The New York herald., 1872-11-15
SEIZED sMUGGLED GOODS.


The Seizure Department. of tho Custom
Housc-In Appearance Like Huge
Junk Establishmc observation-disclosures -
Needle to an Anchor-Smuggling Re-
duccd to n Scicnce-Vaiuable Goods
and Common Rum stored TOgether-A
Piano and Its COntcnts-MOdus Opc-
randi of the C0ntraba ndists-Thc Law
OF Evading Payment Of Duties.
sale OF goods seized by government officers ss
various times is advertised from the Custom House
to take place some time during next month. Tho
exact day upon which the auction is to held has nee
been definitely settled. The reason therefor In
that the law requires such goods to be advertised
three weeks for claimants, who have the privilege
of redeemng the wares upon payment of duties
and expenses. All the seizures made by officers OF
the customs Coz , under charge of Mr.. Dudley r.
Phelps, Deputy Collector OF the Ninth division. Tho
large room In the basement. under the rOtunda
of the Custom House, Is fitted up for the purpose Of
receiving the smuggled wares over which Mr.. J.
r. Dillon exercises supreme supervision. visit
TO this establishment amply repays all trouble.
Piles upon piles OF boxes, bales, trunks cases,
demU0hn's bottles OF every shape, size and cOi0rs
packages with every imaginable cover; valisea.
cans. baskets and numerous other receptacies
which can be made available to contain contra
band goods. I'LL up this large space and are being
under the hammer, to realize government dutaesp
selzers' moeties and fees OF the principal Custom
House officials.
THE QUALITY OF THE ARTICLES
to be sold s az varied as the c00rs OF the rain
bow. and may be classified as good. bad and N
different. The variety OF the goods would do credits
to q select junk establishment on very largo
scale. Here may be found wares, ranging
from common jack knife to the most costly velvcs
iur dress patterns OF every texture, betweeo
common pOpin and gros grain silk, cloths, cassl-
a thousand other fabrics too numerous to mention-
The greatest bulk OF the seized goods, however.
consists OF smuggled cigars and cigarettes Of tAs
and twenty-five thousand, including such brands
~ Henry Clay, Ne Plus Ultra, Reina Victoria. ke-
gala Britannica, Flor del Fuma, &C., OF choice
Cuban fabric, while another pOrtion'Of the cigars
are OF German origin, and have villainOus navOr.
Several millions OF genuine LA HOnradez cigarettes
Will likewise be offered at this and sold to the high
est bidder.
THE sMUGGLED GOODS,
as usual thing, introduced into port by steer
age passengers landing at Castle Garden In trunks
and packages having the semblance OF baggage. II
is amusing to the variety OF articles contained
in one OF these packages One lot, for instance, "
made up OF four pieces black silk fringe.
l44 yards; eleven pieces cOOred SILK fringe,
1893 yards thirty three colored silk cords and
tassels twenty-four pieces (25SH yards) cOiored
Another package contains thrty-fve lace para
sol valued on an average ut about $40 each.
There is a case containing thirty dozen napkins.
ninety Eight and . half yards table covering 400
yards dress silk, &c. One old piano, boxed up.
..well conditiOnedr for u sea voyage, on being
opened was found to contain, besides the sounding
wires, nity-seven silver watches and one gold and
brass do, besides some silks for dresses. rms
lot will realize the seizing officer nice httI0
mOiety. Another valuable selection OF goods, cap
tured ana stored here, contains various lots OF
human hair, running In punches OF two, I'VE, eight
and ten pounds and over. Good hair Is very valu-
able, and readily realizes twice its weight in g0ld
Thus the list OF seized goods might be continued
al Ltbit,tr1 filling columns OF this paper: but the
above is sufficient to give the reader idea of tho
magnitude upon which smuggling Is carried on. Lt
nf the contrnnaDd ac is detected there being
SO many avenues OF escape for the contrabandlse
and his plunder which are entirely outside Of the
pale OF the customs officials to encompass or
WAYS THAT ARE DARK
ssand tricks that are vain" should not be applied
exclusively the .'Heathen Chinee," but are lifted
more apty to those civilized pers0nages who have
this cIeyerly devised but bunglingly executed
transactions came to light, demonstrating shrewd-
on the part fthe officer who seized the goods
and ingenuity by the smuggier who planned the
scheme. A passenger arriving In the steerage Of
the Bremen steamship Main, on the 18th inse.s
four heavy blankets Two OF these were covered
with black cloth and two with very fine red nannel
and opening one with his penknife observed the
lining to be otherwise than cotton batting. Tho
ostensble coverings were seized, anu on Deln3
dress patterns fine red and white nannels heavy
beaver for two overcoats, fine broadcotn for dress
coats aud splendid cassimer for three pairs Of pan
falcons. Tie value OF the whole cannot be less
than $3.50.
great deal OF liquor is also smuggled by sailors
and Others in small quantities and various meth.
ods Some OF this spirit Is good while the most Of
t Is OF the tanglefOOt order worthy OF having been
distilled in the Fifth ward OF Brooklyn.
There usually about three sales annually Oh
seized goods from the Custom House emanatin0
from this department-tnati Is to say without being
ordered Dy Court OF condemnation. The COLLECTOR
is authorized by law to cOnfscate goods under $60o
In value all seizures above that amount must un.
dergo the due process OF legal adjudication, and,
IL condemned, are sold by the United States Mar
shal on behalf or the Custom House authorities.
There Is great deal to be written about this de-
partme interest to the public which our space
fo.day will NOT nermit to elaborate.