The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08
FEMALE SMUGGLERS.
How the Guinness is Managed Betw cen
Detroit and Windsor.
An Interview. with Lady Detective.


Detroit Free Press.l
Going to and fro on the regular ferryboats
and observing the ladies who crowd the up
per decks one is astonished al the clumsi-
ness of feminine fashion-the prevalence of
uItra-large hoops-the ungraceful drapery of
shawls-and the bulkiness of the tournure in
oontradistlnction to the sheathlike slimness
of apparel winch has long been the prevail
ing style. 1t is noticeable, too, that these
very respectable ladies are of all ages,
single and married, some very handsome,
others quite ordinary in appearance.
They seem to shun observance, and SIT
in remote corners. They have, too, flushed
disheveled look, as if they might be refugees
from the fever district. Sometimes they are
Swallowed by a plain, respectable looking
woman, past the boundary OF youth. who
GEMS to take great interest in them. Each
restless matron or maiden passes under sur
veillance, though unaware OF the fact, until
the landing is reached, and sudden tap
upon the shoulders is followed by low
spoken "Come with me-" as memorable a
command as the edict of fats. Who are the
much beclothed victims? They are one and
all smugglers, excellent people. belonging to
the best Canadian and American families,
but as intent on defrauding the Government
out of its tariff as if the object were the
most meritorious in the world. Women
are natural smugglers They enjoy the
perils as we'll as the profits of outwitting
Government detective. There is a smack of
outlawry about the business that is delight
fully romantic, and not the least bit wicked
so the dear creatures argue. The woman
who confronts them with the fact
that they have struggled goods
about them is a Government detective,
several of whom are employed to watch the
ladies and compel them Ito render unto
Cesar that which is Cassr's." A repre-.
sentative of the Free Press had q recent op-
portunity for u moments chat with Miss
Harriet Thompson the new emplOye of the
Canadian Government, who Is only inter
ested in goods passing from Detroitto Wind
sor.
Thompson was asked by way OF prelude
"About two months only; it was entirely
new to me, but l think L understand it
thoroughly now"
''About how many do you average on your
daily trip?"
ii do not make daily trips-sometimes I
am at Cheatham, or at Sarnia, and | have an
office where ladies are searched. 1t is my
business to assist them to disrobe-gently, if
they will, but forcibly if they resist 1t is
not pleasant business can assure you, but
have my duty to perform. Some of tho
ladies are very nice. The younger ones will
cry and wiring their hands, and sometimes
faint; they hate to give up the, goods and are
ashamed of being caught"
"Where you find struggled 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 appraiss them ourselves
If they give false prices. Sometimes the
Detroit firms make out bills OF lower value,
vii n hoa do xuhir hoy
fill up to suit themselves. These we esti-
mate at our own figures, and release the
parties on payment"
'.WhaI class of goods do the smuggiers give
the largest preference tor
white and gray cottons, heavy colored
drillings, fancy knitted goods, and that class.
The duty on such is about 25 per cent The
goods are bulky and hard to handle; that is
why they are so easily detected. the ladies
pin whole pieces of cotton about them,
sometimes folded in their shawls or dis
posed about their shirts, 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 laces. She cried and pleaded, but
had to pey the value of the whole lot"
ssHow is it about the Canada side; do the
Detroit ladies smuggle from here?"
"Oh / have nOthing.to do with thatl II ia
for your Government to attend to that. But
our goods are principally laces, kid gloves
flDDO0S anu fIndil dfuCieS tLat oIc easily
secreted. A LADY can wear q pair OF gloves
and carry q new umbrella in her hand and
swathe herself in iaces, and no one Will be
the wiser The French women are seid to be
expert in carrying plsited straw across with
out detection. l could tell you some funny
stories of shrinkage in dry goods OF ladies
who came in here plump and who went
away very attenuated. One stout lady
inventoried one piece of white cotton, foul
pairs of embroidered hose, seven yards Of
black cashmere one dog IN pocket handkes-
chiefs and pair of children's shoes. besides
Innings. buttons and TRIMMINGS. She wa:
nearly dead with the weight of the things
but when we took her into the Office sht
gave us a sight of trouble. / was obliged u
take the things almost from main force unit
she saw there was no help for it, and it cos
her pretty severely in the end"
will they not recognize you as being il
the employ of the Government if you FIRE
quent the boa.h?'
mo; they never see me watching them
besides, there is nothing about me to attrac
attention. / am not in uniform, nor do
ever seem to be watching"
sHoW about the male passengersr u
they never smuggle?"
Eyes; but the Custom House officials Cal
be much more peremptory with them The
are not in my line; it Is only the ladies
am commissioned to watch"
s'Is the 81, uation lucrativeY''
SIT pays very we'll. 1 have regular salar
and a commission on all revenue derives
from my work 1t is an ungraciOus business
but perfectly respectable. II ladies are SUI
prieed to see woman fill such an Office,
surprises me as much 10 find them engage
in smuggling and breaking the laws OF th
country"
Wanted to Stop the Interest.
ALBANY News.l
Daniel Webster once dIned with an oil