FIGHT WITH SMUGGLERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17662, 24 December 1920, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIGHT WITH SMUGGLERS.

OWE KfLLED. FIVE WOUNDED / — • -LIQUOR WORTH £100,009 SEIZED. A score of Illinois (United States) prohibition agents engaged in a pitched battle in tho forests of Northern Wisconsin with, ton rum runners. Manning four saotor-iorries, from which they fought with revolvers and rifles, the smugglers sought to save £100,000 worth of liquor they war® carrying to lumber camps in the heart of tho woods. The driver of the leading truck -was startled-by a red lantern -which was suddenly swung in front of him on the road, while a stern voice in the darkness called upon him to halt in the name of the law. For reply the driver shouted a curse, and put on full speed. A volley from the agents, i n ambusb. among the tress on the sido of the read, brought him pitching to the ground dead, with four bullets in his body. All the men on the trucks promptly returned tho fire, but they could not sea the agents, and the fight, •a as a short one. Four more smugglers •dropped wounded. Then their comrades surrendered. After disarming these, and picking up the dead driver, the agents boarded the four vehicles and raced for dear life with their prizes and prisoners for safety, 'i'hey got away not a moment too scon, for ->n all sides they could hear the cries and oaths of " lumber- jacks," who had been roused by the noise of battle and came swarming through the woods to the rescue of' the smugglers and their precious cargoes, firing as they ran.