The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-03
AN INGENIOUS DEVICE
For SwindIng Uncle Samuel Out Of
His Revenue.
Before the Senate Committee
Convention-G, A. Z, Meeting at Pitts
burg Purcell's Debts - A Painful
Rumor-Gov. Sherman Stricken With
Apoplexy-and Other Matters.

has just unearthed the most extensive
scheme of smuggling that has ever been
brought TO the notice OF the COVER nment
authorities. The discovery was purely &C.
cidental, but the thorough manner in which
the details Of the case were afterwards fer
reted out reflects great credit upon the Fed
erA uff On wednesday afternoon,
September 8, J. H. Cavering, young
farmer living near Rensselaer, Falls, some
eighteen miles from this city, brought into
Cap, DouotTe' 5 Office a small package Of
diamonds secured in quill. He also
brC sht with him pigeon filed with bird
shot. The diamonds and pigeon be laid
upon the Captains desk and explained that
be had shot his bird that morning. On cx-
ami ing bis prize the young man found at
tached 10 the left leg a small roll securely
tied with silk. Investigation showed this to
be the large part OF turkeys feather filed
with gIistening stones. These he believed
were diamonds, and hastily putting up his
plow and team be buried to town, told his
story to the Chief OF Police, and was d.
rccted 10 the customs officer.
The officials were at first inclined TO dis.
believe the story However, the pigeon
| ay there and nine glitterins stones were
offered in proof OF the farmers assertion.
| The only expert jeweIer in the city was
cent for, and after careful examination
pronounced the stones genuine diamonds.
| Seven OF them were first water aud
| the other two were OF inf rlOr
grade. With difficulty bird fancicr
was secured, and he declared that the
| bird was a carrier or homing pigeon. The
large, white rings about the eyes, the extra
.ized waffle and the breath OF wing proved
the bird to be "Red Antwerp, - or Of the
| finest breed raised The fancier asserted
positively that bird Of this variety would
return to its home from distance OF $50
| miles.
Thoroughly convinced that such birds were
used for smuggling diamonds from Canada
into this country, Capt. Donohue immedi.
itely set out to discover and arrest the SNUG
| glers. The farmer was unable to tell 10
which direction the bird was flying when
shot, and there seeming absolutely no clew.
The farmer knew Of no honing pigeons kept
in the vicinity OF his place, and inquiry in
the surrounding towns and villages failed to
reveal any. Halt dozen men were cont
out with Clavering. They distributed
themselves about the country Immediately
surrounding Rensselaer, Falls, and weeks
careful watching was rewarded with the
capture OF two pigeons with their precious
freight, but all efforts 20 follow the birds or
discover their destination signally failed.
on THE WRONG TRACK.
Not Disconnected at this, the captain went
| yrl in ,nth ar Al ha fro ipa
passing into Canada were carefully guarded {.
For several days there was no result, but
on the 22d inst. his watchfuiness was re-
warded by the finding Of a wicker basket
containing four OF The homtng pigeons.
The basket was addressed 10 b. \. Har.
mon, Kempville, Canada, and the charges
upon 1t were prepaid.
Two detectives were dispatched on the
train carrying tse basket with instru ctious
10 follow up Harmon, learn the nature OF
his business, and secure evidence against
him. The depot at kempylle is an old
wooden structure andlthe birds werelput of
at that place and slowed away in an outer
she'd with but little food. For FIVE days the
detectives waited in vain for the consignee
to claim his property, and then reporting
that the smugglers had evidently
taken alarm, the officers were
ordered back TO this place.
Meanwhie the search for the hiding
place for the adventurous aw-brea kers
went on about Rensselaer, Falls. The bills
OF lading and the express companies ro-
ceipts for freight transported over the
Rome, Watertown and Ogdenburg railroad
and over all other roads centering here
were searched for year back. One i'm.
portant point was thus established. Ship.
ment of 'fowl' we're found to have taken
place regularly from Henveton, Richville,
DE Kalb Junction and Rensselaer, Falls.
Two consignments Of pigeons from Rich
vile we're also traced up. One Of thes,
bore date October 10, 1882, and the Other
May 7, OF this year, With these facts in hi,
possession Capt. Donohue concluded tina
as three OF the points Of shipment were II
De Kalb county, the smugglers' home mus
be In or near these, and the surrounding
marshes and dense woods were thoroughly
secured
Yesterday William Cowan, trainet
woodsman, by the merest accident, as b.
admits, came upon the hiding place 70
which he nd been searching. He hat
padded down the Oswegatchie river In
boat, and about the middle OF DeKall
county struck marshy ditch that LEI
toward Beaver Creek. Polling bis wa
through the tangled roots and grasses ant
wading part OF the distance, his pitienc
was rewarded by the rustic OF wing
. and soft cooling. Parting the reed
he saw within the clearing In the woods
=, number OF pigeons. He felt his task to b,
practically accomplished, and wading L
: lirmer ground soon came upon three dove
co,es securely fastened In the branches o
as many dead trees. A rude log cabin Il
the center OF the clearing was the only sgl
OF human babitaiion. A knock al the doc
followed by loud halloo, brought no re
sponse, and, entering unbidded, Cowan care
fully inspected the premises There va
little to see. A folding bedstead, u table
two chairs, a charcoal furnace and q benc
completed the furnace. In The table drawe
pen and Ink and paper and envelopes wer
found. There was no cew az to who live
there, how long the resident had been alb
sent or what his purpose was In selecting s.
out of.the.way aspot for his home. Out
side several bushels Of shelled corn and
Dag half filed with mixed wheat and oat
lay on the ground where the pigeons cou
easily get at them. The birds were yer
tame and the intruder had little difficulty 1
capturing q pair.
No atsa ,.s.t 49, al -. l.l a..