The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-02-23

The time was not always when
the isle of Jersey was peopled
only with pretty women and with de-
crepit old men and young children.
She had population of stalwart men
who piled vigorous and profitable bust
ness which brought not alone prosperity
TO st. Heliers's, but made matters
lively for the Government of France
and England as well. Twenty years
ago prodlgious amount of smuggling
was carried ON along the English, Irish.
French and Holland coasts, in small,
fast craft, that were fitted out in st.
Helier's, and made the Channel Islands
their base of operations. The costly
colored Quimper ware of Brittany,
wines from Bordeaux, laces from Lille
and silks from Lyons, were struggled
into England; while on their return
voyage, these privateering sailors would
land upon the Norman coast the steel
and wooden goods Of Birmingham and
Leeds. Thousands of casks of Old
Holland gin were struggled by
them into Ireland. Along the rocky
headlands OF the western coast
of Ireland a band of men lived,
who were to all appearances fishermen.
When they sighted smuggler they
would signal to her the movements of
the Coast Guards. They would row
ont 10 har and folya tho oaruO in thaiI
boats, return to land, and hide the
casks of gin and brandy in caves in the
rocks, from whence 1t was sent all oyel
the country, causing a ruinous compe-
tition for the Dublin "Stouts" ant
WHISTLES to contend against. Some
times, when chased by Government
boats, they would throw the casks into
the sea and the precious gin would be
swept ashore on the rising tide, Tn
small size Of these smuggling ships en-
abled them to glide in and out among
the dangerous reefs and and rocks tina
beset these coasts, and thus escape easil
when pursued by the heavy ships whic
England and France at first sent out t
look after them.
For years this illegal traffic went on
despite the strenuous efforts. made
break it up. 1t was then that Jerse
fiourished and st. Helier's grew frol
moderate-sized town to city wit
$4,000 inhabitants, more than one-ha
the number. of people on the ISLAM
Jersey maidens were given a chance
and marriages we've many, while thel
was nothing for them to do but to Gu
tlyate their flower gardens and KIN
socks and jackets for their husband
and brothers and lovers. Finally, Il
two Governments built each a smi
swift steamer, and detailed them
cruise among the islands day and nigh
and so break up the wholesale smu
Cling. 1t was bad day for Jers
when the Dasher and L'AvTanc
steamed into the harbor of st. Heller
The lawbIeakers found they could {
cape no longer among the rocks, and
short time smuggling, as it had tlou
lshed twenty years ago, was thing
the past. The hardy islanders WI
had been engaged in it found their bu
ness broken up and themselves seryil
out sentences in British prison ship
When set at freedom they nearly
found lawful and honest occupations
distant countries, and Jersey was lite
ally in charge of the women. | kno
an instance where one went rs shiI
mate and was absent three years. In
that time his sweetheart in Jersey hea
no word from him, for the average j
sey lad is poor writer and wOr
speller, but she waited patiently al
faithfully for his return, When
came back he married her. Five da
afterwards he left again and was abse
from his young wife five years, in viii
time she only heard once from hi
Yet She did not complain. Her
was common one in Jersey.