The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-19
LETTER is Sent
HEAD OF NATION
Request Was Made tt
President Harding
MOTHERS INAPPEAI
Federal Authorities Evidenced
Only Mild Interest In
Press Reports.
Associated press Dispatch. ]

ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.I
Washington, o. c., January IS.
Press dispatches describing
the landing OF iarge quantities or
Illicit beverages by fleet of
rum runners on the New Jersey
coast were declared to be "abso-
lutely erroneous" in an official
| report received today by Fed
eral Prohibition Commissioner
Haynes from the New Jersey dry
headquarters. .-
New York, January f3.-Dis-.
patches received today by The
Associated Press from it's cor
respondent at Highlands, indi-
Gated that the rum fleet had
dwindled slightly, but that two
steamers and ten schooners still
were visible off shore. Yester-
day three steamers and nine
teen schoonerS were reported,
but bootlegger scouts reported at
Highlands last night that several
had sold out their stock and de-
parted.
Washington, D. c.. January 13.-
A suggestion that the navy be called
on to fight Atlantic coast rum run
ners was made in letter to Presi-
dent Harding today from the legis-
lative department of the National
Congress of Mothers. t-"
The department said its action fol-
lowed receipt Of numerous COM
plants from members of the organi-
cation residing along the coast, es-
pecially in New England states.
Federal prohibition authorities had
taken no further steps today to as
certain the facts as to the reported
landing Of large quantities of liquor
on the New Jersey coast beyond the
routine letter already sent to Viii
liam B. Moss, acting director for
New Jersey, asking for report.
Mild Interest Manifested
The federal authorities who eyinc-
ed only mild interest in the press
reports of a rum running feet of
Ambrose channel lights and the OPP
erations Of landing fleet, in the let
ter to Mr.. Moss yesterday merely
of which they said they received no
confirmation from their representa-
tiyes in New Jersey or New York.
Although confidence was express
ed in the ability of the enforcement
agents in that area to handle any
situation which might arise, it was
known that Acting Director Yellow
ley of New York and Section Chief
Appleby, executive officer of the dry
navy, had been ordered to cooperate
with Mr.. Moss to the utmost of their
facilities.
Liquor Sold Freely
Despite denials of prohibition au-
thoritieS as to the scope of rum run
ming activities reported by The As
sociated Press, a staff correspondent
who witnessed the period of open
defiance of law reiterated today that
small rum running craft clustering
around the great feet of three
steamers and nineteen schooners
which lay outside the three mile
limit near Ambrose Light, had given
that stretch of water an appearance
similar to that which obtained dur
ing the last international yacht
races.
An experienced observer on shore
with a powerful marine glass de-
clared he had counted ''at least 800
small boats" jockeying for position
about the liquor laden mother ships.
Some of the boats probably were
counted twice, he said, as many
made several trips to the rum fleet
The correspondent at Highlands
reported that he had personally
port, most of which made several
trlps. During a twenty four hour
period, before land enforcement
agents got busy. the water front
streets of the town were crowded
with motor vessels of every descrip-
.toin, from huge piano vans to cost
ly limousines.
Only Land Capture
And Highlands is but one of a
half dozen or more coast points
where the rum runners were active.
Atlantic Highlands, Bedford, Port
Monmouth. Keansburg, Seabright,
Gallilee as well as points on Long
Island shore, were reported to have
teemed with bootlegger activities.
The only land capture reported SO
far was the seizure by Nassau
county officials yesterday of a truck
and Limousine carrying liquor val
ued at $4,000. The machines were
authorities missed the boatmen who
had brought it ashore. despite an all
night patrol.
Liquor was so plentiful at the fleet
center off the hook, that shippers Of
the various mother ships cur prices
and according to several rum run
ners at Highlands, interviewed sep
arately at various places and times
hung great signs over the sides
of their ships advertising their wares
at prices as low as $40 for case OF
rye and $45> for a case of Scotch
Champaign. they added, was Offered
as low as $50 a case