Evening star., 1923-11-26
GUNS OF RUM SHIP
FIRE ON CUTTERS
Tomako Broke From Cap
tors, Threatened Officer,
Coast Guard Reports.
BY the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. November 26-The
crew of the rum-laden schooner To-
mako, after her capture yesterday
about six miles off the Jersey shore,
threatened coast guard boarding
officer and attempted a dash to sea
after firing her machine guns at the
cutters Seneca and Lexington.
These additional facts were brought
out in an official report made today
to the cellectortof the port. who was
investigating the alleged British
registry of the schooner. whose seiz-
ure, it was reported from London
might bring a formal protest from
the British government
According to the report, Lieut.. L.
w. Perkins of the coast guard, was
sent aboard the Tomako after her
capture. The Lexington and Seneca
started back to New York with the
Tomako loafing along in the rear
Suddenly, 1t was alleged, the ma
and the Tomako headed east. She
opened fire when the cutters pursued
her.
The alleged smuggler was over
hauled for the second time when she
was about ten miles OFF shore and
with an armed party of six men, A
hand-to-hand fight followed before
the Tomako's crew was subdued
Seizure of the Tomako, according
to Assistant Solicitor Edward Barnes.
was made upon special instructions
from the Treasury Department CALL
ing for capture of che Tomako wher-
ever it was found within twelve
miles off shore.
Go to Trial Today.
"Rummy Bill Mccoy, whom govern
ment agents call the king of the Rum
Runners" appears before a United
States Commissioner today with eight
British seamen, crew of the schooner
Tomako, charged with smuggling
liquor.
The men, who surrendered yester-
day after the coast guard cutter
Seneca had fired twice across the
Tomako's bows, had 100000 in cash
in their pockets and 200 cases Of
liquor in the hold. They will make
that the ship was six and one half
miles from shore when captured.
Mccoy, who Is said to be under in
dictment for violation of the prohi-
bition law and who has been sought
for five months along the Atlantic
100000. Government agents said this
amount was received for 1000 cases
of liquor already sold to American
bootleggers. The cargo was taken on
in the Bahamas.
Start Pefore Dawn.
The coast guard cutters Seneca and
Lexington. operating on information,
proceeded to Sandy Hook long before
daybreak.
AS dawn broke the Lexington sight
ed the schooner, its two sticks stand
ing over the top of an early morning
haze, and sent a radio message to the
Seneca to proceed.
"Ahoy, schooner" shouted the COM
mander of the speedy Lexington.
"Heave to there, YOU little devil, or
there'l be trouble
''Heave to, yerself,' came the an
stern. "WhaddyeM n think yer doin'
chasin' a british boat outside the
Bring her around or we'll blow you
clean down to Nassau" the coast
guard warned.
No heed was paid to this threat and
a shot from the three-inch gun on the
Lexington whistled across the To-
mako's bow. Its only effect was to
increase the schooner's speed. Then
the Seneca sent another shot whizzing
by the mainmast. The cutters were
almost upon her then and the schoon-
er's captain brought her about.
= A party of five from the cutter was
dispatched in a small boat to board
the schooner. AS they climbed over the
side several members of the crew at
tempted to push them back, and lively
fist fight ensued, during which at least
three members of the schooners crew
got bloody noses and sore heads.
Rounded up, the crew of eight, in
cluding the schooner's master, George
Downey, were sent aboard the Lexing-
ton. Downey declared he was not liable
to seizure, as the twelve-mile treaty be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States involving rum carrying boats had
not become effective.
Meanwhile. the boarding party
searched the schooner and down in a
hold they found Mccoy. crouching among
the remaining 200 cases of the original
4,200-case cargo. In his pockets were
found banknotes for $50, 900 and in the
cabin safe were $4,000 more. All this,
Mccoy said, had been received from the
smuggler boats of New Jersey that Wis
tied his ship on Rum row.
All members of the Tomako's crew had
been given their share Of the cargo prof
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