Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-10-23

mercial Bulletin tells some curious
stories Of the ways of the smugglers
of the present day-ways that are
sometimes in vain, but at others are
past finding out by the acutest Col
lector. Diamonds are known to be
smugglcd in large quantities, and
the detectives are always on the
lookout for them. When suspicion
justifies it passenger from Europe
is stripped to the skin, and his
clothes examined inch by inch, and
seam by seam; the heels are taken
from his boots, his hair and beard
are combed and every means taken
to discover the hiding-place of the
secrcted treasures. At one time this
mode of search was tolcrably sue
cessful, but now it rarely serves any
purpose except In the case of raw re-
cruits to the smuggling ranks. An
old bird is caught with chaff but
once.
A New York Jew, known to be a
smuggler, crossed in the Cunard
steamer two or three times year.
The first time he was caught he re-
turned to Liverpool by the same
steamer, and four weeks afterward
again landed upon the company's
wharf on North River. He was
again seized and subjected to the
same rigorous search, but with no
success. The Jew took it smilingly
and philosophically. When he took
his leave he said: 'Bctter luck next
time, gentlemen. l shall go back by
the same steamer on business; when
/ return you can try it again." Up.
on inquiry it was found that he real.
ly had engaged a return passage,
having held his stateroom for that
purpose. Two hours before the sail
ing of the steamer he was driven
down to the pier in his carriage, his
wife and daughter with him to see
him off. When they returned they
carried with them over ten thousand
dollars worth of diamonds, which
had lain secrcted in his stateroom
during the whole time that the
steamer laid in port. Before his re-
turn to New York the Collector was
notified by one of the revenue agents
abroad, that "llax Fischer would re
turn by the -, which would leave
Liverpool, October 25th, with sever
al thousand dollars worth of dia
monds."
In due time the Jew arrived, and
for the third time was escorted to
the scarcher. He seemed nervous
and agitated, and attempted to com
promise. He was politely informed
that that was out Of the question
He was again put through the search
ing process. His pocketbook, which
was first investigated, revealed :
memorandum showing the purchas.
of eighteen diamonds Of variou.
sizes and prices, amounting in all to
about $4,000. When this came tt
light the Jew begged with tears tc
be allowed to compromise. A dea
ear was turned to his entreaties
Nothing there. Then the waistcoat
AS the searcher passed his finger.
along the lining his heart gave :
tremendous thump as he recognized
the "feel" of something pebbly, like
little rows OF buttons. The carmen
was hastily ripped, strip of chamoi
skin withdrawn and unrolled, an(
there they lay, one, two, three-eigh
teen. All there. "You can put OF
your coat and waistcoat again, Mr.
Fischer" said the scarcher blandly
"Good day."
Without word the Jew departed
took horse car home, kissed hi
family, ate a rousing dinner, retired
to the bathroom, and, after soaking
rather capacious plaster across th'
small of his back for Il few minutes
in warm water, peeled it off, anl
with it eighteen diamonds of variou
sizes and prices. What the searche
and collector may have though
when they found their seizure to b.
nothing but clever glass limitations
worth only from ten to thirty cent
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