Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-10-27
WAR SHIPS AS SMUGGLERS.

|
Secretary Thompson, Gen. sherman
ct. nj.
WASHINGTON, y October 26,-Although
the prominent officials in the Navy De
partment have made light of the recent dis
closures of smuggling by naval officers a:
brought to light by the seizures of the Sar.
atoga, the rank and file in the service know
that these apologies by certain officers oI
high rank are made merely to mislead the
Secretary Of the Navy and the public and
prevent unpleasant disclosures. Seamen
and marines who have been on European
voyages and think they can talk without
detection, view the case very differently.
An ex corporal of the Marine Corps, who
resigned in 1882, and who is known in
business in this city, gave reporter the
following chapter on smuggling in the
navy rs it came under his own observation:
fin 1880 served on board the United
States ship Saratoga" he said, ''in sub
ordinate capacity, while the vessel made a
European cruise for the purpose of in
structtng Admiral Luce's babies III the art
of seamanship. The opinion generally ex-
pressed, however, by the crew upon our
arrival in the Mediterranean was that the
Saratoga was sent across to bring home q
cargo of goods belonging to high officials in
Washington. At the naval pay station at
Yellafranca we took on board quite car
90 of carpets, rugs, Sc, purchased by per-
sons on the station and sent to Yillafranca
Oh l-,I
Sec. Thompson" Gloves, silks, laces,
&c, were purchased in large quantities,
packed in sealed metal boxes and water
proof paper. In fact, purchases were
made so extensively that We began to
think we represented some mercantile
house rather than the United States"
Didn't these proceedings cause COM
ment among the erew?' was asked.
sailors and marines" " he replied, ''are
not in the habit of expressing their Opin-
ions when on board ship. Whatever We
thought we kept to ourselves. Upon the
return trip we stopped at Funchal, where
the ships launch was lowered for the pur-
pose of assisting in taking ON board our
last cargo, viz, wine. The exact amount
Oi wine slowed away here | am unable to
state, but have no hesitation in saying
that it exceeded the quantity usually pur-
chased by importers at one time. Pay
masters stores were broken out of hold
and piled around deck to make room for
the cargo. The brig was given up for the
time being and converted into a wine
StoreroOm. In fact, every available place
was used until the berth deck became un-
comfortably crowded. Upon arriving IN
| the United States instead of putting into
IN important port anchored in Hampton
Roads and were not troubled by a visit
| from the Collector of Customs. The first
/ transfer OF cargo made was to lighthouse
| tender which came into the roads, and
| to it were transferred the casks OF wine
which were marked 'BabcOck.'
~ few days later the TallapOosa came
down from Washington to Hampton Roads
and made it convenient to come alongside
the Saratoga after dark. The crew was at
once put to work rigging whips and tackle
to aid in taking the cargo out of the hold.
/ An estimate of the amount of goods, con-
siSting of wine, carpets, laces, silk goods,
etc, transferred to the TallapOosa may be
] formed from the fact that the time Occu-
/ pied IN unloading the vessel consumed
about five hours. Injustice to the officers
attached to tue Saratoga it is proper to
state that their portion of the cargo was
reasonable, one or two casks of wine to
friends in distant parts of the country, a
couple Of dozen pairs Of gloves and several
bolts of silk The bulk of the cargo, how
ever, was marked rs consigned to such
/ humble citizens rs Secretary Thompson,
| Gen. Sherman, Commodore English and
others OF the same standing. Of course, an
! improper use might have beon made OF
their names by the real smugglers to daunt
prying customs officials. Next year, while
still on the Saratoga, went to Halifax.
There we purchased the same large amount
OF bottled goods and brought back an
equally valuable cargo"
This statement regarding the SNUG
Cling propensities ofour prominent naval
officers can be vOuched for and is not the
spiteful outpOurings ola a disgruntled
sailor" " said Navy Department official
to-day.