Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-22
AN OPIUM TRUST.
A Syndicate of Rich Men Is Back
ing the Smugglers.
HEADQUARTERS IN CANADA
A Chicago Reporter Visited Sarnia aud
Talked with the Chief of the Gang.
Who Boasts of His Achieve
ments-&a, 600 Invested.

SARNIA, Ont, Dec. IA syndicate of
capitalists is in existence organized for the
purpose OF smuggling opium into the United
States. Three of the most daring smugglers
ARE now in the village.
One is Capt Harry H. Durant. who had a
hand TO hand encounter with United States
government detectives in "a Michigan wilder
ness last week, and who escaped unharmed
from shower OF bullets at close range.
Anoti er is known as George Rockwell,
and the third, Charles Weitzel, Capt. Du.
rants llucly lieutenant AL of them are
young, educated and respected by all who
know them, although they are known as the
most dering smugglers that ever eluded
revenue officer and to be agents of a rich
syndicate that was organized several years
ago for the express parpose of smuggling
opium into the United States from the man
ufactories at Victoria, B. G.
The syndicate has s., 600, 00J behind it, and
it is largely controlled by c. ]. Joslyn, of
Victoria.
reporter who came over here from Chi
caso especially to look up opium smugglers
found Capt Durant and his friend Weitzel
living III good style at the Belchamber house,
and yesterday had long talk with them.
They have been smuggling opium for the
last two years, and have successfully landed
hundreds of thousands dollars worth of the
costly drug on the other side without being
detected. Bat this last consignment they
took over was discovered aud seized by gov
ernment detectives, and it come near costing
Durant his life
Four detectives waylail him in the woods
at night, took him at a great disadvantage
and standing not more than ten feet away
fired twenty sho in rapid succession. But
Cant Duraut haS charmed
life, for he was not hit and made his escape
without trying to kill his assailants or shed
ding drop of his own blood
Joslyn is known among the smugglers al
Boss Harris, and is immensely rich. He
makes no effort TO conceal the fact that he ID
a smuggler. On the contrary, brags of it, and
entertains his friends with stories of his ex.
ploits
Another active member of the Harris
gang operates under the assumed name ol
Spencer He attends to shipping the good.
from Victoria
A rich San Francisco merchant is to be
prominently identified with the syndicate.
A man for many years in the employ of the
United States government as an interpreter
is another member. A Toronto Chnamau
and Opium Pete OF San Francisco, cam.
prise the rest of the syndicate
DSSiuto thcoS AhcIS dlc ~ 0uiuDeT %
agents whose duty it is to look after the con-
signments after they leave Victoria, showing
them from one point. 70 another in the Do
minion, transporting them over the border
and then reshipping across the states to Cali
fornia
Chief among the agents are Capt Durant
and the Weitzel Bros, Charles and George.
George Weitzel is the shrewder of the two
brothers, and is trusted with large cJnsign-
ments before and after they cross the border.
He docs not, however, encounter the great
personal risk of making goods from one
country into the other, thu weight of that
responsibility falling on Capt Durant and
Charles Weitzel Both of the Weitzel boys
are now in Sarnia, and, together with Capt
Durant, are awaiting instructions from
BOSS" Harris who has been informed by
telegraph of the seizure of his goods last
week
George Weitzel has always been known
here as George Rockwell, and there are not
half dozen persons in the village who know
that he and Handsome Charley are
brothers