Evening star., 1927-08-08
TWO DEAD, 4 HURT
IN SEA RUM FIGHT
Battle Starts After Agents
Capture Runner Near
Bahamas Islands.

BY the Associated Press.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Au-
gust S.-A thrilling battle between
Coast Guardsmen and alleged rum
runners on the high seas near the
western fringe of the Bahamas
claimed the lives Of two Government
men yesterday and sent four other
participants to hospital here, where
the condition of three was reported
serious.
The dead:
Robert X. Webster, 4s, Atlanta.
Government secret service operative.
Sidney Sanderlin. Virginia Beach,
Va. Coast Guard boatswain's mate.
The wounded:
Victor A. Lamby. Coast Guard mo-
tor machinist's mate.
Jodie L. Hollingsworth, Coast
Guard seaman. second class.
Robert E. Weech, Miami, alleged
rum runner.
Horace Alderman, Miami, alleged
rum runner.
Rum Runner Sighted.
The fight occurred late yesterday
bout 40 miles east Of Fort Lauder
dale. when Coast Guard patrol boat
e49 bound for the Bahamas, where
Webster had been sent to undertake
a secret assignment. sighted the 30
foot motor boat Z-13997. heading to-
ward Miami. A command from
Coast Guardsmen to stop went un-
needed and a. shot across the craft $
bow failed TO halt the motor boat,
whose engine stalled few moments
later.
Maneuvering into position, with the
forward gun trained on the captureu
boat. Coast Guardsman in their launcn
transferred Alderman, Weech ana
three oxher men found on the craft
to the patrol boat where they were
corralled as prisoners and searched
In the meanwhile four guardsmen, in
Guiding Sanderlin, returned to the mo-
for hoat to transfer 100 cases of liquor
reported found.
when Lamby entered the patrol
boats pilot house Alderman selzed
weapon and shot the machinists S mate
according to other Coast Guardsmen.
Alderman was said to have assumed
command of the situation for the mo-
ment and ordered Weech to tear out
the engine room piping, this lnstruc-
ton being carried out.
Second Man Shot.
Webster, standing apart from the
proup at the pilot house, rushed TO-
ward Lamby and was dropped in his
tracks under the blazing gunf1re from
Alderman, according to the guards
men aboard the captured boat, who
hurriedly prepared to shove off in their
launch to effect a final surrender OIL
the alleged rum runners.
Alderman was said to have shot and
Instantly killed Sanderlin as the
launch turned about and headed back
across the narrow stretch OF water
separating the two boats. Boarding
their own craft with difficulty, the
cuardsmen in a lively free-for-all me-
lee. interspersed with pistol shots, soon
overpowered their opponents. Ihe
wounded were brought aboard fast
motor boat, on among several which
! went to the Government boats aid.
Attending physicians held out little
hope for Lamby, paralyZed with bull
let through the spine. and Holllngs'
| worth, who was shot through the eye,
nose and cheek. Alderman, shackled
| to hospital cot under guard, was in
a serious condition from knife wounds,
while Weech was suffering from minor
| bruises.
Guardsmen Tutel, Robinson, Leh-
man and Caudie of CG-249. reported
| the encounter.
The spectacular pitched battle be-
| tween Coast Guardsmen and rum run
ners off the Florida coast yesterday,
involving the use of guns and an ice
pick and resulting in the death of
two Government men, set officials here
today pondering grimly the question
of whether to change the present Gov
ernment policy in force there TO one
Of bristling. armed preparedness, with
orders to shoot quicker and with more
deadly aim
The fatal battle was said to have
been the second in which rum runners
had taken advantage Of the policy of
the Coast Guard of keeping guns ST.
lent as long as possible. They had
shot Government men in the back.
Rear Admiral Billiard had ordered a
policy of strict enforcement of the
smuggling law off the Florida coast,
and, nfact, plans were under way for
concentrating more rum chasers in
Florida waters. But owing to what
officials here interpret as the animos.
| ity in Florida to the activities of the
Coast Guard, and the severity with
which Coast Guardsmen have been
dealt in the Florida courts when boot
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