, 1886-03-11
That Opium Seizure
Cir-. CARROLL EXTLODES a IITTLT
ROMANCE

CiE-. CARROLL EErLODES a EITTLF
ROMANCE.
The following was contained in a
letter to tre UgcG2aiaH from its re
g7ylar Washington correspondent:
Collector Beeeher, 81 Port Town
send. has becn dividing his time be
tween here and New York since he
reached Washington. on the E3th ut.
Ea viii not return to v Washington
Territory until the senate either con
Iruls.or refuses to confirm his nOmI-
nation. He tells me that on reaching
here he Immediately reported to
President Cleveland, by whom he vas
| ordered TO Washington. The presl-
dent made particular inquiries about
the charges preferred against the ap-
Dointee and listened attentively to
what the latter had to say. During
| The conversation Mr. Beecher made
some remark about his confirmation.
.Oa, v0u Will be confirmed without
doubt" said the president Mr..
Beecher tells me that ii Is yet 4 mat
;cr of wonder TO people in Washing
ton Territory how he found how the
! opium he seized was carried TO Alas
/ ka and where it was stored. He gives
| the following version: On one of
Captain CAROLS down trips he stop
ped at Victoria. as usual. and late at
night entered a Chinese house. 4
humber OF skilled detectives were
constantly on his track. for he had
long been suspected Of 4 smuggling
trade The chief inspector disguised
himself. feigned drunkenness and
staggered into the house, running
/ against Carroll. The latter turned
around, gao the intruder Il light
blow and commanded him 20 leave
the house. With q leer the detective
returned the blow, when the captain
struck him SO severely as TO knock
him down, he falling on Il bundle of
| Chinese bags. To all appearances
the detective then fell into a drunken
st1por Both the captain and the
| IChinaman eyed him for awhile, and
then seemingly coming TO the con
ciusiOn that he was really too drunk
to hear or hrarken to their converse
ton, they talked together for a few
minutes in low tone. The captain
then told the Chinaman how much
opium he wanted. when he wanted it,
and gave orders how it was to be
packed and labeled. According to
agreement, the captain was TO take 1t
on board his steamer on his next trip
to Alaska. Detectives were On hand
when he returned to Victoria, saw the
opium placed On board, then one of
the detectives took passage on the
Idaho. \ watch was kept, the spot
where the opium was stored was
noted, and it was subsequently
seized"
This sensational account was shown
to Capt. Carroll yesterday-he being
in Seattle in consultation with the
attorneys for the steamship Idaho.
He pronounced it absolutely without
foundation. 1t is hardly probable
that Collector Beecher told the story
to the correspondent. II he did be is
romancer SO slightly removed from
Il liar that a microscope will be re-
; quired to see space between them
Captain Carroll says be has never
been in Victoria Chinatown but once
and that was four years ago, in com
pany with VIM. Goverveur Morris
The chief inspector referred to is DIr
Gardiner. who also scouts the story
Captain Carroll says that the trial
of the Idaho Will take place at Port
Townsend or Seattle His company
is anxious to have it over with, but
the absence Of Collector Beecher in
Washington, looking after his con-
tirmation, forces postponment.