Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-09-24
SMUGGLING.

A clever writer 10 the Boston commercial
Bulletin tells some curious stories of the ways
of the smuggers of the present day--ways that
are sometimes in vain, but at others are past
finding out by the acutest Collector. Diamonds
are known to be smuggled in large quantities,
and the detectives are always on the lookout for
them. When suspicion justi6es it a 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 secret
ed treasures. At one time this mode of search
was toleraby successful, but now it rarely serves
any purpose except in the case of raw recruits
to the smuggling ranks. An old bird is caught
with chaH but once.
A New York Jew, Known to be smuggler,
crossed in the Cunard steamer two or three
times year. The first time he was caught he
returned to Liverpool by the same steamer, and
four weeks atterward again landed upon the
company's wharf on North river. lie was
again seized and subjected to the same rlgor-
Gus search but with no success. The Jew took
it smilingly and philosophically. When he took
his leave he said Better luck next time, gen
tlcmen. I shall 60 back by the same steamer
on business; when return you can try 1t again.
The officers mentally determined If he did
they would try it again.. Upon inquiry 1t
was found that he really had engaged a
return passage, having held his stateroom
for that purpose. Two hours before the
sailing of the steamer be was driven down
to the pier 10 his carriage, his wife and
daughter with him to see him off, When they
returned they carried with them over ten thou
sand dollars worth of diamonds, which had
lain secreted in his stateroom during the whole
time the steamer had remained in port. Be-
fore his return to New York the Collector was
notified by one of the revenue agents abroad
that Max Fischer would return by the -,
which would leave Liverpool, October IS, with
several thousand dollars worth OF diamonds. :
10 due time the Jew arrived, and for the third
time was escorted before the searcher. tie
seemed nervous and agltated, and hna!ly at
tempted to compromise. He was politely IN
formed that that was out OF the question. lie
was again put through the searching process.
His pocketbook, which was first investigated,
revealed memorandum showing the purchase
of eighteen diamonds of various sizss and pri-
ces amounting iu all to about $l2 900. When
this came to light the Jew begged with tears
to be allowed to com promise. A deaf ear was
turned to his entreaties. His coat was removed
and the lining examined. Nothing there
Then the wastcoat. As the searcher passed
his practical fingers along the lining his heart
gave tremendous thump as he recognized
the feel OF something pebbly, like little rows
of buttons. The garment was hastily ripped, a
strip of chamois skin withdrawn and uOrolled,
and there they lay, one, two, three-elghtecn
All there.
again, MIR. Fischer" said the searcher, blandly.
Good day.
Without word the Jew departed, took a
horse car home, kissed his family, ate rous
ing dinner. repaired to the bathroom, and, at
ter soaking a rather capacious plaster across
the small of his back for few minutes in warm
water peeled it off, and with it eighteen dla-
monds, of various costs aud prices. What the
scarcher and collector may have said or thought
when they found their seizure to be nothing
but clever glass limitations worth from ten to
thirty cents each, nobody knows.
EDUCATED FLEAs-The latest excitement
in Berlin is the exhibition OF drilled tcas. The
exhibition takes place on large sheet OF white
paper fastened on an ordinary table, to which
all the spectators approach In turn, so as to be
able to witness in all details the extraordinary
maGGuVreS OF (uCSc ultles ou1 Lnoi fSioooiJ
powerful and gifted rascals. Here you sec one
of the muscular heas rolling small barrel along
With its feet as the men do n the circus; there
YOU see slim, vouptuously built madam OF
I he species walking along in crlnoline and car
ryinc her parasol with all the atfectatlon OF
CITY miss; at another place a we'll trained fellow
performs on the flying trapezc-wlthout any
danger to his neck, however, since the biggest
fall would not break that; while below the trap
eze, on the paper host of little ones are turn-
ing summcrsauts at a fearful rate. The largest
specimens of the collection have been trained
TO draw wagons, drays, carriages, etc: Io hX
the harness on them properly the tea tanner
places his pupils on piece OF paper covered
with mucilagc, where they have to stick. Tie
then, by the aid of watchmaker's loop, ar
ranges stronghold thread around their bodies
and attaches it to the wagon or carriage. The
ladies of Berlin attend the exhibition 10 large
numbers, and seem to take an extraordinary
delight in the performance Of the little crea-
lures, who are fed every morning from the arm
of the great flea tanner.
FARMING IN CALIFoRNlA.--A farm in Cali
fornia, consisting of 20, 600 acres, has just Deen
let for FIVE years. at an annual rental OF
$40, 900 The farm is stocked with 1900 head
of cattle. 100 horses, 50 mules and 1900 hogs,
costing the lessee, with crops, the sum of
$74,25O. Heavy farming that But out there
they have sheep ranges of 100000 acres, with
Aocks numbering from $4,000 to 100000 head,
while there are farmers who boast of wheat
crops amounting to $4,000 and l20, 900 bushels
Cattle raising, once prominent interest, is 60
ing down. The vineyard and dairy interests
are continually growing, both being conducted
on very extensive scales which appear to charac-
.erize farming operations in that region. The
receipts of wheat at Stockton on one day re-
Gently amounted to 1895 tons.
r. is scalculated that Ireland has lost three