MODERN PIRATES.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 168, 17 July 1924, Page 5

MODERN PIRATES.

RUM ROW RAIDS. SERIO-COMIC BUCCANEERS. f NEW YORK, July 10. Prohibition officials have been inves- " tigating the attacks on liquor-laden ' ships by piratical rum-runners. They 3 have issued a report which discloses the existence of buccaneering bands as daring and as picturesque as the sea rovers 1 of olden times. 1 The report states that 40 pirates recently boarded a French steamer and " escaped with 15,000 cases of liquor. The crew were bound at the point of the : pistol and confined below deck. The j pirates left 1200 cases of liquor aboard in order to prevent the ship's company from taking her into port to tell their troubles. Thus the pirates used the Ships Infraction Law to gain time themselves. 'two days later the pirates looted another ship which was anchored in "Rum Row." This timo they made off with 9000 cases of liquor. Government patrols havo captured a , pirate ship. She is admittedly the finest ', find fastest .in these waters. She is elaborately equipped with handcuffs, , rifles, pistols, knives and clubs. '_ The vessel is driven by triple aeroplane motors which assure her a speed of 40 miles an hour. Officials state that the pirate crews are simply middlemen. They seize liquor cargoes and, transfer them into "cus-_ tomer" ships. The pirates, however, are' clearly not concerned with the smugfliug of liquor into the United States. TA. and N.Z. Cable.)