Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1885-01-21

particular fender was found to be hol-
low, and to contain several pounds of
compressed tobacco. The officer who
thought of looking for the soothing
weed in such receptacle must have
been an extremely cute individual.
But here is still more extraordinary
hiding place, and one which must
have involved a journey aloft for its
detection-a ships block, the sheave
or wheel of which is actually made of
solid tobacco. Here is an ornamental
pedestal which once adorned the cor
ner of a captains cabin, and would
perhaps adorn it still had it not been
found gorged with contraband cigars.
Another commander appears to have
been more moderate smoker, for he
was content with only two pounds of
cheeroots, which were found inside a
sham loaf on his breakfast table.
Here we have number of cigars
knotted singly on string, like the
tail of kite; these were dropped be-
tween the inner and outer timbers of
ships side, whilst holes drilled in
the ends of an egg-box furnish lodg-
ings for several more.
A broomstick does not seem at first
sight to offer much room for conceal
ment, but here is one which, accident
ally broken, revealed core of that
rope-like commodity known to those
who chew the weed, as "pigtail."
Cakes of tobacco formed to fit in the
sole of boot show another ingenious
mode of disposal. But the prize for
inventive talent must certainly be
awarded to the clever rascal who COM
pressed snuff into slabs, and stamped
them to exactly initiate the oil-cakes
on which cattle are fattened. Whether
the discovery of the deception was
owing to moral objections OH the part
of some experienced COW to chew any
thing stronger than cud does not
transpire; but the real nature of the
food was somehow ascertained, and
what might have proved the staple of
lucrative trade, was transformed
into the original dust from which it
sprung.
The stewardess of a New Jersey
steamer is the next delinquent who
comes before our notice. On various
occasions the petticoat has been found
to be useful auxiliary to the snug
gler, and the one which was taken
from this lady sufficiently proves the
truth of our remark, for twenty-seven
pounds of tobacco were hidden in its
folds. Two more garments of the
same nature contained respectively
eighteen and twenty pounds Of cigars ;
whilst another, with the help of a
number of fish bladders hanging from
the waistband, was charged with sew
eral gallons Of brandy. Bladders Of
cognac have also been found attached
to a ships keel several feet under
water. 1t is to be presumed that the
discovery of these last was not made
in the Thames, the water in that river
not being celebrated for its trans
parency. Artificial lobster pots
thrown overheard with cerks attach
ed, also afford favorite receptacles for
various articles. Another stewardess,
in this case belonged to Rotterdam
boat, did little ostensible trading in
pigeons. Here is the box in which
they were Gagged, constructed with a
false bottom, below which were hid
den few cakes of Cavendish. 1t is
a question whether birds ever before
so well deserved to be called carrier
pigeons. The journey to Rotterdam
is but short one, so that although
this lady did not indulge in such
wholesale doings as her sister of Jer.
sey, she worked on the principle that
"many little makes mickle." Here
is an apparently we'll bound volume
which a studious individual carried
under his arm during the transaction
Of his daily business at one Of the
docks. 1t was found to be made O.
glass, moulded into the form of 9
book, and covered with leather. Tha
it was a work of much spirit wa
proved from the fact that it was full
of eau de vie. Another book is ex
hibited, the leaves of which ar,
punched through with round hole
from cover to cover, for the reception
Of watches.
) We are told that most of these con
trivances for concealing things abou
the person has been due to the nerv
Gus trspidation of tho delinquent
themselves: an apt illustration o
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