The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-15
THE QUARANTINE SMUGGLING CASE.

L
| ~~~~-~~>~>~>-~,->>>o>.>o--
| The Merchants and the News-The Customs
! OmcAais and the Health Omcer-The Per-
Quisites OF Observation-Disclosures Of the
Public Business-Further Revelations Of
Doings In the Quarantine AutOcracy.
the news OF the successful raid upon the SNUG
| glers OF quarantine was received yesterday with
great satisfaction in all quarters save at certain
point not very far from the Quarantine gate ON
Staten Island and at certain 'fences" at Red Hook
and In the lower part Of the city which have long
berne the reputation Of beingathe channels through
which the contraband goods found their way to
market 1t 10 singular fact that not only was this
81 stem OF smuggling carried on through the agency
of ealth Omcer Swnburne's boat but that the prn-
cipal 'fence" is located at Quarantine landing,
hardly y stones throw from DR.. SwInburne's ONCE
and residlVce.
AMONG THE MERCHANTS
''Served thsm right ~ was the exclamation a
many a country room down town yesterday morn
ing after perusal OF the account of the expedition
which resulted in the capture Of the contraband goods
and the two oicers of the vessel, employees by the
way, Of the same DE-. Swinburne No person In so
short q time has rendered himself 80 obnoxious to
the merchants as this official, and hence there was
general smile at the pr.dicament in which the dis
closures Of Thursday morning have put him. The
trade Of New York has been injured to the extent OF
an incaculabe sum through his assumption Of
power over the vessels OF our merchants so much
so that in many instances the consgnees have
frequently requested the vessels to put into
other ports along the coast and then tran
ship their cargoes here, all OF which they
could do at much less expense and with
out the vexaton and delay occasioned by the Odous
nature Of the Quarantine regulations. The dis
closures Of the illegal traffic In which one OF the
Health Officers vessels was detected is another link
in the long chain OF circumstances which the mer-
camille community have been forging to curb the
Health Oficer's arbitrary administration Of his
duties.
AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
The employees and officials at the Custom House
were quite envous Of the gallant exploit OF their
co,v,'eres, Inspectors Kane and Jones. DR.. Swim
burne has long been the object Of great deal Of ILL
win on their part for his hgh-handed course in or
dering away even the United States authorities from
the effort to do their duty in searching vessels for
contraband goods, and hence the very natural or
very human satisfaction which they felt In finding
him open to censure for the negligent manner in
which he kept watch over the dOings OF
his Quarantine agents. The news was read
over to the smallest DETAIL canvassed In every
particular and discussed In all It's bearings upon the
"DOctor'' and his watery empire. Chit-chat at the
Custom House, at the Battery and at Quarantine
during che day revealed facts Of very singular
ture In connection with the Health Officers admin
istration Of the duties OF his olce during the past
few years. I'M.
NOT THE FIRST TIME
A couple Of summers ago-for the Doctor exer-
cises the active powers OF his position only during
the between the middle OF June and the latter
part Of Observation-Disclosures was given that a
quantity OF goods on which the duty had not been
paid had gone aboard the Health Onicers vessel, il,
indeed, not all the way up to his house. The act was
witnessed by the night patrol OF the revenue service
Accordingly the goods were seized and brought to
the New York Custom House, where the Doctor soon
after made his way In hot haste and said that 1t had
long been the privilege OF the Health Officer to get
these little perquisites from the Captains OF inward
slow else" said he in explanation. 'do you sup
pose could keep up the supplies for Governor Fen
INFORMATION WANTED.
The Havana steamer Eagle was the first arrival
this summer after the establishment OF Quarantine.
She was detained In the Lower Bay, whence her pas
senges transferred to the city at the tax OF 81
In gold per head. The steamer employed was the
sci belonging to the public Of the State Of New York
and In their service. VIII the doctor inform his
right to impose this charger 1t may be some salts
faction to the travelling community to learn that he
has reduced the tariff since last summer when 1t
was 81 per head Baggage Is extra, or course.
ANOTHER PLUM.
The rnodus 0perdndt at Quarantine sends the YES
sell after the passengers are permitted to leave, to
the Upper Quarantine, where after fumigatlon the
cargo is suffered to go to the city The Tightening OF
u
whose profits, II report be true, shared by the
Doctor. No lighters save those owned by the indi-
vdual referred to are allowed to near dischargng
vessels. The towing OF vessels from the Lower Quar-
antine, according " the same report Is also EARNED
Outr to q monopoly under the provision OF the law
which the Doctor inerprets TO give him exclusive
dominion over the expanse OF water coming within
the boundaries imaginary or defined, OF Quarantine.
Only such vessels may enter the limits OF this king
dom as he chooses to permit Hence the owners, IN
general, OF towboats complain that as nearly all ves
sells have TO go into Quarantine, the conferment Of
tho I'll NJ q IL dot
II not injury, to their interests.
"NICHOLAs SMITH" n. .
about = week snce After bef ness Of Veaw s
fever contracted at the hospital ship Falcon He was
one Of the persons employed by DR.. Swinhurne to
manage the sloop Four Brothers, which has been
rendered 80 famous by the events OF the past few
days. Nicholas was formerly engaged on the Havana
steamers In the summer OF 1867 he was employed
by the quarantine authorities. During the Quaran-
rest OF the year found him OF the steamers
above mentioned. Those who are uncharita de
enough to forget the old advice, to say nothing III OF
those who are gone think that Nicholas was con.
Quarantine. II IL singular that upon his death the u
plans OF his successors should have gone III and
met with prompt defeat. 4
w. ''DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES" /
according to the old saying but they are often very
useful as the smugRlers OF Quarantine can testify.
The dead men who come OF the Havana steamers In
Without at least one respectable dead man i-wouId
be astonIshed did they retain their eyesght to see
the great quantities OF baggage and luggage Of which
they have become proprietors BY their demise.
These effects are duly transferred, along with the
corpse, to the small boats Of the Health 0ficer for
burial on shore; but 1t s question how often they
have been suddenly prestidgitated into cigars and
Pour Brothers few hours after 'that dead man"
was transferred from the Columbia to the Falcon.
The lights and shades Of life around Quarantine