Evening star., 1925-10-14
RUM BOAT FLEETS
DASH TO SOUTH FOR
RICHES AND SAFETY
Continued from First Pagel

Continued from First Page)
tor: Comdr P F. Hambsch, retired
Navy officer. his assistant. and Capt
John G. Berry. active comma nder OF
the Coast Guard forces.
Col Simmons has set up headauar
ters at Tampa with bra nch offices al
Miami. Jacksonville and Pensac cola
Key West is headquarters for the
Coast Guard
Comdr. Hsmbsch has discovered
that a giant English rum running
syndicate is operating in Florida
waters. In the syndicate's fleet are
ships carrying cargoes of $4,000 1c
90 900 cases valued at $500, 900 and re
tailed in Florida for 50, 500 900. There
are seven veSsels-six schoonerS and
converted yacht-in the fleet, which
keeps its supplies replenished by fast
motor boats capable of outdista ncins
any craft in the Goa at Guard Service
There was a time when Jacksonville
and vicinity were favorite haunts for
the smuggling ilk, but these now have
been transferred to Miami, Tampa
and Key West.
Norfolk Blockaded.
In Norfolk the blockade has been
coming in daily from foreign ports
considerable rum Ia landed in small
quantities, but there Is nothing to in
dicate any wholesale deliveries. The
story Is virtually the same as other
Atlantic Coast ports down to Sa-
vannah, where a big rum ring was
uncovered a short time ago. Six
ships were confiscated and seven ring
leaders sent to the Federal peniten-
tiary. One Of the vessels seized at
Savannah. the Astra, flying the Brit
ish flag, was turned into a rum cha ser
and used with good effect by the
Coast Guard.
Dash and deviltry displayed by the
rum runner elsewhere are lacking in
the species working out of New Or
leans to the West. They have been
con sidrably discouraged by activities
Of Federal agents in and around the
Crescent City and have been cautious
In recruiting for fear of signing on
some Federal "undercover" men
The quantity of liquor flowing into
New Orleans has been 80 reduced that
1t Ia now difficult to obtain 1t there.
Mobile has been particularly active
in its enforcement Of the law. A for
mer Mobile chief Of police and g
former sheriff of Mobile County have
been convicted in Federal Court anc
their cases are under appeal. Fed
eraI forces working out Of Mobile are
responsible for the Gulf coast from
Biloxi, Miss. to Pensacola, Fla. ant
the supply has been reduced from re
ceipts by the ton to almost nothing.
Mississippi Port Dry.
Esta blish1nent of the Coast Guart
ba Sc at Biloxi, where liquors of the fin
est brands, from choice champa gnes t
cheap Cuban and Mexican rum. for
merly flowed like a running stream
has converted that section into 1
Sahara. Once it was common fol
trucklands of booze to be shipped from
points near Biloxi. hidden with tarpau
| lins or disguised as fish. to Memphis
| Birmingham. Kansas City and points
, in Okla homa. One story is told of {
carload Of liquor going from Biloxi t.
kensas City as oyster shells.
From A city where, in 1924. bar
| rooms ran without hindra nee Mobile
has changed to a city where liquo
| is as scarce as hens teeth.
| But Florida presents probably on,
| of the most difiicult situations in tn,
| United States. says Col. Simmons. II
| that State flourishes all manner Of &C
| tivity having to do with the liquo
traffic, and there is expectation tina
| this activity will be greatly increased
| this Fall and Winter.
TIL the discovery of the big Englisl
| syndicate operating of Miami mos
of the rum runners came from
Havana, flying the Honduran flag.