The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-03-30
Remarkable Smuggling Scheme.

The low prices of silks, laees, vel
vets, kid gloves and alpaeas in some
of our large cities during the past
wear have occasioned considerable
surprise among leading importers,
who have been at loss to discover
the sources from which goods We're
obtained at such apparently rrlinous
rates. Kid gloves have been retailed
at ST. a pair which generally cost at
wholesale 81 so. Silks were retailed
at So. which leading importers could
not place at that figure. The rumor
that band of smugglers has been
carrying on business on a large scale
has been circulated, but the men en-
gagged in the traffic and their plan of
operation have hitherto eluded detec-
ton. 1t is Dow alleged that wealthy
clique has been engaged for year IN
running goods into the United States
from the British provinces. Their
mode of operation is said to be as fol-
lows: The goods bought in Europe,
are shipped to Halifax, Ms, st. John,
N. B., or Montreal. The light Cana
dian duties are paid and the goods re-
leased from bond. The merchandise
is then divided into small lots. and
taken to ST. Stephen, N. B., in trunks.
St. Stephens is directly opposite Ca
lais, Me-, and separated from it by the
st. Croix River. Two bridges afford
communications between the towns.
Between Calais and Bangor is a wide
strip of barren country, across which
a stage conveys passengers and bag
gage for about forty miles. United
States Customs officers are stationed
upon the route and occasionally over
haul the stage and examine the bag
gage. AS the chances of getting away
with struggled goods out of Calais are
small, the U. S. Customs authorities
do not examine baggage coming
across the bridges from st. Stephen
into Calais but should the parties
owning it continue their trip into the
United States by stage via Bangor, or
by steamer via Portland, the baggage
is examined, and, if not dutiable
goods are found, pass is pasted upon
the trunk, and the Customs officers at
Portland or Bangor do not again ex-
, anime it. The band of smugglers, it
is said, taking advantage of this sys-
TEN, bring trunk filled with ordinary
baggage into Calais, and, having had
it examined and pass pasted upon it,
substitute another trunk filed, with
costly dutiable goods, and, having
transferred the pass, continue the
journey into the States without fear
of detection. A different person is
employed each time, so as not to
awaken suspicion on the part of the
examining officers.
When the goods are safely in the
United States they are sent to diff
ferent cities and sold at figure con-
siderably below the ruling prices
Large quantities, it is claimed, have
/ been sold in Boston, Hartford, Spring
field, New Haven and Chicago. New
York has been left out to certain
extent, on account of the danger arts.
ing from the great number of Customs
detectives there. 1t is estimated that
several hundred thousand dollars wortl
of goods have been brought in through
this channel during the last year
These goods are nearly all bought il
Europe by different men in business
; in Montreal, st. Johns, and Halifax
and the smugglers have thus covered
their tracks in an adroit manner
Howard in Halifax, and Dnffres, it il
r asserted have thus contributed to ths
| kid glove, silk and velvet trade
Many other Dominion dealers NIGH
be mentioned as connected with tht
business. Richard Story, well known
: in Boston and Gloucester and Boston
is alleged to be at the head of thi
smuggling scheme, and as he has beer
in the Provinces rather extensively
: for the past year, and sometimes it i
) further alleged, under assumed names
, the theory seems plausible. An enor
nous profit must have been realized
t by the men engaged in this gigantic
: smuggling scheme, even at the Low
, prices at which they have sold man,
of their wares.--Erchange.
--~@eS-@r
One of our citizens went to the car
=