The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-07-07
Cur0sities of Smuggling.

A Young women of seventeen, who's
trunks had been examined and wer
found apparently all right, had a pillow
covered with ticking and tufted at th'
ends. It was q very innocent LOOKING
article; and when it was opened agalns
her protestations it was found to cor
tain about forty yards of dress silk
Another instance was that of q young
woman who had piece of fine cloth
with the edge ingeniously bound In
such way as to give it the appearance
of bedspread or blanket. A fashion.
able dressmaker uptown for consider.
able lime managed to elude the vlgl'
lance of the customs officers by bring
| ing in a part Of her importatiOns OF the
various articles that 60 to make ur
women's wardrobe by scattering them
among the trunks of her friends, by
whom they were alleged to be priv ate
property, and as such duty free. She
came to grief finally, and among the
articles seized was the wedding trous-
seau of a fashionable belle. A favorite
dodge is to mix up new and old articles
of wearing apparel; this is very apt to
succeed unless the number is sufficiently
large to arouse suspicion.
A fashionable tailor, who imports
large quantities of goods each year, had
his invoice made out correctly, but he
had an arrangements by which the
goods, instead of being sent to the GUS
tom-house for appraisal. were sent
directly to his store. This was finally
discovered, the goods were seized and
the offender was mulcted in consider
able amount.
For many years the smuggling of
cigars into this port by the crews Of the
Havana steamers was regular busi-
ness. Millions were brought in each
year. Generally they were concealed be.
hind the steamer in package being
fastened by means of o cross-piece Of
wood. Ifthere was danger of detection
the fastening was cut and the package
allowed to drop down to the bottom of
the bilge. These smuggled cigars are
done up in packages of 1000 or more,
covered with oilskin. Often these
packages are dropped overheard in the
lower bay or at quarantine and are
picked up by confederates in small boats,
brought up to the city and disposed of.
In other cases they are kept on ship
board, concealed in places where no one
would he apt to look for them. and car
ried ashore in small quantities as op-
portunity afforded. Experience has
taught the customs inspectors where to
look for contraband articles OF this kind,
and not a week passes that seizures OF
smuggled cigars are not made. A short
time ago $4,000 cigars were found in
one of the bread-tubs OF a Havana
steamer, where they had been placed
by the cook and covered with dough.
They have been found under the boil
ers, hidden away under masses OF coal
in the coal-bunkers, and covered with
a bulky cargo. A small shed or wooden
bin was found in coal. bunker not long
ago, and in this were 10000 cigars,
packed in a small compass. If too
closely watched by the inspectors, the
crew will take back the cigars and take
their chances of smuggling them ashore
on subsequent voyage. Bay Oil,
which pays q duty of fifty cents per
ounce. is also a. favorite article for
smuggling. The duty is almost pro,
hibitory, and If even q small amount
can be brought in undetected 1t pays
handsomely. 1t is put up in twenty
two ounce bottles, and these can be
handily slowed away and taken ashore
one at time.
:. Smuggling is not, confined to this end
Of the route, however. Tile Spanish
authorities impose duty of thirty
eight per cent. on opium, and the means
adopted to evade the customs officers
at Havana are very ingenious. Small
quantities in tin boxes are packed in
tubs and barrels of butter: Cans OF
opium are packed in large rolls OF wall
paper which is duty free. They are hid
[ en- in barrels of potatoes, and in Other
articles where they are likely to escape
detect. n.-New York Tribune.