The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-06-23
Ship Rum
Not Seized
by Agents
Two British Liners Arrive
With Liquor Under Seal
Despite Dry Ruling of
U. S. Treasury.
Seizure Today Planned
BY Associated Press.

into New York harbor today with ex-
cellent stocks of liquor for the trip
home. despite the fact that Uncle
Sam had said they must cross the
three mile limit bone dry.
All day long the water front waited
to see federal agents pounee on the
liquor. breaking the British govern
ment seals with which the lockers
were stamped, and carrying away the
wet goods But, late this afternoon,
the liquor remained untouched. Of
fcials at the. customs house an
nounced that seizure would be made
tomorrow morning.
If this Is done-and tonight there
Is every indication that it will be-
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon,
who promulgated the dry ruling, may
learn of his orders being carried out
before he sails for Europe tomorrow
on the Majestic. He is expected from
Washington early tomorrow.
Baltic Action Surprise.
One of the British vessels to defy
the American dry edict and force a
test was the Cunard liner Berengaria.
The fact that it intended to carry
liquor across the three mile line had
been we'll heralded, and treasury
agents in New York had been deluged
with orders from Washington as to
just how to act.
The other vessel was the White Star
liner Baltic. 1t took the water
front by surprise. Shipping officers
except its own-were ignorant Of the
fact that it contemplated a show
down.
Both Berengaria and Baltic were
permitted to pass through quarantine
unmolested and proceed to their
docks. Then came from the custom
house word that nothing would be
done until the captains had appeared
with their manifests and applied for
permits TO retain enough liquor for
medicinal purposes. After this. II
us said, any surplus would be seized.
Medical Permit Obtained.
/ was learned that at least in the
Sc of the Baltic, which beat the
erengaria into port, the manifest
lad been presented and the medicinal
liquor permit obtained. 1t was
stated authoritatively that there re-
mained aboard the vessel a substan
tial surplus Of liquor.
Davy Jones slowed away many
quarts in his locker as a result of
the treasury departments ruling,
however, for the Berengarian and
Baltic both tossed overheard at the
three mile limit all the liquor pro-
vided for the west bound voyage
which the passengers could not
drink. This was done with appro-
pirate ceremonies aboard the Beren-
garia Passengers lined the rails at
midnight and with bowed heads low
cred into the deep a bottle Of cham
pagne wrapped in crepe and inserib-
ed ito the the three mile limit"
Further contributions were receiv-
ed by Davy from the decks Of the
United American Liner Reliance. fly
in the Panama flag. which arrived
bone dry after tossing overheard her
last 81 xbottles. Passengers on the
Lapland, Red Star liner. succeeded
in emptying the bar before the limit
was reached.
Face Deluge Today.
With two wet Britishers already on
their hands, customs officials to-
morrow face another deluge. Due
In port Is the French liner Paris.
Before 1t set sail, It was announced
that she carried in her hold many a
cocktail shakerfu for the homeward
voyage and that on this select locker
had been placed the seal of the
French government.
And after tomorrow, more deluge,
for the ships arriving today confirm
- a report that following in their
Wake were many other foreign
craft, all anxious to test the decision
of the United States government.
Newspaper men. massed at quaran-
tine early this morning to see what
Uncle Sam would do to the wet Ber-
engaria. were permitted after they
had recovered from their astonish-
ment at the Baltics arrival, to view
her liquor cache.
Tho homeward bound supply was
stored in a foreward hold. The wet
goods were separated from food sup
plies by panelled wal. throug which
reporters could see malt liquors stack
q din boxes and wines in wicker bas-
kets.
Seals on Gates.
On the largest gate to the compart-
ment was the customs seal OF Liver
uool-a seal Of red wax on a narrow
sfrip OF white tape with the crown
Of England. Three in number wers
these seals. A fourth covered a
small exit.
According to those aboard. the
Baltic decided only an hour before
sailing to test the American ruling.
She had sailed from Liverpool on
Iune 0, n day before II became ef-
fectiye, but had 10 put back for
minor repairs after hitting sub
merged wreck
She sailed again on June 13, three
days after the ruling went into ef-
feet. Shortly before It cast off. II
shipped her liquor for the voyage
Aelome. It was understood among the
passengers that this section was TAX
en- as the result OF a decision on the
part Of British. French, Scandaina-
wan and Italian liners to make a
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