On this day September 30, 1929, there was great excitement at a Milwaukee dock. The Great Lakes Transit steamer UTICA was greeted by prohibition and Coast Guard forces when she arrived. Prohibition Federal Agents had received a tip from Windsor, Ontario, that the UTICA had sailed from there with a cargo of liquor.
This was big news in the papers and was printed across the country. Headlines spoke of $30,000 worth of liquor on board, which was later valued at $2,600. The UTICA was called a “Vessel Bristling With Rum” although it seemed to have carried whiskey, ale and wine. The articles below sum up the excitement of the time.
UTICA in Milwaukee, October 3, 1929
A few phrases to keep you reading – “the most spectacular raid ever staged in Wisconsin”, “denied that the liquor cargo was carried for purposes other than as use for the crew”, “a Milwaukee bootlegger had been offered a part or all of the liquor before the ship docked”, “bottles packed in burlap bags, suitcases and cardboard cartons in coal piles, lifeboats, the main office, mates’ quarters.”
“BUFFALO SHIP YIELDS $30,000 LIQUOR CARGO
“S. S. UTICA Impounded in Spectacular Rain and Crew of 32 Placed in custody in Milwaukee After Search Reveals Vessel Bristling With Rum.
“MILWAUKEE, Oct. 1 (AP) – A huge lake freighter was impounded. 32 men were in custody and liquor valued at more than $30,000 was in the possession of federal agents today, the aftermath to the most spectacular raid ever staged in Wisconsin.
“Docking here from Windsor, Ont., the S. S. UTICA of Buffalo, N.Y., was met by prohibition and Coast guard forces late last night. In virtually every part of the vessel, whiskey, ale and wine were found, and the belief was expressed that another day’s search would unearth more.
“Capt. Robert Koch of Buffalo, the ship’s master, and the crew of 31 men were arrested pending a thorough investigation to determine responsibility for the smuggling. They were permitted to remain in their ship quarters for the night, under guard.
“The agents said they found bottles packed in burlap bags, suitcases and cardboard cartons in coal piles, lifeboats, the main office, mates’ quarters and a dozen caches among the freight cargo and elsewhere.
“The raiders met no oppositions from the crew when they boarded the craft. Other than denying knowledge of the presence of liquor on his ship, Capt. Koch had no comment to make.” (Buffalo News, Tuesday, October 1, 1929, p. 1)
“BUFFALO COMPANY MAY LOSE BIG SHIP
“Two Investigations Under Way in Milwaukee – Captain Says Liquor Was for Crew.
“MILWAUKEE, Wis., Oct. 2 (AP) – the Great Lakes Transit Corporation of Buffalo today faced the possibility of losing one of its combined freight and passenger boats, authorities said, because the vessel held illicit liquor when it docked here. The liquor was valued at $3,000.
“Two separate investigations loomed as a result of a raid on the steamer UTICA late Monday night when it tied up here after a run from Buffalo and Windsor, Ont. The raid was conducted by coast guardsmen and federal prohibition agents following a tip Saturday from Windsor that the ship had sailed with a cargo of liquor.
“Those responsible for the shipment of the liquor may be liable under two counts – smuggling and transportation of illegal liquor.
“Capt. Robert Koch of Buffalo denied that the liquor cargo was carried for purposes other than as use for the crew. W. Frank Cunningham, deputy prohibition administrator, however, said that a Milwaukee bootlegger had been offered a part or all of the liquor before the ship docked.
“Capt. Koch and a number of the 32 men who comprise the crew were placed under arrest. Capt. Thomas Stevenson of the company’s passenger steamers has been ordered to assume command of the vessel and the Federal court here will be petitioned to permit placing of a bond for the UTICA so that the ship may proceed to Chicago with her legal cargo. The ship was impounded upon discovery of the liquor.” (Buffalo News, Wednesday, October 2, 1929, p. 1)
“BOAT MAY PROCEED TO CHICAGO PORT
“Federal Prohibition Agents Found Liquor Aboard Ship.
“Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 2 – (AP) – Permission for the UTICA, Great Lakes Transit corporation passenger and freight boat, impounded here after federal prohibition agents found liquor estimated to be worth $2,600 aboard, to proceed to Chicago with her cargo, was granted today by U. S. District Attorney Levi Bancroft.
“Two federal prohibition agents will accompany the boat, continuing their search for hidden liquor.
“Captain Robert Koch, Buffalo, N.Y., master of the UTICA and four members of the crew, are to be arraigned later today. While it had not been definitely decided, Mr. Bancroft said, charges of violation of the John law probably would be preferred against the quintet.
“The UTICA will not be libeled and is free to resume her cruises on the Great Lakes.
“Search of the vessel for hidden contraband continued today. Fifty cases of ale and a dozen cases of Whiskey and a few bottles of other liquors were found on the boat.
“Captain Koch was relieved of command of the vessel today by Captain Thomas Stevenson.” (Ironwood Daily Globe, Wednesday, October 2, 1929, p. 5)
“UTICA CAPTAIN IS FREED
“Two of Ship’s Crew held to Grand Jury on Bonds of $500.
“MILWAUKEE, Oct. 3, (AP) – Capt. Robert Koch, Buffalo, N.Y., master of the S. S. UTICA, raided Monday by federal prohibition agents as it docked here, and held with members of his crew when a large quantity of liquor was found aboard, was released today. Two members of the crew were held to the grand jury on bonds of $500 charged with illegal possession of liquor and with maintaining a nuisance.” (Tulsa World, Friday, October 4, 1929, p. 1)
The UTICA was built in 1904 at Wyandotte, Mich., by the Detroit Ship Building Co. Built for the Western Transit Co., she was a steel steamer measuring 325 feet in length, 44.2 feet in beam and 30.9 feet in depth. She was sold to Great Lakes Transit about 1916 and then became part of the War Shipping Administration around 1942/43 and went off the lakes. She was sold foreign in 1945 and lost off the coast of Chile in 1949 as the QUINTAY.
The charges against Captain Koch, the mate and the lookout were not pursued. Captain Koch was assigned to the CHARLES DONNELLY for the 1930 season continued sailing for Great Lakes Transit.
Suzette Lopez
Photo credit: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
