The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-01-13
THE sMUGGLER,s CAVE.
From the Papers Of Revenue Officer.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.

land, had been in search of the smuggler
Ralph Norwood; but he eluded us at
every step, and still carried on his illicit
traffic in spite of rs. We knew that the
northern part of Lancashire was flooded
with rum and brandy of his smuggling;
but the people along the coast were all
friendly to him, and lent him their as
sistance. Finally we learned, through
careful spies whom he sent out, that his
usual place of entry was somewhere on
the eastern shore of MOrecambe Bay, be-
tween the Wash of the Loyne and West
moreland, and furthermore, that he had
a great quantity of cOntraband liquor
stored near the coast
After considerable consultation, it was
decided that should take the matter III
to my own hands, and ferret out the de-
pot of the smugglers if / could. | had
not much hopes Of success where so many
had failed; but perhaps fortune might
favor me, and SO / took it. l was per-
mitted to call for as many men as | want
ted, and | selected thirty of the most re-
liable, and babe them make their way to
Lancaster, and there remain till | called
for them.
I instructed them not to 90 III company
but to travel alone as though each was
on business of his own, and not he herd
together after they reached the city, only
being sure to have such an arrangement
among themselves that they could be as
sembled with the least possible delay
A Lieutenant, named Windham, was to be
their leader and with him / had an I'M
derstanding, so that ] could find him at
any moment.
These arrangements were made at
Liverpool, and as soon as | had seen my
men off-some by water, and some by
land-I proceeded to get ready to start
myself | got a peddler's license, and
then bought a couple of small tin trunks
which | filed with trinkets and nick
nacks of almost all descriptions, and
having assumed garb BETTING my new
calling, | took the stage for Lancaster,
from whence | travelled on foot as far as
Canford. At the latter place | made
some inquiries, but could learn nothing
which had not known before, though |
suspected that much more was known
than was told to me. | had my trunks
hung over my shoulders by a broad
leathern strap, and stopped and opened
them, and bartercd and gossiped at the
same time.
A short distance beyond Canford the
post road makes an abrubt turn to the
right, while narrower way leads on by
the coast towards the confines of West
moreland The latter road was the one
took, for felt that the nearer | kept to
the sea, the more likely | should be to
learn something of the smugglers. As |
left the post route, the houses became
few and far between, and the people
seemed poor enough but stopped at
every dwelling, and as | exhibited and
decanted upon my wares, touched upon
the subject Of the contiahandists But
nobody knew anything about them, and
some solemnly declared that they had
never heard of such thing in that sec
ton OF country.
had now reached point where the
road lead through wild, woody and
rocky district sometimes close to the
coast, and at others farther of Where
it was fuIthest from the water there were
hills, and woods and huge crags inter
vening, and il struck NE rs being the
very sort of a spot wrong doors would
choose for landing place, for amid such
Il wild intricate mass OF rock and vii
lerness, there must be paths i'll which
one acquainted with them could easily
t Jude any number Ofpursuers And beside
this, We knew that much contraband
stuff had been landed very near here
But this was not all | had another
proof, and avery conclusive one, too, that
was on the right track.
1t was in the fat denials which the
peasants made when Ispoke of the smug-
ylers ] knew there had been much
done in that neighborhood,
aud that hesepeople must, at least, have
heard of it; so when they fatty denied
having ever heard of any such thing,
simply knew that they lied And knew
more; / knew they must have 4 purpose
u lying 1.-THE smugglers had only been
there occasionally, and had no, regular
depot III that vicinity, they would not
have been so anxious tohide their kucwl-
edge
It had got 70 be near five O'Clock, and
the nearest village ahead was in West
morelanj, So l determined to keep on TO
that place and spend the night, and then
hover about until Icould gain some posi-
tive intelligence. had just started on
with this intention, when noticed that
4 storm was at hand Heavy black
clouds had rolled up over the rocks and
hills, and the wind was rising. | could
not see the water of the bay, for long
line of crags and woods was between
them and the road but could hear the |
breakers dashing over the rocks. and | |
knew the sea was not very far distant
VERY soon the wind broke into ftful |
gusts, ana large drops of rain began to
fall. | hurried on, and ere long had the |
good fortune to see dwelling by the
road side only a short distance ahead 1t
was a small, steep-roof cot, matched with
straw, with few dilapidated build
.ngs, situated on the left hand side of the
way, and surrounded by dense woods
The door was open, and entered with
put ceremony, for AT that moment the
rain came pouring down in torrent |
The only inmates were an old woman and |
4 girl, the latter being stout, rugged |
cooking creature, some sixteen years of
,ge.
CTo BE CONTINUED.