Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-06-28
An Adventure With SmuggIers.
TOLD BY A UNITED STATES CUSTOMS Off.

The adventure I am about to relate
occurred eight years ago, in the northwest
part of Maine, near the Canadian Bor-
der. Our government places a stiff
tariff, or "duty," on many articles of i'm
port, such as silks, liquors, cigars, etc.
Human nature is perverse, and, am
sorry to say, there are men who try to
evade the payment, in other words,
"smuggle."
There had been, for number of
years, more or less smuggling in that
section of the State, of whisky, clothing,
guns, pistols. These were constantly
brought across the cline" and sold;
though, for the most part, in small
quantities.
A good many persons-mostly tran
sient and disreputable fellows-were in
some way interested in it. The subject
was one that nobody said much about,
however; fer to come out openly against
the traffic would have made secret ene-
mics of class that most persons would
rather keep the right side of.
The writer was then seventeen years
old, Though not much acquainted with
any of the "smugglers," yet knew the
country thereabouts as well, perhaps
better, than almost any other person;
for had trapped and "prospected" for
lumber in the woods along the border
for two or three years.
That autumn / had two acres of pota-
toes to dig. 1t was the first season we
had raised the early Rose" potatoes.
They yielded wonderfully. On those
two acres there were raised six hundred
bushels. I was nearly fortnight har-
vesting the crop.
There came along, one morning, as
was digging,a q stranger. He was rather
singular looking man, dark-complexion-
ed, with black, stubby beard, and had
on, I think, glazed cap. I had seen
him coming across the fields, thirty or
forty rods away, and he struck me as
being an odd fish, even at distance.
So 1 kept industriously at work, and
waited for him to make his errand
known.
He began by remarking that it was
fine weather for trapping. Then he
spoke of hunting caribou up on "the
Line;" asked about moose there, and
wanted to know if had ever seen any
other game up that way.
I felt that the fellow was sounding me
for some purpose of his own, and gave
brief answers, keeping hard at work.
This, however, did not hinder me from
seeing that he was observing me closely;
and began to get angry at such cool
scrutiny from stranger.
"Look here ?" said I, at length, q good
deal out of patience; "what are you
driving at, anyhow? If you've any busi-
ness with me, you might as we'll state it. 4"
"All right" said the stranger, "I see
you're square man. Wouldn't you
like to make little money easier than
by digging potatoes ?"
every likely" I said.
$50 1 thought. i"
He then went went on to say that he
was moving into the States, and had a
quantity of baggage up at Lake Megun-
tic lin Canada), which he wanted to get
down, and ended by offering me one
hundred dollars to make five trips with
him through the woods across the bor-
der.
"You might as well say that you are
smuggling" I observed.
"Oh, don't call it by that name at
ALL"
"Call it what you've mind to-" said
7, laughing.
"But can't L get you to help me
You were recommended to me-" he said.
"No, sir !"
"But why not ?"
"That's my business" L told him,
but added that when l couldn't get q
living in more honorable way than
that, would go somewhere else and
try.
Somewhat to my surprise, the man
began to laugh heartily. He then drew
out paper and asked me to read it.
"You had better not show me any OF
your papers, said, resuming my work.
"Im no friend of you smuggling fel
lows. You might as well put it up and
be going"
"Oh, I'll look out for myself" said
he. "You just read that"
I took it, and saw it was an official
commission to Oliver O. Stuart as o
United States customs officer and detec.
tive.
"Is this your name?" I asked.
"It is" said Mr.. Stuart; and from 0
certain change in his voice and air,
saw that he had previously been assum.
ing part.
"Well," said, "you've fooled me-
suppose that's part of your trade.
But I guess you haven't got much infor.
nation"
"Oh, I've learned wht I wanted
and that is your honest option of snug
Cling"
"Any mans welcome to that" re-
torted.
"What do you say to going on the othel
tack, then?" questioned Stuart. He ther
told me that he had been sent to discoy
er and arrest gang of smugglerr
who we're operating along that frontier