Coin Slot Magazine - #057 - 1979 - November [International Arcade Museum]
Part 2 of
THREE MILE LIMIT
continued from the Oct. 1979 Coin Slot.
Stephen P. Alpert
SHOWBOAT.
THE SIEGE OF THE REX
Jahnsen has his forces assembled
on the Santa Monica Pier for the attack on the
Forty-eight hours had passed and all four ships
were still operating.
Warren took swift action and
REX and TEXAS.
Warren gave word for the raids
to begin.
began plans to raid the ships and close them by
force.
The City of Los Angeles was anxious to
At 3 PM all four ships were raided simultane
participate, but the sheriff's office was reluctant,
ously.
feeling that a raid was beyond the authority of the
without resistance.
agencies involved.
God, cops!
However they joined in after
people
assurances by Warren.
seized.
On Tuesday, August 1, 1939, scores of under
The TANGO and SHOWBOAT surrendered
were
Olney heard one man say "My
And they're not ours!"
arrested
and
more
Over ten
than $30,000
The TEXAS also surrendered without a
fight; the raiding party stayed aboard until after
cover officers boarded the ships to obtain evidence
nightfall, and a minor melee ensued when someone
that gambling was still going on.
switched off the lights.
Many were dis
Four men were arrested.
covered and sent ashore, but others remained a-
Some of the gambling equipment was smashed or
board all day.
thrown
Meanwhile, in utmost secrecy, 40 carefully se
overboard;
the
rest
was
confiscated.
But the REX was a different story.
Cornero
lected sheriff's deputies, Los Angeles police officers,
had been tipped off about the secret raid and he
plus 8 accountants (to go over seized books) were
was ready to fight. As the raiding boats approached
locked
the REX, the gangway was barracaded by a steel
up in
Patriotic Hall in
Los Angeles for
briefing of their key roles in the operation later
door, preventing access.
that same day.
nero through a megaphone.
Warren took these precuations as
he knew that many local law officers were in the
"Stand off!" yelled Cor
"We're on the high*
seas!"
pay of the gamblers. The officers were then rushed
to strategic locations at the waterfront to begin
the raids, using four patrol boats
from the state
The officers started climbing up the side of the*
ship but were stopped by nets thrown overboard
Fish and Game Authority, and sixteen rented water
on top of them.
taxis, as the fleet of Warren's navy.
climb up to the rail in spite of the nets, the crew
a military operation," said Olney.
"It was like
"I later became
an officer in the Marine Corps, but I always re
When two officers managed to
threatened them with
baseball
bats and washed
them into the ocean with firehoses.
member my experience with Warren's Commandos
After rescuing their men, the raiding party re
as my first amphibious operation."
turned to shore, where a squadron was organized
About 300 officers were involved in the oper
ation.
Fitts obtained warrants for the arrest of
to blocade the REX and completely cut off the
water taxi service, with the intention of starving
Cornero and the other owners and captains of all
Cornero and crew into submission. Warren's boats
four ships, on bookmaking charges.
encircled Cornero's ship just beyond the range of
Warren set
up a command post at the Santa Monica Beach
the REX's three firehoses.
Club, on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, where
cruised around nearby, to interfere only if a violent
he,
emergency erupted.
Fitts,
and
Biscailuz
could
watch
the
REX
A Coast Guard cutter
om
m.c
through telescopes and binoculars, and direct the
m: useu
o
r
f
standing by at the command
to
m dispatch
d post
de- An
ade if needed.
a
orders and assist in lo
arrests
OK for
c
r
n
a the Coast Guard
.
w
o
w
the raids was
obtained
from
and
D
ww
a U. S. Attorney. p://
htt
operation by shortwave.
Motorcycle officers were
Six hundred patrons and 200 employees were
marooned on the REX.
ued gambling all night.
ing they had
Most customers contin
But by Wednesday morn
run out of money, were tired and
seasick, and were unable to get to their jobs.
"If
they won't let us on, we won't let anyone off,"
Olney and his men were ready at the harbor
said Warren, "they've got women on board whose
at San Pedro, to close down the TANGO and the
husbands don't know they're out gambling, and
Copyright 1979 Stephen P. A/pert
All rights reserved by author
© The International Arcade Museum
http://www.arcade-museum.com/