sc
curities under dummy names, a pre-
caution in general favor among the
smugglers.
But the stories of drunken SNUG
glers at the orgies in Nassau hooch
palaces indicate 50 gigantic fortunes,
even when the stories are discounted
1000 per cent.
Barber Owns Rum Fleet.
A colored barber who three years
ago trod the streets OF Nassau in COM
parative rags is now owner of whis-
ky feet operating between Nassau and
Florida, and his wealth is computed
in seven figures.
Lendzy, the ex-barber declared he
has made at least $3000,000. He start
ed with one small boat which he
bought for $500 from drunken
sponge fisherman.
He got his first whisky on credit
from the Bahama Island Import and
Export Company, of Nassau. He sold
out, bought a bigger boat and grad
ually increased the size of his business
and his feet until today he is rated
among the most opulent and infuen-
tial of Nassau smugglers.
Two smooth faced English youths,
who have lived in Nassau since 1910,
have reaped bootleg harvest which
was planted by their father John Nc
Pherson, who died shortly after open
ing a wholesale liquor store in Mas
sau three years ago.
Although only in their early 20s
they are now millionaires. Their di-
luted liquor is on sale at prevailing
prices to almost any American OF the
eastern states.
Becomes Booze Vendor.
The story of Earl Simmons, who
went to Nassau as United States vice
consul two years ago from Gloucester,
Mass, is classic for young men seek
ing quick fortunes. Shortly after his
debut in Nassau Simmons began to
frequent the Lucerne hotel and the
bootleggers' tales of quick wealth inn
mediately weaned him from Uncle
Sans employ
When Consul Lorin A. Lathrop re-
quested Simmons resignation he took
hier in rum smuggling as supercargo
on a two-masted smuggling vessel
operated by Christie & Co., OF Mas
sau.
But the fortunes made by the men
who sail the ships from the Bahamas
is pin money compared to the accu-
mutations of the big rum rings Of New
York, Philadelphia Baltimore and
Boston.
Bootleggery is a road to wealth so
much quicker than the stock market
that many erstwhile respectable bro
kers of Wall street have profted to
the extent of many millions.
The names of these men and the
stories of their operations are known
to the authorities, but evidence is not
sufficient to secure convictions or to
warrant publication.
Cases are slowly being built up in
the office of the United States district
attorney which may eventually trans
plant these operators from before the
bars of Bahama to behind the bars of
the federal prisons, but in the mean
time the smugglers hold sway and the
rum comes pouring in.