The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-08-28
UNDER THE GUARDS EYES.
Organized Bands of Smugglers Ply Their
Vocation Daily.
San Antonio One of the Headquarters i'm
the Line of Operation.


Organized bands of smugglers have for
years been operating under the very eyes of
the Mexican and the 1900 United States off,
GERS on the borders of the two republics.
Both governments have ATTEMPTED to arrest
them while in the act of smuggling. but thus
far without signal success. They have head
quarters in Laredo, Eagle Pass, Passo del
Norte, Monterey, Lampasas, Buena Vista and
E'Haidama, and agents in San Antonio, Aus
TN, IT. LOUIS, New York. Philadelphia and
the City OF Mexico. A custom house guard.
who has been in the U. S. service ten wears
now stationed, at Laredo, informed a LIGHT,
reporter few days ago that the existence of
more than 100 bands was almost positively
known, but that facts can not be obtained to
ensure the conviction of any of the members.
EVERY gang said he, lis composed of
from ten to one hundred men, and when
necessary all the smugglers will unite for pro-
lection or for more than common operation.
majority OF them live in towns and few, to
onVlate Suspicion, do honest work OCCASION
any: Most OF the smugglers are
residents OF Mexico. This fact is due
to the better opportunities for i'm
porting to Mexico-the lax vigilance of the
Mexican officers chiehy-and the greater de-
mand tor products Of the north. The princi-
pal point OF operation is Laredo. The SNUG
giers receive goods in Laredo, on the Texas
SIDE OF the Rio Grande, and then, under
cover OF the night, take them in boats to
Nuevo Laredo, or somewhere in its yicinilv
on the Mexican side. As the Mexican officers
do not often evince a desire to assist us. and as
we are not obliged to prevent smuggling from
the United States to Mexico, we do not try
very hard to catch some of the operators; but
as body do al we can to prevent smuggling
from Mexico here. Many of the Mexican
ofhcers, and some OF our own men too, have
Pecunlary interest in the business and often by
timely warnings and deceptive information,
succeed IN preventing the capture of their
confederates.
The smugglers have caves in Mexico in
which they conceal property until it is ready
Tor distribution. One of these was
discovered by an American tourist. He was
riding in an ambulance from Bustamente IN
Villaldama whdn by jolting over some stone
the front seats were displaced and several
cases OF fine French cordials exposed TO view.
lie told the driver ofhis discovery and learned
from HIM that quantities of French and Span-
lsh liquors, and silks, laces and other goods
were almost daily sent from Mexico to the
United States. in return for larger and more
valuable quantities of other material. Subse-
4uently he saw the ambulance driver turn
over the cordials to two other men in a seclu-
ded nook at the base of mountain, and then
60 to the disused tunnel of an old mine, where
he was met by a score of rough looking fell
lows armed with large revolvers and knives.
Being discreet he withdrew without alarming
them, but in some manner they soon heard Of
what he had done and a few DAYS
after when he and others made a visit
they were gone and the mine was empty.
though it still contained small shreds of silk
and lace and an odor of fine liquors that indi-
Gated It had been the repository Of valuable
articles.
boats are employed to take the goods over
the river. Once in a while they are seen and
pursued by officers but seldom successullv
They are very daring and will not hesitate to
resist if escape is deemed too difficult to at
tempt. In the river near Laredo they have
some IS or 20 light, swift boats. AT Lam
pasos, BuStamente. Villaldama and other
places in Mexico they have caves and large
numbers of pack mules and donkeys. The
weal,hiest man in the Villaldama district is re-
puted to be smuggler. His name is Con
zalez and he circulates in the best society of
the town. There are many other men in Mex
leo who have become wealthy by direct smup-
Cling or by acting as the smugglers' agents.
There is Patricia Milmo, for instance, the
Irishman who controls the bank Of
Mexico and whose property is estimated to be
worth more than Sic, 600, 600. 1t is said that
he obtained his start in life by smuggling.
''Soms of the American custom officers have
accumulated considerable fortunes by connect
ing with the smugglers, A few years ago most
of the officers here did not care whether they
received their salaries OF not. know two
men who were guards, and whose salary was
SI5o month each, who did not draw apy
money for months at a time. Subsequently
they retired from the service and went into
business not quite so profitable but less dan
gerous. OF the Mexican custom officers be-
lieve that more than one-half are concerned
with the smugglers. 1t is we'll known that
many of the administrative officers have friends
and relatives engaged in smuggling and use
their influence to protect them. The smus-
glers are important factors in every Mexican
revolution.
"Of all the northern cities where men
live who take. part in smuggling think
ST Louis is the scene of the most extern
slve operations. From there wagons and all
sorts of hollow-ware are shipped here and it is
believed that the shippers profit by the failure
OF the consignees to pay the proper duties.
The proht Is not SO great now as it was a few
weeks ago Then duty of $Ioo a wheel had
to be paid for every wagon imported to Mex
leo and $I6o for every horse Now but Sac
wheel is charged and but S4S for horse. On
other things the duty was equally high and,
though now low in comparison, is yet suff,-
GENTLY high to make the profits of smuggling
very tempting"