Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-06-02
Custom-House Smugglers.
From Harper,s Magazine for june. /.

AOA
| Very young infants and small
children are used as instruments for
smuggling. On one occasion an
immigrant family, man and wife,
and two nearly grown-up daughters,
presented themselves. They were
very affable and easy in their man.
ners, and without much trouble to
them, were pronounced call right;''
and while the proper proceedings
were in progress for their dismiss
al one of the officers saw a hand
some little boy standing alone, and,
struck by his attractive appearance,
and not knowing to whom he be-
longed, he spoke to the child, and
attempted to "shylark" with him.
The officer was surprised to find the
child could not bend his body; on
examination it was found that his
clothing was quilted with valuable
articles Of silk manufacture and sill
yer spoons. The little fellow be-
longed to the family the members
of which had just been pronounced
call right"
A gentlemanly looking but poor
ly clad passenger, from his intelli-
gent expression Of face and agreea-
ble manners, was treated with mark
ed consideration. The officers were
so easily satisfied that he was hon
est that they took no special notice
of a small "lap-cloth,'' much worn,
which was hanging on his arm. A
detective, at the time of soff duty"
noticed a carriage waiting for some
person, and asked the driver for
whom it was intended, and Jehu
pointed to the passenger who was
approaching with the lap-cloth, as
usual, on his arm. There was some
thing apparently inconsistent in
having carriage for such a man.
A suspicion being excited, the Off
Ger seized the lap-cloth. On crit
ical search it was found to be lined
or padded with Brussels lace, that
sold at public auction for eleven
thousand dollars.
The fool smuggler is illustrated
by man, said to be from the west
ern part of the State of New York,
who got diamond worth sixteen
thousand dollars safely through
without paying the duties. This
gem he sold for its full value, and
subsequently dragged of his smart
ness" The fact came to the knowl-
edge of the government and the pro-
ceeds Of the sale were contiscatcd.
AS smugglers, women are more
successful than men. The compli-
cations of their dress favor the bust
ness. The modern "chignon" was
for time a most excellent deposi-
tory for smuggled goods. A wo-
man is remembered who was so sue
cessful that she was constantly coss-
ing the ocean for the purpose, and
in few years acquired 4 handsome
competency. 1t is strange meta
morphosis that these adventurers
sometimes undergo when caught in
their work. Some years since a
very pretty woman, remarkable for
full bust, broad hips, and plethor-
ic person generally, presented her.
self for examination. She was very
polite and atfable, and came very
near escaping detection. But the
female detective then employed at
Castle Garden no sooner put her
eyes on the rotund figure Of the cob
ject" under inspection than she in
vited the 'party" to private inter
view. 1t was incredible what a
change was soon effected. Suffice
it to say that the apparently we'll
fed and portly dame of a few mo-
ments before, stripped Of innumera-
bic dry goods, stepped into public
gaze reduced to wonderfully thin
and rather skelctonized individual.
AS there is no penalty for snug
Cling on the person except forfeit
ure, she went sorrowfully away.
Our laws are even more mercitul
than this; for all goods thus seized
can be redeemed, though contisca-
ted, by the payment of an honestly
made appraisement.