Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-20

Nnllc passing a lew daNS at Hamilton, in
Canada, a short time since, it was the fortune of
your correspondent TO come in contact with a
person who has been engaged for the past ten
years in smuggling goods from Canada into the
states. Smuggling was his profession, and the
facilities which he commanded, combined with
the bOldneSS with which he carried on bis opera
lions, made him one of the most notorious snug
gels on the Canadian border. With the spirit
Of inqusitiVenesS winch is common 10 members
OF the press, your correspondent endcavored to
obtain some information about the science of
smuggling which although continually carried
on, is shroudcd in ubscurity and mystery to all
except those Immediately connected with it, He
was very willing to relate some of his adven,
lures, but all the arts OF an interviewer could
nOtd ain out the manner in which he operated
so successfully. An account of the adventures
which he related may not prove undressing
and so your correspondent gives il in the exact
phraseology which he used and which was pre-
served by the Photographic art,
In 1865 | was clerking in New Windsor, a city
on the Canada side, nearly opposite Detroit,
where large amount of smuggling was carried
on. 1t was estimated then that one hundred
thousand dollars worth of goods were snug
gled over the river every day, and the figures al
though il seems very large, were by no means
OvereStimatcd. Ii was here that took my first
lessons in the art of smuggling, and proving a
very apt pupil, | soon outstrippcd all the others
in daring and trickery. ! was in large cloth
house, and my first duties were to collect orders
in Detroit for suits OF clothes, which were made
up in the store and then sent across the river.
A suit could thus be obtained for about half the
price charged in the states. Sunday was a great
day for our business, as the young men from
Detroit would cross over in the ferry to New
Windsor and leave their orders, the clothes to
be delivered to them in Detroit. The detectives
were as thick as blackberries along the shore
and on the boats, always on the lookout. Ii
was my place to carry back the goods for which
| had received the orders, and my first attempts
were very successful. You see that am not a
heShy man now, nor was then; but about every
two weeks would grow so stout that my friends
would hardly know me. 1t was in this way that
| would secreie my load of clothes by wrapping
them around my body, and then putting large
suit, which was made for that purpose over
| them and myself. ! have carried as many as
| four complete suits over at one time. When
| crossed over to the states one would imagine
| that weighed over $50 pounds, but returning
my appearance was so changed that the scales
would drop at 10.
We resOrted 10 all kinds of devices and tricks
to outwit the detectives, and many of them were
exceedingly well planned. Our store was i'm
mediately opposite the railroad depot and we
had all the hands in our pay, that is, we made
them presents for services rendered TO u.s.
When the trains arrived the trunks were put
upon racks and wheeled to the ferry boat few
rods away. All the trunks that had been
searched received the mark of the eXaminer, We
would fill trunk with the goods we wished to
send to Detroit, and as the train arrived we
would place it on the rack with the others, and
give it the necessary mark. One OF our men
would be on the other side of the river ready TO
claim it when ii arrived, and would send it i'm
mcdiately 10 our office in Detroit, whence the
clothes would be sent TO their respective desti-
nations. This was continued for long time
and ii is probably going on now.
Were you ever caught in any of your at
tempts?"
