Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-17
Two U. S. Cutters Circle Fleet
off New York and New Jer-
sey-ClOse Watch on Move
ments of Bottle Fishermen
Believe Holiday Supply
Liquor to New York is
Checked

Freeport. n. Y. Dec. 1G.-(By The
A. P.)-Long Islands free-flowing
stream of rum destined for the New
York holiday market has been
checked, temporarily at least, reve-
nue. officials announced today.
Two of Uncle Sans revenue cut
tiers tonight continued to circle that
portion of the rum fleet just off
Jones Inlet two miles from here;
two speedy boats patrolled the
brooks and creeks that provide sIch
desirable Ravens for runners here
abouts and 80 determined revenue
agents kept vigilant eyes out for all
suspicious movements.
Although ideal rum running
weather has been here for three
days. the federal men declared not
one boat load of the contraband has
been able to run their sea-and-
shore blockade in that time.
Close observation of the busy lit
tie port at Ellison Point. acllnowl-
edged center of Long Islands hith-
erto thriving liquor trade indicated
the truth OF official claims. Recent
days and nights have found an un-
wonted hush over the little harbor,
with each of the several hundred
ostensible fishing boats at its anchor
age and their crews ashore.
Three of the suspected rum rum
ners stuck their prOWs into the great
south bay early today, but quickly
rptnrnp6 m har hnr l.rI,p hai
noted the vigilance of the revenue
cutters patrolling about the rum
ships loaded to the plimsol marks
with holiday wet goods.
Up to five days ago it was an open
secret, officials admitted, that sew
eral hundred cases of assorted
liquors were run ashore nightly at
some spot along the many miles of
wild seacoast to the east of Free
port and its adjoining village, Bald
win. There was but one revenue
cutter in the neighborhood of the
rum fleet, now numbering 81 ships
of varying sizes, and it had far too
many miles of coast to patrol
Ashore, there were two revenue
agents with the task of keeping this
battling coast free of contraband
Then came an Atlantic storm of
wv Ns1S anu anu Ine IOf-
elgn rum fleet had to scatter to get
seaway safely from the off-shore
wind that kicked up a sea far too
rough for the 50 and 40-foot speed
boats of the bottle fishermen. The
storm withdrew Friday and that
night and early Saturday the rum
fleet re-assembled.
The fleet split. however, about
half of it anchoring within tempting
distance of the Jersey shore and
the others dropping their hooks off
Jones Inlet, one of the only two
safe and fasible entrances to
treacherous Great South Bay. This
gave rise to the report that the rum
runners between ships and shore.
bafiied by the increased blockade on
water and land on the New Jersey
side. had decided to divide their ac-
tivities between Jersey points and
Long Island in an effort to befud-
die the revenue men.
Uncle Sam forestalled This move
SO FAR as Ereeport and Baldwin were
concerned. During the two days of
storm and inactivity 50 men had
been gathered for shore service and
Two cutters kept vigilant eye on
the fleet. while two government
speedboats. very similar to the craft
OF the bottle fishermen, patrolled the
tortuous and dangerous WATERWAYS
up which the smugglers had been
running their cargoes so successful
~.
Consequently. federal men said
there has been no attempt at rum
running off this coast as the hc.tle
ilshermen can't get to the LIQUOR
SHIPS as long as the revenue cutters
continue their patrol about the fleet
NOR can they resume operations
tney assert. so long as this form of
blockade is kept up.