Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-01
DRY AGENTSSCARCE'
ASU.S. GREETS 1927.
Broadway Wet With Rum and
Rain-Chicago Gay, But
"WeIl Behaved"

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, January Broad
way gave the New Year a wet vel
come.
There was a steady rain outside and
prohibition agents had orders not TO
disturb cabarets, night clubs and
hotels.
The celebration was OF a familiar
character, but the prices were with
out precedent The many deaths from
liquor since Christmas seemed 10 have
been forgotten.
1t was a hilarious crowd that Wend-
ed it's way through the great white
way to receive the New Year with the
din of horns and rattlers.
The rain seemed TO have no eHec,
on the celebrators and from early
evening until long after 1927 had ar
rived men and women continued then
parade along Broadway.
Noise Peddlers Arrested.
Hawkers who had been vending
noise making devices along the street
since early evening were arrested by
police shortly before 1 o'clock. by
that time. however. they had disposed
of most OF their wares and took their
arrests in good nature. f1fteen were
found guilty in Night Court OF selling
without licenses and were given sus-
pended sentences.
Every available place of amusement
or entertainment was filled 10 capacity.
Reservations in night clubs had been
exhausted weeks before, and the
theaters early were sold out. cover
charges ranging from SIS to $40 pre-
ii. II.
IS high as So a bottle. Some Of the
theaters made no secret of the fact
that $3.50 tickets were Sl1 for the
night. and at that the demand was
greater than the supply.
Two sisters were wounded by
stray bullet fired by a celebrant as
thew leaned from a window OF their
home in Brooklyn. Scores of extra
police. many of them mounted, kept
the throngs moving in Roaring
Forties.
Churches were crowded as we'll as
night clubs. More than 1000 persons
crowded into old Trinity, at Broad
way and Wall street, and Cardinal
Hayes personally conducted services
at st. Patricks Cathedral. Many
churches gave special musical pro-
grams. which were broadcast, and
chimes in some instances were played
until dawn.
The 8 am. curfew for night clubs
was suspended for the night, and the
clubs were permitted\to remain open
until am.
Chester P. Mills, Federal prohibit
ton administrator. who had an
nounced that no spectacular raids
were planned, left the city for his
home in. Connecticut for the week
end.
Dry Agents Take 1t Easy.
Agents. however, were said to have
patrolied Broadway in a perfunctory
manner during the night, gathering
obvious evidence. but generally ignor'
ing the night clubs. The excessive
expense. with no money available for
the purpose, was given as the reason.
Fear of poisoned liquor apparently
had little effect on the drinkers.
Alcoholic cases treated at Bellevue
Hospital alone in the last week reach
ed 1863 patients. while the total of
deaths from liquor for the year in
New York City was $50, of which Al
were since Christmas.
The city's unfortunate were remem.
bered at the Knickerbocker grill in
West Forty-second street, where dur
ing the evening 200 persons were
given coffee, rolls. bread, fruit and
cigarettes.
While capacity crowds greeted the
New Year at the night clubs, gen
eral exodus began shortly after
O'Clock, and by only sprinkling of
guests remained to celebrate the
advent of 1927.
This unexpected slump in business
was attributed by night club owners
to the widespread publicity given to
the dangers of drinking poison
liquor and the high cover charges.