Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-26


New York. Nov. 25.-The British
auxiliary schooner Tomako, most
adventurous of all the rum carrying
craft on the Atlantic coast, fell into
the hands of coast guards early to-
day after being fired. upon six
miles off Seabright, N. J., and in her
hold was found William "Rummy
Bill" Mccoy. characterized by gov
eminent agents as the rum SNUG
gler king. A machine gun was cap
tured on the schooner and another
was tossed overheard by the rum
runners, their captain said.
The coast guard cutters Seneca
and Lexington. operating on informa-
ton furnished by Treasury depart
ment special agents that the Tomako
was off Seabright, lying in close to
dispose of the 200 cases of whiskey,
all that remained of a 1920 case
cargo shipped recently in the Ba-
hamas. proceeded to Sandy Hook
long before daybreak.
AS dawn broke the Lexington
sighted the schooner, it's two sticks
standing over the top of an early
morning haze, and sent a radio mes
sage to the Seneca to proceed. When
the cutters were a short distance
away lookout aboard the schooner
announced their approach. Immed-
lately the vessels sea anchor was
aweigh, her auxiliary engine began
throbolng and she was scampering
to sea.
But the speed of the little vessel.
which had taken part in many of the
largest rum carrying expeditions
from the Bahamas, according to
government agents, could not match
that of the cutters and in less than
a quarter of an hour they were close
upon her heels.
"Ahoy. schooner" shouted the
commander of the speedy Lexington.
"Heave to. there, YOU little devil. or
, there'll be trouble,"
"Heave to, yerself!" came the an
swering shout from the schooner's
stern. "Whaddye think yer Goin'.
chasin' British boat outside the
three mile limit"
Bring her around or we'll blow
you clean down to Nassau" the
coast guard warned.
There was no heed paid to this
threat and a shot from the three inch
gun on the Lexington whistled across
the bow of the Tomako.
The only effect this shot had was
to increase the speed of the schooner
and then the Seneca sent another
whizzing by the mainmast. The cut
tiers were almost upon her then and
the schooner's captain brought her
about
A party of five from the cutter was
dispatched in a small boat to board
the schooner. AS they climed over
the side several members of the
crew attempted to push them back
and a lively fist fight ensued, during
which at least three members of the
schoonos crew got bloody noses and
sore heads.
Rounded up, the crew of eight. in
cIudlng the schooner's master.
George Downey, were sent aboard
the Lexington. Downey, declared he
was not liable to seizure as the ~
mile treaty between Great Britain
and the United States involving rum
fective.
Meanwhile the boarding partv
searched the schooner and down in
a hold they found Mccoy, crouching
among the remaining two hundred
cases of the original 1900 case cargo.
In his pockets were found banknotes
for 100000 and in the cabin safe
were $4,000 more. All this Mccoy
said had been received from the
smuggler boats of New Jersey that
visited his ship on Rum Row.
I'm within my rights outside tho
three mile limit and all the customs
agents and prohibition agents and
reformers in the United States can
go hang. for I'll beat Them" McCov
IS alleged to have said, as he left
the schooner.
The Tomako was lowed to the Bat
terry and her crew and Mccoy, who is
said to be under federal indictments
Tor violation of the prohibition laws.
was taken to jail He has been
sought for five months by Treasury
department agents from Daytons
Florida. to Portland. Maine.
All members of the Tomako's crew
nad been given their share of the
cargo profits and had dollar fiIlad
pockets when taken to the barge Of
nee. There were several Youngsters
among them. who declared that the
rum-carrying business was the most
remunerative as well as Adventurous
calling they could think of.
Alf are being held for examination
tomorrow. 'Aoii