The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-27
HUMoRS OF SMUGGLING.

chief evidence of smuggling, as it has ex-
listed within the present century, is fur
nished by certain 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 the readers atten.
ton, and more especially to a certain
large cabinet in the corner of the room
the contents of which supply title to
this article. The first thing which is
pointed out to us is ships FENDER"
which we may remind our readers is q
block of wood with a rope attached,
slung over the bows to preventive abra-
sion which might be caused by contact
with another vessel. This particular
fender was found to be hollow, and to con-
tain several pounds of compressed to-
bacco. The officer who thought of look
ing fer the soothing weed in such a re-
ceptable must have been an extremely
cute individual. Bat here is still more
extraordinary hiding place, and one
which must have involved a Journey
aloft for its detection-a ships block, the
sheave or wheel of which is actually
made of solid tobacco. Here is an orna-
mental pedestal which once adorned the
corner Of captains cabin, and would
adorn it still, had it not be found gorged
with contraband cigars. Another COM
mander appears to have been more
moderate smoker, for he was content
with only two pounds of cheroots, which
were found inside sham loaf on his
breakfast table. Here we have a mum.
ber of cigars knotted singly on a string,
like the tail of kite; these were drop.
ped between the inner and outer timbers
Of ships side, whilst holes drilled in
the end of an egg-box furnished 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 a core of that rope-like
commodity know to those who chew the
weed as "pig-tail," Cakes of tobacco
formed to fit in 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 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 is sprung.
The Stewardess of a New Jersey
steamer is the next delinquent who
comes before our notice. On various oc.
casions the petticoat has been found to
be valuable auxiliary to the smuggler,
and the one which was taken from this
lady sufficiently proves the truth of this
remark, for twenty-seven pounds of to.
bacCo was hidden in its fold. Two more
garments of the same nature contained
respectively eighteen and twenty pounds
Of cigars; whilst 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 in that river not being cele.
brated for its transparency. Artificial
lobster-pots thrown overheard with Corks
attached, also afford favorite receptables
for various articles.
Another stewardess, in this case be-
longing to Rotterdam boat, did a little
ostensible trading in pigeons. Here is
the box in which they were Gagged, con-
struCted with false bottom, below which
were hidden few cakes of Cavendish.
1t is question whether birds ever be-
fore 80 well deserved to be called carrier
pigeons. The journey to Rotterdam is
but short one, 80 that although this
lady did not indulge in such wholesale
doings as her sister of Jersey, she worked
on the principle that "many little make
a miCkle." Here is an apparently we'll
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 ofa book
and covered with leather.
That it was work of much spirit was
proved from the fact that it was full of
eau de ne. Another book is exhibited,
the leaves of which are punched through
with round holes from cover to cover,
for the reception of watches.
We are told that the discovery of most
of these Contrivances for Concealing
things about the person had been due to
the nervous trepidation of the delin-
quents themselves; an apt illustration of
Hamlet's words: "Thus conscience
makes Cewards of us all"
1t would seem an almost impossible
task to secrete 140 watches in single
garment; but, nevertheless, one indi-
vidual succeeded in doing so. Unfortun-
ately, he found difficulty in sitting
down, and the continued fatigue of keep
ing his feet during long voyage 30 told
upon his nerves, that, fanCying he was
detected and watched, he gave himself
up to justice, literally clothed in his own
confusion. Here we have four tin boxes
about an inch in depth and about two
feet square, having capacity of four and
a half gallons, which, filed with spirits,
were found hidden below the clothing in
passengers boxes.