Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-17
SMUGGLERS TRICKS.
DEVICES BIZ WHICH UNCLE SAM
Is OFTEN DEFRAUDED.
Instances Wherein the inspectors
Were Blind, But the Inspectresses
Wide Awake.

Wide Awake.
An ocean steamer had just made fast
to her pier. The enormous gang plank
was speedily hauled into position, one
end was swung aloft by heavy block and
tackle, and in jiffy was securely fas-
tened to the gangway of the steamers
side.
'.All ashore ~ came the cry from one of
the ships officers Quietly young
woman left the group on the pier and
sauntered over to a pile of boxes, from
which point of vantage she could see
every one descending the gang-plank.
Presently corpulent woman, with thin
face, wearing big plush cloak and car
rying several parcels in her hands,
stepped down the plank in gingerly
fashion and went over to one side to have
her goods and chattels examined. The
pleasant-faced young woman followed,
and gazed around in stupid way, as if
uncertain as to what particular thing she
wanted. An inspector came up at this
moment, took the corpulent woman's GER
tifcate of declaration and examined her
luggage. 1t was over quickly and moth
ing dutiable found.
MAY / go now9p asked the woman in
the plush sacque, with slight trace of
anxiety in her voice.
''Yes, after l put my K on your par
cels.n
Excuse me, madam" said the quiet
young woman, who had been intently
watching the new arrival for some time.
81 would like you to follow me.n
The stout woman turned and angrily
asked the reason
Because / am an inspectress here, and
want to examine your person.
The woman started to expostulate, but
a glance into the determined face before
her told her it was useless. She saw
that she was cornered, and without more
ado quietly followed her captor. When
she appeared again she was not nearly as
stout as before, and her plush sacque hung
upon her frail form in loose folds. She
had crestfallen air, and she had COM
pletely lost her nerve. l saw the in
spectress shortly after the business of the
day had been finished, and she laughed
merrily over the recent arrivals discom-
fiture.
"Was she smugglers" / asked.
ttShe tried to be, but failed"
''How did you discover her intentiona'
ssShe had very thin face and a big
body, and she was too anxious to get
away"
t'What did you find on examinationP
"a double corset lined with rings ano
jewelry. Here's the corset, and she dis
played bulky structure of linen and
whalebone.
The presence of the corset was incen
tive enough to pursue the investigation
still further, and the reporter was reward
ed by an interesting chat with one Of thu
oldest inspectors in the service.
'tYou want to know something abou
the tricks Of the smuggler's trade, de
you2 Well, they are so many that {
young man or woman in the business j
likely to be fooled. Years ago SNUG
CLING was carried on with less possibilit.
of detection than at the present day
partly for the reason that the servic
wasn't as perfect as it is to-day, but nov
it takes pretty smart man or woman t
run the gauntlet However, they do
and successfully at times, simply becaus
they've got the business down to a fin
basis. Did you ever hear of the combine'
oil can and brandy cask? MOI We'll
here's rough sketch of one that
thought was suspicious and which I brok
open"
''It was some years ago that dis
covered this trick, = resumed the in
spector after he had finished his draw
ing. ssItalians were pouring into tn
country by the thousand, and each on
carried can of olive oil of the kin,
described You can shove stick dow
through the neck of the can and reac
the bottom, and to all appearances tn
can had nothing but oil in it. We GO
advices during the summer that in som
way large quantities Of the finest brandie
were being smuggled through the Lines
and we were told to keep an eye ope
for anything that would turn up. On
night while trying to WOO Morpheus
suddenly hit upon the secret. Th
Italians were doing all the smugglin
and they were bringing liquor into tn
country in their oil casks. That SCENE
a reasonable solution, and the next day
investigated the first can Istruck. | CT
hole in the top at one side and th
Italian held his hands up in holy terrol
Sure enough, there was brandy, tt
finest and choicest ever tasted.
dumped out the contents and looked il
side. There, sure enough, was a smallt
can filed with the oil. We don't hay
many like attempts nowadays.
g Not many accordions are brought
nowadays by individuals, simply becaul
the instruments can be purchased vel
cheaply in this country. But there was
time when nearly every Italian, Cube
and German carried one of the quee
sounding things. Twas in the Inspector
Office on the dock at the Garden one da,
and, happening to see an accordion on
Cuban's pile Of baggage, asked him
play tune. He shrugged his shoulde
and said in Spanish that he couldn't.
asked him why, and he again shruggt
his shoulders. One Of the boys dow
there was quite musician in his wa
and ] asked him to play the instrumen
He reached for it, and instantly Il
q Cuban expostulated.
g All, hal said Billy, think we'
got something here, and he deliberate
ripped off the end Of the accordio
Out fell 200 OF 300 very choice cigar
the sight Of which lying on tho flo
seemed to terrorize the Cuban. #
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