New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-07
EYAD1YG TIE PAYMENT OF DUTIES.
scuruEs FOR PETTY SMUGGLING.


PAvORITE DEVICES ON THE PART or WoMFN-
HOW CONTRADAND CIGARS ARE MPORlED-
OPIUM sMUGGLRD INTO CUBAN PORTS.
The devices of smugglers to evade the
payment Of duties on articles of more or less value are
numerous aud in genous believed that any large
amount ofsrnuggng being done now. since the break
ing up Of the gang Tx sInugclers and the CONVICTION
of several If its members few years ago, nciu0E
Colonel Drs Angcs Of the chiefs OF the warehouse
division, through whose connlvance these lrauus OIL W
revenue made possible.
1t is almost impossible however, to break up pFI'S
smuggling A large proportion or women passengers
bring in moro less dutlabe articles, and the attempt
to evade the payment of duty gives rise TO many anus
ing scenes Til old device of doube-boltomed trunk
is used only 10y the more inexperienced. An eN-
per,euced inspector can tell one Of these by
BOUNDING 1t, or, whom II is opened ana
the contents removed, by measuring tac receptacle
with his eye. The fav0rte method with women Is TO
conceal contraband arcles in their clothing Most OF
the women srugglers ar. however, detected by the
female inspectors employed in th' Custom Housc, who
mnglc with the passengers and watch for any susp-
cous persona Lnces silks and jowcry are quilted IN
dresses ard skirts.
Not long ago woman wa, observed by one " these
inspectors to apparently too rOtund figure TO
be natural She was invited to step into wainc-room.
and was there charged with having duabl" goods on
her. She denied III the most emphatic manner that
such was the case She told, however,
that she would have. to be searched. she
protested against what she declared TO be
an outrage ana threatened legal proceedings II com
PEELED TO undergo the ordeal OF personal examlnaton
Her threats were unhrcdcd. and she compelled TO
disrohc Her COrpulcnt figure accounted for When
three dress patterns OF valuable silk and many yards OF
IInuou and Valpncenncs lace were unwoud from her
gradually shrinking form. young woman OF seven
teen wears whose trunks had been examined and were
found apparently all right, had pillow
al ut he nj
1t was very innocent looking article; and when 1t was
opened against her protestant ii found To con
about forty yards OF dress silk Another Instance
wa, that of a young woman who had piece OF tine
cloth with the edge ngenl0uslg bound tn such way ~
to give IT Ii" appearance of bcdsprcad or
biankCt. A IA >hionablc dressmaker mn town for a
considerable time ced to cludc tic vigilance Of the
Customs officers by bringing in part o. her impor-
tatcns OF variOus articles that 20 to make nj WON
ems wardrObcs scattering; them among the trunks Of
her friends by whom they were alleged TO be private
nropcrty. aud as such lntv free she came
TO grief finally; and among the artocs
seizrd was the wedding tr"u,Seau Of fash
ionabIe belle fIv0n" dodge is TO mix up
new and Old articles OF wearing apparel this IS very
al 70 succeed unless the number Is sufficiently large 10
a fSsaonab,c tailor who imports largo quantities Of
gonds each wear. had hi invoice made oct cor-cctv.
but he had arrangement 10y WhIch thc goods.
instead Of beng sent TO me Gust N Loose fl ap-
praI-A srnt directly IL LIS S0ir. Iai> was hhaiF
discovered. the goods se;z H. and the offender was
mu!ctrd IN 4 considerable amount.
Far many wears smugCln Of cigars into tEiy port
by the OF the Havana ST" ners was reGu hu,i
ness. Millions brought in 'ath year. Generally
trey were concealed brtnt III skin OF u"
steamer, being fastened by means or q cross
piece of wood II there daugH OF detection the
fastening was cut and tn pacEaac !l' wed To- crop
down to the bottom of the huge. These sruggled cigars
are done in packages OF 1000 ur ~ Re- covered Win
III TIE lower hay at Quarantine. and IRE picked NJ
ny confederate, small hoats, brought M {"
the city ana disposed Of In 0iher casts lev are keP
on hi?bOnrd concealed In places Wncre no one would
haa IN In lnpk
Quantities AZ opportunity Afforded. EXtercncc naA
Taught the Customs ecOl where To uuk for contra
| That seizures Of smuggCd cigars are not made.
short time $4,000 cigars W re- found III one ~ ne
! br, ad-uhs OF Havana steamer where they had
be II placed ~ the cook and covered with dough. They
found under the boilers, hidden away under
INA OF coal in the Goa -huEErTs, aud covered with
! hu AZ cargo 4 small shed "r w0Cl'n bin was found
H. cuabunxcr not long ago. and ~ t!1> were lOOuO
cigars, paCKed sulall pass. IT TOO closely
watched 10y The inNI cctors the crew "' take back tue
clds taSe their chance ~ smu2E ING them s"i'
en- u subsequent voyage Bay OIL whch rays GU "'
80 cents per ounce, Is also = favUritc article Goi
smuggling. fhU dntY ia almost Irohlbtoiy, ana
! If small amount can ne Drought
H. updctect Il IL pays hands m"Y. II II pm a.! ~
22ouncc hotties and these can be hludy slowed away
| and taken aShnrr one "a a lllc
Smuggling nOt conHnod 20 ~ end ot the rOui r.,
| however The spanish authorities ImpUs" . duty or ~
The Customs officers al Havana ~ Y"r, ins mons. small
quantities I'm boxes are packed III inns and EI"l>
! wall paper, winch L. duty free They are hidden IN
barrels pO;ao and III Otncr arc rs where they IRE
! ukcy TO escape detection.
The vigilance ~ the Customs authorities here has II
good Il. r; b-uken M ihS petty SinusGn' which, NJ
ScrIOu. l"ss To flt revenues a. SIG
! Government In }: Is most imp0ssibc L. prey, nj
smuggling small way by per rOns "tth elastic CON
SClepces. -