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The Coast Guard machine-gunner was branded "a miserable skunk." Congressman John Joseph Douglass declared: "We're not here to defend rum-runners. We're here to enforce the command of God: 'Thou shalt not kill.' " Orated one-time Boston Mayor John Francis Fitzgerald : "These men were bringing in liquor for New Year's Eve. They knew it would be consumed by Governors, Mayors, Selectmen, Judges of the Supreme Court—in fact by public officials everywhere." U. S. Senator Jesse Houghton Metcalf of Rhode Island sent the meeting a telegram to the effect that the dead rum-runners had been robbed of their money and jewelry.
Fired by the speeches they had heard in the hall, the crowd eddied out upon Boston Common where was displayed a Coast Guard recruiting sign, guarded by Chief Water Tender George Briggs. "Dirty murderers!" cried the crowd as it became a mob, knocked down Briggs. tore his recruiting poster to shreds, kicked its frame to bits about the Common. Briggs fled in a taxi.
On orders from Washington, Coast Guard recruiting was temporarily suspended in Boston.
Providence. Rhode Island's Attorney-General Oscar Heltzen worked to establish manslaughter charges against the crew of the C. G. 290. When three U. S. Treasury agents tried to enter his inquiry, he ordered them out. declaring: "This is a State affair. You're coming here to listen in and since you won't cooperate, I don't intend to let you in for that purpose."
To guard the Black Duck, transferred to Providence, was assigned Edward Foley, 64, trusted customs agent. Securing liquor elsewhere, he became staggering drunk on duty, flourished two revolvers at a curious crowd, fell to the ground breaking a bottle of whiskey in his pocket, rushed to a telephone to call "reinforcements" from Boston, ended his rampage in a sodden stupor.