March, 1923, from the “Coastside Comet”
“Sound Canons to Patrol Coast Seeking Rum Boats”
“The rum runners of the San Mateo county coast and points north and south are to have a real run for their alleged contraband cargoes, with the completion of arrangements now under way by customs officials of San Francisco.
“Two armored automobiles mounting one-pound cannons have been requested of Washington by William B. Hamilton, collector of customs.
“Two special patrol boats, the sub-chasers ‘Cyan’ and ‘Smith,’ have arrived at Meigg’s Wharf equipped with Diesel engines to make fourteen knots, as against ten for the fastest of the rum boats. Both are carrying small naval guns from Mare Island and are to be commissioned as rum chasers.
“With the announcement of the additional equipment, both by land and water, it was reported that two of the largest schooners of the Canadian rum fleet, both suspected of having contraband cargoes on board have been sighted off the San Francisco and San Mateo county coast and that special efforts to capture them are now under way.
“The coast guard cutter ‘Shawnee’ and ‘Tamaroa’ have been stationed outside the heads of the Golden Gate while the coast guard patrol has been instructed to maintain a sharp lookout for attempts to land in the vicinity of Half Moon Bay.
“The two new sub-chasers at Meigg’s Wharf were reinforced with the harbor patrol boats’Tulare,’ ‘Swift’ and ‘Golden Gate,’ which are held under a full head of steam, reading for instant action, it was reported.
“All the boats are equipped with naval armaments and are designed to make speeds believed sufficient to overhaul the best of the rumrunning fleet.
“Collector Hamilton said that the new automobiles are to reinforce the boats at sea for the reason that rum runners are often lost, due to their speed. With the fast automobiles on the shore, equipped with signal devices and with cannon, it is believed the movements of the rumrunners can be traced and that their unloading operations can be stopped in case they choose to land their wet goods at secluded spots, such as are offered along the shores of San Mateo County.”
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