The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-09-20

Haners Of Smuggling.
The chief evidence of smuggling as it
has existed within the present century ia
furnished by certain articles which have
been seized from time to time, and which
are now lodged in the Custom House Mu.
scum. 1t IL to this museum we now in.
tend to direct oar readers' attention. and
more especially to certain large cabinet
In the corner OF the room, the contents Of
which supply title to this article. The
first thing which 10 pointed out to Ms is a
ships fender" which we may remind
our readers is block of wood with rome
attached, slung over the bows to prevent
the abrasion which might be caused by
contact with another vessel. This partic-
ular 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 still more
extraordinary hiding place, and one which
must have involved . journey aloft for its
detection-a ships block, the sheave OF
wheel of which 10 actually made of solid
tobacco. Here Is an ornamental pedestal
which once adorned the corner of Cap.
tain's cabin, and would perhaps aelorn it
still, had it not been found gOrged with
c0ntraband cigars. Another commander
appears to have been . more moderate
smoker, for he was content with only two
pounds OF cheerOOts, which were found
inside sham Loaf ON his breakfast table.
Here we have number Ut cigars kn0tted
singly on string. like the tail Of kite;
these were dropped between the inner and
outer timbers Of 9 ships side, whilst holes
drilled in the ends of an egg-bOx furnish
lodgings for several more.
A brOOmstick does NOT seem at first sight
to offer much room for concealment. but
here is one which, accidentally broken,
revealed core of that rOpe-like commOd.
ity known to those who chew the weed, as
"pigtail." Cakes of tobacco formed to
fit in the sole Of q boot show another in
genious mode of disposal. But the prize
for inventive talent must certainly be
awarded to the clever rascal who COM
pressed snuff into slabs, and stamped them
to exactly initiate the 0il-cakes on which
cattle are fattened. Whether the diAcOv-
cry of the deception was owing to 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 a
lucrative trade was transformed into the
original dust from which it sprung.
The stewardess of New Jersey steamer
Is the next delinquent who comes before
our notice. On various occasions the pet.
ticoat has been found to be useful aux
Hilary to the smuggler, and the one which
was taken from this lady sufficiently
proves the truth of our remark, for twenty.
seven pounds of tobacco were hidden in
its folds. Two more garments of the same
nature contained respectively eighteen and
twenty pounds Of cigars; whilst another,
with the help of o number of fish blad.
ders 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 in that river moi
being celebrated for its transparency
Artificial lobster pots thrown overheard
with c0rks attached, also afford favorite
receptacles for various articles. Another
stewardcss, in this case belonging to .
Rotterdam boat, did little Ostensible
trading in pigeons. Here is a box IN
which they were Gagged, constructed with
a false bottom, below which we're hidden
. few cakes of Cavcndish. 1t is question
whether birds ever before so well deserved
to be called carrier pigeons. The journey
to Rotterdam is but short one, 30 tina
although this lady did not indulge in such
wholesale dOings rs her sister of Jer
sey, che worked on the principle thai
many little makes q mickle." Herr
il an apparently well-bound volume
which studiOus individual carried undel
his arm during the transaction of hi.
daily business at one of the docks. 1twa!
found to be made of glass, nodded into thu
form of book, and covered with leather
That it was q work of much spirit wa
proved from the fact that it was full o.
eau de ole. Another book is exhibited, thu
leaves of which are punched through witt
round holes from cover to cover, for thu
reception of watches.
We are told that most of these contriv
ances for concealing things about the per
son has been due to the nervous trepida
Il eAOAA VA SAAV uCAlc sAAV1AA0OAvVoS 0A OP
illustration of Hamlet's words: "Thul
conscience makes towards of us ALL"
would seem an almost impossible task t
secrete 147 watches in single garment
but, nevertheless, one individual succeeded
in doing 80. Unfortunately he found ,
difficulty in sitting down, and the con
tinued fatigue of keering his feet during
q long voyage SO told upon his nerves
that, fancying he was detected a1(
watched, he gave himself up to justice
literally clothed in his own confusion
Here We have four tin boxes about an incl
in depth. and about two feet square, hav
ing y capacity of four and half gallons
which, filled with spirits, were found hid
den below the clothing in . passenger
b0xes.-Gham6ers' Journal.
Base.Ba a. It Was and L..
What glorious thing q game of base
ball was when the amateurs flourished
some sixteen years ago! What enthusiasm
prevailed when two different clubs, repre-
senting different localities of the sam,
city, met; what desperate anxiety wher
the champion organizations of rival cite.
| enrOunternf1i The n1avors vvpr, dplicatn