The Indianapolis times., 1931-07-22
DRY AGENTS
BULLETS Peril
CHURCH PARTY
One Man Struck, Hundreds
in Danger From Shots
at Rum Runner.
PANIC ON PICNIC BOAT
Women and Children Flee,
Screaming, as VoIIeyS
Hit Craft.
By United Press

By United Press
DETROIT, July 21-Two score Of
shots fired at a fleeing rum-carrier,
some of which lodged in the excur-
sion boat ste. Claire, wounding a
member Of the church party aboard,
were under investigation today by
church and federal authorities.
Arthur Gejeski, %, suffered bro-
ken arm when bullet, fired, he
says, by the customs border patrol
crew, felled him.
A thousand persons Of st. Hya-
cinth's Catholic church watched the
chase in which three American
boats sought to trap a steel-armored
runners Speedboat near Peche is
land as it zigzagged through river
traffic with a load of 200 cases of
liquor and finally drew under the
lee of the ste. Claire for momen-
tary protection.
Picnicker Is Struck
Hundreds of women and children
crowded to the rail of the boat
watching the chase as the boats
careened madly in sharp turns and
flying spray. Suddenly the GUS
toms men, witnesses said, opened
fire with pistols and Gajeski was
shot.
One Of the patrol boats had pulled
up to within hundred feet of is
quarry when the firing was re-
sumed. Then panic started aboard
the steamer and officers had diff
Guilty preserving order as women and
children piled screaming into COM
panionways seeking shelter.
The RUNNER again changed
course and lodged into Canadian
waters around a point Of Peche is
land and escaped.
Officials said the boat which en-
gagged the rum runners craft was
patrol boat No. $40, but refused to
name the crew. They said the in
Spectors, however, denied shooting
when they neared the excursion
steamer and asserted the RUNNERS
fired at them.
''The rum boat was spotted pulling
into a dock with a load of liquor
and the inspectors were waiting for
1t to tie up" Walter Petty, customs
collector, said.
Three automobiles were at the
dock presumably to take the load.
The men in the boat must have seen
or heard our boat, for suddenly they
swung back into the river, full speed.
Our boat threw a spotlight on
them and started after them. A man
in the rear of the rum boat was
firing from behind an armored barr
rier and our men returned the fire."
Girl Describes Chase
Rose Skamiera, standing beside
Gajeski when he was wounded, de-
scribed the chase.
I'VE were standing along near
Peche island when the rum boat
roared out Of the darkness with the
government boat about twenty yards
behind" she said. "The RUNNERS
circled the Ste. Clair, apparently
trying to shake off the govern lent
boat. I didn't see any one fire from
the rum boat, but two men in the
government boat we're firing. One
was standing up as he fired.
1--WE were all watching the chase.
when suddenly Arthur cried out he
had been shot, His arm was bleed
ing. After that we all scattered TO
safety and the rum boat got away"
ASsailed by Clancy
Representative Robert H. Clancy
bitterly condemned prohibition en-
forcement methods which resulted
in the shooting.
He said he was making a thor
ough investigation and would pro-
test to the commissioner Of custons
at Washington.
Il have not definitely established
whether the Saint Clair was In
Canadian or American water" he
said, ''but in either case, the affair
was highly condemnatory."