SMUGGLER QUEEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15361, 9 October 1923, Page 2

SMUGGLER QUEEN.

RUM RUNNER’S AGENT. A ROMANTIC FIGURE. One of the most romantic figures in the American liquor traffic is Grace Lythgoe, known as “Cleopatra, the queen of the bootleggers,” declares tlie Daily News’ special correspondent. She is young, strikingly beautiful and refined, and she lives alone and unprotected in Nassau, West Indies. She first came to the island when it was the, resort of gunmen and crooks, and she speedily established a reputation because she was mysteriously able to secure huge supplies of American rye wiiisky, which is scarce, and more popular than tiro best Scotch. Often she came into touch with “dope” agents and smugglers, and she frequently travelled on the rumrunning boats, remaining at the masthead all night long, and watching for the revenue cutters. She commands the respect and homage of the motley and dubious throng in Nassau, some of whom proudly told the Daily News’ correspondent she was the only woman engaged in the business. The agent for two prominent London firms boasted that he had never lost a case of whisky. The “big idea” is to have a direct service from England for supplying a large store ship remaining permanently off New York coast. Tile Daily News concludes that Grace is animated by a love of adventure rather Ilian by material gain. She is one of the world’s most remarkable women. Tlie correspondent says that ' the rum-runners’ audacity, is amazing. One actually entered New York harbour, quietly unloaded 1500 cases of whisky, and departed.