The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-25
the QUARANTINE sMuGGLER -FOUR BROTHERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
In view Of the many conflicting statements, or
rather misstltements which have appeared in the
Journals said TO be In the interest Of the Quarantine
authorities respectfully claim the right to put
few questions TO the Health Officer, Dr. Swinburne,
and the COmms sioners Of Quarantine relative to the
tnfractiOn OF the revenue laws committed by the
Officers and crew Of the soop Four Brothers. which
was seized on Thursday. the 18th inst. having on
board large quantity of foreign cigars of the finest
brand. previously lande: from some Havana steamer
IN the Lower raw; and further, In view Of The fact
that an application has been made to have the said
slOOp Four Brothers tOwed out from the barge on
wharf, on the ground that the health of the city
would be ENDANGERED by allowing her to remain
at that mOoring, and also to release her, al 1t
ts alleged that she is an infected vessel and
should not be allowed to Dome alongside our mer-
c. ant shipping Is II not hct that on Tues iav.
11th inst, the said slooD came up from the Lower
Bay by order OF the Health Oicer for supplies, and
went up to the ice company's dock near Fulton
ferry. took In load or ice and returned to her
on LIZ a prev ye m sh
the wife OF the superintendent OF the hospital ship
Falcon and landed her at Staten ls'andf Is It not
fact that instead OF the slOOp carrying dead or in
fected persons from ships arriving from foreign
ports the dead or dying are placed In small beats
and tOwed nv the steam ting Reuben E. Fenton.
which Is employed as an ambulance, and thence
conveyed to Sc luin's Point and Wards Island
Is It no, fact that during the recent rec heated te
consent Of the Gu rantne authorities TO take plea
excursions down the bay in The said soop Four
u u
sert that the said soop has been used for the con-
veyance Of dead or infected PERSONS and the doctor
or cormssit ners cannot point out, by record or
otherwise thar one single case OF dead, diving or
infected pers having been conveyed In her: but,
on the contrary size has been used In the egitimate
trade in which she was found and seized and here
let me add that adrOitly has the craft been
hand ed by her crew that she has eluded the vigil
lenoe Of some Of the most expert officers Of the
revenue service for lenyth Of TIM. as she has
been under their surveillance with others OF
a like tk, VINO. Is hoped, VIII be
brought ur with similar round turn soon. Aga n
] would ask the Health Oificer, Dr. Swinburne anu
the Commissioners OF Quarantine II, as Is alleged
that the said sloOp or In infected why the sea-
men, after they had been discharged, were allowed
to come M to the CITY and wander around or mer-
chant vessels In search Of employment Under the
Ruise Of punishment, and that these poor sailors
dismissed aud sent adrft to spread contagion in our
midst. A more absurd defence never was presented
to any thinking mind when II Is taken INTO cOnsdera
ton that these poor who have tamil es and barely
sustain themselves ny their hard toll and small
wages could save enough to invest IN the purchase
OF forty thousand or nity THOUSAND Of Upmsn's best
at $3.50 per thousand
have no invectvc to supply against the Doctor or
the Commissioners or Quarantine, as ! know them
not but claim the right as citizen to CAL the at
tention of the government to their acts or trans
gressions, II You please Should poor smugeler
come ashore with few hundred cigars
In his trunk he Is visited with punish
mcnt by the condemnation and forfeiture
oop be oncing tc the state OF New York. one OF the
switeet ana best appointed crafts on our river, n
found doing a whoesa e smuggling business. and
that under the eyes OF the Quarantine authorities
and having copy OF the Revenue laws on her cab q
table 1t would seem hard II our honest Collector
should overlook the acts above stated AMI not pun
ish the offenders IN the same ratio as ali other snug
Clers. IMPORTER.