, 1873-08-28
GREAT DIAMOND SEIZURE,
Gems from tho South African DIa-
Inond-Fielda -- A Fortune Captured
on the City OF OEcster'a Wharf.

I
on tho City OF Ollcstor's Wharf,.
From The Nep York Sun, Aug. 20.
Two hundred and oighty-hye uncut and twelve
cut diamonds Woro soizod by Custom House Of
ficers on Sunday night Oh q charge Of attempted
smuggling. They we're taken from Mr. N. Lam
caster, u wealthy resident Of Chicago, who ar
rived from Europe in the City Of Chostor. The
gems wore estimated to be worth nearly e90, 900.
One Of the uncut stones was Of immenae Size.
Weighing thirty-Hlx carata.
They wero carried to the Oustom-House yos-
terdAy morning and delivered to Col. John r.
Dillon, Superintendent OF the Seizure Bureau,
who looked them Ia his safc.
The seizure croatod great excitement in rev.
enue circles. 1t WAS regarded as the largest
capture OF dianondH on record. THO soizing
oflcera we're Deputy Surveyor Brainard Howell,
Col. z. Z. IL. Ehlcrs, and George W. Llvings-
ton, and two or three other Inspectors, attached
to the Surveyors stan.
In thoir report to Collector Arthur they charge
that tho diamonds were concealed OH Mr.. Lam
casters person. They say that they found $50
OF the uncut diamonds in q cllamois skin bag
which Mr. Lancaster wore around hts body, aud
that the othors wore taken from = pooketbook
which he carried in his pantaloona pocket. They
also assort that he denied whoa questioned pre-
yioun to the search that ho had any dutiablo arti
oloB in Ills possession. Tho ground on which
they ,aoIzed tho gems was tnat thoy wero not en-
tered on the passonger's manifest papors, and
TINT they wero landed without permit.
Tho solzuro was made on Pior 45 North River,
hfu wharf OF tll8 lnmah bt6amhh1p COMPANY.
The passengers On tho City Of dhcstor were
landed thoro on Sunday night, being taken on
tho steamer by q tug in the upper bay. Inspoc-
tor Livingston conducted the examination Of Mr,
LRucnHtora luggage. which consisted Of small
hand yalBo, Ao having loft the bulk OF his bng-
gage IN the vesaol. 1he officer eays that Mr.
Lancaster told him that ho did not have any
goods which wero subject to duty. He searched
him, ~ he allegos, aud discovered tho precious
stones hidden on his porson.
A reporter OF tla Sun saw hfr. Lancaster last
evening, aud obtained hia story OF how lle got
the diamonds aud tho mannor in which, tflcy
wero taken from him. 1Io says that le has boon
ongagod in mining operations for twonty-three
years. uo was ono OF tho company who wont to
California in 1860 In search Of the auriferouu
ORC. 1u April, 1879, he Htarted for tho diamond
fields III South Africa. Whon ho got t}loro ho
b5o9ught land in Dutoit's Valley In drigua Land
Most, and commenced digging for diamonds.
There woro HovorAl American miners at
tho fields besiaeH himHelf. Ho re-
mained there until May laHt. He speut q
part Of tho time iii prosreotine aud
mining for gold, which ho sought III tho interior
of Africa: party OF CailrH assisted lin in his
work. When ho started to return to the United
States l1o brought q considerable quantity Of dla-
monds. some OF which 10 dug himself, and oth-
era Ae purchased at the South African folds,
Ono Of The American diamond hunters started 10
55otu!n with hun, but diod on tho passage OF yel-
low fover, and WAS buried at Boa. Mr. Laucastor
reaaha1 1ant'"n /" July last. and. after visiting