Evening star., 1923-07-01
BY ARTHUR JAMES.

BY ARTHUR JAMES.
wv YITH the ever-increasing ac-
M tivity of the agents of
" " the prohibition enforce
ment bureau and the de-
pletion of the stock of genuine and
spurious liquor in the United States,
those who were determined to carry
on the business of dealing in contra
| band stuff turned their attention TO
lands beyond the sea. and an exten-
sive business literally sprang into
being over night.
! There was also, demand by those
who insisted on having their liquor,
to be provided with what they termed
! Imported stock" This, coupled with
the fact that many we're willing to
pay a higher figure for the so-called
imported stuff, caused many an ad-
iventurous soul either to equip himself
with a rum-running feet or to make
| a combination with some one that
owned a ship or two. The result was
| that for months after the passage of
the Volstead act, the smugglers piled
| their trade with a bravado that re-
minded one of the buccaneer days,
when Capt. Kidd. Morgan and others
| trod the deck, pistols ahip and cut
| lass on gorgeous sashes.
The modern pirate does not dress as
did the terrors Of the seas of olden
days Neither does he hold up mer-
chantmen or other vessels bent on
peaceful missions of commercial in
tent. Rather he sinks into un-
guarded ports, after making a brave
show while safely outside of the
three limit. for as brazen as they
| are they do not care to take any more
chances than are necessary.
| For a number Of months they man
| aged to slip into places where the pro-
hibition officers did not have any
Iookouts, places that could be reached
only by using some sort of light craft.
They ran into creeks. bayous and
small rivers but Commissioner
Haynes and his assistants soon took
| steps that put an end to this sort of
| work.
| The head of the prohibition forces
| enlisted the aid of the Treasury De-
partment, with the result that rev.
enue cutters. boats of the Coast
Guard and customs craft were pressed
into service, and then the war was
on in earnest. for. with these vessels,
the prohibition agents could run
| down average-speed vessels and cap
ture crew and contents Of the ship.
that were used for the transportation
of liquor. the government took the
craft. Then they were tied up to a
dock. II they were not released under
bond they were sold as are the motor
cars that are captured by the dry
agents.
lTHE fight between the rum runners
i and the government has been an
Interesting one and It has emphasized
1.-The fact that the officials in charge
iof enforcing the eighteenth amend
mont are determined that the law
shall be obeyed. no matter what con-
fronts them.
It Is generally admitted that ves-
sell, outside Of the three-mile limit
lmay carry as much liquor as its owner
desires, for this country has no 5uris.
diotion beyond that point. Conse.
I
contraband from foreign shores used
to sit just outside Of that limit and
laugh at the government agents. In
fact, they used to offer them a drink
and. they did not make any attempt
to disguise their cargo. They
counted upon transferring their cases
Of whisky, gin. ETC.. to small, but feet
vessels, and then, under cover OF
might, would run for it," trusting
to darkness
| Sometimes, in the early days of sea
rum running, they used to send a ves-
sci outside Of the three emile limi,
be captured. because it,was carrying
nothing In the way Of contraband
cargo, the idea being to divert, the
attention Of the officers from a Sec
iond vessel, which really carried a load
Of Scotch or something Of like char
acter. This ruse did not work very
often, for there are some rather
oanny men in the service of the gov
ernment and they soon found a way
to circumvent the smugglers.
It was not SO long ago that one
Of these smugglers was picked uI
after having been lost In fog fol
three days. His vessel was dirty. his
food was not the sort that would
appeal to the appetite of hungry
jpig, the water that he carried in his
cask was foul and ill-smelling, and
the tale of hardships that he re.
counted was such that made even the
lofncers shudder.
This man told Of the many Ions
hours that he lay waiting to. get {
signal from the lookout" that tn.
coast was clear" He told of thu
many days that he was compelled t,
tack and roll about, of food getting
shorter each day, OF poor. pay; fol