The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-01-06
RUM PROFIT OF BRITISH
SHIP PUT At s2,5OO,OOO
REACHES THAMES AFTER DIS
POSING OF $4,000 CASES OFF
COAST UNITED STATES.
BROUGHT CHRISTMAS SUPPLY
In Rum Row Ten Weeks Making
Deliveries Crew Tells of Perilous
And Exciting Experiences in Con-
trovening U. S. Liquor Laws.


LONDON-The joys and perils Of
bootlegging in Rum Row" are elo-
quently described by the crew of the
British steamer Browton, which has
just returned to the Thames after
turning an honest penny" by contra
vening the liquor laws of the United
States, the profit being $2,500,000.
The Browton left Newcastle some
three months ago with a cargo OF co.,
600 cases OF liquor, which had cost in
Britain roughly $l,250,000 and the
proceeds OF the sale totaled just over
$4000000
The crew confess, however, it was
not all honey, or just the raking in of
dollars, as there were many perils,
causing weary weeks OF anxiety, but,
as on the whole, they enjoyed good
fortune, they are ready to try their
luck again.
Circumventing the United States
prohibition officers apears TO have
been the easiest part OF the job, for
manned by "canny" north-country
men the Browton declined to fall for
some of the raw" traps sets by gov
eminent spies.
Fight Fire in Hold.
One terrifying experience they had.
which is, Of course, credited to the
Vaccinations OF those same govern
ment agents, was a fire at sea which
took them a week to subdue A dozen
times the vessel with its inhammable
cargo appeared lost but by herculean
efforts the crew got the flames under
control Traces of incendiarism were
alleged to have been discovered in the
form of oil-soaked beams which had
caught fire hidden underneath the coal
and distributed among the liquor cas-
es After the discovery of such ne
farious plot" the Browton's crew nat
urally made every effort to defeat the
laws of the United States.
While in Rum Row the crew were
heavily armed to defeat the attempts
of hi-jaekers to pirate their cargo, and
although details are not easy to OBJ
tain it is apparent that more than one
brisk encounter with the latest dis
ciples OF Captain Kidd occurred be-
fore they were left to trade in peace.
Once connection was established with
the proper consignees business pro-
ceeded briskly, though there were
many Interruptions owing to the en-
ergy OF the United States preventive
service.
Runners Are Caught.
Once a revenue cutter bore down
on the Browton during unloading pro-
ceedings and the bootleggers' vessels
promptly cast off and made for home.
The revenue cutter went i'll pursuit
and captured the largest after seven
shots, which holed her badly. By sign
and countersign, however, connection
was re-establshed and the remainder
of the consignment for that customer
was duly transhipped.
Altogether the Browton had to stay
in Rum Row two months and 10 days
before her holds were cleared. During
that time they saw many exciting en-
counters between hi-jackers and less
wel-protected bootleggers and skirm
ishes with the revenue officers. One
ship near by, a Norwegian, was tempt
ed to sell liquor over the rail to pre-
ventive agents and was promptly
seized by the United States officials.
But the Browton would not be tempt
ed and got clear.