The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-10-04
WHOLE NUMBER 544.
HumOrs Of Smuggling.

n III SftuUtOCfo CUuIHu SOY
The chief evidence of smuggling as it
has existed within the present century is
furnished by several articles which have
been seized from time to time, and which
are now lodged in the Custom House
Museum. 1t is to this museum that
we now intend to direct our readers at
tention, and more especially to certain
large cabinet in the corner of the room,
the contents of which supply title for
this article. The first thing that is
pointed out to us is a ships " fender" !"
which we may remind our readers is a
block of wood with rope attached,
slung over the bows to prevent the abra-
sion which might be caused by contact
with another vessel. This particular
fender was found to be hollow, and to
contain several pounds of compressed
tobacco, The officer who thought of
looking for the soothing weed in such a
receptacle, must have been an extremely
cute individual. But here is a still
more extraordinary hiding place, and
one which must have involved a
journey aloft for its detection-a
ships block, the sheave orwheel of which
is actually made of solid tobacco. Here
is an ornamental pedestal which once
adorned the Garner of a captains cabin,
and would, perhaps, adorn it still, had it
not been found gorged with contraband
cigars. Another commander appears to
have been more moderate smoker, for
he was contented with only two pounds
of cheeroots, which were found inside a
loaf on his breakfast table. Here we
have number of cigars knotted singly
on string, like the tail of a kite; these
were dropped between the inner and
outer timbers of the ships side, whilst
the holes drilled in the ends of an egg
box furnish lodging for several more.
A broomstick does not seem at first
sight to offer much room for conceal
ment, but here is one which, accidentally
broken, revealed cord of that rope-like
commodity known to those who chew the
weed as "pigtail." Cakes of tobacco
formed to fit the sole of boot show
another ingenious mode of disposal. But
the prize for inventive talent must GER
tainly be awarded to the clever rascal
who compressed snuff into slabs, and
stamped them to exactly initiate the oil
cakes on which cattle are fattened-
Whether the discovery of the deception
was owing to the moral objections on the
part of some experienced COW to chew
anything stronger than cud does not
transpire; but the real nature of the
food was somehow ascertained, and what
might have proved the staple of lucra-
tive trade, was transformed into the
original dust from which it sprung.
Thestewardess ola New Jersey steamer
is the next delinquent who comes before
our notice. On various occasions the
petticoat has been found to be use
full auxiliary to the smuggler, and the
one which was taken from this lady suf-
ficiently proves the truth of our remark,
for twenty-seven pounds of tobacco
were hidden in its folds. Two more gar
ments of the same nature contained re-
spectfully eighteen and twenty pounds
of cigars; while another, with the help
of number of fish bladders hanging
from the waistband, was charged with
several gallons of brandy. Bladders of
cognac have also been found attached to
ships keel several feet under water. 1t
is to be presumed that the discovery of
these last was not made in the Thames,
the water of that river not being cele-
brated for its transparency. Artificial
lobster pots thrown overheard with
corks attached, also afford favorite re-
ceptacles for various articles. Another
stewardess, in this case belonged to Rot
terdam boat, did little ostensible trad
ing in. pigeons. Here is the box in
which they were Gagged, constructed with
false bottom, below which were hidden
few cakes of Cavendish. 1t is ques-
ton whether birds ever before so well de-
served to be called carrier pigeons. The
journey to Rotterdam is but short one,
so that although this lady did not in
dulge in such wholesale doings as her
sister in Jersey, she worked on the prin-
ciple "that many a little makes a
mickle." Here is an apparently well
bound volume which a studious indi-
vidual carried under his arm during the
transaction of his daily business at one
of the docks. 1t was found to be made
of glass, moulded into the form of book,
and covered with leather. That it was
work of much spirit was proved from
the fact that it was full of eau de vic.
| AnOGneI DOCK Is eAnlDlUeu, tne leaves Ol
which are punched through with round
holes from cover to cover, for the re.
ception of watches.
We are told that most of the
discoveries the contrivances fol-
concealing things about the person
has been due to the nervous trep
idations of the delinquents themselves
an apt illustration of Hamlet's words
"Thus conscience makes towards of US
ALL" 1t would seem an almost impossi
BILE task to secrete one hundred and forty
seven watches in a single garment
butnevertheless one indivual succeeded
in doing SO. unfortunately he found
difficulty in sitting down, and the con
tinued fatigue of keeping his feet during
a long voyage so told upon his nerves
that, fancying that he was detected anc
watched he gave himself up to justice
literally clothed in his own confusion
Here we have four tin boxes about al
inch in depth, and about two fee
square, having capacity of four and .
half gallons, which, filled with spirits
were hidden below the clothing in a pas
senger's boxes.