Fast Cars, Illegal Booze and the Yellowstone Trail
By Curt Cunningham
April 2017

The Yellowstone Trail has long been a route for many travelers, from families on vacation to farmers transporting their harvests and businesses moving merchandise. But amidst the legitimate uses of the trail, there was a darker, more secretive activity that took place during the era of Prohibition. Between the rum runners smuggling alcohol and bootleggers producing it, the Yellowstone Trail became a key corridor for illegal enterprises in the American Northwest.

In 1915, Washington and Idaho voted to become "dry states," and on January 1, 1916, liquor sales were officially outlawed. However, as with much of the country, outlawing liquor didn’t quell the demand. While cities like Seattle had access to the Puget Sound for smuggling Canadian liquor, inland cities like Spokane had to look elsewhere for their supply. Spokane found its answer in Montana, which remained a "wet state" until January 1, 1919. The Yellowstone Trail, which ran between Missoula and Spokane, became the prime route for rum runners transporting alcohol.

The overnight shift to Prohibition turned law-abiding citizens into lawbreakers. But unlike the infamous gangster bootleggers of cities like Chicago, the rum runners of the Pacific Northwest were often regular men who saw themselves as entrepreneurs fulfilling a market need. These men made their living by smuggling alcohol, evading law enforcement, and transporting liquor on roads that could be treacherous. The Yellowstone Trail, with its mostly reliable conditions, provided them with the good roads needed to transport their illegal goods.

Cars, Speed, and Innovation

Rum runners needed fast, durable cars that could withstand the rigors of long-distance travel and avoid the police. Large, powerful automobiles like Buicks and Mitchells became the vehicles of choice. These cars were often modified with hidden compartments, false floorboards, or dummy fuel tanks to store the liquor. Tires were also critical, as blowouts could be disastrous during a high-speed chase. In fact, some tire companies even produced special high-performance tires specifically for rum runners, ensuring they could outrun the law.

Speeds of 60 to 75 miles per hour were common for these daring drivers, far surpassing the capabilities of police vehicles at the time. Federal dry agents, tasked with enforcing Prohibition, faced a dangerous job. Between 1921 and 1929, 125 agents were killed and more than 3,500 were injured nationwide. This was a job not for the faint of heart.

In Washington and Montana, chases often ended violently, with dry agents firing at fleeing vehicles. Before 1926, federal agents were legally allowed to shoot at suspected felons. After that year, they were restricted to shooting only in self-defense, though this didn't always stop them from taking risks during high-speed pursuits. 

High-Stakes Chases and Police Corruption

One memorable incident in 1922 involved a dry agent staking out the Yellowstone Trail, waiting for a rum runner to approach. When a car sped by, a chase ensued that lasted for miles, ending only when the agent’s vehicle caught up to them and a cop leaped onto the smuggler's car to bring the chase to a close. Such intense scenes became emblematic of the Prohibition era in the region. Yet not all enforcement was on the up-and-up. Corruption was rife. Some law enforcement officers could be bribed to turn a blind eye, and rum runners had to carefully learn which cops were incorruptible and which could be persuaded.

While cities like Chicago had Eliot Ness, Montana had its own feared dry agent, Jack Melia. Known for his relentless pursuit of bootleggers, Melia made countless busts during his time as head of the Dry Squad in Silver Bow County. He was so effective that the local Butte Daily Bulletin ran a rhyme in 1919 warning bootleggers that Melia was on their trail. Despite his success, Melia’s career ended in scandal.

In 1920, he resigned after being accused of selling confiscated liquor stored by the county. Though he was never tried for these allegations, the rumors of corruption lingered. But Melia’s legacy as a tenacious enforcer of Prohibition remained intact. 

Changes in Smuggling Routes

When Montana finally went dry in 1919, the rum runners' business didn’t dry up—it merely shifted. Now, instead of driving alcohol from Montana, runners smuggled it across the border from Canada. This new route presented challenges, not only in crossing an international border but also in dealing with hijackers. These opportunistic criminals found it easier to rob rum runners than to smuggle their own goods. Canadian authorities quickly capitalized on the American demand for liquor by setting up export houses along the border, catering specifically to the rum runners. One of the most popular smuggling routes ran from Grand Forks, British Columbia, south to Wilbur, Washington, and then west along the Yellowstone Trail to Spokane. Even local ferrymen along the Columbia River got in on the action, charging rum runners $5—a significant markup from the usual 50 cents—to ensure they could cross at any hour. 

Spokane: A Hub of Illegal Trade

Spokane emerged as a major distribution hub for liquor in the Inland Empire during Prohibition. The city's speakeasies proliferated, particularly in the basements along Trent Alley near the train depot. Here, patrons could drop their money down a hole in exchange for a drink, with law enforcement turning a blind eye.

Many police officers, judges, and even prosecutors were regular customers at these hidden bars, further complicating efforts to enforce Prohibition. Chicago had Al Capone but Spokane had its own "Al," his name was Albert Commellini. Commellini, who owned the upscale Ambassador's Club, controlled much of the city's bootlegging operations.

He imported ingredients for moonshine through his Italian import business and supplied local bootleggers, some of whom cleverly placed their stills on the Washington-Idaho border, taking advantage of the survey’s 40-foot inconsistency to evade capture by state authorities. When Idaho cops showed up to bust the still the bootleggers would point to the survey stake that would show that they are in Washington. If Washington cops showed up they would just point to the correct misleading marker showing they were in Idaho.

The End of an Era

As the Great Depression took hold in the 1930s, the economic toll became unbearable. In 1933, Prohibition was repealed as part of efforts to stimulate the economy and create jobs. The rum runners, who had risked life and limb to make a living, were suddenly out of work. Many faded back into legitimate businesses, while others retired from their outlaw lifestyles, leaving behind the lore of fast cars, daring escapes, and dangerous deals.

Though the rum runners and bootleggers have long since vanished, the Yellowstone Trail remains a testament to this thrilling, dangerous chapter in American history. What was once a quiet road connecting towns became a lifeline for illicit trade and adventure, weaving itself into the legacy of Prohibition in the Pacific Northwest.