The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-08-16
Smuggling Diamonds.


Smuggling Diamonds.
There is an important traffic carried on
in diamonds over the various European
lines to the United States, and, as the
duty is very heavy, the sharpest watch is
kept upon those suspected to be engaged
in it. BY means OF agents abroad the
Collectors office has often information
by cable of the departure from the var
ious ports of suspected diamond snug
glers, and is prepared to intercept them.
In nine cases out of ten the stones are
concealed upon the persons OF the pas
sengers. When this becomes certainty
the passenger is arrested and taken to
the Searcher's Bureau, in the custom
house. Here, if found necessary, the
party is stripped, and his clothes ex-
amined inch by inch and seam by seam /;
the heels are taken from his boots, his
hair and beard are combed, and every
means taken to discover the hiding place
of the secreted treasure.
Once this mode of search used to be
tolerably successful, but now rarely
serves any purpose, except in the case of
raw recruits to the smuggling ranks. An
old bird is caught with chat but once.
A New York Jew, who was reputed to be
in the business of smuggling diamonds,
used to cross the water on the Cunard
Line from three to four times season.
A few years ago. in the early part of the
season, he was seized upon his arrival
and taken to the searcher's room. Nearly
$1,000 worth of precious stones we're
found secreted in the lining of his boots.
The Jew took it smilingly and philosophi-
cally. When he took his leave he said,
Better luck next time, gentlemen. l
shall go back by the same steamer ON
business, and when return yeu can try
it again." The officers mentally deter-
mined, it he did, they would try it again.
Upon inquiry it was found he had en-
gagged return passage, having held his
stateroom for that purpose. Two hours
before the sailing Of the steamer he was
driven down to the pier in
his carriage, his wife and daughter with
him to see him off. When they returned
they carried with them over SIC, 900
worth of diamonds, which had been Sc.
creted in his stateroom during the whole
time the steamer had remained in port.
Before his return to New York the col
lector was notified by one of the reve.
nue. agents abroad that MAX Fischer
would arrive by the -, leaving Liver
pool October 25th, with several thousand
dollars worth of diamonds"
In due time the Jew arrived, and for
the third time was escorted before the
searcher. He was evidently not pre-
pared for such persistent attention. He
seemed nervous and agitated, and finally
attempted to compromise. He was po-
litely informed that that was out Of the
question. He was again put through
the searching process. His pocketbook
which was first investigated, revealed .
memorandum showing the purchase OF
eighteen diamonds of various sizes and
prices, amounting in all to about 81, 900.
When this came to light the Jew again
begged with tears to be allowed to COM
promise.
A deaf ear was turned to his entrea-
ties. His coat was removed and the lin
ing examined. Nothing there. Then
the waistcoat. As the searcher passed
his practical fingers along the lining his
heart gave q tremendous thump, as he
recognized the feel" of something peb'
bly,, like little row of buttons. The
garment was hastily ripped, . strip Of
chamois skin Withdrawn and unrolled
and there they lay, one, two, three
eighteen! All there!
You can put on your coat and waist
coat agaiL, Mr.. Fischer" said the
seAroher blsndly. GOOD day"
Without q word the Jew departed
took horse car home, kissed his fsmi
lv. ate big dinner. repaired to tho bath
room and after soaking . rather caps
cious plaster across the email Of his bscl
for few minutes in warm water, peslet
it OF, and with it eighteen diamonds O
various costs and sizes.
What the ssarcher and collector ma,
have said or thought when they found
their seizure to be nothing but clever
glass limitations, worth from ten to thir
ty cents each, nobody knows. -, though
the seizure was loudly hsralded, tn
finale was never made public-Ex
change.