Nvas fOn for Ef,o IL
tective and escaped Imprisonment 1t was a
good one. A detective had followed me for some
time, and | was not aware of it, as he was
from another station. | was familiar with the
faces of all the detectives IN the vicinity, and
was never at a loss for means to escape from
their clutches. Well, this detective came 10 the
store and ordered a suit of clothes from me- |
agreeing to Smu@%le them to Detroit. You see |
had given myself right into his hands. When |
they were finished | took them across and met |
my customer, to whom | delivered the clothes |
He took them, and giving peculiar smile, said:
81 VANITY you. Do not leave this room without |
my orders. You're prisoner" | neyerwas SO |
surprised in my lite, and my courage left me in |
moment. was so astonished that scarcely |
knew what to do but determined to put on n |
bold front and to "chcek it" through So [ rave |
hearty laugh, and, addressing the detective |
told him that knew who he was and instead |
OF the goods being Struggled they were made up |
in Detroit. He replied that | would have a |
chance to prove it at the proper lime. | remem-
bered that quick-witted lrishman vino used TO |
work for us, kept store in the city and if |
could get him he would lie me ont of it, So | |
told the detective that if he would 20 with me |
would prove it, to which h. consented after a |
short parley. On entering the store gave the
freshman the wink, and, seeing me with an
officer, he knew there was something wrong
Before the detective could say word told tle
man the case and he swore that he made the
goods, and that got them from him on purpose
to Outwit the detective. He played his part so
well that the detective was satisfied and he in
vited us to take bottle of wine at his expense
After had been there for abont year became
so well known to the detectives that | had to be
exceedingly cautious in order to eyade arrest.
beat him at bis own game once, though, and the
thought of it makes me smile
Chow was it done? | Yentured to ask.
A man named McMaster, he said owned a |
brig which had become too old for use, and he
tried in vain to sell the old hulk. | had seen
this at the wharf many time, and had often
tried TO devise a plan to sell it, Whiskey at
that time was selling in the states at s. Il gallon
and the best quaitycoud be bought Tor about
ninety cents in Canada. / agreed to sell the
hulk on condition that was to get half what it
would bring. J bought about $50 barrels of
the whiskey and loaded the boat with it, and on
the next dark night We were TO cross over to
the states with it. Before the time came went
to Chief HarpeDstarcher and told him that if he
would give me half the prize money would
give him the particulars of an extensive SNUG
Cling operation. He readily agreed, and re-
lated to him the fact that a vessel would cross
over on the next dark night, loaded with
whiskey | waited anXiously for the time our
was to come off. AT last on a very
stormy, disaSrecable night, myself and three
men whom | had hired, set ont in the boats.
We crossed in a short time and had inst fastened
TO the wharf when a force of detectives seized
us and captured the vessel. In my interview
with the chief had stipulated that the crew and
all on board were TO be set free Immediately
after the seizure.
The vessel and whskey were sold at auction,
bringing a very large sum, the government tax.
ing the customary five per cent. The remainder
went TO the captors, who shared the spoils with
me, and |, in turn, divided with the owner of the
hulk, who obtained by this device a great deal
more than the hulk was WORTH That's what |
call clever, trick, eh?
| nodded affirmatively and pressed him to re.
ate lew more OF bis achievements, as | had
become very much interested in his statements
ne grady consented, and related a number of
uteIes'hg incidents, but our space prevents our
giving description of them. paragraph
VIII nave TO satisfy the readers A very acute
operation was carried on without detection for A
long time by Il female. She ALWAYS carried what |
was supposed TO be baby, but which in reality
was her receptacle in which the goods worn |
placed The body Of this "baby" was hollow
and made Of tin. 1t was dressed beautiGnIlv
and wig of golden curs covered the head ~ |
face being made of wax. In this hollow body
she stored the articles, which were generally
small, but very valuable, such as lace iewelry
and the like. She went back and forth several
times a week for upwards of year, but at last
she was discovered. 1t was in the evening, and
the bridge was very slippery. As she was cross
ing to the New York side she slipped and fell,
the baby being dashed to pieces The detec-
tves saw the occurrence and thus discovered the
ruse.
SINGULAR ACCIDENTAL Young French vol
unieer from Orleans was lately attending a
birthday festival Of an uncle in Paris During
Ile evening he enlightened the gay throng by
leco9nung his many "hair-breadth 'scapes by
uood aud field" until all agreed that he was
, under lucky star. The party had scarce
" adjourned TO the drawing-room when the vol
uh. .S remembered that he had left something
II, IN a DARK passage he met a servant carry
ING pie OF plates, from the middle of which
there stuck out the blade of a carving-knife.
EhaFnpDnd aa,ir, e II