The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-07-28
Yankee q,ea-A Case of Smuggling.

Soon after the last war with Great Britain
set Of sharp-traders, at Buffalo, N. Y, were
engaged in smuggling tea, tobacco, and other
contraband articles Of merchandise, into Can
ada. A halfpay English naval officer, who
was thought to possess the cunning Of fox
and the eyes Of q lynx, was sent to guard the
Niagara section OF the frontier, from the land
ing Of contraband goods upon the soil of the
King George. If any body thought the Eng
lish authorities could prevent the id Yam
KEGS from smuggling, Lieutenant Ferret could
do it. This was the name Of the lynx-eyed ex-
ciselnen, and to his credit be it spoken, he and
his subordinates certainly did watch very dill
gently oil along the western shore of the Mag
ara, and no boat from the other side was per-
mitted to land without undergoing thorough
inspection from the officer and no contraband
goods could have possibly passed into the inte-
rior had the officer understood oil the tricks Of
Jonathan.
On one occasion, and it was about sunset,
the exciseman was apprised Of the fact that u
suspicious looking boat was approaching the
shore from the Buffalo creek, apparently head
ing for small cove near Fort Erie. t
"a id Yankee Smuggler /" was the
profane exclamation Of Ferret, as he reached
the shore where his cutter was lying. "A
prize boysl" he continued, exultingly, as he
took his place in the stern-sheets. "Wait till
the id Yankee gets close in, and then
we'll nab him."
After waiting until the anticipated prize had
approached to within about fifty yards OF the
shore the revenue boat shot suddenly out into
the river, and made for the smugglcr.
The Yankee oarsmen pulled Justify for the
cove, with the Englishmen in full pursuit
" Bravely, boys! we have EN- sure!" ex-
claimed the lynX-cyed excseman. "a glori-
Gus prize PULL, my hearties, pull I"
The Yankee boatswas run directly ashore,
and no sooner did her keel CRATE upon the sands,
than the men aboard leaped ashore, and ran for
the thick wood but short distance from the
margin of the river.
"rhe ID Yankees are frightened for
once! See em skulk for the woods" cried
out the excited officer. "But no matter
let en- go-their rebel carcasses we don't want.
If they will only land us their goods free Of ex-
pense, we shall serve the king as well as our
selves. If we catch these smugglers and punish
them prizes will be less frequent than ever.'
The cutter Of the excise reached the shore,
and took possession of the boat, their lawful
prize, which they found well freighted with tea
chests of considerable value and after showing
her aaoat, they took her in, tow down the
Niagara to Waterloo, where the revenue store
was located. . i-as-
No sooner had the revenue cutter receded
from sight, than whole fleet of boats, heavily
ladened with teas, tobacco, and other contra
band merchandise left Buffalo Greek, and ran
directly across to the cove, where their pioneer
or decoy boat had landed, well knowing that
as the exciseman had got possession Of one rich
prize, he would not be likely to spare any Of
his men to watch after other possible snug
Cling adventures that evening.
The smugglers boats all landed without mo
lestation. The men who had deserted the decoy
boat came out from their hiding place in thu
swampy wood, and assisted their accomplices
in the landing Of the rich stock of merchandise
all of which they conveyed to rendezvous