Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-11-06
CATCHING LADY sMUGGLERs.

Going to and fro on the regular ferry
boats and observing the ladies who
crowd the upper decks, one is astonished
At the clumsiness of feminine fashions
the prevalence of ultra large hoops, the
ungraeeful drapery of shawls and the
bulkiness of the tournure in contraiis-
tinction to the sheath-like slimness of
apparel which has so long been the pre-
vailing style. 1t is noticeable, too, that
these very respectable ladies are of all
ages, single and married. some very
handsome, Others quite ordinary in ap-
pcarance. They seem to shun obsery-
ance, and sit in remote corners. They
have, too, "A flushed, disheveled look, as
If they might be refugees from the fever
district. Sometimes they are shadowed
by plain respectable looking woman.
past the boundary of youth. who seems
TO take a deep interest in them. Each
rest less matron or maiden passes under
her surveillance, though unaware of the
fact, until the landing is reached, and n
sudden tap upon the shoulder is followed
bya low-spoken Come with me-" as in
exorable command rs the edict of fate.
Who are the much be-clothed victimsP ?
They are one and all smugglers; excel
lent people, belonging TO the best Cana
hiiahii vi - itstii lilllititH, uul us
on defrauding the government out of its
tariff as if the object were the most NOR
torious in the world. Women are ma
tural smugglers. They enjoy the pcriis
rs well rs the profits of outwitting
government detective. There is smack
OF outlawry about the business that is
delightfully."- romantic, and not the least
bit wicked-so the dear creatures argue.
The woman who confronts them with the
fact that they have smuggled goods about
them is government detective, several
OF whom are employed to watch the
ladies and compel them Ito render unto
Cesar that which is Caesars" A repre-
sentative of the Free Press had a recent
oppo' tunity of a moments'chat with Miss
Har let Thompson, the new employee
OF the Canadian government. who is
only interested in goods passing from
Detroit to Windsor.
Have you been long in this business.
Miss Thompson?" was asked by way of
prelude
" About two months only; it was en-
tirely new to me, but | think | under
stand 1t thoroughly now"
About how many do you average on
your daily trips?"
II do not make daily trips-some-
times | am at Chatham or at Sarina. and
l have AN Office where ladies are
searched. II is my business TO assist
them TO disrobe-gently, ifthey will, but
forcibly If they resist. II Is not
pleasant business. can assure you, but
have my duty to perform. Some of
the ladies are very nice. Tho younger
ones will cry and wiring their hands, and
sometimes faint; they hate to give up
the goods and are so ashamed at being
caught
Where you find smuggled goods, do
you keep them?"
mo, we compel the smugglers, If we
can, to tell what they paid for them.
They can then keep the goods by paying
us what they originally cost. We ap-
praise them ourselves If they give false
prices. Sometimes the Detroit firms
make out bills of lower value. or furnish
the parties with bill heads. which they
Gil UP to suit themselves. These we es-
innate at our own figures and release the
parties on payment"
What class of goods do the snug
glers give the largest preference TOP"
White and gray cottons, heavy
colored drillings, fancy knitted goods
and that class. The duty on such is
about twenty-five per cent. The goods
are bulky and hard To hcndle: that Is
why they are so easily detected. The
ladies pin whole pieces of cotton about
them, sometimes folded in their shawls
or disposed about their skirts. and it
makes their movements very awkward.
] brought one young lady in here the
other day who wore very large hustle,
composed entirely of American laccs.
She cried and pleaded. but had to pay US
the value Of the whole lot"
"Uow is it about the Canada side
do the Detroit ladies smuggled from
here?"
"Ohl have nothing to do with that
1t il for your government to attend to
that. But our goods are principally
laces. kid gloves. ribbons and small arti-
cles that are easily secreted. 4 lady
can wear pair of kid gloves, and carry
a new umbrella in her hand. and swathe
herself in laces. and no cne will be the
wiser. The French women are said TO
be expert in carrying plated straw
across without detection. / could tell
you Some funny stories Of shrinkage IN
dry goods of ladies who come in here
plump and who went away very much
attenuated. One stout lady inventoried
one piece of white cotton, four pairs of
embroidere hose, several ards of black
hh1 hbEfh pOtktI
chiefs and pair of children's shoes, be-
sides Innings, buttons and trimmings.
She was nearly dead with tn weight of
the things. but when we took her into tie
Office she gave us sight Of trouble. |
was Obliged 20 take the things almost
by main force. until she saw there gas
no help for 1t, and 1t cost her pretty
severely in the end.
Will they not recognize you as being
In the employ of the government If you
frequent the boatsP"
:" No; they never see me watching
them; besides. there IL nothing about
me to attract attention. / ann not in
uniform, nor do ever seem to be watch
ing them.
allow II Is about the male passengers?
DO they never smugglep"
YES; but the custom-house officials
can be much more peremptory with
them. They are not in my line; IL is
only the ladies / am commissioned to
watch"
Is the situation lucrativeP"
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