The Empire County argus., 1856-06-14
The Smuggler's Stratagem.

~ too9' "Heh was yeta d younSster before the
mast, took trip to Tampico, in little trading
schooner called "The Ella" commanded by a iolly
skipper from Florida one Nat Marin, a dark skinned
Spanish creole, who for short " was always called
by his friends Mig" The schooner generally car
red out dry goods and provisions on her owners ac-
count but always had an idea, (which kept to
myself) that she "tonned more than her register
made her responsible for, and that her hold always
contained more goods than could be found on her
manifest.
But to return We were only nine DAYS on our
run from New York out to the mouth of Tampco
river and about noon the tenth day we stretched
In over the bar, with a leading wind, that would
easily have carried with flowing sheet up to the
town, which was nearly twelve miles above but ior
reasons best known to himself the captain anchored
as soon as we passed the fort and rounded Point Tam
pico, just above and out of the reach of its guns
The revenue boat from the guardacosta came on
boare before sails furled, and the custom
house officers overhauled our papers and manifest
They seemed little suspicious, and one of the Off
GERS was left on board to watch us, while the rest
went aboard of their own craft which lay nearly
half mile further down the river under the guns Of
the fort
| AS soon as dinner was ready the captain invited
the revenue officer down in the cabin with him: and
as they went below the former wnked his large laugh
ing eye at the mate and l knew we'll there was fun
in the wind.
AS soon as the captain and Mexican had got below.
the mate slipped into the small boat and sculed
ashore. In the mean time could tell by the lively
voices in the cabin that the officer and captain were
getting along very well together and once in while
the tinkle of meeting glasses and jolly song spoke
of spirit potential that playing upon the
hearts and senses of both parties.
AS night came on, more hilarious were the tones
and more varied the sounds which arose from the
cabin; aud it appeared that while twilight began to
get blue above, they were fast getting blue below
First could hear our Mexican sputtering out
Spanish bacchanalan glee; then Captain Marin
would give touch from sea song or specimen of
q "nigger melody"
AT last, little after dark with real Havana in
each of their mouths, they deck the skipper
and the watcher. Both were decidedly and uneqivo-
cally drunk, if one might judge from their walk and
conversation but could see at single glance that
the captain was shamming, although the spiritual
reality" was visible in the Mexican. He seemed
however, to retain some shrewd notions of his duty,
and to know that as night was over u.s. if we intend
to smuggle it was necessary for him to keep his eyes
open. So he seated himself on the trafrail with an
air of dignity; and as he hummed Spanish barcar-
OLE kept watch over the movements of the crew
about the deck, glancing and then up and down
the still river
AS the night advanced, I saw that Captain Marin
began to look uneasy and anxions, although he pre-
tended to be even more DRINK than his gnes and spv
became less frequent in his snatches of song and the
I" liquor browse " seemed to be coming over him.
He wonld unwillingly close his eyes, and then his
head would make long slow bow towards some be-
ing imaginary or invisible until the chin rested on
bis breast when it wonld fly if bee had stung it.,
and slowly, drowsy the eyes would open to the ac-
customed watch.
Captain Marin now lay down beside the Mexican
and pretended to fall into sound sleep, attesting the
same by long, loud and regular snore. This threw
the Mexican completely off his guard and wrapping
his watch coat closer around him, he followed suit
and then the twain seemed to be trying which could
snOre the loudest
When the Senor Mexicana had got fairly under
headway the captain arose lightly from the deck and
passing forward, to the lanthorn from the pinnacle
and held it for minute over the bows. Presently
several dark objects coming out from under the
shadow of the land; and in few moments more six
large native canoes were along side of us.
In the first one that boarded us was the mate and
a merchant whom well knew to belong to one of
the first houses in Tampco The boat came noisless-
ly along side and their crews crept stealthily on
board. Without sound the matches were raised,
and package after package of rich dry goods was
passed up from the hold and over the side into the
boats, by the tawny, half naked rascals.
The boats were nearly al loaded when l, who had
been placed to keep watch over the sleeping revenue
Office, saw him open his eyes; and before l could
move or speak, he saw and comprehended all that
was going on. Springing to his feet he shouted:
Guardacosta Contraband,stas %
One bound from where he stood by the main hatch
way to the trafrail and cur captain by the side
of the officer with his brawny hands encircling his
windpipe from which proceeded 80 much noise.
The Mexican tried to draw his sword and struggled
manfuly to get free from the choking grip; but
Captain Marin knew that the entire loss of his vessel
and cargo would follow detection. and be was not