The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-10-02
FEMALE SMUGGLERS.

FEMALE SMUG6LERS.
How the Business 10 Managed he.
tween Detroit and vvindsor-An I'M
tervlew With . Lady Detective In
the Service Of the Canadian Govern.
ment.
GOING to and fro on the regular fer
ry-boats and observing the ladies' who
crowd the upper decks, one is astOn-
ished at the clumsiness of feminine FASH
ions--the prevalence of ultra-large
hOops-the ungraceful drapery of
shawls-and the bulkiness of the tour
nure in contradistinction to the sheath
like slimness of apparel which has so
long been the prevailing style. 1t is
noticeable, too, that these very respect
able ladies are of all ages, single and
married, some very handsome, others
quite ordinary in appearance. They
seem to shun observance and sit in re-
mote corners. They have, too, a
flushed, disheveled look, as if they
might be refugees from the fever dis
trict. Sometimes they are Swallowed
by plain, respectable-looking woman,
past the boundary of youth, who seems
to take a great interest in them. Each
restless matron or maiden passes under
her surveillance, though unaware of the
fact, until the landing is reached, and a
sudden tap on the shoulder is followed
by low-spoken "Come with me,'' as
memorable command as the edict Of
fate. Who are the much-beclOthed
victims? They are one and all snug
glers, excellent people, belonging to
the best Canadian or American families,
but as intent on defrauding the Govern
ment out of its tariff as If the object
were the most meritorious in the world.
Women are natural smugglers. They
enjoy the perils as well as 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 struggled goods about them, is a
Government detective, several of whom
are employed to watch the ladies and
compel them "to render unto Caesar
that which is CHsar's.'' A representa-
tive of the Free Press had a recent op-
portunity of moments chat with Miss
Harriet 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 bust
ness, Miss thompson" was asked by
way of prelude.
'About two months only; it was en-
tirely new to me, but l think under
stand it thoroughly now.'
"About how many do you average
on your daily trips?''
Il do not make daily trips-some-
times l am at Chatham, 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 a
pleasant business, can assure you, but
1 have my duty to perform. Some OF
the 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 SO ashamed at
being caught"
where you find Struggled goods dc
you keep them?''
"No, we compel the smugglers, il
we can, to tell what they paid for them.
They can then keep the goods by pay.
ing us what they originally cost. W.
appraise them ourselves if they give
false prices. Sometimes the Detroit
firms make out bills of lower value, OF
furnish the parties with bill-head:
which they fill up to suit themselves
These we estimate at our own figure
and release the parties on payment"
"What class of goods do the SNUG
glers give the largest preference top
white and gray cottons, heavy col
ored drillings, fancy knitted goods ant
that class. The duty on such is about
twenty-five per cent. The goods arr
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 skirts, and it make
their movements very awkward.
brought one young lady in here tn
other day who wore very large hustle
composed entirely of American laces
She cried and pleaded, but had to pa,
us the value of the whole lot.''
''How is it about the Canada side
do the Detroit ladies' smuggle from
| here?''
"Oh! have nothing to do with that
it is for your Government to attend tt
that. But our goods are principally
laces, kid gloves, ribbons and small
articles that are easily secreted. A lady
can wear pair of gloves and carry /
new umbrella in her hand and swatht
herself in laces, and no one will be thu
wiser. The French women are said t.
be expert in carrying plated straw
across without detection. could tel
you some funny stories of shrinkage il
dry goods of ladies who came in here
plump and who went away very mucl
attenuated. One stout lady inventoriet
one piece of white cotton, four pairs O
embroidered hose, seven yards of black
cashmere, one dozen pocket handker
chiefs and pair of children's shoes
besides Innings, buttons and trimmings.
She was nearly dead with the weight OF
the things, but when we took her into
the office she gave us a sight of trouble
1 was obliged to take the things almost
by main force until she saw there was
no help for it, and it cost her pretty
severely in the end"
evil they not recognize you a.
being in the employ of the Government
if you frequent the boats?''
"No; they never see me watching
them; besides there is nothing about mi
to attract attention. l am not in uni
form, nor do [ ever seem to be watch
ing"
"How is it about the male passengers
Do they never smuggle?"
Eyes but the custom-house official
can be much more peremptory witt
them. They are not in my line /; it i
only the ladies l am commissioned t
watch"
| "Is the situation lucratiYe?n