The Washington times., 1923-09-06
CANOES BRING
BOOTLEG RUM
To D. c.
Virginia Moonshiners, by New
Means, Flood Waterfront
With "Corn."

Abandoning highways and TAX
ing to watercourses, Virginia
lmoonshiners have impressed the
fleet two-paddle canoe, and oper-
ating a dozen or more Of them
have started a veritable deluge
Of corn whiskey splashing along
the Washington river front all
the way from Key Bridge to
the Tidal Basin.
Service Is Efficient.
Labor Day gave q demonstration
Of the efficiency of the service
which is causing dry agents indig-
nation and concern as they realize
how helpless they are to cope with
this latest activity. ~
when the Virginia moonshiner
can slip down to the river bank with
ten to twenty gallons o. corn
whiskey, stow it away In q caLoe,
and then innocently paddle off up
or down the river, what are we to
do?" one dry agent asked when he
conceded he did not know.
"If every one of us were canoeists
and had q string of canoes scattered
along the river we might make an
effective drive against the bootleg
ger. But as It is our best bet is to
patrol the river front and de-
pend on picking them up when
| they attempt to land. When you
consider just what that means you
understand how neager the results
must be.
Used Tidal Basin.
II have 1t straight that on Labor
Day several bootlegging canoes de-
livered stocks Of corn whiskey from
Virginia in the tidal basin. They
got in and out before we became
wise. OF coures now its a closed
chapter. What they did there just
illustrates what is going on at
other places along the river. Oft
and on we hear Of things happen
ing on the river In the vicinity Of
Chain bridge. The dead bodies OF
men sometimes found in the river
are mute witnesses to the tragic
character Of river bootlegging.
1t has only been within the past
month the bootleggers resorted to
the use of canoes. Before that they
either used small powerboats or row
boats. One was found to be too
noisy, and the other two slow. The
Ce4IAOC BcSII1D " UG tuS7 Iuct1 CIoLS
for river operations"
Canoe Excels Auto.
Suspected moonshine interests in
Arlington county today grinned
when asked to comment on the IN
PRODUCTION of the canoe in the boot
Logging game. The idea was well
coined with a laugh.
Canoes are great river riding
joy crafts are they not" demanded
| one Of the men popularity accorded
the distinction Of being a versitile
and active dispenser Of contraband
liquor.
'I am not surprised to learn some
Of the boys have recognized it's
possibilities. The canoe certainly
Is preferable to an auto loaded with
bootleg whiskey destined for Wash
ington buyers.
The bridges are watched too
closely these days while the river
Is wide open. An ordinary canoe
with one man will carry forty gal
Ions of liquor. It can be landed
anywhere along the river and If
taken over at night the canoe Is
not likely to be spotted.
III 1t is seen, who can tell. it
from a private outfit belonging to
some camper? OF course, know
nothing about the use Of canoes,
but 1t just occurs to me they can
be used. One thing about them,
abandoned. don't make a big dent
In a bankroll"
River Police Alert.
River police declare they are
watching the movements Of canoes
more closely since it is learned they
are being used for Transporting
moonshine liquor. They can be
picked up and held il found en-
gagged In the transportation OF
liquor, 1t Is declared, just as auto
mobiles are confiscated.
The moonshiner has one addi.
tional chance in his favor by using
Canoes" said a member of the river
police. ''If pushed too hard. he can
put his liquor overheard with the
certainty 1t will sink or he can sink
the canoe and swim ashore.
ITO regain the liquor would re-
quire hours of graphing, with the
possibility that If in cans or water
bottles, such as are frequently used,
the containers would be broken be.
fore being recovered and the evi-
dence lost. Winter will put a crimp
IN the use or canoes, and by spring
| some plan for supervising them
will be perfected which will help
the enforcement agents in keeping
| tabs on them on the river"
Less corn whisky is being dis
titled. dry agents insist. than three
months ago. AS the fall advances
and the nights grow cooler, mash
stocks left to work in the open
must be housed. This will cut down
! the supply still more, 1t is said,
with the certainty that winter will
still further decrease it,
| Use OF the tidal basin by Canoe
ing bootleggers will be watched in
the future, it is said. by both en-.
forcement agents and police. The
advantage Of the basin lies in it's
close proximity to highways ard
the brief time required in transfer.
ring the liquor to waiting automo-
biles.
ILLNESS OF BOYS SOLVES